RAID Support

The Intel® Server Board S5000VSA is available in both SATA and SAS models. The SATA model has order code S5000VSASATA. The SAS model has order code S5000VSASAS. The SAS model provides both SAS and SATA support; the SATA model provides only SATA support.

For information on configuring RAID, see the RAID Software Guide that is included on the Intel® Server Deployment Toolkit CD.

SATA Server Board

The Intel® Server Board S5000VSA provides an embedded SATA controller that supports both 1.5 and 3.0 Gbps data transfer rates.

The BIOS Setup utility provides multiple drive configuration options on the Advanced ATA Controller setup page, some of which affect the ability to configure RAID. The “Onboard SATA Controller” option is enabled by default. When this option is enabled, the “SATA Mode” option can be set to either Legacy or Enhanced. The Legacy and Enhanced modes affect the RAID configuration as follows:

Legacy supports four disk drives and does not provide RAID support.

Enhanced supports six disk drives and is required for RAID configurations.

When the enhanced mode is selected, you can choose to enable or disable “AHCI Mode” or “Configure SATA as RAID”. Intel® Embedded Server RAID Technology II is enabled by the option, “Configure SATA as RAID.” The Intel® Embedded Server RAID Technology II feature provides RAID modes 0, 1, and 10.

For RAID 0, 1, and 10, enclosure management is provided through the SATA_SGPIO connector on the server board when a cable is attached between this connector on the server board and to the backplane I2C interface.

If RAID 5 is desired, the optional Intel® RAID Activation Key AXXRAKSW5 (available post-release) can be installed. To enable RAID 5, this activation key is placed on the SATA_Key connector that is located at the left side of the server board. For information on how to install the Intel® RAID Activation Key AXXRAKSW5 accessory to enable RAID 5, see the documentation that is included with the accessory kit.

Notes: For assistance in navigating through the F2 BIOS Setup utility, see the Intel® Server Board S5000VSA Technical Product Specification.

For information on setting up RAID, see the RAID Software Guide that is included on the Intel® Server Deployment Toolkit CD.

Intel® Server Board S5000VSA User’s Guide

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Intel S5000VSA manual RAID Support, Sata Server Board

S5000VSA specifications

The Intel S5000VSA is a server motherboard that has been tailored to meet the needs of businesses requiring a reliable and scalable infrastructure. Designed for Intel's 5000 series of chipsets, this motherboard is notable for its standards in performance, flexibility, and management capabilities.

One of the standout features of the Intel S5000VSA is its support for dual Intel Xeon processors. The flexibility to utilize various Xeon chips allows organizations to select the optimal processing power for their specific workloads, whether that be database management, virtualization, or heavy computation tasks. This capability is essential for providing the high levels of performance and responsiveness businesses demand in their server environments.

The motherboard supports up to 32GB of memory using DDR2 technology, with eight DIMM slots available for expansion. This memory capacity allows for significant multitasking and resource management, essential in data-heavy server applications. The board supports both ECC (Error-Correcting Code) and non-ECC memory, offering organizations options depending on their fault tolerance needs.

In terms of connectivity, the S5000VSA comes equipped with multiple PCI Express slots, providing ample options for expandability with various I/O cards or additional network interfaces. This is particularly important as businesses grow and require additional capabilities or higher performance networking solutions.

The Intel S5000VSA is also noted for its advanced management features. Integrated Remote Management capabilities enable IT administrators to monitor and manage the system from afar, enhancing both uptime and ease of maintenance. Support for Intel’s Active Management Technology (AMT) allows for greater control over the server and improves security by enabling remote management regardless of the operating system state.

Another important aspect of the S5000VSA is its built-in RAID controller that supports several RAID levels. This feature enhances data reliability and performance, allowing users to configure their storage systems according to their needs, whether they prioritize speed or redundancy.

In summary, the Intel S5000VSA is a robust server motherboard designed with scalability, performance, and management in mind. It supports dual Xeon processors, offers extensive memory options, and provides essential features such as RAID support and remote management. This makes it a suitable choice for data centers and enterprises looking for a competitive edge through advanced technology.