On 8/25/2023 at 3:10 PM, JonathanM said:

Only the expander and drives go in the second tower. The LSI controller goes in the main tower.

That will require either running cables meant for internal case use from one case to the other, or buying a pair of the cable converters. If properly protected it would be ok to do the internal style cables, but it will mean partially disassembling one or both of the towers to get to the internal connections if you want to move things around. The e connections are exposed to the outside of the case in a slot, so much easier to unplug and move if needed.

 

Okay can you supply an drawing or picture of how that should look?

Because I really don't understand how to put those things together.

I have autism, so imagining things is really hard for me, sorry.

 

And one other question where in the Netherlands can I get a cheap 4e card?

 

Thanks again for all the help both @JonathanM and @JorgeB!!!

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by rikdegraaff

3 hours ago, rikdegraaff said:

can you supply an drawing or picture of how that should look?

 

2 hours ago, JonathanM said:

 

 

I see the last drawing in the opening post, but does that mean that I need 2 mobo's?

Becuase where do I put the SAS expaned in?

That goes in somewhere, right...

 

Because when I read that, I see also a second case with mobo, cpu, os and so on...

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by rikdegraaff

The second case only has the expander and the internal to external slot adapter. No motherboard. Just power supply, expander, adapter, drives, and a way to switch on the PSU.

7 hours ago, JonathanM said:

The second case only has the expander and the internal to external slot adapter. No motherboard. Just power supply, expander, adapter, drives, and a way to switch on the PSU.

 

Okay thanks for the information.

I think I need a good explanation on a SAS expander, because I really don't know how to functions.

So I am going to read https://techtellectual.com/what-is-a-sas-expander/ tomorrow.

 

Still do you know a good 4e card?

Then I'll check how I get such a card here to the Netherlands.

And can I take any generic internal/external 8088 to 8087 adapter.
Or does also that needs to be of a specific brand?

 

And last but not least, how do I get a good switch for turning the second power supply on and off?

Because reading your post above, I think I need an external PSU switch or something like that...

 

Thanks again and I wish you a good night (as it is 1:40 AM here)

Greetings, Rik

10 minutes ago, rikdegraaff said:

Still do you know a good 4e card?

Look for an LSI on the recommended controller page, most 8i models are available with 4i/4e, the newer cards may use a different external cable instead of 8088, in which case you would need that cable to 8087 bracket, the bracket can be generic.

 

You can get really fancy with the power switch using special boards, or you can simply force the power supply on whenever it has external power and make sure you turn the external drive cage on first and off last when booting the computer.

On 8/29/2023 at 2:04 AM, JonathanM said:

Look for an LSI on the recommended controller page, most 8i models are available with 4i/4e, the newer cards may use a different external cable instead of 8088, in which case you would need that cable to 8087 bracket, the bracket can be generic.

 

You can get really fancy with the power switch using special boards, or you can simply force the power supply on whenever it has external power and make sure you turn the external drive cage on first and off last when booting the computer.

 

Hi @JonathanM, sorry for my late reply, it's vacation time here.

Is this something you meant, because the 4e's that we have here in Holland, none contain a ASM 1064/1164 chip.

I saw this one for about 80 euros: IBM ServeRAID M1115 SAS/SATA controller for IBM system X (81Y4448)...
Does that work, in my server?

 

And furthermore I need a SAS expander, any recommendations?

2 hours ago, rikdegraaff said:

I saw this one for about 80 euros: IBM ServeRAID M1115 SAS/SATA controller for IBM system X (81Y4448)...
Does that work, in my server?

Post a link. The only result a google search for that part number came back to an 8i version.

2 hours ago, rikdegraaff said:

the 4e's that we have here in Holland, none contain a ASM 1064/1164 chip.

The ASM are SATA, not SAS. To work with an SAS expander you must get an SAS controller.

 

That's why I said look for LSI. I didn't mention ASM, they won't work.

 

2 hours ago, rikdegraaff said:

And furthermore I need a SAS expander, any recommendations?

Intel RES2SV240

Okay, thanks for the information.

Is this something I can use? https://maxict.nl/lenovo-ibm-serveraid-m5210-sassata-controller-raid-controller-pci-express-x8-30-12-gbits-p8167460.html?btwview=in

It is a sas/sata controller.

 

We only have these in Holland, with SAS.

See link: https://tweakers.net/controllers/vergelijken/#filter:PYxBCsIwFETvMusIMSDSHKDgwlWW0kVIv_olNOEndGHJ3ZuCuBrm8WY28LKSVPdO2VGkUDktsE8fCykkmUlGpjjDIgt_Cn7QJamd-RL-JFO4de90Vsj-RY6_BHvR6hgGunO_7aV0beRYSQrsBmPMcOTqI-wDRl81ptbaDg

 

Thanks again!

8 minutes ago, rikdegraaff said:

Is this something I can use?

That one only has internal connections, so would need ANOTHER adapter to use external cables. If you have plenty of empty slots in your main tower, that might be an option.

 

The HP Proliant H222 Host Bus Adapter listed I believe might work, but I don't know which cable to use and which adapter on the disk tower side. @JorgeB?

https://www.ebay.com/str/theartofserver

Reputable seller dealing with server pulls that get updated and tested.  Very hardware knowledgeable also. 

