Table of Contents
Specifically designed to accelerate the types of tasks that are commonly found in data processing and analytics workloads
HPE Data Processing Units accelerate data processing and analytics workloads, including accelerated computing and generative AI, with NVIDIA® BlueField®-3 technology. They support Ethernet and InfiniBand connectivity at speeds of up to 400 Gb/s.
Overview
DPU Mode
HPE Data Processing Unit P66386-H21 operates in DPU mode by default and functions as a cloud infrastructure processor. It offloads, accelerates, and isolates networking, storage, security, and management tasks to help improve data center performance, efficiency, and security. By separating infrastructure services from business applications, the DPU enables a zero-trust infrastructure, optimized operations, and a lower total cost of ownership. Products operating in DPU mode are optimized for north-south traffic in GPU systems.
SuperNIC Mode
HPE Data Processing Unit P66387-H21 operates in SuperNIC mode by default. In this mode, the DPU is optimized for east-west traffic in GPU systems and enables accelerated networking for AI computing. Its power-efficient, low-profile design and best-in-class RoCE capabilities help deliver consistent, predictable performance and peak efficiency for AI workloads.
Models | SKU |
| HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR200/Ethernet 200GB 2-port QSFP112 FHHL B3220 Adapter | P66386-H21 |
| HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400GB 1-port QSFP112 HHHL B3140H Adapter | P66387-H21 |
Standard Features
Servers Supported | SKU |
| HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR200/Ethernet 200GB 2-port QSFP112 FHHL B3220 Adapter | P66386-H21 |
| |
| HPE Data Processing Unit InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400Gb 1-port QSFP112 HHHL B3140H Adapter | P66387-H21 |
| |
Supported Host Operating Systems
Supported DPU host operating system distributions:
- – RHEL/CentOS 9.1
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.9
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.8
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.6
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.2
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.1
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.0
- – RHEL/CentOS 7.6
- – RHEL/CentOS 7.5
- – RHEL/CentOS 7.4
- – Ubuntu 22.04
- – Ubuntu 20.04
- – Ubuntu 18.04
- – Debian 10.8
- – Windows Server 2019
- – Windows Server 2016
- – Windows Server 2022
Supported DPU Linux distribution (AArch64):
- – Ubuntu 22.04
Allowed:
- – Ubuntu 20.04
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.6
- – RHEL/CentOS 8.2
- – RHEL/CentOS 7.6
- – Debian 11
Supported Open vSwitch:
- – 2.15.1
Please refer to the firmware/software download page of the device for the latest update.
https://docs.nvidia.com/networking/display/MLNXOFEDv581121LTS/General+Support
The HPE Data Processing Units have integrated 3-year software support entitlement through the hardware purchase. The software and support for the software should be obtained directly from NVIDIA as required.
VMware support for HPE Data Processing Units begins with VMware ESXi 7.0 U3 and 8.0 U2. The DPU is supported only in SuperNIC mode and must be configured to use the Ethernet protocol.
Server Integration
The HPE Data Processing Units are validated, tested, and qualified server options for the supported HPE servers.
This approach provides a more robust and reliable networking solution than offerings from other vendors and provides users with a single point of contact for both their servers and their network adapters.
Technical Specifications
HPE Services
No matter where you are in your digital transformation journey, you can count on HPE Services to deliver the expertise you need when, where and how you need it. From planning to deployment, ongoing operations and beyond, our experts can help you realize your digital ambitions.
Consulting Services
No matter where you are in your journey to hybrid cloud, experts can help you map out your next steps. From determining what workloads should live where, to handling governance and compliance, to managing costs, our experts can help you optimize your operations.
https://www.HPE.com/services/consulting
HPE Managed Services
HPE runs your IT operations, providing services that monitor, operate, and optimize your infrastructure and applications, delivered consistently and globally to give you unified control and let you focus on innovation.
Operational Services
Optimize your entire IT environment and drive innovation. Manage day-to-day IT operational tasks while freeing up valuable time and resources. Meet service-level targets and business objectives with features designed to drive better business outcomes.
https://www.HPE.com/services/operational
HPE Complete Care Service
HPE Complete Care Service is a modular, edge-to-cloud IT environment service designed to help optimize your entire IT environment and achieve agreed upon IT outcomes and business goals through a personalized experience. All delivered by an assigned team of HPE Services experts. HPE Complete Care Service provides:
- – A complete coverage approach -- edge to cloud
- – An assigned HPE team
- – Modular and fully personalized engagement
- – Enhanced Incident Management experience with priority access
- – Digitally enabled and AI driven customer experience
https://www.HPE.com/services/completecare
HPE Tech Care Service
HPE Tech Care Service is the operational support experience for HPE products. It goes beyond traditional support by providing access to product-specific experts, an AI-driven digital experience, and general technical guidance that helps reduce risk and identifies opportunities for improvement. HPE Tech Care Service delivers a customer-centric, AI-driven, digitally enabled experience that helps move your business forward. It is available in three response levels: Basic provides 9x5 business-hours availability and a two-hour response time; Essential provides a 15-minute response time, 24x7, for most enterprise-level customers; and Critical includes a six-hour repair commitment, where available, and outage-management response for severity 1 incidents.
