P12965-B21: HPE NS204i-p Gen10 Plus NVMe PCIe OS Boot Device
Also listed as: P14379-001, P14378-001, P12965-001, P26487-B21
The HPE NS204i-p Gen10 Plus (P12965-B21) is a dedicated hardware-mirrored OS boot device packaged as a low-profile half-height PCIe 3.0 card. Pre-installed with two 480GB enterprise M.2 NVMe solid-state drives configured in automatic hardware RAID 1, it delivers true plug-and-play OS installation without consuming front drive bays or requiring driver installations on VMware ESXi, Windows Server, or Linux. Buyers of used cards must verify that both M.2 modules are present and check drive health in iLO.
Specifications
| Part number | P12965-B21 |
|---|---|
| Brand | HPE |
| Type | Boot devices |
| Other numbers | P14379-001, P14378-001, P12965-001, P26487-B21 |
| Status | current |
| Capacity (GB) | 480 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x2 |
| Form factor | HHHL PCIe Card |
| Drives included | 2x 480GB M.2 NVMe SSDs |
| Raid levels | RAID1 (hardware mirrored) |
| Generation fit | Gen10 Plus / Gen11 |
About the P12965-B21
The HPE NS204i-p Gen10 Plus (P12965-B21) is a purpose-built, automated operating system boot solution delivered on a half-height, half-length (HHHL) PCIe card. It contains an integrated hardware RAID 1 ASIC paired with two pre-installed 480GB enterprise M.2 22110/2280 NVMe SSDs. Designed to liberate high-value front storage bays for customer data rather than OS drives, the NS204i-p requires no user RAID configuration and presents itself as a single bootable NVMe device directly to the UEFI BIOS across VMware ESXi, Linux, and Windows Server.
Compatibility
Compatible with HPE ProLiant Gen10 Plus, Gen11, and Apollo systems that offer an available x8 or x16 PCIe slot on primary or secondary riser cages, including DL380 Gen10 Plus/Gen11, DL360 Gen10 Plus/Gen11, and DL385 Gen11. It does not fit into standard Gen10 non-Plus servers due to firmware initialization requirements. Note that P12965-B21 requires opening the chassis and removing the PCIe card to service the internal M.2 SSDs, unlike the hot-pluggable rear-accessible NS204i-u Gen11 boot device (P48183-B21).
How to identify a genuine unit
Genuine NS204i-p units feature an HPE enterprise label on the PCIe card frame indicating Option Part Number P12965-B21, Spare Part Number P14379-001, and Assembly Part Number P14378-001. Under the protective metal heatsink cover, two enterprise 480GB M.2 NVMe SSDs bearing HPE spare part labels are secured with screw mounts. In HPE iLO 5 and iLO 6, the device enumerates under the Storage controller section as 'HPE NS204i-p Gen10+ NVMe OS Boot Device' with real-time RAID 1 status and drive wear indicators.
Buying used
When purchasing a pre-owned NS204i-p card, ensure that both original 480GB enterprise M.2 SSDs are installed and that both full-height and half-height PCI mounting brackets are included. Boot the server into UEFI System Utilities or inspect the iLO Storage tab to verify that the internal RAID 1 array status is 'OK' rather than 'Degraded' due to a failed or missing M.2 module. Check remaining endurance percentages on both M.2 SSDs using smartctl or iLO telemetry.
Reference prices (last 14 days, updated 2026-10-27)
New: USD 495 (1 sighting, Oct 2026)
Refurbished: USD 285 (1 sighting, Oct 2026)
All sightings
| Seller | Condition | Price | Note | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| serversupply.com | new | USD 495 | New factory sealed retail kit with 2x 480GB M.2 SSDs | 2026-10-27 |
| globalonetechnology.com | refurbished | USD 285 | Refurbished card with tested M.2 SSDs and clean RAID status | 2026-10-27 |
Prices seen on public listings on the dates shown, before tax and shipping. Not an offer.
Fits these models
- HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus
- HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus
- HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen11
- HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen11
- HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11
- HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen11
FAQ
Does the NS204i-p require special drivers to install VMware ESXi?
No, the NS204i-p uses inbox NVMe drivers provided natively with VMware ESXi, Windows Server, and enterprise Linux distributions. It presents itself as a standard bootable NVMe drive.
What happens if one of the two M.2 drives on the NS204i-p fails?
The hardware RAID 1 ASIC maintains uninterrupted server operation from the surviving SSD while iLO raises a Degraded Storage alert. Replacing the failed M.2 drive initiates an automated background rebuild without host intervention.
Buying or selling P12965-B21?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- HPE NS204i-p NVMe OS Boot Device QuickSpecs, checked 2026-10-27
- HPE PartSurfer P12965-B21 Record, checked 2026-10-27