Avago Technologies SAS 8204ELP User Manual

USER’S

GUIDE

MegaRAID® 1078-based SAS RAID Controllers

September 2007

80-00157-01 Rev. B

This document contains proprietary information of LSI Corporation. The information contained herein is not to be used by or disclosed to third parties without the express written permission of an officer of LSI Corporation.

LSI products are not intended for use in life-support appliances, devices, or systems. Use of any LSI product in such applications without written consent of the appropriate LSI officer is prohibited.

Purchase of I Associated Companies, conveys a license under the Philips I use these components in an I

the I

C standard Specification as defined by Philips.

Document 80-00157-01 Rev. B, September 2007. This document describes the current versions of the LSI Corporation MegaRAID SAS RAID controllers and will remain the official reference source for all revisions/releases of these products until rescinded by an update.

LSI Corporation reserves the right to make changes to any products herein at any time without notice. LSI does not assume any responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any product described herein, except as expressly agreed to in writing by LSI; nor does the purchase or use of a product from LSI convey a license under any patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, or any other of the intellectual property rights of LSI or third parties.

C components of LSI Corporation, or one of its sublicensed

C system, provided that the system conforms to

C Patent Rights to

TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGMENT LSI, the LSI logo design, Fusion-MPT, and MegaRAID are trademarks or registered trademarks of LSI Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. SUSE is a trademark and NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. UnixWare is a registered trademark of The Open Group. OpenServer is a trademark of Caldera International, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other brand and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

To receive product literature, visit us at http://www.lsi.com.

For a current list of our distributors, sales offices, and design resource centers, view our web page located at

http://www.lsi.com/contacts/index.html

Preface

This document is the primary reference and user’s guide for the LSI MegaRAID the LSISAS1078, which is a SAS/SATA RAID On-a-Chip device. It contains complete installation instructions for these RAID controllers and includes specifications for them.

The MegaRAID 1078-based Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) RAID controller family consists of the following controllers:

• MegaRAID SAS 8704ELP PCI Express Low-Profile Serial-Attached

SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller with Internal Connectors

• MegaRAID SAS 8708ELP PCI Express Low-Profile Serial-Attached

SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller with Internal Connectors

• MegaRAID SAS 8708EM2 PCI Express Serial-Attached SCSI/SATA

II Disk Array Controller with Internal Connectors

• MegaRAID SAS 8880EM2 PCI Express Serial-Attached SCSI/SATA

II Disk Array Controller with External Connectors

• MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP PCI Express Low-Profile Serial-Attached

SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller with External Connectors and Internal Connectors

For details on how to configure the RAID controllers, refer to the MegaRAID SAS Software User’s Guide. For information about the operating system drivers, refer to the MegaRAID SAS Device Driver Installation User’s Guide.

Serial Attached SCSI/SATA II RAID Controllers based on

Audience

This document assumes that you have some familiarity with RAID controllers and related support devices. The people who benefit from this book are:

MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controllers User’s Guide iii

• Engineers who are designing a system that will include a MegaRAID

• Anyone who is installing a MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID

Organization

This document contains the following chapters and appendix:

• Chapter 1, Overview, provides an overview of the MegaRAID 1078-

• Chapter 2, MegaRAID SAS Hardware Installation, describes the

• Chapter 3, MegaRAID SAS RAID Controller Characteristics,

• Appendix A, Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations, lists and

Related Publications

1078-based SAS RAID controller

controller in a RAID system

based SAS RAID controllers.

procedures for installing the MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers.

provides the characteristics and technical specifications for the MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers.

defines the terms and abbreviations used in this document.

MegaRAID SAS Device Driver Installation User’s Guide

Document Number: 80-00163-01 Rev. B

This document describes how to install the MegaRAID device driver for your operating system. The information in this document is independent of the back-end bus and applies to the MegaRAID SAS RAID controllers.

