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Can a PERC 6/i SAS RAID Controller, 2x4 Connectors, Internal, PCIe, 256MB Cache RAID controller support SATA drives?
Can a PERC 6/i SAS RAID Controller, 2x4 Connectors, Internal, PCIe, 256MB Cache RAID controller support SATA drives?
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No SAS stands for serial attached scsi. The interface between the SCSI drive and the array backplane is different than that of a SATA drive.
ASKER
But dell is allowing me to select this in a server:
HARD DRIVE CONFIGURATION RAID 1 for H700, PERC 6/i, H200 or SAS 6/iR Controllers edit
PRIMARY CONTROLLER PERC 6/i SAS RAID Controller, 2x4 Connectors, Internal, PCIe, 256MB Cache
HARD DRIVES 250GB 7.2K RPM SATA 3.5" Hot Plug Hard Drive
HARD DRIVE CONFIGURATION RAID 1 for H700, PERC 6/i, H200 or SAS 6/iR Controllers edit
PRIMARY CONTROLLER PERC 6/i SAS RAID Controller, 2x4 Connectors, Internal, PCIe, 256MB Cache
HARD DRIVES 250GB 7.2K RPM SATA 3.5" Hot Plug Hard Drive
Yes, the PERC will take SAS or SATA drives.
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SAS and SATA are physically the same connector. SAS controllers will generally be able to control SATA drives, however SATA controllers will not be able to control SAS drives. The PERC 6/i is natively a SAS controller that will support either/or with restrictions as noted above.
Yes you can, you just need the Adapter cable that goes form a Single SAS to 4 SATA connectors.
I have this working fine ..
I hope this helps !
I have this working fine ..
I hope this helps !
You'll only need the single-SAS to 4-SATA if there is no backplane. If there is a backplane, you need the single-SAS to single-SAS to connect the backplane to the controller.
SAS & SATA are not the same physical connectors on the drive side, and moulded SAS connector will not mate with a SATA disk.
As for the PERC/6, just happen to be coding some diagnostics for it as I write this, so have the programming info from LSI in front of me.
1. The controller firmware supports both SAS & SATA, and you can mix and match, but not on the same RAID device. (Well actually you can do this with SAS & SATA-connect SSDs, as this was added to the newer driver, but I won't tell you whether or not Dell wants that bit flipped, because even if I did know what default they took, I would not be able to tell you. I can say that is not end-user configurable)
2. With expanders and/or direct cabling you can mix & match. However I do not believe that Dell will "support" such a config, not due to a firmware limitation, but because it is a mechanical/cabling limitation.
3. Personally, I would get one of the SI-branded controller family members, as it is much more current firmware, and they have flavors that have both an internal connector to daisy-chain disks inside of the chassis, and an external expansion port where you can add more drives externally.
As for the PERC/6, just happen to be coding some diagnostics for it as I write this, so have the programming info from LSI in front of me.
1. The controller firmware supports both SAS & SATA, and you can mix and match, but not on the same RAID device. (Well actually you can do this with SAS & SATA-connect SSDs, as this was added to the newer driver, but I won't tell you whether or not Dell wants that bit flipped, because even if I did know what default they took, I would not be able to tell you. I can say that is not end-user configurable)
2. With expanders and/or direct cabling you can mix & match. However I do not believe that Dell will "support" such a config, not due to a firmware limitation, but because it is a mechanical/cabling limitation.
3. Personally, I would get one of the SI-branded controller family members, as it is much more current firmware, and they have flavors that have both an internal connector to daisy-chain disks inside of the chassis, and an external expansion port where you can add more drives externally.
Sorry, meant LSI-branded, not SI-branded.
SAS connectors will mate with a SATA drive, but SATA connectors will not mate with a SAS drive. If you take a look at a SATA drive, there is a gap between the signal connector and the power connector. With SAS, that area is filled with plastic and there is a secondary signal port on the opposite side. Since that gap allows regular sata and power cables to attach to the drive separately, they wont work with a sas drive. This is done purposely since you need a SAS controller for SAS drives...which can also use SATA drives. On the flipside, you cannot use a sata controller for a sas drive...and the reason why the sata connector wont plug in.
To answer your question, YES, but you need a DELL QUALIFIED DRIVE. Third-party drives are no longer supported. Apparently this is because the firmware on Dell drives are superior and has nothing to do with the fact that you are required to pay a higher price for Dell branded drives.
To answer your question, YES, but you need a DELL QUALIFIED DRIVE. Third-party drives are no longer supported. Apparently this is because the firmware on Dell drives are superior and has nothing to do with the fact that you are required to pay a higher price for Dell branded drives.
Since we are on the topic of a PERC 6, I should point out that non-Dell drives are acceptable (NOTlocked out) but not recommended on a PERC 6. Newer H700/H800 controllers originally did lockout non-Dell drives, but a firmware update was issued to remove the lockout.
Dell-certified drives have a specific (not "better") firmware loaded on them to allow them to work seamlessly and flawlessly with the Dell controllers, allowing Dell to guarantee the performance of their hardware. If you don't like the high price of those drives, then don't buy them from Dell. You can buy Dell-certified drives from anyone - often for much less than from Dell directly.
Dell-certified drives have a specific (not "better") firmware loaded on them to allow them to work seamlessly and flawlessly with the Dell controllers, allowing Dell to guarantee the performance of their hardware. If you don't like the high price of those drives, then don't buy them from Dell. You can buy Dell-certified drives from anyone - often for much less than from Dell directly.
It was a very simple question, and the answer is 'yes' ... that was provided to him in post #33523780.
This question has been classified as abandoned and is being closed as part of the Cleanup Program. See my comment at the end of the question for more details.