Benefits of the SAS Interface
1-7
1.4.1
Number of Physical Disks Supported
Your configuration planning for the ServeRAID-MR10i controller depends
in part on the number of physical disks that you want to use in a RAID
array. The number of drives in an array determines the RAID levels that
can be supported. Only one RAID level can be assigned to each virtual
disk.
shows the minimum and maximum number of drives
required for each RAID level.
1.5
Benefits of the SAS Interface
SAS is a serial, point-to-point, enterprise-level device interface that
leverages the proven SCSI protocol set. SAS combines the advantages
of SATA II, SCSI, and Fibre Channel, and is the future mainstay of the
enterprise and high-end workstation storage markets. SAS offers a
higher bandwidth per pin than parallel SCSI, and it improves signal and
data integrity.
The SAS interface uses the proven SCSI command set to ensure reliable
data transfers, while providing the connectivity and flexibility of
point-to-point serial data transfers. The serial transmission of SCSI
commands eliminates clock-skew challenges. The SAS interface
provides improved performance, simplified cabling, smaller connectors,
lower pin count, and lower power requirements when compared to
parallel SCSI.
Table 1.1
Physical Drives Required for Each RAID Level
RAID
Level
Minimum # of
Physical Drives
Maximum # of
Physical Drives
0
1
16
1
2
2
5
3
16
6
3
16
10
4
16
50
6
32
60
6
32
Summary of Contents for Redbooks ServeRAID-MR10i
Page 1: ...ServeRAID MR10i USER S GUIDE F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 IBM P N 46M1377...
Page 12: ...xii Contents...
Page 14: ...xiv Contents...
Page 16: ...xvi Contents...
Page 58: ...5 6 Installing the Intelligent Battery Backup Unit...
Page 78: ...A 4 Notices...
Page 84: ...B 6 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations...
Page 85: ......
Page 86: ...4 6 M1 3 7 7...