MegaRAID SAS Software User’s Guide

Document Number: 80-00156-01 Rev. C

This document describes how to use the MegaRAID Storage Manager, WebBIOS, and command line interface (CLI) utilities to configure, monitor, and maintain MegaRAID SAS RAID controllers and the storage-related devices connected to them.

iv Preface

Conventions

Intelligent Battery Backup Units for 1078-based MegaRAID Products User’s Guide

Document Number: 80-00162-01 Rev. B

This document describes how to install and use the LSI battery backup units for MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers. The 1078-based SAS boards use the LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 01 (LSIiBBU01), LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 05 (LSIiBBU05), LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 06 (LSIiBBU06), LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 07 (LSIiBBU07), and the LSI intelligent Transportable Battery Backup Unit 03 (LSIiTBBU03).

The following table describes how the user interacts with the product::

Notation Example Meaning and Use

Courier typeface .nwk file Names of commands, files, and directories, as well as

Bold typeface fd1sp In a command line, keywords are shown in bold, non-italic

Italics module In command lines and names, italics indicate user vari-

Initial capital letters Undo

Semicolon, and other punctuation

Edit Apply

Note:

Caution:

Notes contain supplementary information that can affect system performance.

Cautions are notifications that an action has the potential to adversely affect equipment operation, system performance, or data integrity.

code and screen messages, are shown in Courier.

typeface. Enter them exactly as shown.

ables. Replace italicized text with appropriate userspecified items. Enter items of the type called for, using lowercase.

Names of menu commands, options, check buttons, text buttons, options buttons, text boxes, list boxes, and so on., are shown in text with Initial Capital lettering to avoid misreading. These elements might appear on your screen in all lowercase.

Use as shown in the text.

Preface v

Revision History

Document Number Date/Version Remarks

80-00157-01 Rev. B September 2007 Added the SAS 8708EM2 RAID controller, and the SAS

8880EM2 RAID controller

80-00157-01 Rev. A February 2007 Initial release of the document.

Safety Instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer system from potential damage and to ensure your own personal safety.

Note:

When Using Your Computer System – As you use your computer system, observe the following safety guidelines:

Caution:

Use the MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers with UL-listed Information Technology Equipment (ITE) products only.

Do not operate your computer system with any covers (such as computer covers, bezels, filler brackets, and front-panel inserts) removed.

• To avoid damaging your computer, make sure that the voltage

selection switch on the power supply is set to match the alternating current (AC) power available at your location:

– 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in most of North American and South

American countries, and some Far Eastern countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

– 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Also make sure that your monitor and attached peripherals are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location.

• To avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after

you turn off the system before you remove a component from the system board or disconnect a peripheral device from the computer.

vi Preface

• To prevent electric shock, connect the computer and peripheral

power cords into correctly grounded power sources. These cords are equipped with three-prong plugs to ensure correct grounding.

• Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a

cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a three-wire cable with correctly grounded plugs.

• To protect your computer system from sudden, transient increases

and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

• Make sure that equipment does not rest on your computer system

cables and that the cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over.

• Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets

wet, consult the documentation that came with it.

• Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so

can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.

• Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do

not block cooling vents. Avoid placing loose papers underneath your computer; do not place your computer in a closed-in wall unit or on a rug.

When Working Inside Your Computer –

Caution:

1. Turn off your computer and any peripherals.

2. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their power sources. Also disconnect any telephone or telecommunications lines from the computer.

Performing these actions reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

Also note these safety guidelines:

Do not attempt to service the computer system yourself, except as explained in this document and elsewhere in LSI Logic documentation. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its

strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a

Preface vii

connector with locking tabs. If you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

• Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the

components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component, such as a microprocessor chip, by its edges, not by its pins.

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge – Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor. To discharge static electricity, touch an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated. In addition to the preceding precautions, you can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge:

• When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping

carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing material until you are ready to install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.

• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an

antistatic container or packaging.

• Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use

antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

viii Preface

Contents

Chapter 1 Overview

1.1 Overview 1-1

1.2 SAS Controller Descriptions 1-3

1.3 General Description 1-3

1.4 Configuration Scenarios 1-5

1.5 Benefits of the SAS Interface 1-7

1.5.1 PCI Express Architecture 1-8

1.5.2 Operating System Support 1-8

1.6 Summary of SAS RAID Controller Characteristics 1-9

1.6.1 SAS Features 1-10

1.6.2 SAS Array Limitations 1-10

1.6.3 SATA II Features 1-12

1.6.4 PCI Express Performance 1-12

1.6.5 Usability Features 1-13

1.6.6 Flexibility Features 1-13

1.6.7 Drive Roaming 1-14

1.6.8 Drive Migration 1-15

1.7 Hardware Specifications 1-16

1.8 Technical Support 1-18

Chapter 2 MegaRAID SAS Hardware Installation

2.1 Requirements 2-1

2.2 Quick Installation 2-2

2.3 Detailed Installation 2-3

2.4 SAS Device Cables 2-6

2.4.1 Connecting the SAS RAID Controller with External Connectors to Drive Boxes and Drive Enclosures 2-9

MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controllers User’s Guide ix

2.4.2 Connecting the SAS RAID Controller with Internal Connectors to Physical Disks 2-10

2.5 Replacing a Failed Controller Containing Data in the LSIiTBBU03 2-12

2.6 After Installing the RAID Controller 2-12

Chapter 3 MegaRAID SAS RAID Controller Characteristics

3.1 MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controller Family 3-1

3.1.1 MegaRAID SAS 8704ELP/8708ELP

RAID Controllers 3-1

3.1.2 MegaRAID SAS 8708EM2 RAID Controllers 3-4

3.1.3 MegaRAID SAS 8880EM2 RAID Controller 3-7

3.1.4 MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP RAID Controller 3-9

3.2 MegaRAID SAS 1078-based RAID Controller Characteristics 3-11

3.3 Technical Specifications 3-12

3.3.1 RAID Controller Specifications 3-13

3.3.2 Array Performance Features 3-16

3.3.3 Fault Tolerance 3-17

3.3.4 Electrical Characteristics 3-18

Power Supply Requirements for the SAS 8704ELP and SAS 8708ELP RAID Controllers 3-18

Power Supply Requirements for the SAS 8708EM2 RAID Controller 3-19 Power Supply Requirements for the SAS 8880EM2 RAID Controllers 3-20

