Dell Perc 5i User Guide

							
Overview9
Overview
The Dell™ Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) 5/iR controller is Dell’s next generation of controller with 
integrated redundant array of independent disk s (RAID) capabilities. SAS technology is not 
backward compatible with the previous generation  of SCSI devices. The SAS 5/iR Adapter is a 
half-length, standard-height PCI-E card, while the SA S 5/iR Integrated is embedded in the platform 
hardware. The SAS 5/iR Adapter is supported on platforms with PCI-E x8 or x16 connectors.
Figure 1-1. SAS 5/iR A dapter Hardware Architecture
1 SAS x4 internal connector 2PCI-E connector
12
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10Overview
About RAID
RAID is a group of multiple independent physical disks that provide  high performance by increasing the 
number of drives used for saving and accessing da ta. A RAID disk subsystem improves I/O performance 
and data availability. The physical disk group appears  to the host system as a single storage unit or as 
multiple logical units. Data throughput improves beca use multiple disks can be accessed simultaneously. 
RAID systems also improve data stor age availability and fault tolerance. 
RAID Levels
Integrated Striping or RAID 0 uses disk striping to  provide high data throughput, especially for large files 
in an environment that requires no data redundancy.
Integrated Mirroring or RAID 1 uses disk mirroring  so that data written to one physical disk is 
simultaneously written to another ph ysical disk. This is good for small databases or other applications 
that require small capacity, bu t complete data redundancy.
 NOTICE: Lost data on an Integrated Striping  virtual disk cannot be recovered in  the event of a physical disk failure.
RAID Terminology
Integrated Striping
Integrated Striping (RAID 0) allows you to write data  across multiple physical disks instead of just one 
physical disk. Integrated Striping inv olves partitioning each physical disk storage space into 64 KB stripes. 
These stripes are interleaved in a repeated sequentia l manner. The part of the stripe on a single physical 
disk is called a stripe element.
For example, in a four-disk system us ing only Integrated Striping, segment  1 is written to disk 1, segment 2 
is written to disk 2, and so on.  Integrated Striping enhances performa nce because multiple physical disks 
are accessed simultaneously, but Integrated Striping  does not provide data redundancy. Figure 1-2 shows 
an example of Integrated Striping.
Figure 1-2. Example of Inte grated Striping (RAID 0)
Stripe element 1
Stripe element 5
Stripe element 9Stripe element 2
Stripe element 6
Stripe element 10 Stripe element 3
Stripe element 7
Stripe element 11 Stripe element 4
Stripe element 8
Stripe element 12
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Overview11
Integrated Mirroring
With Integrated Mirroring (RAID 1), data written to one disk is simultaneously written to another disk. 
If one disk fails, the contents of the other disk ca n be used to run the system and rebuild the failed 
physical disk. The primary advantage of Integrated  Mirroring is that it provides 100 percent data 
redundancy. Because the contents of the disk are compl etely written to a second disk, it does not matter 
if one of the disks fails. Both disk s contain the same data at all times.  Either physical disk can act as the 
operational physical disk.
 NOTE: Mirrored physical disks improve read  performance by read load balance.
Figure 1-3. Example of Inte grated Mirroring (RAID 1)
Stripe element 1
Stripe element 2
Stripe element 3Stripe element 1 Duplicated
Stripe element 2 Duplicated
Stripe element 3 Duplicated
Stripe element 4 Stripe element 4 Duplicated
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12Overview
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SAS 5/iR Features13
SAS 5/iR Features
This section provides the specifications of Dell™ Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) 5/iR controller. The 
following table compares the specifications of  the SAS 5/iR Adapter and SAS 5/iR Integrated.
Table 2-1. Specifications of SAS 5/iR
Specification SAS 5/iR Adap ter SAS 5/iR Integrated
SAS technology Yes Yes
Support for x4, x8, or x16 PCI 
Express Host Interface Ye s Ye s
Fo r m  Fa c t o r Standard-Height, Half-Length PCI 
AdapterN/A
I/O controller (IOC) LSI SAS 1068 LSI SAS 1068
Core Speed: 255 MHz Core Speed: 255 MHz
Operating voltage requirements +12V, +3.3V, +3.3Vaux +12V, +3.3V, +3.3Vaux
Communication to the system PCI-E lanes System dependent
Communication to end devices SAS Links SAS Links
SAS Connectors 1 x4 Internal 1 x4 Internal
Lead Free Yes Yes
Supported operating systems Microsoft
® Windows® 2000 Server 
and Windows Server® 2003 Family, 
Windows XP, Windows Vista™, 
Red Hat
® Enterprise Linux 
Versions 3, 4, and 5, SUSE® Linux 
Enterprise Server Versions 9 and 10. Microsoft Windows 2000 Server 
and Windows Server
® 2003 
Family, Windows XP, 
Windows Vista, Red Hat 
Enterprise Linux Versions 3, 4, 
and 5, SUSE Linux Enterprise 
Server Versions 9 and 10.
Windows Miniport Interface Stor port, SCSIport (Windows 2000 
and XP 32-bit only) Storport, SCSIport (Windows 
2000 and XP 32-bit only)
Supported drivers for Linux Yes Yes
Dell-compliant SAS and SATA 
compatibility Ye s Ye s
Dell supported direct connected 
end devices Dell-compliant physical disks Dell-compliant physical disks
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14SAS 5/iR Features
Hot add / Hot remove of end devices Yes Yes
SMART error support through 
management applicationsYe s Ye s
Hardware-based RAID RAID 0, RAID 1 RAID 0, RAID 1
Storage management software OpenManage Storage Services, SAS 
RAID Storage ManagerOpenManage Storage Services, 
SAS RAID Storage Manager
Support for internal tape drive Yes No
Table 2-1. Specifications of SAS 5/iR 
(continued)
Specification SAS 5/iR Ad apter SAS 5/iR Integrated
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Hardware Installation15
Hardware Installation
This chapter describes how to install the Dell™ Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) 5/iR Adapter.
 NOTE: The SAS 5/iR Integrated is embedded on the system  motherboard and does not require any installation. 
See your system’s  Hardware Owner’s Manual  or the User’s Guide  for instructions.
Installing the SAS 5/iR Adapter
 CAUTION: For some systems, only trained  service technicians are authorized to remove the system cover 
and access any of the components inside the system . Before performing any procedure, see your 
Product Information Guide  for complete information about safety precaution s, working inside the computer,  
and protecting against  electrostatic discharge.
1Unpack the SAS 5/iR Adapter and check for damage.
 NOTE: Contact Dell if the controller is damaged.
2Turn off the system and attached peripherals,  and disconnect the system from the electrical 
outlet. See your system’s 
Hardware Owner’s Manual or the User’s Guide for more information 
on power supplies.
3Disconnect the system from the network and remove  the cover of the system. See your system’s 
Hardware Owner’s Manual or the User’s Guide for more information on opening the system.
4Select an appropriate PCI-E slot. Remove the blank filler bracket on the back of the system 
aligned with the PCI-E sl ot you have selected. 
5
Align the SAS 5/iR Adapter to the PCI-E slot you have selected.
6Insert the controller gently, but  firmly, until the controller is firmly seated in the PCI-E slot. 
See Figure 3-1.
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16Hardware Installation
Figure 3-1. Installing a SAS 5/iR Adapter
7Tighten the bracket screw, if any, or use the system’s retention clips to secure the controller to the 
system’s chassis.
8Connect the cables from the end devices or the  backplane of the system to the controller. 
See Figure 3-2.
1 bracket screw 2SAS 5/iR Adapter 3PCI-E slot
4 PCI bracket 5filler bracket
3
2
4 1
5
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Hardware Installation17
Figure 3-2. Connecting the Cable
9Replace the cover of the system. See your system’s Hardware Owner’s Manual or the User’s Guide for 
more information on closing the system.
10Reconnect the power cable(s) and network  cables, and then turn on the system.
 NOTE: Ensure that you do not connect a hard disk and tape drive  to the same SAS 5/iR Adapter. 
 
NOTE: For information on connecting your SAS 5i/R  controller to a tape drive see your system’s Hardware 
Owner’s Manual .
1
SAS 5/iR Adapter 2SAS x4 internal connector 3cable
3
1
2
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18Hardware Installation
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