2 RAID controllers 1 server

[idata]

Hi all,

I have the Intel mainboard (S5500HCR) with a SROMBSASMR RAID module connected to the expander backplane (AXX6DRV3GEXP).

I'm looking to pick up a RS2BL040 RAID controller as it supports the 3TB SAS disks I have.

The backplane does not support 6Gbps SATA so I assume they'll just run at 3Gbps speeds?

Do I run both controllers at the same time or do I disconnect the SROMBSASMR and run just the RS2BL040?

Any advice and thoughts is much appreciated.

Thank You

Hadders

[Edward_Z_Intel · Accepted solution]

Two RAID controllers on one server should be fine, if you have two backplanes, although you should be able to connect all your HDDs to one controller through expander backplanes... You can't connect two controllers to one backplane.

As for link speed, if you're using 3Gbps drives, everything will be fine. But if you're using 6Gbps drives, since the RAID controller negotiates link speed with drives not the backplane, it may try to establish link at 6Gbps. Now since the backplane supports 3Gbps only, you may have a problem. The workaround is to limit the hard drives to 3Gbps, most likely it's via a jumper on the drive itself.

Another reminder: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-030795.htm Server Products - Can I mix SAS and SATA hard disk drives?

[idata]

Thanks for your response.

It has confirmed what I thought, which is using a single controller with the backplane is the "sane" approach.

As for the drive, I've checked the manual and there's no "jumper" configuration for 3Gbps... so hopefully it will simply negotiate the appropriate speed.