Power Supply Requirements for the SAS 8888ELP RAID Controller 3-20

3.3.5 Operating and Non-operating Conditions 3-21

3.3.6 Safety Characteristics 3-21

Appendix A Glossary of Termsand Abbreviations

Customer Feedback

xContents

Figures

1.1 Example of an LSI SAS Direct-Connect Application 1-6

1.2 Example of an LSI SAS RAID Controller Configured

with an LSISASx12 Expander 1-7

2.1 Example of the MegaRAID SAS 8708ELP Board

Installation in a PCI Express Slot 2-4

2.2 Internal SAS Cable for Connection to SAS Physical

Disks, SATA II Physical Disks, or Both 2-7

2.3 SATA II Connectors 2-7

2.4 SAS and SATA II Plugs and SAS Backplane

Receptacle Connector 2-8

2.5 Connecting the SAS 8888E RAID Controller with

External Connectors to a Drive Box or Drive Enclosure 2-9

2.6 Connecting a SAS 8708ELP RAID Controller

with Internal Connectors to Physical Disks 2-11

3.1 Card Layout for the MegaRAID SAS 8708ELP

RAID Controller 3-2

3.2 Card Layout for the MegaRAID SAS 8708EM2

RAID Controller 3-5

3.3 Card Layout for the MegaRAID SAS 8880EM2

RAID Controller 3-7

3.4 Card Layout for the MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP

RAID Controller 3-9

Contents xi

xii Contents

Tabl es

1.1 SAS RAID Controller Array Limitations 1-11

1.2 MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controller

Comparisons 1-16

3.1 SAS 8708ELP RAID Controller – Jumpers and Connectors 3-3

3.2 SAS 8708EM2 RAID Controller – Jumpers and Connectors 3-5

3.3 SAS 8880EM2 RAID Controller – Jumpers and

Connectors 3-8

3.4 SAS 8888ELP RAID Controller – Jumpers and

Connectors 3-10

3.5 MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controller

Characteristics 3-11

3.6 RAID Controller Specifications 3-13

3.7 Array Performance Features 3-16

3.8 Fault Tolerance Features 3-17

3.9 Power Supply for the SAS 8704ELP and the

SAS 8708ELP RAID Controllers 3-18

3.10 Power Supply for the SAS 8708EM2 RAID Controllers 3-19

3.11 Power Supply for the SAS 8880EM2 RAID Controller 3-20

3.12 Power States for the SAS 8888ELP RAID Controller 3-21

Contents xiii

xiv Contents

Chapter 1 Overview

This chapter provides an overview of the MegaRAID 1078-based Serial Attached SCSI/Serial ATA II controllers with RAID control capabilities. It consists of the following sections:

• Section 1.1, “Overview”

• Section 1.2, “SAS Controller Descriptions”

• Section 1.3, “General Description”

• Section 1.4, “Configuration Scenarios”

• Section 1.5, “Benefits of the SAS Interface”

• Section 1.6, “Summary of SAS RAID Controller Characteristics”

• Section 1.7, “Hardware Specifications”

• Section 1.8, “Technical Support”

1.1 Overview

The MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers are high-performance intelligent PCI Express-to-SCSI/Serial ATA II adapters with RAID control capabilities. MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers provide reliability, high performance, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem management. They are an ideal RAID solution for the internal storage of workgroup, departmental, and enterprise systems. MegaRAID 1078based SAS RAID controllers offer a cost-effective way to implement RAID in a server.

SAS technology brings a wealth of options and flexibility with the use of SAS and Serial ATA (SATA) II devices within the same storage infrastructure. However, SAS and SATA devices bring individual characteristics that make each one a more suitable choice depending on your storage needs. MegaRAID gives you the flexibility to combine these

MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID Controllers User’s Guide 1-1

two similar technologies on the same controller, within the same enclosure, and in the same virtual disk.

Note:

The MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers are based on the LSI first-to-market SAS IC technology and proven MegaRAID technology. As second-generation PCI Express RAID controllers, the MegaRAID SAS RAID controllers address the growing demand for increased data throughput and scalability requirements across midrange and enterpriseclass server platforms. LSI offers a family of MegaRAID SAS RAID controllers addressing the needs for both internal and external solutions.

The following battery backup units provide cached data protection and allow system builders to protect cached data even during the most catastrophic system failures:

LSI recommends that you carefully assess any decision to mix SAS and SATA drives within the same virtual disks. Although you can mix drives, LSI strongly discourages the practice.

• LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 01 (LSIiBBU-01)

• LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 05 (LSIiBBU-05)

• LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 06 (LSIiBBU-06)

• LSI intelligent Battery Backup Unit 07 (LSIiBBU-07)

• LSI intelligent Transportable Battery Backup Unit 03 (LSIiTBBU-03)

Refer to the MegaRAID Battery Backup Unit User’s Guide on the MegaRAID Universal Software Suite CD for more information about

these batteries.

The SAS controllers support the ANSI Serial Attached SCSI standard, version 1.1. In addition, the controller supports the SATA II protocol defined by the Serial ATA specification, version 1.0a. Supporting both the SAS and SATA II interfaces, the SAS controller is a versatile controller that provides the backbone of both server and high-end workstation environments.

Each port on the SAS RAID controller supports SAS devices, SATA II devices, or both, using the following protocols:

• SAS Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP), which enables communication with

other SAS devices

1-2 Overview

• SATA II, which enables communication with other SATA II devices

• Serial Management Protocol (SMP), which communicates

topology management information directly with an attached SAS expander device

• Serial Tunneling Protocol (STP), which enables communication with

a SATA II device through an attached expander

1.2 SAS Controller Descriptions

The 1078-based SAS RAID controllers are described as follows:

• The MegaRAID SAS 8704ELP PCI Express 1078-based Low-Profile

Serial-Attached SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller controls four internal SAS/SATA ports through one Mini SAS 4i internal connector.

