Lenovo ServeRAID M5120, User Manual

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Configuration Scenarios 1-5
The controller supports the following SATA III features:
•
6 Gb/s SATA III
•
Staggered spin-up
•
Hot plug
•
Native command queuing
•
Activity and fault indicators for each PHY
Each port on the ServeRAID-M5120 controller supports SAS devices,
SATA devices, or both using SSP, SMP, STP, and SATA. SSP enables
communication with other SAS devices. SATA enables the controller to
communicate with other SATA devices.
1.4 Configuration Scenarios
There are two main scenarios in which you can use this ServeRAID
controller:
•
Low-end SATA III external configuration: In this configuration, use
the ServeRAID controller as a high-end SATA III compatible
controller that connects to an enclosure containing SATA disks. This
type of configuration is mostly for low-end or entry servers.
Enclosure management is provided through out-of-band I
2
C bus.
•
Midrange SAS external configuration: This configuration is similar
to the external SATA III configuration, but with high-end SAS disks.
This type of configuration is more suitable for midrange servers.
1.4.1 Number of Physical Disks Supported
Your configuration planning for your ServeRAID controller depends in
part on the number of physical disks that you want to use in a virtual disk.
The number of drives in an array determines the RAID levels that can be
supported by this controller. Only one RAID level can be assigned to