PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb (FC EJ0U; CCIN 57D8)

Learn about the specifications and operating system requirements for the high-function PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb (CCIN 57D8) that is integrated with the composite storage backplane (feature code (FC) EJ0U) in the 8284-21A or 8284-22A.

Overview

The expanded function PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb is an internal PCI Express generation-3 (PCIe3), serial-attached SCSI (SAS) Random Array of Independent Disks (RAID) adapter integrated in the 8284-21A or 8284-22A. The PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb is part of a composite feature of the high-function storage backplane (FC EJ0U). The adapter contains the SAS RAID controller and SAS Expander ports.

A pair of these high-function internal adapters is pre-installed in the dedicated internal PCIe3, x8 slots P1-C14 and P1-C15 in the 8284-21A or 8284-22A. The high-function composite storage feature (FC EJ0U) provides the following features:
  • A high-function storage backplane (CCIN 2B5A) that provides slots for 8 numbers of 2.5 inches small form-factor (SFF) hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SDDs)and 6 of 1.8 inches SSDs. This backplane also supports a slim DVD media bay.
  • A pair of the high-function PCIe3 cache SAS RAID internal adapters (CCIN 57D8) that are installed in the slots P1-C14 and P1-C15.
  • A pair of backup power supply cards and card cage that are installed in the slots P1-C14-C1 and P1-C15-C1.
  • Two mini-SAS HD cables that attach to the high-function storage backplane.
  • A mini-SAS HD cable with two external SAS ports that is installed in the system rear bulkhead in the slot P1-C8.

Alternatively, you can upgrade your system that has the storage backplane FC EJ0T to a high-function system by ordering the composite high-function storage backplane feature (FC EJ0U).

The PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb has a data read-write speed of 6 Gbps and a real write cache of 2 GB. With a 4:1 cache compression, this high-function adapter provides an increased cache of 8 GB and increases the storage system performance. The write cache contents are protected against power loss with flash memory and super capacitors and removes the need for cache battery.

The two mini-SAS HD cables connect each of the PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb to the two SAS ports on the storage backplane. The high-function internal adapters supports both the drives (SFF and SSDs) to be used in a Dual Storage IOA RAID configuration. The supported RAID configurations include: RAID 0, 5, 6, 10, 5T2, 6T2, and 10T2. The second PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb in slot P1-C15 also controls the slim DVD bay. The high-function storage backplane does not support the split storage backplane configuration.

Each of the internal adapters provide a rear mini-SAS HD connector that attach to the mini-SAS HD cable and provided with two external SAS ports on the other end. In the 8284-21A or 8284-22A, the external SAS ports are installed in slot P1-C8. The external SAS port is used to attach the FC 5887 drive enclosure. Only one 5887 drive enclosure is supported by the high-function internal adapter pair.

Systems running the AIX® or Linux operating system support both adapters RAID controllers owned by the same or different partitions. AIX or Linux also provide mirroring (logical volume manager (LVM)) capabilities. The dual controllers support the Easy Tier® function that enables the controllers to automatically move hot data to attached SSDs and cold data to attached HDDs in the AIX or Linux systems.

Systems running the IBM® i operating system do not support the two adapters being owned by different partitions, nor the Easy Tier function.

Figure 1 shows the PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb.

Figure 1. PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb
Graphic showing the PCIe3 x8 cache SAS RAID internal adapter 6Gb

Specifications

Item
Description
Adapter CCIN number
57D8
Adapter FRU number
00MA025 (Designed to comply with RoHS requirement)
I/O bus architecture
PCIe3 x8
Slot requirement
Internal PCIe3 slot with x16 connector and x8 bus signalling per adapter.
High-function configuration: Two adapters are installed in slot P1-C14 and P1-C15.
Cables
Two mini-SAS HD cables supplied with the adapter. Additional SAS cable with mini-SAS HD connectors and external SAS ports can be attached to the high-function internal adapters.
Voltage
12 V

Operating system or partition requirements

The adapter is supported on the following versions of the operating systems, depending on the system you are using:
  • AIX
    • AIX 7.1, Technology Level 3, Service Pack 2, or later
    • AIX 6.1, Technology Level 9, Service Pack 2, or later
  • Linux
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 6.5, or later, with current maintenance updates available from Red Hat.
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 7, or later, with current maintenance updates available from Red Hat.
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 7.1, little endian, or later, with current maintenance updates available from Red Hat.
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, Service Pack 3, or later, with current maintenance updates available from SUSE.
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, or later, with current maintenance updates available from SUSE
    • Ubuntu Server 14.04.3
    • Ubuntu Server 16.04
  • IBM i
    • IBM i Version 7.1, or later
  • PowerKVM
    • IBM PowerKVM 2.1.1, or later
Parent topic: PCIe adapters
Related information:
SAS RAID controllers for AIX
SAS RAID controllers for IBM i
SAS RAID controllers for Linux
Serial-attached SCSI cable planning
IBM Prerequisite website
Installing, removing, or replacing PCIe adapters
PCIe adapter placement rules and slot priorities
PCIe adapter information by feature type


Last updated: Thu, June 27, 2019