Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID 8 Ports Controller SAS-SATA 12GBps New

In the world of data storage and management, having a reliable and high-performance RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controller is crucial. The Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller is a cutting-edge hardware solution designed to provide exceptional performance, scalability, and data protection. We will explore the details of this controller, its features, and how it can enhance your storage infrastructure.

Before delving into the specifics of the Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller, it's essential to understand what a RAID controller is and its role in data storage.

A RAID controller is a specialized hardware device or integrated circuit that manages and controls the operations of a RAID array. RAID arrays are used to combine multiple hard drives or SSDs into a single logical unit to improve performance, redundancy, and overall data management.

• Data Striping: Data is divided into blocks and distributed across multiple drives, enhancing read and write performance.
• Data Mirroring: Mirroring involves creating an identical copy of data on another drive for redundancy and fault tolerance.
• Parity Calculation: Certain RAID levels use parity information to recover data in case of drive failure.
• Data Recovery: RAID controllers can rebuild data from the remaining drives if one drive fails.
• Monitoring and Management: RAID controllers provide tools and interfaces for monitoring the status of drives and arrays, as well as configuring RAID settings.

The Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller is a powerful hardware RAID controller that belongs to the MegaRAID family of products. It is designed for businesses and enterprises looking for high performance, scalability, and data protection in their storage solutions.

The Broadcom 9540-8I boasts an impressive array of features that make it a standout choice for RAID controllers. Let's take a closer look at some of its key features:

• 8-Port Connectivity: The Broadcom 9540-8I supports up to eight internal SAS/SATA drives, allowing for substantial storage capacity within a single controller.
• 12Gbps Data Transfer Rate: With a blazing-fast data transfer rate of 12Gbps, this controller ensures swift data access and transfer, vital for demanding enterprise workloads.
• PCI-E Interface: The controller connects to the host system via a PCI-E (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interface, providing high bandwidth and low latency for data communication.
• Tri-Mode RAID: The Broadcom 9540-8I is capable of operating in Tri-Mode, which means it can support SAS, SATA, and NVMe drives. This versatility makes it suitable for various storage configurations.
• Advanced Data Protection: It offers data protection features such as RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, which provide various levels of redundancy and fault tolerance.
• Cache Memory: The controller includes cache memory that can enhance I/O (Input/Output) performance by temporarily storing frequently accessed data.
• RAID Management Software: Broadcom provides comprehensive management software, allowing administrators to configure, monitor, and manage their RAID arrays easily.
• Hot Spare Support: The controller supports hot spares, which are standby drives that can be automatically brought online in the event of a drive failure, minimizing downtime.
• Scalability: The Broadcom 9540-8I allows for scalability, meaning you can add more drives and expand your storage capacity as your business needs grow.

One of the critical aspects of any RAID controller is the range of RAID modes it supports. The Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller provides a variety of RAID options, each with its unique advantages:

• RAID 0 (Striping): This mode increases performance by striping data across multiple drives, but it offers no data redundancy. It is suitable for applications where speed is more critical than data protection.
• RAID 1 (Mirroring): RAID 1 creates an exact copy of your data on a second drive, providing data redundancy and fault tolerance. If one drive fails, the data remains intact on the other.
• RAID 5 (Striping with Parity): RAID 5 strips data across multiple drives and includes parity information, which can be used to recover data in case of drive failure. It offers a balance between performance and data protection.
• RAID 6 (Striping with Double Parity): Similar to RAID 5, RAID 6 adds an extra layer of data protection with double parity. This means it can withstand the failure of two drives simultaneously.
• RAID 10 (Mirrored Striping): RAID 10 combines the features of RAID 1 and RAID 0. It mirrors data for redundancy and strips it for performance. This offers high performance and excellent data protection.
• RAID 50 (Striping with Mirroring): RAID 50 combines RAID 5 and RAID 0. It provides striping with parity for high performance and adds mirroring for additional data protection.
• RAID 60 (Striping with Double Mirroring): RAID 60 is a combination of RAID 6 and RAID 0. It offers double parity for data protection and striping for performance.

These RAID modes offer a range of options for balancing performance and data protection according to your specific needs and priorities.

