CHAPTER 1: Introduction

Controller module

Caution

Operation of the enclosure with any modules missing disrupts the airflow and the drives do not receive sufficient cooling. All openings must be filled before operating the enclosure.

When only one controller module is installed, a blank module must be installed in the vacant controller module slot at the rear of the enclosure to maintain airflow and ensure correct operation.

Important

Do not mix Disk I/O modules and RAID Controller modules in the same enclosure. Disk I/O modules are only installed in the expansion enclosure and RAID Controllers are only installed in the RAID enclosure.

One or two controller modules (depending on your configuration) are supplied and mounted in the back of the enclosure as part of the Gateway E-842R enclosure core product.

The plug-in controller modules have been designed for integration into the enclosure, providing external FC cable interfacing with the host computer system.

The backplane incorporates a connection to each of the SAS ports within the controller modules.

The controller module’s internal processor monitors error conditions on each disk drive port. Processors housed on the controller modules provide enclosure management interfacing to devices on the backplane, power supply module, controller module, and Ops panel to monitor internal functions. These processors operate in a dual active configuration to allow failover.

The module incorporates LED indicators. For the location of the LED indicators, see “Controller module LEDs” on page 8.

External ports

The RAID controller module has the following external ports:

•Two external (host) SAS ports that allow for fitting of Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) modules, with auto-bypass at the output. Either or both of these SFP ports can be used to provide connection to the host controllers. Each host port operates at 3 Gb/s, giving an effective speed of 6 Gb/s. These ports are also backwards compatible with 2 Gb/s hosts.

•An SAS expansion port supports as many as four expansion enclosures through an SFF-8470 connector.

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