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SAS controller SATA disks - cable length

S

sebsta

n00b
Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
6
I have a server with a LSI SAS 9207-8e HBA and want to connect it to another chassis populated with SATA disks.
The chassis has a direct attached SAS/SATA backplane.
I'm not sure if the 1m cable length limit of SATA does apply here.

The cabling would be like this
Controller -> 1m SFF-8088 cable -> SFF-8088 to SFF-8087 bracket -> 70cm SFF-8087 to 4xSATA fanout cable -> SAS/SATA backplane

As i said i'm not sure if the max cable length is determined by the controller type or disk type.
 
Max cable length is a standard requirement. That is all the equipment will work with cables at the maximum.

There is no reason to suspect that if the cables are a bit longer that nothing will work.

You buy the components, hook them up, and test them. They either work or not.
 
GeorgeHR said:
You buy the components, hook them up, and test them. They either work or not.
Click to expand...

This trial end error method is not an option for me.
I can not buy a chassis and a SAS controller only to find out that the config is not working.
Then i would rather replace the current chassis with a bigger one.
 
forget about cable length, that adapter bracket is going add more signal loss than the cables themselfs.

You will not be talking sas, so sata 1m length will be in place. But that is atleast 1m length supported, nothing says you can't go longer, assuming the cable, drive, and hba will let you.

This is why you have to test. If you want to be sure, you assume 1m max.
 
I could have shorter cables but not by much. From the back of the case to the backplane
it is about 60cm and the SFF-8088 cables i saw so far are at least 1m.

patrickdk said:
You will not be talking sas, so sata 1m length will be in place.
Click to expand...

That's all i needed to know. I know that a similar config is working for other people,
but i just don't want to take the risk that my config is not.
The chassis + controller with external ports + cables costs me about as much
as a bigger chassis which can hold all my disks.
 
SAS cards will drive stronger signalling but as to whether the drives will respond is another question. The SATA drives will still only signal at SATA levels meaning cables will be too long and losses in the adapter bracket wont help.

May pay to fork out for a expander to sit in the chassis.
 
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