





The is an integrated (hence the “i” in the name) RAID controller. It is embedded directly onto the system board of many HP ProLiant Gen8 servers. Its specifications are impressive even by today’s standards for legacy hardware:
However, because ProLiant Gen8 servers and the P420i controller are now long past their End-of-Life (EOL) and End-of-Support (EOSL) dates, HPE changed its licensing approach for these legacy components. In many cases, standard SAAP 2.0 capabilities no longer require a paid commercial license check in modern firmware versions, or HPE provides generalized enablement keys for homelab and legacy system maintenance. How to Install the HP Smart Array P420i License Key
If you successfully added the key but cannot create a RAID 6 array, check your FBWC status. If the backup capacitor is missing, degraded, or charging, advanced licensed features will remain disabled until the cache module is fully healthy. hp smart array p420i license key
Combines the high fault tolerance of RAID 6 with the performance striping of RAID 0 for large disk groups. 2. HP SmartPath
On some Gen8 servers, users have reported that updating the P420i firmware to the latest version (e.g., v8.32) may automatically unlock certain advanced features without requiring a separate license key. You can check for the latest drivers and firmware on the official HPE Support Portal . Evaluation Keys The is an integrated (hence the “i” in
This is the easiest method if your operating system isn't booted yet. Reboot your HP ProLiant Gen8 server.
ssacli ctrl slot=0 show license
Even with the correct procedures, you may encounter issues. Here is how to address them.