Intel SRCS28X User Manual - Page 12

Introduction 2.1.1 Adapter Description The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X is a half-size storage adapter (6.875" x 4.2") that provides support for eight Serial ATA ports. You can attach a daughtercard to provide battery backup support. The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X uses an Intel 80331 I/O Processor to support the Serial ATA ports. The Intel 80331 I/O Processor provides the intelligent RAID management capabilities. The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50. 2.1.2 Enclosure Management In addition, the Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X offers enclosure management through the same protocols used for SCSI Accessed Fault-Tolerant Enclosures (SAF-TE), using an I2C interface to communicate with the storage enclosure processor (SEP). This feature allows you to use RAID capabilities provided by the Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X in an enclosure containing your hard drives. The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X uses the SAF-TE command protocol to communicate control and status with the storage enclosure processor (SEP). The SAF-TE protocol defined in the SATA II specification is used to communicate or perform SAF-TE operations such as setting the drive state and turning off/on LED with the SEP device. SEP is a micro controller resides on SATA backplane. It senses drive inserted status, drive activity and status LEDs near each hard drive slot. The drive status is reported and LED control performed according to commands through I2C bus. LEDs are located on the backplane near each hard drive slot. 2.1.3 Operating System Support The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X supports several major operating systems. Intel provides device drivers and RAID management tools for operating systems on the resource CD that accompanies the Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X. In addition, you can download the latest drivers and software on the Intel support web site: http:// www.support.intel.com. Refer to the Software User's Guide on the Resource CD for instructions for installing the device drivers. Be sure to use the latest Service Packs provided by the operating system manufacturer and review the readme file that accompanies the driver. The Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X supports the following operating systems: • Microsoft* Windows* XP • Microsoft* Windows* 2000 • Microsoft* Windows Server* 2003 • Novell* NetWare* • Red Hat* Linux*, and • SuSE* Linux* Note: The operating systems supported by this controller may not be supported by your server board. Please refer to the tested OS list for your server board at http://support.intel.com/support/ 12 Intel® Raid Controller SRCS28X User Manual