
LSI Logic MegaRAID
®
SAS 8300XLP Controller
Quick Installation Guide
Thank you for purchasing the MegaRAID® SAS (Serial
Attached SCSI/Serial ATA II) 8300XLP (PCI-X low-profile)
RAID controller. Please take a few minutes to read this quick
installation guide before you install the controller. If you need
more information about any topic covered in this guide, refer
to the related documents on your MegaRAID Universal
Software Suite CD.
Note
: SATA II is the only type of SATA supported by the
SAS 8300XLP.
Note
: The LSIBBU03 Battery Backup Unit (BBU) can be
used with the MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP RAID
controller. For more information about the
LSIBBU03, refer to the MegaRAID Battery
Backup Unit User’s Guide on the MegaRAID
Universal Software Suite CD.
MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP RAID
CONTROLLER INSTALLATION
Back up your data before you change your
!
CAUTION
Step 1 Unpack the MegaRAID 8300XLP RAID
system configuration. Otherwise, you might lose
data.
Controller
Unpack the controller in a static-free environment.
Remove it from the antistatic bag and inspect it
for damage.
If the controller appears to be damaged, or if the
MegaRAID Universal Software Suite CD is
missing, contact LSI Logic or your MegaRAID
OEM support representative.
The CD contains utility programs, device drivers
for various operating systems, and the following
documentation:
• MegaRAID SAS Storage Adapters User’s
Guide
• MegaRAID SAS Software User’s Guide
• MegaRAID SAS Device Driver Installation
User’s Guide
• Software license agreement
Step 2 Prepare the Computer
Turn off the computer and unplug the power
cord(s) from the back of the power supply.
Remove the cover from the chassis.
Before installing the controller, make sure that the
!
CAUTION
Step 3 Review the MegaRAID Controller Jumpers and
computer is disconnected from the power and
from any networks.
Connectors
Figure 1 displays the location of the jumpers and
the connectors (J1 - J9) on the SAS 8300XLP
RAID controller. The jumpers are set at the
factory, and you usually do not need to change
them.
Figure 1 MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP RAID
controller Card Layout
J1
J3
J4
J5
J6
J7
J8
J9
J2
®

Ta bl e 1 describes the jumpers and the connectors
on the controller.
Table 1 Jumpers and Connectors
Jumper,
Connector Description Type
J1 IPMI-style SMBus (Sys-
J2 Connector for battery
J3 Universal Asynchronous
J4 Mode Select 2-pin connector.
J5 Clear NVRAM 2-pin connector.
J6 Write-pending Indicator
J7 Onboard BIOS Disabled 2-pin header.
J8 Serial EEPROM 2-pin connector.
J9 NMI (nonmaskable
tem Management) /I
header
backup daughter card
Receiver/Transmitter
(UART) debugging
(dirty cache) LED
interrupt)
Step 4 Install the MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP RAID
Controller on the Mainboard
Insert the SAS 8300XLP in a PCI-X slot on the
mainboard, as shown in Figure 2. Press down
gently but firmly to ensure the card is properly
seated in the slot. Secure the SAS 8300XLP to
the computer chassis with the bracket screw.
Note
: See your mainboard guide for information about
the PCI-X slot.
4-pin header.
2
C
Reserved for LSI Logic internal use.
40-pin connector.
This connector is for an
optional daughter card that
provides battery backup on
the onboard cache SDRAM.
3-pin connector.
Reserved for LSI Logic internal use.
Reserved for LSI Logic internal use.
Reserved for LSI Logic internal use.
2-pin header.
Connector for an LED
mounted on the system enclosure. The LED indicates when
the data in the cache has yet
to be written to the storage
devices.
Disables the BIOS so it does
not run on the firmware.
Provides board information to
host: serial number, revision,
and manufacturing date. This
eliminates the need to open a
system to obtain board
information.
2-pin connector.
Reserved for LSI Logic internal use.
If your board has a battery backup daughter card,
!
CAUTION
never apply pressure to the daughter card when
inserting the adapter. Applying pressure could
break the card.
