HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen9 Upgrade Guide: RAM and Storage

Updated Oct. 7, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

This guide covers adding memory and drives to the HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen9. The short answer: it takes up to 24 HPE SmartMemory DDR4 modules (up to 3 TB with v4 processors) and either 4 large or up to 10 small hot-plug drives, depending on your chassis.

At a glance

  • 24 DDR4 DIMM slots, 12 per processor, registered ECC (RDIMM or LRDIMM) only
  • Up to 3 TB with v4 CPUs and 128 GB LRDIMMs; v3 tables stop at 1.5 TB
  • Memory speed tops out at 2400 MT/s and can drop to 1866 MT/s
  • Chassis is 4LFF (3.5"), 8SFF or 10SFF (2.5"); check yours before buying drives
  • NVMe works only with the 10SFF Express Bay option, in bays 5-10
DDR4 RDIMM/LRDIMM slots (12 per CPU)24 × DDR4 DIMM · up to 3.072 TB total · 2400 MT/s · registered (RDIMM) · ECC
2.5" SFF hot-plug bays (8SFF or 10SFF chassis)10 × HDD / SSD 2.5" (SATA / SAS)
2.5" NVMe bays (10SFF Express Bay option, bays 5-10)6 × SSD 2.5" (NVMe)
3.5" LFF hot-plug bays (4LFF chassis)4 × HDD / SSD 3.5" (SATA / SAS)
24 × DIMM · DDR4up to 3 TB total2.5" SFF hot-plug bays (8SFF or 10SFF chassis)10 × HDD / SSD 2.5" (SATA / SAS)2.5" NVMe bays (10SFF Express Bay option, bays 5-10)6 × SSD 2.5" (NVMe)3.5" LFF hot-plug bays (4LFF chassis)4 × HDD / SSD 3.5" (SATA / SAS)
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

Standard support ended on July 22, 2025 (estimate).

20202021202220232024202520262027TodayEnd of sale · July 22, 2020EOSL · July 22, 2025
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDateSource
End of sale
No longer sold new by the manufacturer (Dell calls this 'End of Life', Lenovo 'Withdrawn').		 July 22, 2020 Estimate Estimate
Third-party (icd3s.com) end-of-sale date; no HPE-published notice found
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 July 22, 2025 Estimate Estimate
Third-party date for HPE EOSL (end of support life); also given by servnetuk.com for the DL360/DL380 Gen9 group

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

The DL360 Gen9 has 24 DDR4 slots: 12 per processor, arranged as 4 channels with 3 DIMMs each. It takes full-size HPE SmartMemory registered (RDIMM) or load-reduced (LRDIMM) modules with ECC. SO-DIMMs are not mentioned anywhere in the documentation. Third-party modules are unconfirmed, because the documents only describe HPE SmartMemory.

Each processor owns its own 12 slots, so using all 24 needs two CPUs. The largest module is 128 GB (octal-rank LRDIMM), and 128 GB modules can't be mixed with any other size. The maximum total is 3 TB (24 x 128 GB) of LRDIMM, or 768 GB (24 x 32 GB) of RDIMM. These top figures apply to v4 processors. The user guide's v3 tables stop at 64 GB modules and 1.5 TB with two processors (768 GB with one).

Speed is up to 2400 MT/s for RDIMMs and LRDIMMs. The actual speed depends on the module's rating, how many modules sit on each channel, your processor and the BIOS setting, and it can fall to 1866 MT/s. Documents for v3-era systems quote 2133 MT/s instead. NVDIMMs are supported only on factory-built servers with v4 processors (not v3 servers that were upgraded), with a maximum of 16, and they can't be combined with LRDIMMs.

Buying tips

  • Buy HPE SmartMemory RDIMM or LRDIMM only; plain desktop DIMMs and SO-DIMMs won't fit the platform.
  • Check whether your CPUs are v3 or v4 first, because it sets your speed and capacity ceiling.
  • Don't mix 128 GB modules with other sizes.
  • Plan on a second CPU if you want to fill all 24 slots.
  • Third-party module compatibility is unconfirmed, so check the seller's return policy.

Cheapest compatible right now

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Storage (drive bays, NVMe and M.2)

Your chassis decides what fits. The 4LFF chassis has four 3.5" SATA/SAS hot-plug bays. The 8SFF and 10SFF chassis use 2.5" SATA/SAS hot-plug bays, 8 or 10 respectively. Going from 8 to 10 small bays needs the 2SFF SAS/SATA Universal Media Bay kit, and the optical drive can't then use that bay. That kit is not supported in the 4LFF chassis. Drive thickness limits aren't given in the documents we have, and third-party drive compatibility is unconfirmed.