1 hour ago, JonathanM said:

The HP Proliant H222 Host Bus Adapter

Possibly, but not familiar with that one, this one will work and it's not very expensive, with the appropriate cables:

 

1 hour ago, JorgeB said:

this one will work

Looks like that one has 2 internal ports, the entire purpose of this thread is breaking out drives into a separate tower. I assume if you don't want to use 2ea external to internal adapters with the appropriate external cables it would be better to have at least 1 external SAS connector.

 

Perhaps the local prices make it more advantageous to use internal -> external -> external -> internal with 2 sets of internal cables, 2 internal external slot adapters, and 1 external cable?

10 hours ago, JonathanM said:

Looks like that one has 2 internal ports,

Yeah, didn't see an LSI with external ports, and the cable adapter is usually not expensive, already going to need to one for the expander, so not a big deal, but a HBA with an external port at the same price would be better if available, just don't like to comment on models I'm not familiar with.

I am now trying to make a shopping list.

I want to connect another 10 disks

So then I need the following stuff on there:

 

• LSI SAS 9207-8i (https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/330124/lsi-sas-9207-8i/specificaties/)

• Intel RAID Expander Card RES2SV240 (https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/339803/intel-raid-expander-card-res2sv240/specificaties/)

The LSI comes in my first tower and the Intel in my second tower right?

And what cables, besides sata data cables, do I need to hook this up?

 

Thanks again all!

 

I already have this one,

Supermicro AOC-SAS2LP-MV8, but it is full with 8 hdds, https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/286496/supermicro-aoc-sas2lp-mv8/specificaties/

 

Edited September 5, 20232 yr by rikdegraaff

Guys and girls, hereby a polite shout out te help me further on with this build.
I really would like to realize this, but without a good shopping list it won't build itself....

 

So please help me with the above post. Thanks in advance!!!

I believe Jonathan already mentioned what you need, basically two of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Internal-SFF-8087-External-SFF-8088/dp/B07ZGYXCP6?th=1

 

Four of these (or two if you use just one external cable below, the smaller the better:

https://www.amazon.com/10Gtek-Internal-SFF-8087-Sideband-0-5-Meter/dp/B017CO6JRO

 

And for best performance two external SFF-8088 to SFF-8088 cables, one will do but it will have less bandwidth.

https://www.amazon.com/10Gtek-External-SFF-8088-Cable-1-Meter/dp/B01KH9OMNY

 

 

20 hours ago, JorgeB said:

I believe Jonathan already mentioned what you need, basically two of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Internal-SFF-8087-External-SFF-8088/dp/B07ZGYXCP6?th=1

 

Four of these (or two if you use just one external cable below, the smaller the better:

https://www.amazon.com/10Gtek-Internal-SFF-8087-Sideband-0-5-Meter/dp/B017CO6JRO

 

And for best performance two external SFF-8088 to SFF-8088 cables, one will do but it will have less bandwidth.

https://www.amazon.com/10Gtek-External-SFF-8088-Cable-1-Meter/dp/B01KH9OMNY

 

 

 

Thanks @JorgeB, so those plus the 2 cards makes the complete shopping list, right.
And also thanks to Jonathan for being such a great helper!!!!

Well in a short while I am going to order these and hopefully I'll get them working!
Woohoo. 😁

34 minutes ago, rikdegraaff said:

Thanks @JorgeB, so those plus the 2 cards makes the complete shopping list, right.

Yes, assuming you already have the forward breakout SATA cables.

21 hours ago, JorgeB said:

Yes, assuming you already have the forward breakout SATA cables.

 

Sorry, but I don't have that.
Are that these cables, cause then I understand what you mean with that: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-SFF-8087-Breakout/dp/B012BPLYJC?th=1

 

Kind Regards.

 

EDIT: And the Intel Card that I'll use, do I put that into a mobo or not, just like this image right. So without plugging it into a motherboard?

Just attaching the cables into the card, but not into any motherboard, am I right? (Because it has a connection for a mobo)

Edited September 30, 20232 yr by rikdegraaff
See EDIT

On 9/5/2023 at 1:01 PM, rikdegraaff said:

And what cables, besides sata data cables

This made me assume you already had those, you need some of these:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-SFF-8087-Breakout/dp/B012BPLYJC?th=1

 

Each cable allows you to connect 4 disks to the expander.

 

17 minutes ago, rikdegraaff said:

do I put that into a mobo or not

As you prefer, it needs power from a PCIe slot OR a molex plug.

 

Sorry I am very unsure and not very known in that world, and I don't have much financial space to make mistakes and so on.
That's why I am a little hestitating....

But a Molex plug for a PCIe card? Can you give me a example for what I need then.
Because I don't have a second motherboard to plug it into.

 

EDIT: Something like this from the first mobo to the pcie card?

Edited September 30, 20232 yr by rikdegraaff

2 minutes ago, rikdegraaff said:

But a Molex plug for a PCIe card? Can you give me a example for what I need then.

To power the expander:

 

Ah superb, so just screwing the card to the case and then a Molex plug to a psu.

Everything looks easier with pictures.

 

Thanks then I'll try to make it like in your picture.

If you have more pictures, I would love to receive them, on the forums or via PM.

1 minute ago, rikdegraaff said:

If you have more pictures,

Nope, that's old, curiously that photo is mine but found it by Googling "res2sv240 molex" images, but not using it like that anymore.