Hi All

 

New to the world of SAS/HBA Host Bus Adapter...

I have found this case that fits my needs (Not to deep 55 cm and 24 hot swap bays)

4u-server-case-w-24x-35-hot-swappable-satasas-drive-bays-6gbs-minisas-550m-deep-sc-4324s

 

So it states that the backplane has: "Six SFF-8087 Mini SAS connectors" to 24 drives

 

So what do I need? cables and controller or controllers? (Recommended) 

LSI 9211-8i as HBA (IT Mode)? or a better card if there is one?

How many cards? and what cables "SFF-8087" is there a card that would cover all 24 bays?

 

Sorry I have read the wicki but this back-plate with only 6 connectors have me confused?

Most people write about SATA connectors and cables (These I know :-)

 

Best regards

Casperse

 

Every miniSAS cable connects to 4 disks, so depending on how many disks you'll use you can do the math, for the 24 disks you need 3x8 port HBAs, or 1x16 port + 1x8 port, or 1xHBA with an expander, etc.

2 minutes ago, johnnie.black said:

Every miniSAS cable connects to 4 disks, so depending on how many disks you'll use you can do the math, for the 24 disks you need 3x8 port HBAs, or 1x16 port + 1x8 port, or 1xHBA with an expander, etc.

 

Ok that make sense, but what is an expander and is it better to buy more HBA not using an expander? (Speed/cost do I save a pci slot?)

I want to make sure I can use any size sata disk without limitations 12TB etc 

3 minutes ago, casperse said:

but what is an expander

Something like this Intel RES2SV240:

Expander saves you a PCIe slot, though it can use one for power, instead of a molex plug, as for price depends if you're buying used your new, you can check ebay for a price idea.

So a expander card:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-RES2SV240-24port-6G-6Gbps-SATA-SAS-Expander-Server-Adapter-Gebraucht/132734264721?hash=item1ee7942591:g:UOIAAOSwdc5baUKH

 

And another LSA  1x8 port and these two cards would provide me with 24 drives?

Are these card connected by cables? (Sorry the wicki didnt state if this was needed?)

 

Looks like a mores "cost friendly" solution 🙂

25 minutes ago, casperse said:

And another LSA  1x8 port and these two cards would provide me with 24 drives?

Yes

 

26 minutes ago, casperse said:

Are these card connected by cables? (Sorry the wicki didnt state if this was needed?)

SFF-8087 miniSAS to SFF-8087 miniSAS cables

Would a 1x16 with an Expander improve speed?

This would require 2 PCI slots

 

And  1x16 port + 1x8 port would require the same.

 

So money would be the only concern here?

(Sorry if this is a stupid Q, and thanks for spending the time helping me!)

Edited September 20, 20187 yr by casperse

2 minutes ago, casperse said:

Would a 1x16 with an Expander improve speed?

Not really, maybe a little if it was a PCIe 3.0 HBA.

 

For better performance you'd want an expander with more ports and then dual link it to the HBA, HBA would also need to be PCI 3.0 to be able to use the extra bandwidth, so for best performance you could get for example an LSI 9207-8i and the 36 port version of the Intel expander.

So this way the Expander would have higher capasity than it would actuall need for 24 bays (36 Expander might be more expensive than buying two cards 🙂)

I found this article (Because I also would like to use ESXi running Un-raid) and here the MB actual have a built in LSI controller!

https://www.vladan.fr/supermicro-single-cpu-board-for-esxi-homelab-x10srh-cln4f

So was wondering if I then only needed to buy the expansion to such a board?

4 minutes ago, casperse said:

So this way the Expander would have higher capasity than it would actuall need for 24 bays (36 Expander might be more expensive than buying two cards 🙂)

I found this article (Because I also would like to use ESXi running Un-raid) and here the MB actual have a built in LSI controller!

https://www.vladan.fr/supermicro-single-cpu-board-for-esxi-homelab-x10srh-cln4f

So was wondering if I then only needed to buy the expansion to such a board?

There's nothing wrong with having more ports than bays (and similarly more bays than drives and more drives than what you need). It simply gives you more options in he future.