• The MegaRAID SAS 8708ELP PCI Express 1078-based Low-Profile

Serial-Attached SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller controls eight internal SAS/SATA ports through two Mini SAS 4i internal connectors

• The MegaRAID SAS 8708EM2 PCI Express 1078-based Serial-

Attached SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller controls eight internal SAS/SATA ports through two SFF-8087 Mini SAS 4i internal connectors

• The MegaRAID SAS 8880EM2 PCI Express 1078-based Serial-

Attached SCSI/SATA II Disk Array Controller controls eight external SAS/SATA ports through two SFF-8088 Mini SAS 4x external connectors

• The MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP PCI Express 1078-based Low-Profile

Disk Array RAID Controller has one I/O processor. This processor controls eight ports through two (x4 SAS Port) SFF-8088 Mini SAS 4x external connectors and two (x4 SAS Port) SFF-8087 Mini SAS 4i internal connectors, configurable through a SAS mux.

1.3 General Description

The MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers bring 3.0 Gbit/s Serial Attached SCSI and 3.0 Gbit/s SATA II performance to host adapter, workstation, and server designs. The controllers support internal and

SAS Controller Descriptions 1-3

external storage devices, which allow you to use a system that supports enterprise-class SAS drives and desktop-class SATA II drives. Each MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controller can connect to drives directly and can use expanders to connect to additional drives. Simplified cabling between devices is an additional benefit.

These SAS controllers are based on the LSISAS1078 RAID On-a-Chip (ROC) device. This device is compliant with the Fusion-MPT™ architecture and provides a PCI Express x4 or x8 interface.

Note:

The LSISAS1078 ROC device provides an eight-lane, 2.5-Gbit/s PCI Express host interface, eight 3.0 Gbit/s SAS or SATA ports, and a fullfeatured, hardware-based RAID implementation. The LSISAS1078 ROC device integrates a high-speed DDR/DDR2 SDRAM interface with a hardware RAID assist engine for parity calculations. The LSISAS1078 ROC device provides the maximum benefits of a RAID system and enables you to configure the system to satisfy your system requirements.

The LSISAS1078 ROC device increases system performance and provides fault-tolerant data storage. The LSISAS1078 supports data striping across multiple disks, which reduces disk access time because multiple disks simultaneously read or write data. The LSISAS1078 ROC device backs up data with either data mirroring or a parity block. Either backup method enables you to recover lost data in the event of a disk failure. You can select the data backup method that best suits your needs. A hardware RAID assist exclusive-OR (XOR) engine speeds parity generation and checking and reduces system-access times.

The MegaRAID SAS 8704ELP RAID controller and the MegaRAID SAS 8704ELP RAID controller provide an x4 PCI Express interface. The MegaRAID SAS 8708EM2, the MegaRAID SAS 8880EM2, and the MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP RAID controllers provide an x8 PCI Express interface.

The SAS RAID controllers integrate eight high-performance SAS/SATA II PHYs and a PCI Express bus master DMA core. Each of the eight PHYs is capable of 3.0 Gbit/s SAS link rates and 3.0 Gbit/s SATA II link rates.

The LSISAS1078 ROC device adheres to the PCI Express Specification, Revision 1.0a. The PCI Express software is backward compatible with previous revisions of the PCI bus and PCI-X bus.

1-4 Overview

The SAS RAID controllers support the SAS protocol as described in the Serial Attached SCSI Standard, version 1.1. The controllers also support the Serial ATA II (SATA II) protocol defined by the Serial ATA

Specification, Version 1.0a and the Serial ATAII; Extension to the Serial ATA Specification, Version 1.1. SATA II is an extension to SATA 1.0a. In

addition, the SAS RAID controllers support the following SATA II features:

• 3 Gbit/s SATA II

• Staggered spin-up

• Hot plug

• Native command queuing

• Activity and fault indicators for each PHY

• Port selector (for dual-port drives)

Each port on the SAS controllers supports SAS devices, SATA II devices, or both using SSP, SMP, STP, and SATA II. SSP enables communication with other SAS devices. SATA II enables the SAS controllers to communicate with other SATA II devices.

