IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

152 IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

ServeRAID M5000 Series Performance Accelerator Key

ServeRAID M5000 Series Performance Accelerator Key for System x enables performance

enhancements that are needed by the emerging SSD technologies being used in a mixed

SAS and SSD environment. You can enable these performance enhancements by using a

seamless field-upgradeable key that works in any M5xxx series controller. You gain the

following options:

򐂰 Performance optimization for SSDs: Improved SAS/SATA controller performance to match

an array of SSDs.

򐂰 Flash tiering enablement: A data-tiering enabler to support hybrid environments of SSDs

and HDDs, realizing higher levels of performance.

򐂰 MegaRAID recovery: A data recovery feature that works both in preboot and OS

environments.

򐂰 Ability to enable RAID-6 and RAID-60 for added data protection.

򐂰 Ability to enable SED support for encryption-equipped devices.

򐂰 Convenient upgrade with easy-to-use pluggable key.

For more information, see the IBM Redbooks at-a-glance guide ServeRAID M5000 Series

Performance Accelerator Key for IBM System x, which is available at this website:

http://www.ibm.com/redbooks/abstracts/tips0799.html

4.9.3 SAS and SSD controller summary

In this section, we provide details for the features of each controller card and what they offer.

Table 4-26 lists the SAS controllers that are supported in the x3690 X5. Most models of the

x3690 X5 have a ServeRAID M1015 installed as standard. See 4.3, “Models” on page 124 for

more information.

Table 4-26 lists the disk controllers that are supported in the x3690 X5.

Table 4-26 Disk controllers compatible with the x3690 X5

Part

number

Feature

code Name

Supports

2.5-inch SAS

backplane

Supports

eXFlash SSD

backplane

Battery Cache RAID support

44E8689 3577 ServeRAID BR10i

a

a. The BR10i is standard on most models. See 4.3, “Models” on page 124.

Yes No No None 0,1, and 1E

46M0831 0095 ServeRAID M1015

Ye s Yes No None 0,1,10,5, and 50

b

b. M1015 support for RAID-5 and RAID-50 requires the M1000 Advanced Feature Key (46M0832, fc 9749).

46M0916 3877 ServeRAID M5014

Ye s Ye s Optional 256MB 0,1,10,5,50,6,60

c

c. M5014 and M5015 support for RAID-6 and RAID-60 requires the M5000 Advanced Feature Key (46M0930,

fc 5106).

46M0829 0093 ServeRAID M5015

Ye s Ye s Ye s

d

d. ServeRAID M5015 option part number 46M0829 includes the M5000 battery; however, the feature code 0093

does not contain the battery. Order feature code 5744 if you want to include the battery in the server configuration.

512MB 0,1,10,5,50,6,60

c

None

e

3876 IBM 6Gb SSD HBA No Ye s N o N o n e N o

46M0969 3889 ServeRAID B5015 SSD No

Yes No None 1 and 5

Chapter 4. IBM System x3690 X5 153

ServeRAID BR10i Controller

The ServeRAID-BR10i has the following specifications:

򐂰 LSI 1068e-based adapter

򐂰 Two internal mini-SAS SFF-8087 connectors

򐂰 SAS 3 Gbps PCIe x8 host bus interface

򐂰 Fixed 64 KB stripe size

򐂰 Supports RAID-0, RAID-1, and RAID-1E

򐂰 No battery and no onboard cache

ServeRAID M5014 and M5015 Controller

The ServeRAID M5014 and M5015 adapter cards have the following specifications:

򐂰 Eight internal 6 Gbps SAS/SATA ports.

򐂰 Two Mini-SAS internal connectors (SFF-8087).

򐂰 Throughput of 6 Gbps per port.

򐂰 An 800 MHz PowerPC processor with LSI SAS2108 6 Gbps RAID on Chip (ROC)

controller.

򐂰 x8 PCI Express 2.0 host interface.

򐂰 Onboard data cache (DDR2 running at 800 MHz):

– ServeRAID M5015: 512 MB

– ServeRAID M5014: 256 MB

򐂰 Intelligent battery backup unit with up to 48 hours of data retention:

– ServeRAID M5015: Optional for feature code 0093, standard for part 46M0829

– ServeRAID M5014: Optional

򐂰 Support for RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50 (RAID 6 and 60 support with the optional

M5000 Advanced Feature Key).

򐂰 Connection of up to 32 SAS or SATA drives.

򐂰 SAS and SATA drives are supported, but mixing SAS and SATA in the same RAID array is

not supported.

򐂰 Up to 64 logical volumes.

򐂰 Logical unit number (LUN) sizes up to 64 TB.

򐂰 Configurable stripe size up to 1 MB.

򐂰 Compliance with Disk Data Format (DDF) configuration on disk (COD).

򐂰 Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) support.

򐂰 Support for the optional M5000 Series Performance Accelerator Key, which is

recommended when using SSD drives in a mixed environment with SAS and SSD:

– RAID levels 6 and 60

e. The IBM 6Gb SSD Host Bus Adapter is currently not available as a separately orderable option. Use the feature

code to add the adapter to a customized order, using the CTO process. Part number 46M0914 is the L1

manufacturing part number. Part number 46M0983 is the pseudo option number, which is also used in

manufacturing.

Note: Battery Cache is not needed when using all SSD drives. If using a controller

in a mixed environment with SSD and SAS, you must order and use a battery and

the Performance Enablement Key.