IBM ServeRAID M5014 User manual

®
ServeRAID M5014/M5015
SAS/SATA Controllers
USER’S
GUIDE
May 2012

ii
Third Edition (May 2012)
© Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2012. All rights reserved.
US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure
restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller User’s Guide iii
Preface
This manual is the primary reference and user’s guide for the ServeRAID
M5014 SAS/SATA controller and the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA
controller. It contains installation instructions and specifications for the
controller, and it explains how to install and use the ServeRAID M5000
Series Battery Assembly with the ServeRAID M5014 SAS/SATA
controller and the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller. In addition, it
explains how to install the ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature
Key on the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller.
For details on how to configure the storage adapter, refer to the
ServeRAID-M Software User’s Guide. For information about the
operating system drivers, refer to the ServeRAID-M Device Driver
Installation User’s Guide.
Audience
This document assumes that the reader is familiar with RAID controllers
and related support devices. The people who benefit from this book are:
• Engineers who are designing a system that will include a ServeRAID
M5014 or a ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller
• Anyone installing a ServeRAID M5014 or ServeRAID M5015
SAS/SATA controller in a RAID system
• End users who need to install a ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly product on a ServeRAID M5014 SAS/SATA controller
Note: The ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly is pre-
installed on the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller.
• End users who need to install a ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced
Feature Key on a ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller.

iv Preface
• Engineers and managers who are evaluating battery-protected
backup products for cached memory for possible use with
ServeRAID-M controllers
Organization
This document has the following chapters and appendices:
• Chapter 1, Overview, provides a general overview of the ServeRAID
M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controllers.
• Chapter 2, ServeRAID Controller Hardware Installation, describes
the procedures for installing the ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID
M5015 SAS/SATA controllers.
• Chapter 3, ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller
Characteristics, provides the characteristics and technical
specifications for the ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015
SAS/SATA controllers.
• Chapter 4, Intro to the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly, describes the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly and explains how it operates.
• Chapter 5, Installing a ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly, explains how to install the ServeRAID M5000 Series
Battery Assembly on the ServeRAID M5014 SAS/SATA controller.
• Chapter 6, Using the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly,
explains how to use and monitor the ServeRAID M5000 Series
Battery Assembly, and how to replace it.
• Chapter 7, ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly
Specifications, has complete technical information and
specifications for the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly.
• Chapter 8, Installing a ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced
Feature Key, describes how to install the ServeRAID M5000 Series
Advanced Feature Key.
• Appendix A, Getting Help and Technical Assistance, explains how
to get help and technical assistance with your ServeRAID products.

Preface v
• Appendix B, Notices, contains information about warranties,
trademarks, particulate contamination, and electronic emission
notices.
• Appendix C, Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations, lists and
explains the terms and abbreviations used in this manual.
Related Publications
ServeRAID-M Device Driver Installation User’s Guide
This document explains how to install the ServeRAID-M device driver for
your operating system. The information in this document is independent
of the back-end bus and applies to the ServeRAID-M controllers.
ServeRAID-M Software User’s Guide
This document explains how to use the MegaRAID Storage Manager,
WebBIOS, and Command Line Interface (CLI) utilities to configure,
monitor, and maintain the ServeRAID-M controller and the
storage-related devices connected to them.
Safety Information
This document contains translated caution and danger statements. Each
caution and danger statement that appears in the documentation has a
number that you can use to locate the corresponding statement in your
language in the Safety Information document.
Notices and Statements in This Document
The caution and danger statements in this document are also in the
multilingual IBM Systems Safety Notices document, which is on the
ServeRAID-M Support CD. Each statement is followed by a reference
number that you can use to locate the corresponding statement in your
language in the IBM Systems Safety Notices document. The following
notices and statements are used in this document:
Note: These notices provide important tips, guidance, or advice.

vi Preface
Important: These notices provide information or advice that might help
you avoid inconvenient or problem situations.
Attention: These notices indicate potential damage to programs,
devices, or data. An attention notice is placed just before
the instruction or situation in which damage might occur.
CAUTION: These statements indicate situations that can be potentially
hazardous to you. A caution statement is placed just before
the description of a potentially hazardous procedure step or
situation.
DANGER:These statements indicate situations that can be poten-
tially lethal or extremely hazardous to you. A danger
statement is placed just before the description of a
potentially lethal or extremely hazardous procedure
step or situation.
Safety Instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer system
from potential damage and to ensure your own personal safety.
Note: Use your ServeRAID M5014 or ServeRAID M5015
SAS/SATA controller with UL-listed Information Technology
Equipment (ITE) products only.
CAUTION:
The battery is a lithium ion battery and can present a fire or chemical burn
hazard if mistreated. Do not dissassemble, heat above 100 °C (212 °F), or
incinerate. To avoid possible explosion, do not burn. Keep away from
children. Exchange only with the IBM-approved part. Recycle or discard
the battery as instructed by local regulations. In the United States, IBM has
a process for the collection of this battery. For information, call 1-800-426-
4333. Have the IBM part number for the battery unit available when you
call. (C007)