1.4 Configuration Scenarios

There are three main scenarios in which you can use the SAS RAID controllers:

• Low-end, internal SATA II configurations: In this configuration, use

the RAID controller as a high-end SATA II compatible controller that connects up to eight disks either directly or through a port expander. This configuration is mostly for low-end or entry servers. Enclosure management is provided through out-of-band I both types of internal SAS connectors support the SFF-8485 (SGPIO) interface.

• Midrange internal SAS configurations: This is like the internal

SATA II configurations, but with high-end disks. This is more suitable for low-range to midrange servers.

• High-end external SAS/SATA II configurations: This configuration

is for both internal and external connectivity, using SATA II drives, SAS drives, or both. External enclosure management is supported

Configuration Scenarios 1-5

C bus. Side bands of

through in-band, SCSI-enclosed storage. The configuration must support STP and SMP.

Figure 1.1 shows a direct-connect configuration. The Inter-IC (I

C) interface communicates with peripherals. The external memory bus provides a 32-bit memory bus, parity checking, and chip select signals for pipelined synchronous burst static random access memory (PSBRAM), nonvolatile static random access memory (NVSRAM), and Flash ROM.

Note:

The external memory bus is 32-bit for the SAS 8704ELP and the SAS 8708ELP, and 64-bit for the SAS 8708EM2, the SAS 8880EM2, and the SAS 8888ELP.

Figure 1.1 Example of an LSI SAS Direct-Connect Application

SAS/SATA II Device

PCI Express

RAID Controller

SAS

32-Bit Memory

Address/Data

Bus

Interface

Flash ROM/

PSBRAM/

NVSRAM

I2C

Figure 1.2 shows an example of a SAS RAID controller configured with

an LSISASx12 expander that is connected to SAS disks, SATA II disks, or both.

1-6 Overview

PCI Express Interface

Figure 1.2 Example of an LSI SAS RAID Controller Configured

with an LSISASx12 Expander

PCI Express Interface

SAS

RAID Controller

LSISAS1078

PCI Express to SAS ROC

Peripheral

Bus

72-bit DDR/DDR2

with ECC

Interface

Flash ROM/

NVSRAM/

C/UART

SRAM

SRAMSDRAM

LSISASx12

Expander

SAS/SATA II

Drives

SAS/SATA II

Drives

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 is a convergence of 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.

SAS/SATA

Drives

LSISASx12

Expander

SAS/SATA II

Drives

SAS/SATA II

Drives

SAS controllers leverage a common electrical and physical connection interface that is compatible with Serial ATA technology. The SAS and SATA II protocols use a thin, 7-wire connector instead of the 68-wire

Benefits of the SAS Interface 1-7

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 MegaRAID PCI Express RAID controllers in PCI Express computer systems with a standard bracket type. With these adapters in your system, you can connect SCSI 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 MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers supports the following operating systems:

• Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP

• Red Hat Linux

• SUSE Linux

• Novell NetWare

• SCO OpenServer

• SCO UnixWare

• FreeBSD

To download the latest operating system drivers, you can access

http://www.lsi.com/cm/DownloadSearch.do.

The MegaRAID 1078-based SAS RAID controllers use Fusion-MPT™ architecture for all major operating systems, thinner drivers, and better performance.

1-8 Overview

+ 50 hidden pages

Avago Technologies SAS 8204ELP User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Chapter 1 Overview

1.1 Overview

1.2 SAS Controller Descriptions

1.3 General Description

1.4 Configuration Scenarios

1.5 Benefits of the SAS Interface

1.5.1 PCI Express Architecture

1.5.2 Operating System Support