The HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 is a software-based RAID solution that requires specific drivers to function correctly under Windows Server 2022. While it provides essential data protection features like rebuilding arrays after drive failure, its software-only nature means RAID processing relies on the system's CPU, which can lead to performance variations depending on your hardware configuration. Driver Compatibility and Downloads
For Windows Server 2022, you should use the latest qualified drivers to ensure stability and performance.
HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 SW RAID Driver: Version 1010.14.0.0(C) is the official release supporting Windows Server 2022.
Alternative Driver Package: For broader compatibility, the HPE Smart Array Gen10, Gen10Plus and Gen11 Controller Driver also supports Windows Server 2022/2025 and is recommended for use alongside specific controller firmware (version 8.00). Installation and Setup
Because the S100i driver is not included in the standard Windows installation media, the OS will not recognize your RAID logical volumes by default during setup.
Assisted Installation: Use HPE Intelligent Provisioning during setup; it automatically injects the necessary drivers, requiring no manual intervention.
Manual Injection: If installing from standard media, you must: Extract the driver files to a FAT32-formatted USB drive. hpe smart array s100i sr gen10 driver windows server 2022
During the "Where do you want to install Windows?" step, click Load Driver and point to the folder on your USB drive.
BIOS Configuration: Ensure the "Embedded SATA Configuration" in the UEFI System Utilities (F9) is set to Smart Array SW RAID Support. Note that this feature is not supported in Legacy BIOS mode. Performance and Management
Management Tools: Use the HPE Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) GUI or CLI to configure and monitor your arrays. Since the S100i is a "RAID-only" controller, individual physical drives are masked from the OS and only logical volumes are exposed.
Performance Note: Some users have reported performance drops in RAID-5 configurations on specific Gen10 Plus models; ensuring you have the latest firmware and driver combination is critical for optimal throughput.
For Windows Server 2022, the official driver for the HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 is available on the HPE Support Center. Because the
is a software-based RAID (SW RAID) controller, its drivers are not included in the standard Windows installation media. If you are installing the OS onto a logical drive managed by this controller, you must manually provide the driver during the installation process to make the drive visible. Key Specifications & Support Controller Type: Embedded 6Gb/s SATA software RAID. The HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 is
RAID Levels: Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 for up to 14 drives.
Boot Mode: Only supported in UEFI Boot Mode; it will not function in Legacy BIOS Mode.
Official Driver: Version 1010.14.0.0(C) (or later) is specifically listed for Windows Server 2022. Installation Methods
According to HPE Documentation, there are two primary ways to install the driver: Intelligent Provisioning (Recommended):
Using the assisted installation in HPE Intelligent Provisioning automatically injects the required Manual Driver Injection: Download the driver component (.exe) from the HPE site. Extract the contents to a USB drive.
During the Windows "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, click Load Driver and browse to the folder on your USB. Preparation Checklist What is the HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10
HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 Controllers - Enabling Software RAID
Before diving into drivers, let’s clarify the hardware. The S100i is an integrated SATA software RAID controller embedded on the system board of many HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers (e.g., DL20 Gen10, DL120 Gen10, ML30 Gen10, microserver Gen10). It supports:
The “SR” in the name stands for “Software RAID,” meaning the CPU handles all RAID calculations. This contrasts with hardware RAID controllers, which have dedicated processors and cache memory.
You have three primary methods to install the HPE Smart Array S100i SR Gen10 driver on Windows Server 2022.
Once Windows Server 2022 is installed, you need management software to monitor the health of your drives and arrays.