Preface vii

viii Preface
Protecting against Electrostatic Discharge – Static electricity can
harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static
damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any
of your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor.
You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal
around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer.
As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an
unpainted metal surface to remove any static charge your body may
have accumulated. In addition to the preceding precautions, you can also
take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge:
• When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping
carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing
material until you are ready to install the component in your
computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure
to discharge static electricity from your body.
• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an
antistatic container or packaging.
Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use
antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller User’s Guide ix
Contents
Chapter 1
Overview
1.1 Overview 1-1
1.2 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers Descriptions and
Limitations 1-3
1.2.1 Controller Limitations 1-3
1.3 General Description 1-4
1.4 Configuration Scenarios 1-5
1.4.1 Number of Physical Disks Supported 1-7
1.5 Benefits of the SAS Interface 1-8
1.5.1 PCI Express Architecture 1-9
1.5.2 Operating System Support 1-9
1.6 Benefits of the ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015
Controllers 1-9
1.6.1 SAS Features 1-10
1.6.2 SAS Array Limitations 1-11
1.6.3 SATA II Features 1-12
1.6.4 PCI Express Performance 1-12
1.6.5 Usability Features 1-12
1.6.6 Flexibility Features 1-13
1.6.7 Drive Roaming 1-13
1.6.8 Drive Migration 1-14
1.7 Hardware Specifications 1-16
1.8 Technical Support 1-17
Chapter 2
ServeRAID Controller Hardware Installation
2.1 Requirements 2-1
2.2 Quick Installation 2-2

xContents
2.3 Detailed Installation 2-2
2.4 SAS Device Cables 2-6
2.4.1 Connecting the ServeRAID M5014 or ServeRAID M5015
SAS/SATA Controller to Physical Drives 2-8
2.5 After Installing the Controller 2-10
Chapter 3
ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller Characteristics
3.1 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller Descriptions 3-1
3.1.1 Board Layout and Connector Information 3-2
3.2 Characteristics of the ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers 3-4
3.3 Technical Specifications 3-4
3.3.1 Controller Specifications 3-5
3.3.2 Array Performance Features 3-6
3.3.3 Fault Tolerance 3-7
3.3.4 Power Supply Requirements for the ServeRAID
M5014/M5015 Controllers 3-7
3.3.5 Operating and Non-operating Conditions 3-8
3.3.6 Safety Characteristics 3-9
Chapter 4
Intro to the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly
Chapter 5
Installing a ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly
5.1 Installing the ServerRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly on a
Controller 5-2
Chapter 6
Using the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly
6.1 Monitoring the Battery Backup with the MegaRAID Configuration
Utilities 6-2
6.1.1 Monitoring the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly with the WebBIOS Configuration Utility 6-2
Setting the Learn Delay Interval 6-5
Setting the Learn Mode 6-5

Contents xi
6.1.2 Monitoring the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery
Assembly with the MegaCLI Utility 6-6
Display BBU Information 6-6
Display BBU Status Information 6-6
Display BBU Capacity 6-8
Display BBU Design Parameters 6-8
Display Current BBU Properties 6-9
Start BBU Learning Cycle 6-9
Place Battery in Low-Power Storage Mode 6-9
Set BBU Properties 6-10
6.1.3 Monitoring the Battery Backup with MegaRAID Storage
Manager 6-10
Battery Learn Cycle 6-11
Setting the Learn Cycle Properties 6-12
Starting a Learn Cycle Manually 6-13
6.2 Replacing the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly 6-13
6.3 Resolving a Configuration Mismatch 6-14
Chapter 7
ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly Specifications
7.1 ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly Specifications 7-1
7.2 Battery Life and Data Retention Time 7-2
Chapter 8
Installing a ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key
8.1 Installing the ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key on
the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA Controller 8-1
Appendix A Getting Help and Technical Assistance
A.1 Before you call A-2
A.2 Using the documentation A-3
A.3 Getting help and information from the World Wide Web A-3
A.4 How to send Dynamic System Analysis data to IBM A-3
A.5 Creating a personalized support web page A-4
A.6 Software service and support A-4
A.7 Hardware service and support A-4
A.8 IBM Taiwan product service A-5

