Intel AXXRMS2AF080 Hardware User Guide - Page 11

1 Overview The Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS2AF040 and RMS2AF080 is a highperformance intelligent custom board-to-board PCI Express* 2.0 compliant SAS/SATA RAID module that offers reliability, high performance, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem management based on the Intel® SAS Hardware RAID Software Stack. This is a RAID solution that meets the internal storage needs of workgroup, department, or enterprise systems to use cost-effective SATA or high performance SAS media. As a second generation PCI Express* storage controller, the Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS2AF040 and RMS2AF080 addresses the growing demand for increased data throughput and scalability requirements across entry level, midrange, and enterprise server platforms. The controller can be connected to up to four drives (RMS2AF040) or eight drives (RMS2AF080) directly and allows the use of expanders to connect to additional drives. For more information about the use of expanders, see the ANSI SAS Standard, version 2.0 specification. SATA and SAS are serial, point-to-point, device interfaces that use simplified cabling, smaller connectors, lower pin counts, and lower power requirements than parallel SCSI. Benefits of SAS and SATA 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, SCSI, and FC, 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 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 than parallel SCSI. SAS controllers leverage a common electrical and physical connection interface that is compatible with Serial ATA technology. The SAS and SATA protocols use a thin, 7-wire connector instead of the 68-wire SCSI cable or 40-wire ATA cable. The SAS/SATA connector and cable are easier to manipulate, connect to smaller devices, and do not inhibit airflow. The point-to-point SATA architecture eliminates difficulties created by the legacy ATA master-slave architecture, while maintaining compatibility with existing ATA firmware. Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS2AF040 and RMS2AF080 Hardware User's Guide 1