 

Having controller on motherboard can be both a blessing and a curse. It may (or may not) complicate patching it to IT mode. I remember reading someone complaining on Reddit about that.

12 minutes ago, casperse said:

So this way the Expander would have higher capasity than it would actuall need for 24 bays (36 Expander might be more expensive than buying two cards 🙂)

Don't forget that 8 of the expander ports connect to the HBA, so only 4 would be unused.

4 minutes ago, testdasi said:

There's nothing wrong with having more ports than bays (and similarly more bays than drives and more drives than what you need).

As long as money is no issue  

Thanks! - So after reviewing all your valuable information I have drilled it down between 3 solutions for a minimum of 24 drives or more:

1. 2 HBA cards: LSI SAS3008 9300-8I/LSI 9211-8i/LSI 9207-8i ?  and a LSI 9202-16e (Any model recommendations buying used LSI with PCI 3.0? EBAY is a jungle of different models)
2. Expander 36: RES3CV360 and LSI 9207-8i and 8 x SFF-8087 miniSAS to SFF-8087 miniSAS cables between the cards (Short ones would be nice)
3. Expander 24: LSI 9207-8i and the RES2SV240 expander and some cables? (I don't like buying used cables, so new ones any brand recommendations?)

BTW: I still only have 6 SAS ports on the back-plate of my new server case, so regardless of the above solutions I can order 6 of these cables with the case right?

Edited September 21, 20187 yr by casperse

1 minute ago, casperse said:

 (Any model recommendations buying used LSI with PCI 3.0? EBAY is a jungle of different models)

9207-8i or 9300-8i

 

2 minutes ago, casperse said:

BTW: I still only have 6 SAS ports on the back-plate of my new server case, so regardless of the above solutions I can order 6 of these cables with the case right?

No, those are SFF-8087 to SFF-8643.

Thanks for catching that!! I got the wrong link from their sales department LINK

What about recommendation for 16 port? (The one I find keep having the ports "outside" and not on the card itself?)

With PCIe 3.0 there's the 9300-16i, but it won't be cheap

 

Oh and that one uses SFF-8643 cables.

Ooh maybe a fourth option:
LSI MegaRaid SAS 9280 -24i4e would this work I think it’s only PCI 2.0 but would this actually create a bottleneck when adding 24 drives to a single card? (HBA mode)

23 hours ago, casperse said:

MegaRaid

That's a RAID controller, not HBA, unless it can be flashed to IT mode which I doubt, so not recommended.

Just noticed that the back plane in my case only states: " 6Gb/s MiniSAS" so a 12Gb/s and PCIe 3.0 would probably be wasted on this.

Is the LSI 9202-16e the preferred card for HBA? (Most of the ones I find on Ebay only have external and not internal connectors?) 

43 minutes ago, casperse said:

o a 12Gb/s and PCIe 3.0 would probably be wasted on this.

12Gb/s would be wasted, yes, PCIe 3.0 no if used it an expander.

Thanks @johnnie.black Ok, running out of time and can't really find any PCI 3.0 that isn't close to full price and then you get warranty

also goes for expanders for 24 drives is non existing on Ebay

 

Would this be okay for 24 bays (Approved HBA card to be used for unRaid HBA mode)

LSI SAS9201-16i PCI-Express 2.0 x8 SAS 6Gb/s HBA Card
LSI SAS2008-8I SATA 9211-8i 6Gbps 8 Ports HBA PCI-E RAID Controller Card

 

Is the higher number, the newest card and therefore the best value for money, one is 9201 and the other is 9211

No, they are both from the same generation, 9201 is IT mode only, 9211 is IT or RAID, either one will work fine (in IT mode).

Anybody @johnnie.black , @testdasi, @bonienl

who have experience positive buying LSI cards from china? (Fake?)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LSI-SAS3008-9300-8I-Host-Bus-Adapter-PCI-E-3-0-SATA-SAS-8-Port-SAS3-12Gb-s/142272994650?hash=item2120219d5a:g:t38AAOSw4UlbplpF

Edited September 26, 20187 yr by casperse

I always prefer and recommend buying used server pools instead of new ones from China, much less of a chance of getting a fake.