IBM MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller Description, General Description, Controller Limitations

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1.2MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller Description

The MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter is available with eight PHYs. The MegaRAID 8480 has one Intel IOP333 I/O processor that controls eight external SAS/SATA ports through two SAS 4x external connectors.

1.2.1Controller Limitations

The MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter has the following limitations:

You can connect only one device per SAS PHY unless you use an expander

You can use a maximum external cable length of six feet (LSI recommends using shorter cables, if possible)

Cables have to meet the SAS specification

Though you can mix SAS drives and SATA drives in the same virtual disk, LSI strongly discourages the practice

See Section 3.3.4, “Electrical Characteristics,” for information about the power requirements, and Section 3.3.5, “Operating and Non- operating Conditions” for information about the minimum and maximum temperature ranges

1.3General Description

The MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter brings 3.0 Gbit/s Serial Attached SCSI and 3.0 Gbit/s Serial ATA II performance to host adapter, workstation, and server designs. The controller supports external storage devices, which allows you to use a system that supports enterprise-class SAS and desktop-class SATA II drives. Each MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter can connect to drives directly and can use expanders to connect to additional drives. Simplified cabling between devices is an additional benefit.

The RAID controller integrates eight high-performance SAS/SATA II PHYs and a PCI Express bus master DMA core. Each of the eight PHYs is capable of 3.0 Gbit/s SAS link rates and 3.0 Gbit/s SATA II link rates.

MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller Description

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Copyright © 2006-2007 by LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Contents L y 2 0 0 USER’S GuideTrademark Acknowledgment Organization AudienceMegaRAID 8480 Software User’s Guide MegaRAID 8480 Device Driver Installation User’s GuideRevision History ConventionsIBM Customer Support Web site Safety InstructionsMail PhoneWhen Working Inside Your Computer ViiiPreface Contents Chapter MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter Characteristics Figures XiiContents Tables XivContents Overview Chapter OverviewMegaRAID Battery Backup Unit User’s Guide on Controller Limitations MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller DescriptionGeneral Description 4Overview Configuration ScenarioExample of LSI SAS Direct-Connect Application Physical Drives Required for Each RAID Level Number of Physical Disks SupportedBenefits of the SAS Interface Operating System Support Summary of MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller CharacteristicsPCI Express Architecture Sata II Features SAS FeaturesPCI Express Performance Usability FeaturesDrive Roaming Flexibility FeaturesDrive Migration Hardware Specifications MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter SpecificationsTechnical Support Requirements Chapter MegaRAID Hardware InstallationDetailed Installation Quick InstallationReview the Controller Limitations Example of MegaRAID Board Installation in a PCI Express Slot Detailed Installation SAS Device Cables Sata II Connectors SAS and Sata II Plugs and SAS Backplane Receptacle Connector Copyright 2006-2007 by LSI Corporation. All rights reserved After Installing the Storage Adapter MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller Chapter MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter CharacteristicsCard Layout for the MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller MegaRAID 8480 RAID ControllerConnector Description Type Comments MegaRAID 8480 RAID Controller ConnectorsMegaRAID 8480 Characteristics MegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter CharacteristicsTechnical Specifications Storage Adapter Specifications Storage Adapter SpecificationsFault Tolerance Array Performance FeaturesArray Performance Features Fault Tolerance FeaturesSafety Characteristics Electrical CharacteristicsMaximum Power Requirements Operating and Non-operating ConditionsMegaRAID 8480 Storage Adapter Characteristics Active ConfigurationTermination ArrayHost adapter HostBoard Hot spareRAID levels Peripheral devicesStriping SAS deviceStripe size

MegaRAID 8480 specifications

The IBM MegaRAID 8480 is a high-performance RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controller designed for enterprise-class storage environments. It delivers advanced data protection, high availability, and exceptional scalability, making it an ideal choice for businesses that require robust data management solutions.

One of the main features of the IBM MegaRAID 8480 is its support for both SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA (Serial ATA) drives, providing flexibility in storage configurations. This controller supports up to 128 devices, allowing organizations to build large, efficient storage arrays that can accommodate extensive data needs.

The MegaRAID 8480 utilizes advanced RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, enabling users to select the level of data redundancy and performance that best fits their specific requirements. The controller also supports online capacity expansion and RAID level migration, ensuring that users can seamlessly adapt their storage configurations as their business evolves.

In terms of performance, the MegaRAID 8480 is equipped with 8GB of DDR4 cache memory, which significantly enhances data access speeds and provides improved I/O performance. With the ability to process a large number of transactions simultaneously, this controller is well-suited for demanding enterprise applications, such as database management systems and virtualized environments.

To further enhance data protection, the MegaRAID 8480 features battery-backed write cache technology. This ensures that data in the cache is not lost in the event of a power failure, safeguarding critical information. Furthermore, the MegaRAID SafeStore technology offers additional protection through encryption-key management, which helps safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Another notable characteristic is the intuitive management interface provided by the MegaRAID Storage Manager software. This tool streamlines storage monitoring and enables users to easily manage their RAID configurations. Additionally, the controller supports advanced diagnostic features that assist administrators in identifying and resolving potential issues before they escalate.

The IBM MegaRAID 8480 is designed for the modern data-driven enterprise, combining performance, reliability, and scalability into a comprehensive storage solution. With its robust set of features and cutting-edge technology, it empowers organizations to enhance their data management strategies while ensuring that their critical applications remain available and secure. This makes the MegaRAID 8480 a standout choice for businesses seeking to future-proof their storage infrastructure.