Intel RS25GB008 Installation manual

Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008
Hardware User’s Guide
Intel Order Number: G22860-001

ii Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide
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Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide iii
Preface
This is the primary hardware guide for the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 which can
be used to manage SAS and SATA disk drives. It contains installation instructions
and specifications.
Audience
This document assumes that you have some familiarity with SAS controllers and related
support devices. The people who benefit from this book are:
•Engineers who are designing an Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 for
their system.
•Anyone installing an Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 in their system.
Organization
This document includes the following chapters and appendices:
•Chapter 1 provides a general overview of the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008.
•Chapter 2 describes the procedures for installing and configuring the
SAS Controller.
•Chapter 3 provides the characteristics and technical specifications for the Intel®
SAS Controller RS25GB008.
•Appendix A provides safety instructions to be observed during installation
and assembly.
•Appendix B provides regulatory and certification information.

iv Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide

Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide v
Table of Contents
Preface ........................................................................................................................iii
Audience ............................................................................................................................... iii
Organization ......................................................................................................................... iii
Chapter 1: Overview ................................................................................................... 1
Benefits of SAS and SATA ....................................................................................................1
Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 ........................................................................................2
Protocol Support ............................................................................................................2
Operating System Support ............................................................................................2
SAS/SATA Features of the LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip .....................................3
Chapter 2: Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware Installation .................... 5
Requirements ........................................................................................................................5
Installing the SAS Controller ..................................................................................................5
Replacing a Controller ...........................................................................................................6
Chapter 3: Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Characteristics .............................. 9
Major Components ..............................................................................................................10
LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip ...............................................................................10
Flash ROM ..................................................................................................................11
Boot Strap ROM (SEEPROM) .....................................................................................11
Diagnostic Components ..............................................................................................11
SAS/SATA Connectors ................................................................................................11
PCI Interface ........................................................................................................................13
Technical Specifications ......................................................................................................13
Array Performance Features ...............................................................................................14
Fault Tolerance ............................................................................................................14
Electrical Characteristics .............................................................................................14
Thermal and Atmospheric Characteristics ...................................................................15
Safety Characteristics ..................................................................................................15
Operating Certifications .......................................................................................................15
Supported Device Technology .............................................................................................15
Support for Hard Disk Drive Devices ...........................................................................15
SAS Expander Support ...............................................................................................16
Support for Non-Hard Disk Drive Devices ...................................................................16
SAS Bus and ID Mapping ............................................................................................16
Appendix A: Installation/Assembly Safety Instructions ....................................... 17
Deutsch ................................................................................................................................20
Français ...............................................................................................................................21
Español ................................................................................................................................23

vi Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide
Italiano ................................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix B: Regulatory and Certification Information .........................................27
Product Safety and EMC Compliance ................................................................................. 27

Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide vii
List of Figures
Figure 1. Installing the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 ....................................................... 6
Figure 2. Card Layout................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 3. RS25GB008 Hardware Block Diagram.................................................................... 10
Figure 4. Intel®SAS/SATA Connectors .................................................................................. 12

viii Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide

Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide ix
List of Tables
Table 1. Jumper Description ...................................................................................................10
Table 2. SFF8088 External Connector Pin-out .......................................................................13
Table 3. Technical Specifications ............................................................................................13
Table 4. Array Performance Features .....................................................................................14
Table 5. Fault Tolerance Features ..........................................................................................14

xIntel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide

Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide 1
1Overview
The Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 is a high-performance, intelligent PCI Express*
2.0-compliant SAS/SATA II controller offers reliability and high performance. This is an
ideal solution for the large capacity storage needs of mid to low-end servers and
workstations for use by workgroups and departmental-sized organizations or individuals.
Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 offers a cost-effective way to attach physical drives to
a server for storage.
As the second generation PCI Express* storage adapters, the Intel®SAS Controller
RS25GB008 address the growing demand for increased data throughput and scalability
requirements across mid to low-end servers and workstations.
The SAS controller controls eight external 6-Gb/s SAS/SATA ports through two SFF-
8088x4 Mini SAS connectors and allows the use of expanders to connect upto 1024
devices. Note that all expander features will not be available at product launch. 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.
Benefits of SAS and SATA
SAS is a serial, point-to-point, 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.

2Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide
Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008
Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 integrates the latest enhancements in PCI Express®
and SAS technology. The SAS controller supports medium to large capacity server
storage applications by connecting a 5GT/s, 8-lane PCI Express bus with two external x4
SFF8088 connectors.
The SAS Controller is designed to fit various Intel®Server Boards and systems. For the
most up-to-date support list, see the Compatibility section under the link for this Intel®
SAS Controller at
http://www.intel.com/support/go/motherboards/server/index.htm.
The SAS controller supports the SAS protocol as described in the Serial Attached SCSI
Standard, Version 2.0. The controller also support the Serial ATA II (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.
Protocol Support
Each port on the SAS controllers supports SAS devices, SATA II devices, or both using
SSP, SMP, STP, and SATA II as follows:
•Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) to enable communication with other SAS devices.
•SATA II Protocol to enable communication with other SATA II devices.
•Serial Management Protocol (SMP) to share topology management information
with expanders.
•Serial Tunneling Protocol (STP) support for SATA II through expander interfaces..
Operating System Support
•Windows Server 2008* R2, Windows 7*, Windows Server 2003*, Windows Vista*,
and Windows XP*
•Red Hat* Enterprise Linux 5.0 and 6.0
•SuSE* Linux Enterprise Server 10 and 11
The operating systems supported may not be supported by your server board. See the
Tested operating system list for your server board at
http://www.intel.com/support/go/motherboards/server/index.htm.
To make sure the SAS Controller support your operating system, see also the Tested
Hardware and Operating System List for the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008.

Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide 3
Usability
•The card ships with both a standard and a low-profile bracket.
•Upto 6.0 Gb/s serial, point-to-point data transfer rates
•Support for non-disk devices and mixed capacity drives
•Upgradeable Flash ROM interface
•Allows for staggered spin up, hot-plug, and lower power consumption
•Allows mixed connections to SAS targets or SATA II targets
SAS/SATA Features of the LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip
See “LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip” for SAS/SATA features of the LSI*
LSISAS2308 Processor Chip.

4Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide

Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide 5
2Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008
Hardware Installation
Requirements
•Intel(R) SAS Controller RS25GB008
•A host system with an available x8 or x16 PCI-Express* slot
•Resource CD, which contains drivers and documentation
•SAS or SATA 6.0 hard drives
Note: Intel Corporation strongly recommends using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
Installing the SAS Controller
To install the SAS Controller, follow these steps:
1. Turn off the power to the system, all drives, enclosures, and system components.
Remove the power cord(s).
2. Remove the server system cover. For instructions, see the server system
documentation.
3. If necessary, change the bracket on the SAS controller to fit the height of the
server system.
4. Install the SAS controller into an available server system x8 or x16 PCI-Express*
slot (see Figure 1). To locate an appropriate slot and for instructions on installing an
add-in card, see your server system documentation.

Edge of
Motherboard
32-bit slots
(3.3 V)
PCIe
slot
Bracket Screw
64-bit slots
(3.3 V)
Press here
Press here
AF003857
6Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide
Figure 1. Installing the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008
5. Configure and install the SAS Devices, SATA II Devices, or both in the target
external storage case. Refer to the documentation of the devices for any
preinstallation configuration requirements.
6. Use SAS cables to connect the SAS controller to the target external
storage case.
7. Install the server system cover and connect the power cords. For instructions, see
your server system documentation.
Replacing a Controller
To replace the SAS controller, see your server system documentation for instructions to
remove and then install an add-in adapter.

Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide 7
Configuring the SAS Controller
After performing the Intel®SAS Controller RS25GB008 installation, you must install the
operating system driver. For the latest operating system driver with detailed installation
instructions, see the Latest Downloads section under the link for this Intel®SAS
Controller at
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/server.

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Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide 9
3Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008
Characteristics
Figure 2. Card Layout

10 Intel® SAS Controller RS25GB008 Hardware User’s Guide
Table 1. Jumper Description
s
Figure 3. RS25GB008 Hardware Block Diagram
Major Components
LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip
The LSI* LSISAS2308 Processor Chip provides the following functionality:
•x8 PCI Express* bus operating at 5.0 Gb/s serial transfer rate
•SAS/SMP/STP/SATA support
•Supports SAS and SATA devices
•Initiator and Target mode (SSP)
•Supports narrow ports and wide ports
•PCI Express* interface supports x8, x4, and x1 lane configurations
Jumper Description Type Comments
J4 Universal Asynchronous
Receiver/Transmitter (UART) 4-pin Connector 4-pin Connector
J5 External Mini SAS 4i
Connector SFF8088 Connection to SAS/SATA devices
J6 External Mini SAS 4i
Connector SFF8088 Connection to SAS/SATA devices