Datasheet

ServeRAID M5115 SAS/SATA Controller for IBM Flex System 4
At least one hardware kit is required with the ServeRAID M5115 controller, and there are three hardware
kits that are supported that enable specific drive support:
ServeRAID M5100 Series Enablement Kit for IBM Flex System x240 (90Y4342) or IBM Flex

System x220 (90Y4424) or IBM Flex System x440 (46C9030) enables support for up to two 2.5-inch
HDDs or SSDs in the hot-swap bays in the front of the server. It includes a CacheVault unit, which
enables MegaRAID CacheVault flash cache protection. This enablement kit replaces the standard
two-bay backplane (which is attached through the planar to an onboard controller) with a new
backplane that attaches to an included flex cable to the M5115 controller. It also includes an air
baffle, which also serves as an attachment for the CacheVault unit.
MegaRAID CacheVault flash cache protection uses NAND flash memory powered by a
supercapacitor to protect data stored in the controller cache. This module eliminates the need for a
lithium-ion battery commonly used to protect DRAM cache memory on PCI RAID controllers. To avoid
the possibility of data loss or corruption during a power or server failure, CacheVault technology
transfers the contents of the DRAM cache to NAND flash memory using power from the
supercapacitor. After the power is restored to the RAID controller, the saved data is transferred from
the NAND flash back to the DRAM cache, which can then be flushed to disk.
Tip: The Enablement Kit is only required if 2.5-inch drives are used. If you plan to install four or eight
1.8-inch SSDs only, then this kit is not required.
ServeRAID M5100 Series IBM Flex System Flash Kit for x240 (90Y4341) or IBM Flex System

x220 (90Y4425) or IBM Flex System x440 (46C9031) enables support for up to four 1.8-inch SSDs.
This kit replaces the standard two-bay backplane with a four-bay SSD backplane that attaches to an
included flex cable to the M5115 controller. Because only SSDs are supported, a CacheVault unit is
not required, and therefore this kit does not have a supercap.
ServeRAID M5100 Series SSD Expansion Kit for IBM Flex System x240 (90Y4391) or IBM Flex

System x220 (90Y4426) or IBM Flex System x440 (46C9032) enables support for up to four internal
1.8-inch SSDs. This kit includes two air baffles which can attach two 1.8-inch SSD attachment
locations and Flex cables for attachment to up to four 1.8-inch SSDs.
The following table shows the kits required for each combination of drives. For example, if you plan to
install eight 1.8-inch SSDs, then you need the M5115 controller, the Flash kit, and the SSD Expansion kit.
Table 3. ServeRAID M5115 hardware kits
Desired drive support Components required
Maximum
number of
2.5-inch
drives
Maximum
number of
1.8-inch
SSDs
ServeRAID
M5115
90Y4390
Enablement Kit
90Y4342 (x240)
90Y4424 (x220)
46C9030 (x440)
Flash Kit
90Y4341 (x240)
90Y4425 (x220)
46C9031 (x440)
SSD
Expansion Kit
90Y4391 (x240)
90Y4426 (x220)
46C9032 (x440)
2 0 => Required Required
0 4 (front) => Required Required
2 4 (internal) => Required Required Required
0 8 (both) => Required Required Required
The following figure shows how the ServeRAID M5115 and the Enablement Kit are installed in the x240 to
support two 2.5-inch drives with MegaRAID CacheVault flash cache protection (row 1 of the preceding
table). The configuration is the same for the x220.