Raid card how to add 16 devices. Please help

Mr Big

Mr Big

Mr Big

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Ok! Simple question I hope someone can answer? I'm seriously thinking of purchasing the LSI MegaRAID SAS 9240-8i KIT Controller Card.

It says you can connect up to 16 devices so how does one do that as there are only two ports which allow 8 devices so how would you be able to attach a further 8 devices on this single raid card? This is where I need some assistance. I have heard of SAS port multipliers. But I'm looking to install 16 hard drives so would this one card suffice or would I need two of these cards to give me 16 attached hard drives.. If you know the answer please give me advice and explain what or how you would go about attaching 16 hard drives to this 8 port raid card, as I'm totally confused at the minute on how you would add 16 devices when there are only two ports for a maximum of 8 hard drive attachments using this raid card.. HELP!!!!
 
For 16 drives on a single card you'd need to be looking at port expanders/multipliers (depending on whether you're talking SAS or SATA).

You’ll need to provide a lot more detail about what you’re trying to achieve before anyone can make any sensible suggestions.
 
LSI do a handful of 16 internal port cards, and one 24 internal port card.

Or you can get an SAS card with external connectors to an external enclosure, effectively a port multiplier. Bandwidth won't be as good, but at least you will get the required number of drives into the chassis.

Depends what you're doing really.
 
Mr Big said:
Ok! Simple question I hope someone can answer? I'm seriously thinking of purchasing the LSI MegaRAID SAS 9240-8i KIT Controller Card.

It says you can connect up to 16 devices so how does one do that as there are only two ports which allow 8 devices so how would you be able to attach a further 8 devices on this single raid card? This is where I need some assistance. I have heard of SAS port multipliers. But I'm looking to install 16 hard drives so would this one card suffice or would I need two of these cards to give me 16 attached hard drives.. If you know the answer please give me advice and explain what or how you would go about attaching 16 hard drives to this 8 port raid card, as I'm totally confused at the minute on how you would add 16 devices when there are only two ports for a maximum of 8 hard drive attachments using this raid card.. HELP!!!!
Click to expand...

It's not 16 devices, it's 64 devices - but 16 devices per array. That's how I read the specs anyway...

You've 2 options really for 16 devices off a single card. Either buy a card that can handle 16 out of the box - but will be quite expensive or look at an expander.

I went the route of getting an 8 port card and using a 36 port expander as it was much cheaper than getting a 24port card which is what I really needed :)

If you go down this route you could even look at a 4 port controller card, which then connects to a cheaper (per port) expander, with the drives hanging off the expander. You can also have multiple expanders up to the limit the controller card can handle.

I don't know about LSI compatibility, but I went for an Areca card with HP expander and it's been rock solid - I just had to make sure the HP card was firmware 2.x.x or higher.
 
ChileanLlama said:
It's not 16 devices, it's 64 devices - but 16 devices per array. That's how I read the specs anyway...

You've 2 options really for 16 devices off a single card. Either buy a card that can handle 16 out of the box - but will be quite expensive or look at an expander.

I went the route of getting an 8 port card and using a 36 port expander as it was much cheaper than getting a 24port card which is what I really needed :)

If you go down this route you could even look at a 4 port controller card, which then connects to a cheaper (per port) expander, with the drives hanging off the expander. You can also have multiple expanders up to the limit the controller card can handle.

I don't know about LSI compatibility, but I went for an Areca card with HP expander and it's been rock solid - I just had to make sure the HP card was firmware 2.x.x or higher.
Click to expand...

Ok! Sounds good to me to go that route as I do prefer in keeping the costs down as these raid cards are costly, I will look into the expander, thats all I needed to know was how this was actually done, I was actually thinking of adding a second raid card but if the expanders are cheaper i'll do it that way. Thanks
 
Mr Big said:
Ok! Sounds good to me to go that route as I do prefer in keeping the costs down as these raid cards are costly, I will look into the expander, thats all I needed to know was how this was actually done, I was actually thinking of adding a second raid card but if the expanders are cheaper i'll do it that way. Thanks
Click to expand...

For an expander you're looking at another £200-300 on top of the card. But a decent 16port RAID card could be upwards of £650.

Just looking around and a 16 internal port LSI 9201 non RAID card could be had for around £330ish if you don't need RAID.

Also if going down this route don't forget the cables, usually they only supply the SAS cables assuming you're connecting to a backplane (SFF8087 to SFF8087). If you're connecting to SATA drives without a backplane you'll need SFF8087 to SATA fanout cables.

It gets expensive real quick :)
 
Mr Big, thinking about it - what will you be using this for? How critical is performance, do you need RAID, do all the drives need to be on one array or will you be using JBOD?

