User`s guide
Table Of Contents
- About This Guide
- Kit Contents and System Requirements
- About Your RAID Controller
- Standard RAID Controller Features
- Adding Enhanced Features
- Adding a Battery Backup Module
- Upgrading the Controller Firmware
- About the Adaptec 3085
- About the Adaptec 3405
- About the Adaptec 3805
- About the Adaptec 31205
- About the Adaptec 31605
- About the Adaptec 4000
- About the Adaptec 4800SAS
- About the Adaptec 4805SAS
- About the Adaptec 2420SA
- About the Adaptec 2820SA
- About the Adaptec 2130SLP
- About the Adaptec 2230SLP
- Getting Started
- Installing the Controller and Disk Drives
- Creating a Bootable Array
- Installing the Driver and an Operating System
- Installing the Driver on an Existing Operating System
- Managing Your Storage Space
- Solving Problems
- Introduction to Serial Attached SCSI
- Understanding RAID
- Using the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
- Using the Array Configuration Utility for DOS
- Using the Adaptec Flash Utility
- Adaptec Serial Controller LED and I2C Connector Reference
- Adaptec 2420SA Activity LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 2820SA Activity LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 3085 LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 3405 LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 3805 LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 31205 LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 31605 LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 4800SAS LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Adaptec 4805SAS LED and I2C Connector Specification
- Safety Information
- Technical Specifications
- Index
Chapter 4: Getting Started ● 32
Selecting Disk Drives
When selecting disk drives for your RAID array, ensure that all the disk drives have the same
performance level. You can use different-sized disk drives in the array, but the array will be
limited to the capacity of the smallest and slowest disk drive.
For more information, refer to the Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide
f
or Internal RAID
Storage or online Help.
Disk Drives for SAS Controllers
Your SAS controller supports both SAS and SATA disk drives. For cable information, see page 33.
Disk Drives for SATA Controllers
Your SATA controller supports SATA disk drives only. You need one SATA port for each disk
drive you are connecting to your SATA controller.
Disk Drives for SCSI Controllers
Your SCSI controller supports Ultra320 SCSI disk drives. It also supports Ultra2 or higher
SCSI disk drives and peripherals, but at performance levels less than Ultra320. Adaptec does
not recommend using SCSI disk drives or peripherals older than Ultra2.
Note:
High-voltage Differential (HVD) disk drives are not supported and will damage your
controller.
If you are mixing single-ended (SE) disk drives with Low-voltage Differential (LVD) disk
drives:
● Ensure proper termination by using a cable (like the one included in the kit) with a built-
in multimode terminator and proper adapters.
● Disable termination on all the SE disk drives.
● Put LVD and SE disk drives on separate channels for the best performance.
Note:
If you mix SE and Ultra320 disk drives on the same channel, the performance of the
Ultra320 disk drives is reduced to SE levels.