background image

Intel® RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User’s Guide

1

1

Overview

This chapter provides a general overview of the Intel

®

 RAID Controller SASMF8I. It 

consists of the following sections:

Summary of SAS RAID Controller Features

Benefits of Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS)

The Intel

®

 RAID Controller SASMF8I is a high-performance PCI Express* SAS RAID 

controller. It provides reliability, high performance, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem 

management. This is an ideal RAID solution for the internal storage needs of mid to low-

end servers and workstations for use by workgroups and departmental-sized organizations 

or individuals. The Intel

®

 RAID Controller SASMF8I offers a cost-effective way to 

implement RAID in a server for internal storage. 

The SAS controller allows you to use SATA II and SAS hard disk drives in the same 

system, so you can take advantage of the benefits of each type of drive. The controller 

supports up to eight devices including expander devices. See the 

ANSI SAS Standard 

Specification, Version 1.0 

for more information about the use of expanders.

As the second generation PCI Express* storage adapter, the Intel

®

 RAID Controller 

SASMF8I addresses the growing demand for increased data throughput and scalability 

requirements across mid to low-end servers and workstations. Simplified cabling between 

drives is an additional benefit.

Summary of SAS RAID Controller Features

Note:

In this document, the term low-profile refers to the height, not the length, of a PCI add-in 

card.

The Intel

®

  RAID Controller SASMF8I is a low-profile SAS RAID adapter with:

An LSI 1068E SAS (including SATA) controller.

Eight independent internal ports provided via two SFF8087 connectors.

Support for both enterprise-class SAS devices and enterprise-class SATA II drives.

Support for up to 8 SAS or SATA II drives and 40 logical drives.

PCI Express* connector that fits into a x4 PCI Express slot capable of 2.5 Gbps per 

lane over PCI Express* x1, or x4. 

3.0 Gbps point-to-point transfer rate.

Both a standard and a low-profile bracket.

Summary of Contents for SASMF8I - RAID Controller

Page 1: ...Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide Intel Order Number E33625 003...

Page 2: ...PRODUCTS INCLUDING LIABILITY OR WARRANTIES RELATING TO FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE MERCHANTABIL ITY OR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT COPYRIGHT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROP ERTY RIGHT Intel products ar...

Page 3: ...rt devices The people who benefit from this book are Engineers who are designing an Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I for a system Anyone installing an Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I in a software RAID sys...

Page 4: ...iv Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide...

Page 5: ...s of Serial Attached SCSI SAS 4 Chapter 2 Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware Installation 5 Requirements 5 Installing the RAID Controller 6 Connecting the Cables 9 Configuring the Storage Adapter...

Page 6: ...vi Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide...

Page 7: ...de vii List of Figures Figure 1 Inserting the Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I into a PCI Express Slot 6 Figure 2 Attaching cables to the Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I 7 Figure 3 SAS and SATA Plugs and S...

Page 8: ...viii Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide...

Page 9: ...er SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide ix List of Tables Table 1 Jumper Descriptions 11 Table 2 Specifications 12 Table 3 Array Performance Features 13 Table 4 Fault Tolerance Features 13 Table 5 Electrical...

Page 10: ...x Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Hardware User s Guide...

Page 11: ...rts up to eight devices including expander devices See the ANSI SAS Standard Specification Version 1 0 for more information about the use of expanders As the second generation PCI Express storage adap...

Page 12: ...r SATA II targets Support for non disk devices and mixed capacity drives Support for software RAID levels 0 1 5 and 10 Global hot spare with auto rebuild if an array drive fails Fixed RAID stripe size...

Page 13: ...tten to the drive or only to the drive s cache On default Write back mode enabled Faster because it does not wait for the disk but data will be lost if power is lost Off Write through mode enabled Slo...

Page 14: ...proven SCSI protocol set SAS is a convergence of the advantages of SATA SCSI and FC and is the future mainstay of the enterprise and high end workstation storage markets SAS offers a higher bandwidth...

Page 15: ...ectors Requirements The following items are required to install a Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I An Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I A host system with an available x4 bi directional PCI Express slot The...

Page 16: ...s For instructions see your server chassis documentation 3 Align the controller s connector with a x4 PCI Express slot on the server board 4 Press down gently but firmly to ensure that the card is pro...

Page 17: ...ld be reduced by about one foot 33 meters if using a backplane You may connect one device per SATA SAS cable either as a device or as an expander Route SAS cables carefully Use only straight SAS cable...

Page 18: ...Press CTRL E to run the Intel Embedded Server RAID Technology II Configuration Utility This message times out after several seconds If you miss it you will pass the option to get into the Intel Embedd...

Page 19: ...a bridge primary physical link between the signal connector and the power connector This means SAS backplane connectors can accept either drive type but SATA backplane connectors can ONLY accept SATA...

Page 20: ...sures and system components Remove the power cord 2 Remove the chassis cover and access the PCI Express add in card slots For instructions see your server documentation 3 Disconnect the cable s from t...

Page 21: ...e 4 Card Layouts Table 1 Jumper Descriptions Jumper Description Type Comments J1 Drive Fault LED header 8x2 header LED signal to control front panel LEDs to reflect the faulty drive J2 Port activity L...

Page 22: ...Table 2 Specifications Specification Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I Operating Voltage 3 3 V 12 V Card Size Low profile MD2 PCI Express adapter card size 6 600 inches by 2 713 inches Array Interface to...

Page 23: ...Kbyte stripes Maximum Queue Tags per Drive As many as the drive can accept Stripe Sizes 64 Kbyte Maximum Number of Concurrent Commands 255 Support for Multiple Initiators Yes Flexibility Drive migrati...

Page 24: ...ristics The Intel RAID Controller SASMF8I meets or exceeds the requirements of UL flammability rating 94 V0 Each bare board is also marked with the supplier name or trademark type and UL flammability...

Page 25: ...and the effects of electrostatic discharge The adapter carries the CE mark C tick mark FCC self certification logo Canadian compliance statement Korean MIC Taiwan BSMI and Japan VCCI The adapter meet...

Page 26: ...ration information It provides stable storage for long periods without electricity and can be reprogrammed See NVRAM External SAS Device A SAS device installed outside the computer cabinet These devic...

Page 27: ...ontrollers leverage a common electrical and physical connection interface that is compatible with Serial ATA The SAS controllers support the ANSI Serial Attached SCSI standard version 1 0 In addition...

Reviews: