STA

It's nothing new that technology changes rapidly. Enterprise storage is no exception. Keeping data moving at faster speeds and having the ability to properly manage that data has never been more critical to having businesses run smoothly. Applications such as database, commerce and transaction, web serving and streaming use massive amounts of data and storage requirements continue to increase. New technologies need to be integrated into these storage architectures to reduce potential bottlenecks.

SCSI Trade Association October 2009

Q1. What is the Advanced Connectivity Roadmap?

A1. The Advanced Connectivity roadmap is the STA connectivity roadmap to guide the industry through future SAS storage solutions. It specifies the Mini-SAS High Density (HD) (SFF- 8643/8644) connector as the converged connectivity scheme for SAS-based deployments. In addition, it defines SAS Connectivity Management for simplifying cable and connectivity management.

Q2. Name the factors that stimulated provision of the Advanced SAS Connectivity Roadmap.

A2. Factors which drove development and provision of the Advanced SAS Connectivity Roadmap include simplification of cable and connector options and the provision of managed connectivity standards. Additional factors include providing high-density connectivity and the extension of active copper cable to 20m and optical cable to 100m.

Author: Marty Czekalski, Vice President, SCSI Trade Association
Interface and Emerging Architecture Program Manager, Seagate

At the recent SCSI Trade Association (STA) SAS Solutions Open House in San Jose, Marty Czekalski discussed the past, present, and future of SAS. He went through the SAS roadmap, briefly describing 3Gb/s SAS origins, 6Gb/s SAS highlights, planned enhancements to 6Gb/s SAS, and the outlook for 12Gb/s SAS. In addition, he discussed the capabilities these technologies enable in delivering solutions to end customers.

The first SAS Plugfest was in 2004, when industry participants worked together to ready 3Gb/s SAS products for the market. The initial SAS releases focused on preserving the legacy SCSI infrastructure and enabling SATA in the environment. Since then, 3Gb/s SAS products have become widely accepted. Now, the storage industry is moving forward and getting ready to bring out a major upgrade from 3Gb/s SAS to 6Gb/s SAS. The first official 6Gb/s SAS Plugfest will be held at the end of this year. However, at the SAS Open House, 6Gb/s prototype hardware is being demonstrated by several industry providers working together. 6Gb/s SAS, with backward compatibility for 3Gb/s, will quickly become a key interface in the storage world. But even as 6Gb/s SAS is getting ready to be introduced to the market, plans are being formulated for 12Gb/s SAS in the late 2012 timeframe.