IBM Redbooks ServeRAID-MR10i, User Manual

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1-8 Overview
The controller leverages a common electrical and physical connection
interface that is compatible with Serial ATA technology. The SAS
protocols and the SATA II protocols use a thin, 7-wire connector instead
of the 68-wire SCSI cable or 26-wire ATA cable. The SAS/SATA II
connector and cable are easier to manipulate, allow connections to
smaller devices, and do not inhibit airflow. The point-to-point SATA II
architecture eliminates inherent difficulties created by the legacy ATA
master-slave architecture, while maintaining compatibility with existing
ATA firmware.
1.5.1 PCI Express Architecture
PCI Express is a local bus system designed to increase data transfers
without slowing down the central processing unit (CPU). You can install
the ServeRAID-MR10i PCI Express RAID controller in PCI Express
computer systems with a standard bracket type. With these adapters in
your system, you can connect SCSI devices and SATA II devices over
the bus.
PCI Express goes beyond the PCI specification in that it is intended as
a unifying I/O architecture for various systems: desktops, workstations,
mobile, server, communications, and embedded devices.
1.5.2 Operating System Support
The ServeRAID-MR10i controllers supports the following operating
systems:
•
Microsoft
®
Windows
®
2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server
2008
•
Red Hat
®
Enterprise Linux
™
version 4 and version 5
•
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server version 9 and version 10
•
Novell
®
NetWare
®
6.5
•
SCO
™
OpenServer
®
6.0.0
•
SCO UnixWare
™
7.1.4
•
VMWare
®
ESX 3.0 and ESX 3.5
To download the latest operating system drivers, you can access
http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/ .