Hp Smart Array P420i License Key
Given the age of the P420i (released 2012), you face a classic IT dilemma.
Case for buying a $50-100 second-hand license key:
Case for NOT buying a license (Upgrade):
Without the license, the P420i can only process parity for single-drive failure tolerance (RAID 5). The license enables the RAID 6 algorithms, which compute dual parity. This allows the array to survive the simultaneous failure of two physical drives—a critical requirement for large-capacity arrays where rebuild times are lengthy, and the probability of a second drive failure during reconstruction is statistically significant. hp smart array p420i license key
Once the key is entered, it is stored in the controller's NVRAM. It survives reboots and firmware updates. However, if the system board is replaced (since the P420i is integrated), the license is lost and must be re-applied.
The P420i’s base firmware provides standard RAID levels (0, 1, 1+0, 5) and basic cache operation. The optional license key enables HP SmartCache and HP SSD Smart Path — two features that dramatically improve performance in mixed HDD/SSD environments:
Without the license key, the P420i works perfectly for standard RAID setups. You only need the key if you plan to use SSD caching or want maximum SSD performance. Given the age of the P420i (released 2012),
RAID 10 (1+0) does not require a license. You give up some capacity (50% of raw storage) but gain excellent performance and faster rebuilds than RAID 5 or 6.
Example: Four 1TB drives → RAID 5 = 3TB usable (license required) → RAID 10 = 2TB usable (no license). For many small businesses, RAID 10 is actually better.
After applying, you can immediately create RAID 5/6 arrays. No reboot is required for key activation (though a reboot is recommended for stability). Case for NOT buying a license (Upgrade): Without
Even with a valid key, problems occur. Here is the fix for the top three errors:
Error 1: "License key is invalid for this controller"
Error 2: "Evaluation period has expired. Degraded performance."
Error 3: License installed, but RAID 5 still greyed out.
The license key unlocks the full potential of the SAS2208 processor.
