User profile for user: MatthewPK
MatthewPK Author
User level: Level 1
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SAS Controller working in MacPro?

This is a slight spinoff to another topic I posted but I thought it was relevant enough to warrant its own thread.

Is anybody aware of a PCIexpress SAS raid controller which works in the MacPro?

I'm having difficulty with my current one.

Thanks,
-Matthew

Mac Pro, Other OS

Posted on Oct 26, 2006 7:09 PM

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User profile for user: tsvisser
tsvisser
User level: Level 3
761 points

Oct 27, 2006 10:02 AM in response to MatthewPK

XServe RAID works fine in most any environment, including SMB. Works great with XServe and tower macs obviously, but also works well with Win Server, Solaris, Unix, Linux, Novell, etc...

I honestly don't think it is cost competative with other iSCSI, SAS, Windows Storage Server solutions out there, but when working in an OS X environment, I still think it is a no brainer. It has also drastically lost the performance advantages that it once held with other non-Apple storage products. But it is still capbable of working in HD video post production environments, so it doesn't really lack anything specifically needed right now.
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User profile for user: MatthewPK
MatthewPK Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Oct 27, 2006 2:42 PM in response to tsvisser

Well, let me explain my current situation and goals.


I currently have a number of 15k RPM SAS drives. I intend to set up either a RAID 0+1 or a RAID 50 I'm undecided.

Regardless, I purcahsed a PCI-Express x8 SAS RAID controller from LSI logic. Unfortunately I've been unable to make this card work in the Windows environment per my Mac Pro.

While this RAID card cost me around $800, that's irrelevant if I can't make it work.

I need a RAID controller which will work in the MacPro's EFI architecture, that has working Windows drivers and with which I can use the $2000 worth of SAS drives I've already got 😀

I know little to know about the FibreChannel HBA's but what sort of cost am I looking at to get one of those?

Alternatively, what are my other options for using these SAS drives not only as data drives but also one as boot drive?

Really, I'd be content using a JBOD but I need to know which HBA will work before I spend another thousand dollars on it.


I really appreciate your help on this.
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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
61,031 points

Oct 27, 2006 3:12 PM in response to MatthewPK

Mac Pro BTO has $499 Fibre Channel option. Just search and it comes up. Taking the "more info" from the Mac Pro configuration page:

Fibre Channel Card

To connect to an Xserve RAID, you will need a Fibre Channel PCI Express card (host bus adapter).

A Fibre Channel PCI Express card is required to connect Xserve RAID to your Mac Pro. This PCI Express Card option is a Dual Channel 2Gb Fibre Channel PCI Express Host Bus Adapter and ships with two 2.9-meter Copper Fibre Channel SFP to SFP (small form factor pluggable) interconnect cables. The cables are used to connect to the SFP port on Xserve RAID with SFP connectors.

SFP connectors on the card allow use of copper or optical cabling and provide the capability of directly connecting to Xserve RAID or Fibre Channel switches over long distances up to 500m.


I would get in touch. There are email and phone numbers on the XRAID page.
There ARE people who go for Xserve/Xraid for use as a video production workstation. The Xraid supports a large number of standards, has 512MB memory (per host adapter).

Message was edited by: The hatter
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SAS Controller working in MacPro?

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