xii Contents
Appendix B Notices
B.1 Trademarks B-2
B.2 Important Notes B-3
B.3 Particulate contamination B-4
B.4 Documentation format B-5
B.5 Telecommunication regulatory statement B-5
B.6 Electronic emission notices B-5
Appendix C Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Contents xiii
Figures
1.1 Example of a SAS Direct-Connect Application 1-6
1.2 Example of a ServeRAID Controller Configured with an
LSISASx12 Expander 1-7
2.1 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers Installation in a
PCI Express Slot 2-4
2.2 Internal SAS Cable for Connection to SAS Physical Drives or
SATA II Physical Drives 2-7
2.3 SATA II Connectors 2-7
2.4 SAS Plugs, SATA II Plugs, and SAS Backplane Receptacle
Connector 2-8
2.5 Connecting the ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controller Internal
Connectors to a Physical Drive 2-9
3.1 Card Layout for the ServeRAID M5014/M5015 RAID Controllers
3-2
5.1 ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly 5-2
5.2 Installing the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly on the
ServeRAID M5014 Controller 5-4
5.3 Installing the ServeRAID M5014 Controller 5-5
6.1 First Controller Properties Screen 6-3
6.2 Second Controller Properties Screen 6-3
6.3 Battery Module Screen 6-4
8.1 M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key 8-1
8.2 Installing the ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key
on the M5015 ServeRAID SAS/SATA Controller 8-2

xiv Contents

Contents xv
Tables
1.1 Physical Devices Required for Each RAID Level 1-7
1.2 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller Array Limitations
1-11
1.3 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller
Specifications 1-16
3.1 ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 Controllers
Connectors 3-2
3.2 ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA Controllers
Characteristics 3-4
3.3 ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA Controllers
Specifications 3-5
3.4 Array Performance Features 3-6
3.5 Fault Tolerance Features 3-7
3.6 Power Supply for the ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers 3-8
6.1 Display BBU Information 6-6
6.2 Display BBU Status Information 6-6
6.3 Display BBU Capacity Information 6-8
6.4 Display BBU Design Parameters 6-8
6.5 Display Current BBU Properties 6-9
6.6 Start BBU Learning Cycle 6-9
6.7 Place Battery in Low-Power Storage Mode 6-9
6.8 Set BBU Properties 6-10
7.1 ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly Specifications 7-2
7.2 Reference Data Retention Times 7-3

xvi Contents

ServeRAID M5014/M5015 SAS/SATA Controller User’s Guide 1-1
Chapter 1
Overview
This chapter provides a general overview of the ServeRAID M5014
SAS/SATA controller and the ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller,
which have RAID control capabilities. It consists of the following sections:
• Section 1.1, “Overview”
• Section 1.2, “ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers Descriptions and
Limitations”
• Section 1.3, “General Description”
• Section 1.4, “Configuration Scenarios”
• Section 1.5, “Benefits of the SAS Interface”
• Section 1.6, “Benefits of the ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID
M5015 Controllers”
• Section 1.7, “Hardware Specifications”
• Section 1.8, “Technical Support”
1.1 Overview
The ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 Serial Attached SCSI
(SAS)/Serial ATA II (SATA II) controllers are high-performance intelligent
PCI Express-to-SAS/SATA II adapters with RAID control capabilities.
These controllers provide reliability, high performance, and fault-tolerant
disk subsystem management.
The ServeRAID 5014 and ServeRAID M5015 controllers are versatile
controllers that provide the backbone of both server and high-end
workstation environments. They are an ideal RAID solution for the
storage of workgroup, departmental, and enterprise systems. The
controllers offer a cost-effective way to implement RAID in a server.

