STA

Author: Marty Czekalski
Maxtor Corporation

When introducing a new interface into a system, several questions generally come to mind such as; what characteristics does the new device possess, what are its specifications and how will it fit into the overall system design?

This development overview article will look at devices that can be used in Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) systems. We will also look at some of these devices' characteristics and how various standards organizations and committees manage their specifications. Finally, we will talk about where a designer or technical professional can go to get additional information on various components. (For the purposes of this article we will focus primarily on SAS disk drives and will briefly discuss tape drives and Serial ATA (SATA) disk drives.)

Author: Paul Griffith
Adaptec

SCSI is the most versatile disk interface used today for mass storage in enterprise environments by virtue of the protocol's advanced features, throughput capabilities, and support for large storage infrastructures. But the growing need for faster, more complex data communications and more scalable storage systems raises the question of whether parallel SCSI can support the increasing capacity scalability requirements needed for external storage systems.

The physical layer of the parallel SCSI bus has continued to limit its ability to widely scale. While standard unassisted Low Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI supports a maximum of 12 meters between the computer and external device, many of today's larger SCSI systems require cables longer than 12 meters; hence, the need for SCSI bus expanders.

Author: James Pascoe
Hitachi GST

Hitachi recently interviewed David Steele, Director of Product Planning and Management for Storage Standard Products in the Storage Components Division of LSI Logic Corporation. LSI Logic is a leading designer and manufacturer of storage, communications and consumer semiconductors for applications that access, interconnect and store data, voice and video.

Steele has more than 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry and is currently responsible for defining roadmaps for LSI Logic's storage standard product IC's, including SCSI, SAS and Fibre Channel solutions. Hitachi asked Steele what IT departments should consider as they prepare to deploy SAS-based storage, including issues such as ease-of-use and management, interface performance, investment protection, etc.

PMC-Sierra was interviewed by a System Integrator about Serial Attached SCSI's Cable and Connector Features and Uses

Author: Rachelle Trent, Product Marketing Manager
PMC-Sierra
All Figures are courtesy of Molex

The challenges that System Integrators (SIs) encounter when learning how to handle new technologies, new components and especially how to make everything work together, requires research and experience. It helps them acquire the knowledge they need if they have a series of demonstrations of cables and connectors and their uses. The purpose of this article is to provide a mini-demo through the use of illustrations that are clear and easy to understand.

Author: Paul Griffith
Adaptec

Introduction
Today, most data centers use parallel storage technology like SCSI, but as requirements for increased performance, higher scalability and improved reliability grow, IT managers are looking to new serial technologies such as Serial Attached SCSI. IT managers needing a simple, cost-effective way to migrate from parallel-technology to serial-based systems with minimal disruption to business operations will find direct-attach storage (DAS) spillover, adaptive storage migration, and DAS evacuation powerful tools for enabling this transition.

Author: Marty Czekalski
Maxtor Corporation

With Serial Attached SCSI--Everyone Wins
In this day and age, where technologies come and go, it's unusual to find a case where change has benefits across the entire supply chain, from manufacturer to end user. All too often change is made to benefit only a small segment of this chain, to push the performance envelope, or just for the sake of change itself. With Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) there are benefits for everyone involved in bringing this technology to market. In this article we'll explore the various aspects of one such benefit, investment protection.

Author: Harry Mason
LSI Logic

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), much like legacy SCSI, is architected with the following components:

• Host Controller:
  • ChipBoard
  • RAID
• Expanders
  • Edge Expanders
  • Fan-out Expanders
• Interconnection schemes
  • Connectors
  • Cables
  • Backplanes
• Storage Devices
  • Disk Drives
  • Tape Drives
  • SATA Drives
• Text/Validation Systems