Question - External SAS Solution

[Got3n]

so I have a Dell Optiplex 9020 with a i5-4590 and I want to turn it into my NAS server. I was gonna buy this card with 2 external SAS connectors. Is there some solution for external HDD enclosures for either 8 or 4 HDD's? I would most likely need a powered solution as the power in the Dell is limited. 

[braneopbru]

Not cheap, but here's one:

 

http://www.directron.com/e4msb.html

 

 

Edit:

 

Here's a cheaper one

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111471&Tpk=N82E16816111471

[Got3n]

Thanks! looking a bit more at related options i found THIS ONE

 

Im pretty new to NAS/DAS setups but I assume with the card I linked in the first post it uses the 8644 connector and this product comes with 2 8644 cables. So i assume since they match it should be no issue. Then I can just raid from the card and be good to go?

[braneopbru]

Thanks! looking a bit more at related options i found THIS ONE

 

Im pretty new to NAS/DAS setups but I assume with the card I linked in the first post it uses the 8644 connector and this product comes with 2 8644 cables. So i assume since they match it should be no issue. Then I can just raid from the card and be good to go?

No, that card looks like it uses Sff 8088 cables so you'd need something like this:

 

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/8844-1M.asp

 

 

Edit: Sorry my bad, the card does use the 8644 connectors.

[Got3n]

No, that card looks like it uses Sff 8088 cables so you'd need something like this:

 

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/8844-1M.asp

 

 

Edit: Sorry my bad, the card does use the 8644 connectors.

 

Yeah its 8644 but thanks. Also i just noticed that enclosure i posted, the specs says 16TB max, but that doesnt sound right, so is the 2TB per slot or 16TB per slot max? Their website is down so i cant check. Was hoping to put 8x 4TB HDD's in there but if I cant I have to go back to the drawing board.

 

 

Edit: Scratch that, stupid thing is 2.5 drives, not 3.5 :-(

[braneopbru]

Yeah its 8644 but thanks. Also i just noticed that enclosure i posted, the specs says 16TB max, but that doesnt sound right, so is the 2TB per slot or 16TB per slot max? Their website is down so i cant check. Was hoping to put 8x 4TB HDD's in there but if I cant I have to go back to the drawing board.

 

 

Edit: Scratch that, stupid thing is 2.5 drives, not 3.5 :-(

Are you going to be using SAS or just regular SATA 6G drives? 

 

I have an idea...

[Got3n]

Are you going to be using SAS or just regular SATA 6G drives? 

 

I have an idea...

 

Card is what i'm set on and this is now what I think ill get. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UR4XA88/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=30A7V6YENJCML&coliid=IXIU88OV51UNA sata6 drives for sure.

[braneopbru]

Card is what i'm set on and this is now what I think ill get. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UR4XA88/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=30A7V6YENJCML&coliid=IXIU88OV51UNA sata6 drives for sure.

That's a pretty nice unit. Good price too.

 

 

 

I was going to suggest getting one of these.

 

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/AD8788LD.asp

 

Putting it in something like this:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112459&cm_re=PC-Q26-_-11-112-459-_-Product

 

Then just adding your own power supply power supply and a few fans. The one you found makes a lot more sense though, a more compact unit for about the same price as a built it yourself solution.

[leadeater]

That's a pretty nice unit. Good price too.

 

 

I was going to suggest getting one of these.

 

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/AD8788LD.asp

 

Putting it in something like this:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112459&cm_re=PC-Q26-_-11-112-459-_-Product

 

Then just adding your own power supply power supply and a few fans. The one you found makes a lot more sense though, a more compact unit for about the same price as a built it yourself solution.

 

Be careful of PC Pitstop, I've seen some bad reviews from people who have purchased through them. I was actually going to buy the 8 Bay external SAS enclosure from them too as it was cheap and what I was looking for and @Got3n, kinda funny someone is look for the same thing at the same time as me

 

I also saw a review of the unit which included a break down and the build/design was not surprisingly rather crap. Sans Digital seems to be the better choice, the TR8X6G is more than enough for HDD's if you want to keep the cost down.

[Got3n]

Be careful of PC Pitstop, I've seen some bad reviews from people who have purchased through them. I was actually going to buy the 8 Bay external SAS enclosure from them too as it was cheap and what I was looking for and @Got3n, kinda funny someone is look for the same thing at the same time as me

 

I also saw a review of the unit which included a break down and the build/design was not surprisingly rather crap. Sans Digital seems to be the better choice, the TR8X6G is more than enough for HDD's if you want to keep the cost down.

Wow thanks! yeah looks like the LSI card is about $300 cheaper for the 6G version. I was assuming the 12g and 6g was the bandwidth avilable for the ports. I thought the higher the better lol. 

[leadeater]

Wow thanks! yeah looks like the LSI card is about $300 cheaper for the 6G version. I was assuming the 12g and 6g was the bandwidth avilable for the ports. I thought the higher the better lol. 

 

You are correct but 6G is more than twice as fast as a single HDD. Also the connectors have 4 lanes so it's actually 4x 6G per cable, and if you get the model with the SAS expander you can daisy chain the external enclosures off of one LSI card or only use 1 cable in the 8 bay unit rather than 2. The SAS expander model is much more expensive though and I wouldn't buy it, just mentioning it for example purposes.

 

SSD's are able to fully use 6G connections but as mentioned the SFF-8088 connectors have 4 lanes so you can run 8 SSD's off of a 2 port LSI card without bottlenecking. Also the 12G model wont give a SATA SSD a 12G connection, only 6G as that is all SATA III supports.

[Got3n]

You are correct but 6G is more than twice as fast as a single HDD. Also the connectors have 4 lanes so it's actually 4x 6G per cable, and if you get the model with the SAS expander you can daisy chain the external enclosures off of one LSI card or only use 1 cable in the 8 bay unit rather than 2. The SAS expander model is much more expensive though and I wouldn't buy it, just mentioning it for example purposes.

 

SSD's are able to fully use 6G connections but as mentioned the SFF-8088 connectors have 4 lanes so you can run 8 SSD's off of a 2 port LSI card without bottlenecking. Also the 12G model wont give a SATA SSD a 12G connection, only 6G as that is all SATA III supports.

 

Well I planned on running 8x 3TB drives, but maybe ill just get the dual port LSI card and a 4 drive bad for now, then i can expand if need be. So if i run 4 drives on one port each drive will have a 6g connection?

[leadeater]

Well I planned on running 8x 3TB drives, but maybe ill just get the dual port LSI card and a 4 drive bad for now, then i can expand if need be. So if i run 4 drives on one port each drive will have a 6g connection?

 

Yep, that is correct.