The LSI 9271-8i RAID controller is a high-performance SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) controller designed for server and workstation environments. It offers a range of advanced features and technical specifications to meet the demands of enterprise storage systems. Here are some technical details of the LSI 9271-8i:
Interface:
Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
Drive Interface: 6Gb/s SAS/SATA
RAID Levels Supported:
RAID 0, 1, 1E, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60, and JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks)
Data Transfer Rates:
Up to 6 Gb/s per port for SAS drives
Up to 6 Gb/s per port for SATA drives
Cache Memory:
1GB or 512MB DDR3 cache memory
Optional CacheVault flash cache protection module for data protection
Connectors:
Two SFF-8087 mini-SAS internal connectors for connecting to the drives
Supported Operating Systems:
Compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, VMware, and more
Management Software:
Provides a suite of management tools for configuration and monitoring, such as MegaRAID Storage Manager (MSM) and MegaCLI (Command Line Interface)
Advanced Features:
CacheVault flash cache protection
RAID levels for data protection and performance optimization
Support for self-encrypting drives (SEDs)
SSD Caching for improved read/write performance
Support for hot swapping and online capacity expansion
Background initialization for newly added drives
Drive health monitoring and error correction
Compatibility:
Compatible with a wide range of SAS and SATA drives and enclosures
Often used in rack-mounted servers and workstations
Form Factor:
The LSI 9271-8i typically comes in a low-profile form factor with a full-height bracket for installation in standard and low-profile chassis.
Firmware Updates:
Regular firmware updates may be available to enhance performance and security, so it's important to keep the controller's firmware up to date.
Redundancy and Data Protection:
Supports various RAID levels, allowing for redundancy and data protection.
Provides the ability to add hot spares for automatic failover in case of drive failures.
Notifications and Alerts:
The controller can send alerts and notifications in the event of drive failures or other critical events.
Scalability:
The LSI 9271-8i allows for scalability, enabling the addition of more drives and expanding existing RAID arrays.