HPE NS204i-p x2 Lanes NVMe PCIe3 x8 OS Boot Device

The HPE NS204i-p NVMe OS Boot Device is a self-contained, plug-and-play boot solution designed to streamline OS provisioning in HPE servers. This pre-configured PCIe card arrives with two 480 GB M.2 NVMe SSDs and hardware RAID 1 mirroring to protect your operating system, delivering fast, reliable startup without the need for GUI setup or complex installation steps. Built on NVMe technology and connected over a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, the NS204i-p is optimized for rapid OS boot times, reduced maintenance, and seamless deployment in mission-critical environments.

• Self-contained, plug-and-play boot solution: Designed for rapid deployment, the NS204i-p requires no additional software, drivers, or GUI configuration. Simply install the card in a supported PCIe slot, power up, and boot from the device. This streamlined process minimizes deployment time across multiple servers and eliminates complicated provisioning steps.
• Dual 480 GB M.2 NVMe SSDs with hardware RAID 1: The two NVMe drives operate in hardware RAID 1 to mirror the OS, delivering redundancy and resilience. If one drive experiences a failure, the other continues to boot the OS, reducing downtime and preserving system availability without taxing host CPU resources.
• PCIe 3.0 x8 interface for high-speed boot: The PCIe 3.0 x8 connection provides ample bandwidth to support quick OS loads and responsive boot behavior. This interface is designed to deliver fast initialization, smooth kernel loading, and efficient data paths for modern operating systems.
• NVMe technology for superior performance: Leveraging the NVMe protocol and the speed of M.2 SSDs, the NS204i-p delivers lower latency, higher IOPS, and faster boot times compared with traditional SATA-based boot devices. This translates to shorter startup sequences, quicker user login, and faster access to essential OS services.
• Pre-configured, vendor-supported solution: The NS204i-p comes ready to boot with OS mirroring in place, backed by HP’s support and documentation. This reduces deployment risk and ensures compatibility within HPE server ecosystems, making it ideal for streamlined data-center rollouts and consistent configurations across servers.

Technical Details of HPE NS204i-p

• Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
• Form factor: PCIe Add-In Card (AIC)
• Drives: 2 × 480 GB M.2 NVMe SSDs
• RAID: Hardware RAID 1 (mirroring) for OS redundancy
• OS boot configuration: Self-contained boot device; pre-configured for immediate OS boot without GUI setup
• NVMe support: NVMe protocol for low latency and high IOPS
• Installation readiness: Plug-and-play with standard server BIOS/UEFI boot options
• Compatibility considerations: Optimized for HPE server platforms with NVMe boot support; verify with your server compatibility matrix

How to install HPE NS204i-p

• Power down and prepare the server: Turn off the system, unplug power cords, and ground yourself to prevent static discharge.
• Open the chassis and locate a suitable PCIe slot: Identify an available PCIe 3.0 x8 slot that accommodates a PCIe Add-In Card in your server chassis.
• Install the NS204i-p: Insert the card firmly into the PCIe slot and secure it with the retaining screw or mechanism provided by the chassis.
• Configure boot order in BIOS/UEFI: Power on the server and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. Ensure the NS204i-p is recognized and set as a preferred boot device if required by your deployment.
• Boot and verify OS availability: Save changes and reboot. The device should boot the operating system from the pre-configured NVMe SSDs without additional software. If migrating an OS image, follow your standard migration process and confirm boot reliability from NS204i-p.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the HPE NS204i-p? The NS204i-p is a self-contained NVMe OS Boot Device on a PCIe add-in card, featuring two 480 GB M.2 NVMe SSDs configured in hardware RAID 1 to mirror the OS. It is designed for rapid, plug-and-play OS provisioning within HPE server environments.
• How does hardware RAID 1 work in this device? Hardware RAID 1 duplicates the OS across both 480 GB NVMe SSDs, so if one drive fails, the other can continue to boot the OS with minimal disruption, improving boot reliability and uptime without impacting host CPU performance.
• Do I need to install drivers or software? No. The NS204i-p is intended to be recognized by standard BIOS/UEFI NVMe boot paths, and it boots directly from the pre-configured OS image without additional software installation.
• Which servers are compatible with the NS204i-p? The NS204i-p is designed for HP/HPE server platforms that support NVMe boot devices. For precise model compatibility and BIOS/UEFI requirements, consult the official HPE compatibility matrix for your server model.
• What benefits can I expect from using the NS204i-p? Faster OS boot times, built-in OS redundancy through hardware RAID 1, simplified deployment with plug-and-play hardware, reduced maintenance and provisioning overhead, and tight integration with HP server ecosystems for consistent, reliable boot performance.