NVMe is possible only with the 10SFF Express Bay option: 6 NVMe bays plus 4 SAS/SATA. Bays 1-4 take SAS/SATA only and bays 5-10 take NVMe only. This needs the Express Bay enablement hardware, so you can't just drop an NVMe drive into an ordinary bay.

HPE also sells a Dual 340 GB M.2 kit that sits on a card in a PCIe slot. The M.2 drives are SATA, not NVMe, and they support software RAID only. M.2 lengths aren't stated, so we don't list it as a slot. Supported maximum drive sizes grew between HPE spec-sheet revisions: older sheets list 3.84 TB SSDs and 8 TB large-format drives, while the 2023 sheet lists up to 15.3 TB SAS SSDs, 7.68 TB SATA SSDs and 12 TB large-format drives. Older documents understate what is supported now.

Buying tips

  • Confirm your chassis (4LFF, 8SFF or 10SFF) before ordering any drive or kit.
  • For NVMe, make sure the 10SFF Express Bay hardware is already fitted.
  • Match the drive to the bay: 3.5" for 4LFF, 2.5" for the others.
  • Treat the M.2 kit as a boot-drive option only: SATA speed, software RAID, and it takes up a PCIe slot.
  • Check the latest spec sheet for maximum supported drive sizes.

Cheapest compatible right now

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How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Check whether your CPUs are v3 or v4 and, for storage, whether your chassis is 4LFF, 8SFF or 10SFF.
  • Back up your data and note your current RAID setup.
  • Download the user guide for your exact configuration and keep it handy.
  • Check for a BIOS and firmware update from HPE before adding new parts; the documents we have don't say whether one is required.
  • Have an anti-static wrist strap and a clean workspace ready.

Steps

  1. Back up and shut down
    Back up important data, then shut the server down properly from the operating system.
  2. Power off and unplug
    Disconnect all power cords and any other cables that are in the way.
  3. Ground yourself
    Use an anti-static strap or touch bare metal on the chassis before handling parts. Hold memory modules and drive carriers by their edges.
  4. Open the server
    Follow the owner's manual (the HPE user guide) to open the case and access the memory slots, drive bays or PCIe slots. It has the exact disassembly steps for your configuration.
  5. Install the part
    For memory, follow the slot population order in the user guide, and remember that each CPU only controls its own 12 slots. For drives, fit them in the bays that match their type; in a 10SFF Express Bay setup, NVMe drives go in bays 5-10 only.
  6. Close up and reconnect
    Refit the covers, reconnect the cables and power the server back on.
  7. Check that it's recognized
    Check the BIOS, firmware or management screens to confirm the new memory or drive appears. If memory runs slower than expected, check the memory speed setting in the BIOS (RBSU) and the number of modules per channel.

Good to know

  • Third-party memory and drive compatibility is unconfirmed; the documents only cover HPE SmartMemory and HPE-supplied drives.
  • Drive thickness limits aren't given in the documents we have.
  • Maximum drive sizes differ between spec-sheet revisions, so check the newest one.
  • Documents disagree on the PCIe slot 3 riser (low profile or full-height) and on kit part numbers, so check your own unit.
  • Third-party trackers list HPE support for this model as ended on July 22, 2025, and we couldn't find an HPE notice confirming it. The hardware keeps working, but OEM support can no longer be bought.
  • We have no verified CPU upgrade list for this model, so check HPE's documentation before buying a processor.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen9 take?

Up to 3 TB (24 x 128 GB LRDIMMs) with two v4 processors. The user guide's v3 tables stop at 64 GB modules and 1.5 TB with two CPUs. With standard RDIMMs, the limit is 768 GB (24 x 32 GB).

What type of RAM does the DL360 Gen9 use?

DDR4 HPE SmartMemory registered ECC modules, either RDIMM or LRDIMM, up to 2400 MT/s. Speed can drop to 1866 MT/s depending on CPU, module type and the number of modules per channel.

Does the DL360 Gen9 support NVMe drives?

Yes, but only with the 10SFF Express Bay option. That gives 6 NVMe bays (5-10) and 4 SAS/SATA bays (1-4). It needs the Express Bay enablement hardware.

Does the DL360 Gen9 support M.2 SSDs?

HPE sells a Dual 340 GB M.2 kit on a PCIe card. The drives are SATA only (not NVMe) and support software RAID only. M.2 lengths aren't listed.

How many drives can the DL360 Gen9 hold?

Up to 10 hot-plug 2.5" drives on the 10SFF chassis, 8 on the 8SFF chassis, or 4 hot-plug 3.5" drives on the 4LFF chassis.

Can I upgrade the CPU in a DL360 Gen9?

The server shipped with Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 and later v4 processors. We don't have a verified list of which processors are supported as upgrades, so check HPE's spec sheet and user guide for your exact model. Your CPU generation (v3 or v4) also affects memory limits, and a second CPU is needed to use all 24 memory slots.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.