Super I/O, ISCSI Support | SUPER MICRO Computer X8SIL-F, X8SIL-V

Chapter 1: Introduction

1-6 Super I/O

The disk drive adapter functions of the Super I/O chip include a floppy disk drive controller that is compatible with industry standard 82077/765, a data separator, write pre-compensation circuitry, decode logic, data rate selection, a clock genera- tor, drive interface control logic and interrupt and DMA logic. The wide range of functions integrated onto the Super I/O greatly reduces the number of components required for interfacing with floppy disk drives. The Super I/O supports two 360 K, 720 K, 1.2 M, 1.44 M or 2.88 M disk drives and data transfer rates of 250 Kb/s, 500 Kb/s or 1 Mb/s.

It also provides two high-speed, 16550-compatible serial communication ports (UARTs). Each UART includes a 16-byte send/receive FIFO, a programmable baud rate generator, complete modem control capability and a processor interrupt sys- tem. Both UARTs provide legacy speed with baud rate of up to 115.2 Kbps as well as an advanced speed with baud rates of 250 K, 500 K, or 1 Mb/s, which support higher speed modems.

The Super I/O provides functions that comply with ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), which includes support of legacy and ACPI power manage- ment through a SMI or SCI function pin. It also features auto power management to reduce power consumption.

1-7 iSCSI Support

The X8SIL/X8SIL-F/X8SIL-V motherboard supports the iSCSI Internet Protocol. iSC- SI is an IP networking standard used to link and manage data storage, and transfer data across the internet and private intranets through long distance. iSCSI can be used to transmit data over local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), or the Internet. It can enable location-independent data storage and retrieval.

iSCSI allow clients to issue SCSI commands to remote SCSI storage devices and allow data centers to consolidate remote storage devices into storage arrays, giving an illusion of locally-attached disks to host servers. Unlike fiber-optic networks that require special cabling, iSCSI can run over long distance using existing networks.

For the X8SIL/X8SIL-F/X8SIL-V motherboard, iSCSI is supported on LAN 1. This can be enabled through the BIOS: Advanced => PCI/PnP Configuration => Onboard LAN1 Option ROM Select. Please see Chapter 4 for details.

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X8SIL-V, X8SIL-F, X8SIL specifications

SUPER MICRO Computer X8SIL, X8SIL-F, and X8SIL-V are advanced server motherboards designed to meet the demanding needs of today's data centers and enterprise environments. These motherboards from Supermicro deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including virtualization, cloud computing, and database management.

One of the main features of the X8SIL series is its compatibility with Intel's Xeon 5500 and 5600 series processors. This allows users to harness the power of multi-core technology, ensuring optimal performance for both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. With support for up to 144GB of DDR3 ECC memory, the X8SIL motherboards provide ample memory bandwidth, enhancing the overall system performance and efficiency.

The X8SIL-F variant includes an integrated IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) feature, which enables remote management and monitoring of the system. This technology allows IT administrators to proactively manage server health, perform remote troubleshooting, and ensure minimal downtime. Additionally, the X8SIL-F supports Supermicro's Green Computing technology, which helps reduce power consumption and enhance energy efficiency, leading to lower operational costs.

In terms of storage, the X8SIL series offers multiple SATA and SAS interface options, facilitating a wide range of storage configurations. The motherboards feature six SATA II ports and optional SAS capabilities, allowing users to implement RAID setups for improved performance and data redundancy. This flexibility in storage solutions is crucial for environments that require high availability and reliability.

The X8SIL motherboard series is equipped with a range of I/O ports, including multiple USB ports, PCI Express slots, and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. This extensive connectivity ensures that users can easily expand and customize their systems according to specific application needs. The onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports provide fast network access, which is essential for data-intensive workloads.

Furthermore, the X8SIL, X8SIL-F, and X8SIL-V boast an efficient thermal design. These motherboards feature robust heat sinks and fan headers, which help maintain optimal operating temperatures, even under heavy workloads. This thermal efficiency is critical in extending the lifespan of components and ensuring consistent performance.

In summary, SUPER MICRO Computer's X8SIL, X8SIL-F, and X8SIL-V motherboards stand out with their strong performance, advanced management features, flexible storage options, and efficient thermal design. These characteristics make them ideal choices for businesses looking to build reliable and scalable data center solutions.