1-2 Overview
SAS technology brings a wealth of options and flexibility with the use of
SAS devices and SATA II devices within the same storage infrastructure.
However, SAS devices and SATA devices bring individual characteristics
that make each one a more suitable choice depending on your storage
needs. MegaRAID®gives you the flexibility to combine these two similar
technologies on the same controller and within the same enclosure.
Note: You cannot mix SAS drives and SATA drives within the
same virtual disk(s).
The ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 controllers are based on
the MegaRAID first-to-market SAS IC technology and proven technology.
As the second-generation PCI Express controllers, they address the
growing demand for increased data throughput and scalability
requirements across midrange and enterprise-class server platforms.
IBM offers a family of SAS controllers to address the needs for both
internal solutions and external solutions.
The ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly is pre-installed on the
ServeRAID M5015 controller to provide battery-protected backup of
cached memory. The assembly provides protection of cached data,
which allows system builders to protect cached data even during the
most catastrophic system failures.
Note: The ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly is not pre-
installed on the ServeRAID M5014 controller but you can
install it. See Section 5.1, “Installing the ServerRAID M5000
Series Battery Assembly on a Controller” for installation
instructions.
Note: You must charge the battery before use. See Chapter 4,
“Intro to the ServeRAID M5000 Series Battery Assembly,”
for more information about the battery backup unit.
The ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key enables support
for RAID 6 configurations and self-encrypting disks (SED) on the
ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA controller. The ServeRAID M5000 Series
Advanced Feature Key mounts directly on the controller. See Chapter 8,
“Installing a ServeRAID M5000 Series Advanced Feature Key” for
installation instructions.
The controller supports the SAS protocol as described in the Serial
Attached SCSI Standard, version 2.0. It also supports the Serial ATA II

ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers Descriptions and Limitations 1-3
(SATA II) protocol defined by the Serial ATA Specification, Version 1.0a,
and the Serial ATA II; Extension to the Serial ATA Specification,
Version 1.1. SATA II is an extension to SATA 1.0a.
Each port on the controllers supports SAS devices and/or SATA II
devices using the following:
• SAS Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP), which enables communication with
other SAS devices
• SATA II, which enables communication with other SATA II devices
• Serial Management Protocol (SMP), which communicates topology
management information directly with an attached SAS expander
device
• Serial Tunneling Protocol (STP), which enables communication with
a SATA II device through an attached expander
1.2 ServeRAID M5014/M5015 Controllers Descriptions and
Limitations
The ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 controllers are available
with eight PHYs. The controllers have one LSISAS2108 ROC (RAID-on-
chip) processor that controls eight internal SAS/SATA ports through two
x4 SAS internal connectors.
1.2.1 Controller Limitations
The ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 controllers have the
following limitations:
• You can connect only one device per SAS PHY unless you use an
expander
• You can use a maximum cable length of six feet (using shorter
cables is preferred)
• Cables have to meet the SAS specification
• You cannot mix SAS drives and SATA drives in the same virtual disk
• You cannot mix SAS or SATA Solid State Drives (SSDs) and legacy
mechanical drives (SAS or SATA) in the same virtual disk

1-4 Overview
• You cannot mix Solid State SAS drives and Solid State SATA drives
in the same virtual disk
• See Section 3.3.4, “Power Supply Requirements for the ServeRAID
M5014/M5015 Controllers,” for information about the power
requirements, and Section 3.3.5, “Operating and Non-operating
Conditions” for information about the minimum and maximum
temperature ranges.
1.3 General Description
The ServeRAID M5014 and ServeRAID M5015 controllers bring 6.0 Gb/s
Serial Attached SCSI and 3.0 Gb/s Serial ATA II performance to host
adapter, workstation, and server designs. The controllers support internal
storage devices, which allows you to use a system that supports
enterprise-class SAS drives, and desktop-class SATA II drives. Both
controllers can connect to drives directly. Simplified cabling between
devices is an additional benefit.
The controllers are based on the LSISAS2108 ROC device. This device
is compliant with the Fusion-MPT architecture and provides a PCI
Express x8 interface.
The controllers integrate eight high-performance SAS/SATA II PHYs and
a PCI Express bus master DMA core. Each of the eight PHYs is capable
of 6.0 Gb/s SAS link rates and 3.0 Gb/s SATA II link rates.
The LSISAS2108 ROC device provides an eight-lane, 5-Gb/s PCI
Express host interface, eight 6.0 Gb/s SAS or 3.0 Gb/s SATA ports, and
a full-featured, hardware-based RAID implementation. The LSISAS2108
ROC device integrates a high-speed DDR/DDR2 SDRAM interface with
a hardware RAID assist engine for parity calculations. The LSISAS2108
ROC device provides the maximum benefits of a RAID system and
enables you to configure the system to satisfy your system requirements.
The LSISAS2108 ROC device increases system performance and
provides fault-tolerant data storage. The LSISAS2108 supports data
striping across multiple disks, which reduces disk access time because
multiple disks simultaneously read or write data. The LSISAS2108 ROC
device backs up data with either data mirroring or a parity block. Either
backup method enables you to recover lost data in the event of a disk