HPE has announced an expansion of its ProLiant edge compute portfolio, introducing new hardware designed to support AI inferencing and mission-critical applications in distributed or harsh environments. The update includes the new HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000 chassis, which serves as the foundation for two Gen12 servers, and an enhanced version of the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11. These platforms target sectors such as national security, manufacturing, and telecommunications, where standard data center infrastructure is not feasible.
HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000 Gen12 Chassis
A key addition to the lineup is the Environmental Ruggedization Option Kit. This modular enhancement allows systems to operate at high or low altitudes, in extreme temperatures, and under hazardous transit conditions. The portfolio emphasizes enterprise-grade security and automated operations, enabling organizations to scale edge deployments in remote locations with minimal on-site staffing.
Next-Generation Rugged Performance with the EL2000
The HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000 chassis is a purpose-built solution for size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained environments. It supports either two HPE ProLiant Compute EL220 Gen12 servers or a single EL240 Gen12 server. Built on Intel Xeon 6 processors, these servers offer scalability from 8 to 144 cores and support CPUs with a thermal design power of up to 350 watts.
HPE ProLiant EL240 Gen12 Server
The EL2000 systems are engineered for durability, maintaining reliable operation in temperatures ranging from -40 to 55 degrees Celsius and up to 95 percent humidity. Design considerations include resistance to heavy vibration, environmental contaminants, and electromagnetic interference. For AI-heavy workloads, the EL240 Gen12 server supports NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 or Blackwell Server Edition RTX PRO 6000 GPUs. The integration includes support for NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, targeting high-assurance environments that require rigorous security standards.
HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 EL220
Enhanced DL145 Gen11 and Telco Optimization
HPE also introduced a revised version of the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 server. This 2U system is powered by AMD EPYC 8005 series processors, offering up to 84 energy-efficient cores. The server is optimized for distributed telco environments and quiet retail or manufacturing deployments, with an operating temperature ceiling of 55 degrees Celsius.
HPE ProLiant Compute DL145 Gen11
The DL145 Gen11 has been validated for edge AI inferencing performance, as noted in recent MLPerf Inference results. Additionally, HPE is offering the ProLiant DL145 Gen11 Premier Solution for Azure Local. This configuration is designed specifically for edge sites running Azure services, and supports Azure Local Disconnected Operations to ensure continuity at remote sites with intermittent connectivity.
(At the time of this news release, we were only able to get the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 Spec Sheet.)
| Model | HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 |
| Processor | |
| Processor type | AMD |
| Processor family | 4th/5th Generation AMD EPYC™ Processors |
| Processor core available | 8 to 84 cores |
| Processor cache | Up to 384 MB L3, depending on the processor |
| Processor number | 1P |
| Processor speed | Up to 4.5 GHz, depending on the processor |
| Memory | |
| Maximum memory | Up to 768 GB memory capacity (using 128 GB DIMMs) |
| Memory slots | 6 |
| Memory type | HPE DDR5 Smart Memory |
| Memory protection features | ECC |
| Storage | |
| Drive supported | 2 SFF or 6 EDSFF SATA/NVMe |
| Storage controller | HPE Compute MR Gen11 Controllers for detailed descriptions reference the QuickSpecs. |
| Security | |
| Security | TPM 2.0, silicon root of trust, secure boot, chassis intrusion detection and bezel lock, and Kensington lock, optional data-at-rest hardware encryption. For full security features refer to the QuickSpecs. |
| Management | |
| Infrastructure management | HPE iLO Standard with Intelligent Provisioning (embedded), HPE OneView Standard (requires download), HPE iLO Advanced, HPE iLO Advanced Premium Security Edition, and HPE OneView Advanced (require licenses), HPE Compute Ops Management (subscription included). Refer to the iLO 6 User Guide |
| Expansion & Networking | |
| Expansion slots | 4x PCIe Gen5 (2 FHFL, 1 FHHL, 1 OCP 3.0) for detailed descriptions reference the QuickSpecs |
| Network controller | Optional OCP and/or optional PCIe network adapters, depending on model. |
| Power & Cooling | |
| Power supply type | 2 Flexible Slot power supplies maximum, depending on model |
| System fan features | 4 Standard or Performance Fans, depending on environment, N+1 redundancy |
| Form factor | |
| Form factor | 2U Rack |
Standards Compliance and Remote Management
The expanded portfolio meets several high-consequence environmental and security standards. This includes U.S. national security benchmarks for survivability under thermal stress, altitude changes, shock, and vibration. The systems also adhere to electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection standards and telecom network specifications, supporting 5G core and RAN infrastructure with an aim for five-nines availability.
Management is handled through Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) and HPE Compute Ops Management. This combination provides centralized control and real-time visibility across geographically dispersed sites. By automating compliance and deployment tasks, HPE aims to bridge the gap between traditional IT management and the inherent physical exposure of edge computing.
According to Krista Satterthwaite, senior vice president and general manager of Compute at HPE, organizations are increasingly deploying AI inferencing and remote operations at the edge, areas where traditional IT frameworks often fall short. She emphasized that the HPE ProLiant platform is designed with enterprise-grade security, optimized performance, and integrated management and automation capabilities. Satterthwaite added that these features facilitate the deployment, management, and scaling of edge environments, enabling organizations to effectively handle the complexities of edge computing with durable, high-performance hardware.
Availability
The enhanced HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 and the Environmental Ruggedization Option Kit are available immediately. The HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 Premier Solution for Azure Local is expected in May 2026, while the EL2000 chassis and its corresponding Gen12 servers are scheduled for release later in 2026.
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