IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Chapter 3. IBM System x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 91

Figure 3-22 Front view of the x3850 X5 showing eight 2.5-inch SAS drives

3.9.2 SAS and SSD 2.5-inch disk support

This section describes backplane, controller, and drive options for 2.5-inch disk drives and

SSDs.

2.5-inch SAS disks and SSDs use the same backplane options. Most standard models of the

x3850 X5 include one SAS backplane, supporting four 2.5-inch drives, as listed in 3.3,

“Models” on page 64. You can add a second identical backplane to increase the supported

number of SAS disks to eight (using part number 59Y6135). The standard backplane is

always included in the lower of the two backplane bays.

“x3850 X5 backplane options” on page 91 lists the backplane option.

Table 3-20 x3850 X5 backplane options

The SAS backplane uses a short SAS cable (included with the part number 59Y6135), and it

is always controlled by the RAID adapter in the dedicated slot behind the disk cage, never

from an adapter in the PCIe slots. The required power/signal “Y” cable is also included with

the x3850 X5.

Up to two 2.5-inch backplanes (each holding up to four disks) can connect to a RAID

controller installed in the dedicated RAID slot. Table 3-21 lists the supported RAID controllers.

For more information about each RAID controller, see 3.9.4, “SAS and SSD controllers” on

page 96.

Table 3-21 RAID controllers that are compatible with SAS backplane and SAS disk drives

Part number Feature code Description

59Y6135 3873 IBM Hot Swap SAS Hard Disk Drive Backplane (one standard, one

optional); includes 250 mm SAS cable, supports four 2.5-inch

drives

Part number Feature code Description

44E8689 3577 ServeRAID BR10i (standard on most models; see 3.3, “Models” on

page 64)

46M0831 0095 ServeRAID M1015 SAS/SATA Controller

46M0829 0093 ServeRAID M5015 SAS/SATA Controller

a

92 IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Table 3-22 lists the 2.5-inch SAS 10K and 15K RPM disk drives and the 2.5-inch SSD that are

supported in the x3850 X5. These drives are supported with the SAS hard disk backplane,

59Y6135.

Table 3-22 Supported 2.5-inch SAS drives and 2.5-inch SSDs

Table 3-23 lists the 2.5-inch Nearline SATA 7.2K drives that are supported in the x3850 X5.

These drives are supported with the SAS hard disk backplane, part number 59Y6135.

Table 3-23 Supported 2.5-inch Nearline SATA drives

The 2.5-inch drives require less space than 3.5-inch drives, consume half the power, produce

less noise, can seek faster, and offer increased reliability.

46M0916 3877 ServeRAID M5014 SAS/SATA Controller

46M0969 3889 ServeRAID B5015 SSD

46M0930 5106 IBM ServeRAID M5000 Advance Feature Key: Adds RAID-6,

RAID-60, and SED Data Encryption Key Management to the

ServeRAID M5014, M5015, and M5025 controllers

81Y4426 A10C IBM ServeRAID M5000 Performance Accelerator Key: Adds Cut

Through I/O (CTIO) for SSD FastPath optimization on ServeRAID

M5014, M5015, and M5025 controllers

a. The battery is not included with the ServeRAID M5015.

Part number Feature code Description

42D0632 5537 IBM 146 GB 10K 6 Gbps SAS 2.5-inch SFF Slim-HS HDD

42D0637 5599 IBM 300 GB 10K 6 Gbps SAS 2.5-inch SFF Slim-HS HDD

42D0672 5522 IBM 73 GB 15K 6 Gbps SAS 2.5-inch SFF Slim-HS HDD

42D0677 5536 IBM 146 GB 15K 6 Gbps SAS 2.5-inch SFF Slim-HS HDD

43W7714 3745 IBM 50 GB SATA 2.5-inch SFF Slim-HS High IOPS SSD

Part number Feature code Description

42D0747 5405 IBM 160GB 7200 NL SATA 2.5'' SFF Slim-HS HDD

42D0752 5407 IBM 500GB 7200 NL SATA 2.5'' SFF Slim-HS HDD

Compatibility: As listed in Table 3-22, the 2.5-inch 50 GB SSD is also supported with the

standard SAS backplane and the optional SAS backplane, part number 59Y6135. It is

incompatible with the 1.8-inch SSD eXFlash backplane, part number 59Y6213.

A typical configuration can be two 2.5-inch SAS disks for the operating system and two

High IOPS disks for data. Only the 2.5-inch High IOPS SSD disk can be used on the SAS

backplane. The 1.8-inch disks for the eXFlash cannot be used on the SAS backplane.

Part number Feature code Description