ML110 G7 and P410 - Which cable for SAS to SATA

[The_Reverend]

Hello all,

I've got a few questions about a VMware ESX host that I'm putting together for a home lab.

I recently bought a HP ML110 G7 with the G840 CPU and have upgraded the CPU and RAM to an E3-1240 with 32 GB using Kingston KTH-PL313E/8G memory.

I've also put a HP P410 SAS RAID controller with 256 BBWC (HP part 462862-B21) into it with the intention of doing a RAID 5 setup on three Seagate Constellation *CS* 2TB drives.

Unfortunately my knowledge of newer cabling technologies is fairly lacking, hence I'm here asking for advice.

I've did a bit of research and it seems that I'll need to buy a Mini SAS to 4x SATA *forward* breakout cable (I'd never heard of these cables before yesterday).


My questions are:

1. Am I correct in thinking that I'll need a Mini SAS to 4x SATA *forward* breakout cable - if so, are there any recommendations?

2. There is already a cable connected to the onboard Mini SAS port on the ML110 - could I just disconnect this cable and plug it into the P410?

3. If I *can* disconnect and reuse the cable that came with the ML110, can it easily be disconnected from the onboard port? (I've read some horror stories about damaged cables/ports when Mini SAS cables are unplugged).

4. And finally, has anyone used the Seagate Constellation CS 2TB drives with the ML110?

Apologies, if the questions seem a bit daft but my knowledge of SAS cabling is non existent and I don't want to buy kit that I can't use.

Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide.
Paul

 

[Dogers]

Doing this from memory as servers are obviously at work

1) Yes - any cable should do as long as it's forward (if it doesn't say reverse, then it's almost certainly forward as that's the usual direction). Not a specific recommendation, just a Google search, but try CBL-SFF8087OCF-06M. It seems HP don't make the cable you need.
2) Not sure, but likely. The quickspecs don't say what the connector is, but if it has a small metal tab on it, press it and it should pull out without too much effort. If it's one of these, you can plug it in to the 410, but if it's one of these, no.
3) See above There should be a metal tab which locks it onto the socket. As long as that's pressed, it shouldn't cause any damage.
4) Nope, sorry! Shouldn't be any reason they don't work though..

 

[The_Reverend]

Thank you for the reply Dogers. You've saved me the cost of a new cable

I was going to wait until the weekend to try unplug the mini SAS cable from the onboard connector and try it in the P410 but I needed to find out before I ordered the Seagate's. You were correct about the small metal tab, I pressed it and the connector pulled out easily. It's one of these. I've plugged it into the P410, changed the boot controller order in the BIOS and the server is booting.

You sir are a gentleman and I owe you beers. Now I just need to find a good price on three Seagate Constellation CS 2TB drives.

Again, thanks for your help.