Figure 2 Installing the MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP
RAID controller
Bracket
Screw
Step 5 Configure and Install the SAS and/or the SATA
Step 6 Connect the MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP RAID
Step 7 Turn on the Power to the Computer
Press
Here
Press
Here
Edge of
Mainboard
II Devices in the Host Computer Case
Refer to the documentation for the devices for any
pre-installation configuration requirements.
Controller to the SAS and/or SATA II Devices
Use SAS cables to connect the SAS 8300XLP to
SAS and/or SATA II devices. Refer to Figure 1 to
view connector locations on the controller.
Refer to the MegaRAID SAS Storage Adapters
User’s Guide on the MegaRAID Universal
Software Suite CD for detailed information about
the SAS cables.
Replace the computer cover and reconnect the
power cord(s). Turn on power to the computer.
Ensure that the SAS and SATA II devices are
powered up before or at the same time as the
host computer. If the computer is powered up
PCI-X
Slot
64-Bit
Slots
2 of 3

before the devices, the devices might not be
recognized.
The firmware takes several seconds to initialize.
During this time the adapter scans the ports.
Step 8 Run the WebBIOS Configuration Utility
Run the WebBIOS Configuration Utility to
configure the physical arrays and the logical
drives. When the message Press <Ctrl><H> for
WebBIOS appears on the screen, press CTRL+H
immediately to run the utility.
Note
: Refer to the MegaRAID SAS Software User’s
Guide on the MegaRAID Universal Software
Suite CD for detailed steps on configuring
physical arrays and logical drives.
Step 9 Install the Operating System Driver
The SAS 8300XLP can operate under various
operating systems. To operate under these
operating systems, you must install the software
drivers.
The MegaRAID Universal Software Suite CD
includes software drivers for the supported
operating systems, along with documentation.
You can view the supported operating systems
and download the latest drivers for RAID
adapters on the LSI Logic web site at:
http://www.lsilogic.com/cm/DownloadSearch.do.
Access the download center and follow the steps
to download the driver.
Refer to the MegaRAID SAS Device Driver
Installation User’s Guide on the MegaRAID
Universal Software Suite CD for details on
installing the driver. Be sure to use the latest
Service Packs provided by the operating system
manufacturer and to review the readme file that
accompanies the driver.
• RAID 1 (Disk mirroring): Data is written simultaneously
to two disks, providing complete data redundancy if one
disk fails. The maximum array capacity is equal to the
available size of the smaller of the two hard drives.
• RAID 5 (Disk striping with distributed parity): Data is
striped across all disks in the array. Part of the capacity
of each disk stores parity information that reconstructs
data if a disk fails. Provides good data throughput for
applications with high read request rates.
• RAID 10 (RAID 1 and RAID 0 in spanned arrays): Uses
mirrored pairs of disks to provide complete data
redundancy. Provides high data throughput rates.
• RAID 50 (RAID 5 and RAID 0 in spanned arrays): Uses
both parity and disk striping across multiple disks to
provide complete data redundancy. Provides high data
throughput rates.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
For assistance installing, configuring, or running the SAS
8300XLP, contact LSI Logic Technical Support:
E-mail:
support@lsil.com
eurosupport@lsil.com (Europe)
Phone Support:
1-800-633-4545 (North America)
+44 1344 413 441 (Europe)
Web Site:
http://www.lsilogic.com/support/
SUPPORTED RAID LEVELS
The SAS 8300XLP supports disk arrays using the following
RAID levels:
• RAID 0 (Data striping): Data is striped across all disks
in the array, enabling very fast data throughput. There is
no data redundancy. All data is lost if any disk fails.
®
PN 80-00124-01 Rev. A
Version 1.0, April 2006
Find a list of LSI Logic Corporation’s U.S. distributors, international distributors,
sales offices, and design resource centers on the LSI Logic web site at:
http://www.lsilogic.com/contacts/index.html
LSI Logic, the LSI Logic logo design, and MegaRAID are trademarks or registered
trademarks of LSI Logic Corporation. All other brand and product names may be
trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright © 2006 by LSI Logic Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Associated Companies, conveys a license under the Philips I2C Patent Rights to
use these components in an I
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I
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systems. Use of any LSI Logic product in such applications without written consent
of the appropriate LSI Logic officer is prohibited.
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