HPE Lifecycle Services
HPE Lifecycle Services provide a variety of options to help maintain your HPE systems and solutions at all stages of the product lifecycle. A few popular examples include:
- – Lifecycle Install and Startup Services: Various levels for physical installation and power on, remote access setup, installation and startup, and enhanced installation services with the operating system.
- – HPE Firmware Update Analysis Service: Recommendations for firmware revision levels for selected HPE products, taking into account the relevant revision dependencies within your IT environment.
- – HPE Firmware Update Implementation Service: Implementation of firmware updates for selected HPE server, storage, and solution products, taking into account the relevant revision dependencies within your IT environment.
- – Implementation assistance services: Highly trained technical service specialists to assist you with a variety of activities, ranging from design, implementation, and platform deployment to consolidation, migration, project management, and onsite technical forums.
- – HPE Service Credits: Access to prepaid services for flexibility to choose from a variety of specialized service activities, including assessments, performance maintenance reviews, firmware management, professional services, and operational best practices.
Notes: To review the list of Lifecycle Services available for your product go to:
https://www.HPE.com/services/lifecycle
For a list of the most frequently purchased services using service credits, see the HPE Service Credits Menu
Other Related Services from HPE Services:
HPE Education Services
HPE Education Services offers training and certification for IT and business professionals across industries. A broad catalog of courses helps learners expand their skills in areas ranging from cloud and cybersecurity to AI and DevOps. Organizations can create learning paths that build proficiency in specific subjects and schedule training around business needs through flexible, continuous learning options.
https://www.HPE.com/services/training
Defective Media Retention
Defective Media Retention is an option available with HPE Complete Care Service and HPE Tech Care Service. It applies only to disks or eligible SSDs and flash drives that HPE replaces because of a malfunction.
Consult your HPE Sales Representative or Authorized Channel Partner of choice for any additional questions and services options.
Parts and Materials
HPE will provide HPE-supported replacement parts and materials necessary to maintain the covered hardware product in operating condition, including parts and materials for available and recommended engineering improvements.
Parts and components that have reached their maximum supported lifetime or the usage limits specified in the manufacturer’s operating manual, product QuickSpecs, or technical product data sheet will not be provided, repaired, or replaced as part of these services.
How to Purchase Services
Services are sold by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Authorized Service Partners:
- – Services for customers purchasing from HPE or an enterprise reseller are quoted using HPE order configuration tools.
- – Customers purchasing from a commercial reseller can find services at https://ssc.HPE.com/portal/site/ssc/
AI Powered and Digitally Enabled Support Experience
Achieve faster time to resolution with access to product-specific resources and expertise through an AI-powered, digital, data-driven customer experience.
Sign into the HPE Support Center experience, featuring streamlined self-serve case creation and management capabilities with inline knowledge recommendations. You will also find personalized task alerts and powerful troubleshooting support through an intelligent virtual agent with seamless transition when needed to a live support agent.
Consume IT On Your Terms
The GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform brings the cloud experience directly to your applications and data, wherever they reside—at the edge, in colocation facilities, or in your data center. It delivers cloud services for on-premises IT infrastructure tailored to demanding workloads. With a managed, pay-per-use, scalable, point-and-click self-service experience, the GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform accelerates digital transformation in a distributed world.
- – Get faster time to market
- – Save on TCO, align costs to business
- – Scale quickly, meet unpredictable demand
- – Simplify IT operations across your data centers and clouds
To learn more about HPE Services, please contact your Hewlett Packard Enterprise sales representative or Hewlett Packard Enterprise Authorized Channel Partner. Contact information for a representative in your area can be found at "Contact HPE" https://www.HPE.com/us/en/contact-HPE.html
For more information
Product Features / Technical Specifications
NVIDIA SuperNIC Mode Datasheet
Please refer to the QuickSpecs of supported servers for additional environmental and other constraints
Environment-friendly products and end-of-life management
Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers end-of-life product return, trade-in, and recycling programs, in many geographic areas, for our products. Products returned to Hewlett Packard Enterprise will be recycled, recovered or disposed of in a responsible manner.
The EU WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU) requires manufacturers to provide treatment information for each product type for use by treatment facilities. This information (product disassembly instructions) is posted on the Hewlett Packard Enterprise web site.
These instructions may be used by recyclers and other WEEE treatment facilities, as well as by Hewlett Packard Enterprise OEM customers that integrate and resell Hewlett Packard Enterprise equipment.
Summary of Changes
| Date | Version History | Action | Description of Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21-Sep-2026 | Changed | Replaced references to "HPE GreenLake" with "GreenLake" to align with current branding standards. | |
| 16-Feb-2026 | Changed | Visual rebranding only—updated typography, colors, and design elements to align with new HPE brand standards. No technical specifications or content were modified. | |
| 19-Aug-2024 | Changed | Updated the Standard Features section, including VMware support information. | |
| 17-Jun-2024 | Changed | Overview and Standard Features sections were updated. | |
| 03-Jun-2024 | Changed | Updated the Overview, Standard Features, and Technical Specifications sections; removed CX-7-related content; updated operating system information; and reformatted the document. | |
| 20-May-2024 | Changed | Standard Features section was updated | |
| 06-May-2024 | New | New QuickSpecs |
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