SAS Controller Description

The RAID Controller SRCSAS18E is available with eight ports via two x4 SFF8484 connectors. The RAID Controller SRCSAS18E has one Intel® IOP333 I/O processor that controls the SAS interface.

The RAID Controller SRCSAS18E brings 3.0 Gbit/s Serial Attached SCSI and 3.0 Gbit/s SATA performance to host adapter, workstation, and server designs. The controller support internal storage devices and allows you to use a system that supports enterprise- class SAS and desktop-class SATA drives.

The SAS controller integrates eight high-performance SAS/SATA phys. Each of the eight phys is capable of 3.0 Gbit/s SAS link rates, and 3.0 Gbit/s SATA link rates.

The SAS RAID controller supports the SAS protocol as described in the Serial Attached SCSI Standard, version 1.0, as well as SAS 1.1 features. The controller also supports the Serial ATA protocol defined by the Serial ATA specification, version 1.0a. In addition, the SAS RAID controller supports the following SATA features:

3 Gbit/s SATA

Staggered spin-up

Hot Plug

Native Command Queuing (NCQ)

Note: Available with TA D46199-003 or later only.

Activity and fault indicators per phy

Port Selector (for dual-port drives)

Each port on the SAS controller supports SAS and SATA devices using the SAS Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP), Serial Management Protocol (SMP), Serial Tunneling Protocol (STP), and SATA. The SSP protocol enables communication with other SAS devices. SATA enables the SAS controller to communicate with other SATA devices. The SAS RAID controller supports a x8 PCI Express interface.

Configuration Scenarios

The following scenerio is an example of how to use the SAS controller on the RAID Controller SRCSAS18E:

Low-end, internal SATA configurations: as a high-end SATA-compatible controller that connects up to eight disks either directly or through a port expander. Enclosure management through out-of-band I2C. Mostly for low end or entry servers

Midrange internal SAS configurations: like internal SATA configurations, but with high-end disks. Suitable for low- to mid- range servers.

Figure 1 shows a direct-connect configuration.

Intel® RAID Controller SRCSAS18E User’s Guide

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Intel SRCSAS18E manual SAS Controller Description, Configuration Scenarios

SRCSAS18E specifications

The Intel SRCSAS18E is a robust and high-performance storage controller card designed for data-intensive applications, primarily targeted at enterprise environments. Featuring support for both Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and SATA drives, this controller brings an impressive array of features, technologies, and characteristics that enhance storage performance, reliability, and scalability.

One of the standout features of the SRCSAS18E is its capability to manage up to 18 drives simultaneously. This is achieved through the use of eight internal ports, which can connect to a wide range of SAS and SATA drives, enabling organizations to build a scalable storage architecture. The controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, providing flexibility in data management and protection strategies. This RAID functionality ensures that data can be mirrored, striped, or spread across multiple drives to enhance performance and redundancy, which is crucial for minimizing downtime.

The SRCSAS18E incorporates advanced technologies such as Intel's RAID Response Technology, which allows for enhanced data protection and recovery options. This technology facilitates faster rebuilding of arrays in the event of a drive failure, significantly reducing the risk of data loss. Additionally, the controller includes battery-backed cache memory, which helps to ensure data integrity and performance by providing temporary storage during write operations, even in case of power loss.

For seamless integration with current infrastructure, the SRCSAS18E supports PCI Express interface. It offers up to 6 Gb/s data transfer rates per port, optimizing data throughput and overall system performance. This high-speed connectivity is essential for applications that require rapid access to vast amounts of data, including virtualization and high-performance computing tasks.

The controller also features compatibility with various operating systems and server platforms, enhancing its versatility. Organizations can take advantage of plug-and-play functionality, allowing for easier deployment and management in diverse IT environments.

Furthermore, the SRCSAS18E is built with enterprise-grade reliability in mind, supporting features like thermal monitoring and advanced error correction to safeguard against hardware failures. Its ability to manage a large number of drives effectively makes it an ideal solution for data centers and enterprises looking to enhance their storage solutions while ensuring maximum uptime and data availability.

In summary, the Intel SRCSAS18E is a feature-rich storage controller well-suited for demanding environments that require reliable and efficient data management. Its combination of high performance, support for multiple RAID configurations, and robust data protection technologies makes it a valuable addition to any enterprise storage infrastructure.