If you don't need RAID you could look at a getting a couple of 8 port Supermicro HBA's, and should work out a bit cheaper than the card you mentioned.
 
ChileanLlama said:
For an expander you're looking at another £200-300 on top of the card. But a decent 16port RAID card could be upwards of £650.

Just looking around and a 16 internal port LSI 9201 non RAID card could be had for around £330ish if you don't need RAID.

Also if going down this route don't forget the cables, usually they only supply the SAS cables assuming you're connecting to a backplane (SFF8087 to SFF8087). If you're connecting to SATA drives without a backplane you'll need SFF8087 to SATA fanout cables.

It gets expensive real quick :)
Click to expand...

LFletcher said:
Chenbro also make some 6Gb/s SAS expanders that work well with the Areca/LSI cards;

CK22803 (28 port), http://www.chenbro.eu/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=174
CK23601 (36 port), http://www.chenbro.eu/corporatesite/products_detail.php?sku=175
Click to expand...

Ok! So to make sure I have this correct do I assume then that I connect this Chenbro CK22803 - 28 Port 6Gb Expander with an (SFF8087 to SFF8087) cable? From my raid card to the expander how would you link the two together meaning do I use the internal connector of my raid card to the internal connector of the expander then this in turn gives me the extra added capacity! Is this correct? Also you state if I use a back plane meaning (SFF8087 to SFF8087) any back planes I have been looking at have sata connectors link provided. http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-Dr...lane/dp/B0035PS5B8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6

Thanks
 
Mr Big said:
Ok! So to make sure I have this correct do I assume then that I connect this Chenbro CK22803 - 28 Port 6Gb Expander with an (SFF8087 to SFF8087) cable? From my raid card to the expander how would you link the two together meaning do I use the internal connector of my raid card to the internal connector of the expander then this in turn gives me the extra added capacity! Is this correct? Also you state if I use a back plane meaning (SFF8087 to SFF8087) any back planes I have been looking at have sata connectors link provided. http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-Dr...lane/dp/B0035PS5B8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6

Thanks
Click to expand...

Correct, use an SFF8087 to SFF8087 from the Controller to the Expander. You'll usually get one or two of these cables with the cards, but check as it's not always the case.

On the Expander you'd then use 4 x SFF8087 to 4xSATA Fanout cables = 16 SATA connectors. Important to note you can also get these cables SATA->SFF8087 so it's important you get the right ones! These would work if you are using SATA backplanes. You'd need to buy these cables separately.

OR

Alternatively if you get a SAS backplane you'd use 4 x SFF8087 to SFF8087 to connect the expander to the backplane(s). You'd probably need to buy extra cables as you won't get enough with the Controller or Expander.

Also see my other post about other options that would reduce the costs if you just want 16 drives and not bothered about RAID.
 
ChileanLlama said:
Correct, use an SFF8087 to SFF8087 from the Controller to the Expander. You'll usually get one or two of these cables with the cards, but check as it's not always the case.

On the Expander you'd then use 4 x SFF8087 to 4xSATA Fanout cables = 16 SATA connectors. Important to note you can also get these cables SATA->SFF8087 so it's important you get the right ones! These would work if you are using SATA backplanes. You'd need to buy these cables separately.

OR

Alternatively if you get a SAS backplane you'd use 4 x SFF8087 to SFF8087 to connect the expander to the backplane(s). You'd probably need to buy extra cables as you won't get enough with the Controller or Expander.

Also see my other post about other options that would reduce the costs if you just want 16 drives and not bothered about RAID.
Click to expand...

Well you have been very helpful and informative & very helpful, you have made me aware of what is needed and how to go about adding components as I have never done anything like this before this is all foreign to me. But you have helped me form a better picture of what is needed I couldn't have asked for more, so your help has been greatly appreciated. I will read your other posts with great enthusiasm. Thank you
 
You're welcome, it's a bit of a minefield getting all the info in one place as it's not a common setup for home/enthusiast use.

My final word of warning, is before you click buy, is to check that the drives (assuming you'll be using consumer drives) have been tested to work on the controller you're buying as some play nicer than others. If the manufacturer hasn't a HCL list of drives, then you'll need to review other forums for where people have the same set up as you're planning.

Good luck.
 
There are known comparability issues with the LSI MegaRAID series with motherboards that support multiple graphics cards (CrossFireX and SLi).

I had no end of problems trying to get one running with X58 and X79 motherboards. And LSI want nothing to do with you I you are not using a Workstation or Server class motherboard.

If you want to contact me on my trust e-mail I'll happily lend you my card to try out on your chosen motherboard as I guarantee you no supplier will take it back if it doesn't work on your motherboard.
 
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