Hardware User's Guide

Intel® Integrated RAID Module RMS25PB080N and RMS25CB080N Hardware User’s Guide 1
1 Overview
The Intel
®
Integrated RAID Module RMS25PB080N and RMS25CB080N are high-
performance intelligent PCI Express* 3.0 compliant SAS/SATA RAID controllers that
offer reliability, high performance, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem management. This is
an ideal RAID solution that meets the internal storage needs of workgroup, department, or
enterprise systems to use with cost-effective SATA or high performance SAS media.
As second generation PCI Express* storage controller, the Intel
®
Integrated RAID
Module RMS25PB080N and RMS25CB080N address the growing demand for increased
data throughput and scalability requirements across entry level, midrange, and enterprise
server platforms.
The Intel
®
Integrated RAID Module RMS25PB080N and RMS25CB080N control eight
internal SAS/SATA ports through two SFF-8087 Mini SAS x4 internal connectors. For
more information about the use of expanders, see the ANSI SAS Standard, version 2.0
specification.
SATA and SAS are serial, point-to-point, device interfaces that use simplified cabling,
smaller connectors, lower pin counts, and lower power requirements than parallel SCSI.
Note: The Intel
®
Integrated RAID Module RMS25PB080N and RMS25CB080N do not support
the optional Intel
®
RAID Smart Battery AXXRSBBU9 or Intel
®
RAID Maintenance Free
Backup Unit AXXRMFBU2.
Benefits of SAS and SATA
SAS is a serial, enterprise-level device interface that leverages the proven SCSI protocol
set. SAS is a convergence of the advantages of SATA, SCSI, and FC, and is the future
mainstay of the enterprise and high-end workstation storage markets. SAS offers a higher
bandwidth per pin than parallel SCSI and improves signal and data integrity.
The SAS interface uses the proven SCSI command set to ensure reliable data transfers,
while providing the connectivity and flexibility of point-to-point serial data transfers. The
serial transmission of SCSI commands eliminates clock skew challenges. The SAS
interface provides improved performance, simplified cabling, smaller connectors, lower
pin count, and lower power requirements than parallel SCSI.
SAS controllers leverage a common electrical and physical connection interface that is
compatible with Serial ATA technology. The SAS and SATA protocols use a thin, 7-wire
connector instead of the 68-wire SCSI cable or 40-wire ATA cable. The SAS/SATA
connector and cable are easier to manipulate, connect to smaller devices, and do not
inhibit airflow. The point-to-point SATA architecture eliminates difficulties created by the
legacy ATA master-slave architecture, while maintaining compatibility with existing
ATA firmware.