Performance and Scalability

The Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller is designed to deliver exceptional performance and scalability for a wide range of applications. Here's a closer look at how it achieves this:

• 12Gbps Data Transfer Rate: The 12Gbps data transfer rate of the controller significantly boosts data access and transfer speeds. This level of performance is ideal for applications that require fast data processing, such as database servers, virtualization, and high-throughput data analytics.
• Cache Memory: The controller comes with cache memory, which acts as a temporary storage buffer for frequently accessed data. This cache memory enhances I/O performance by reducing the time it takes to access data from the drives. You can configure the cache settings to optimize performance for your specific workloads.
• Scalability: Scalability is a crucial factor in modern storage solutions, as businesses often need to expand their storage capacity as data requirements grow. The Broadcom 9540-8I allows for scalability by supporting up to eight drives and offering options for expanding your storage by adding more controllers or drives.

Data Protection and Security

Ensuring the security and integrity of your data is paramount, and the Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller offers several features that contribute to data protection and security.

• RAID Levels: The controller supports various RAID levels, each offering a different level of data protection. For instance, RAID 1 and RAID 10 provide complete data mirroring, while RAID 5 and RAID 6 offer parity-based redundancy. The choice of RAID level depends on your data protection requirements and performance considerations.
• Hot Spare Support: The controller supports hot spares, which are standby drives that can be automatically brought into an array if one of the active drives fails. This feature minimizes downtime and ensures data continuity.
• RAID Rebuild: In the event of a drive failure, the controller can initiate a RAID rebuild process to reconstruct the data on the failed drive from the data on the remaining drives. This ensures that no data is lost and that the array remains functional.
• Encryption: Data security is a growing concern, and the controller supports data encryption. You can enable encryption to protect your data at rest, ensuring that even if physical drives are compromised, the data remains secure.
• Secure Boot: The controller features a secure boot process that helps prevent unauthorized access or tampering with the controller's firmware. This security measure ensures the integrity of the controller's operation.

Use Cases and Applications

The Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller is a versatile solution that finds application in a wide range of industries and scenarios. Some common use cases include:

• Enterprise Servers: The controller is well-suited for enterprise servers that require high-performance storage solutions. It can handle the demands of virtualization, databases, and other data-intensive applications.
• Data Centers: In data center environments, where uptime and data reliability are crucial, the Broadcom 9540-8I provides the necessary performance and data protection features.
• Cloud Computing: Cloud service providers benefit from the scalability and performance of the controller, making it a valuable addition to their storage infrastructure.
• Big Data and Analytics: For organizations involved in big data processing and analytics, the controller's high data transfer rate is a significant advantage.
• Media and Entertainment: Media and entertainment companies often deal with large media files. The controller's high-speed data access is beneficial for media storage and streaming applications.
• Financial Services: Financial institutions rely on data integrity and rapid data access. The controller is an excellent choice for applications in the financial sector.
• Scientific Research: Scientific research often involves vast datasets. The controller can help manage and access this data efficiently.
• Healthcare: In the healthcare sector, where patient data must be secure and readily available, the controller ensures data protection and performance.

• Manufacturer: Broadcom
• Part Number or SKU# 9540-8I
• Product Type: SAS-SATA
• Product Name: Controller

• Port Count: 8 Internal
• Connectors: One X8 Sff-8654
• Host Interface: X8 PCIe Gen 4.0
• Storage Interface: 12Gb/s SAS, 6Gb/s SATA, Gen 4.0 PCIe (NVMe)
• RAID On Chip Controller (ROC): SAS3808
• Max Devices Per Controller: SAS/SATA: 63, NVMe: 4
• RAID Levels: 0, 00, 1, 10

• JBOD Mode with R0/1/10 and JBOD for SDS environments
• Online Capacity Expansion (OCE)
• Auto Resume after Loss of System Power during Array Rebuild or OCE
• Single Controller Multipathing
• Load Balancing
• Configurable Stripe Size up to 1MB
• Fast Initialization for Quick Array Setup
• Check Consistency for Background Data Integrity
• SSD Support with SSD Guard™ Technology
• Patrol Read for Media Scanning and Repairing
• 240 Virtual Drive Support (32 for the 9540)
• DDF-compliant Configuration on Disk (COD)
• S.M.A.R.T. Support

Global and Dedicated Hot Spare with Revertible Hot Spare Support:

• Automatic Rebuild
• Enclosure Affinity
• Emergency SATA Hot Spare for SAS Arrays

Enclosure Management:

• SES (in-band)
• SGPIO (sideband)
• Universal Backplane Management (UBM) Ready
• DataBolt Bandwidth Optimizer Technology Support for Compatible Expander-based Enclosures
• Shield State Drive Diagnostic Technology
• MegaRAID SafeStore Software for SED Key Management

• LSI Storage Authority (LSA)
• StorCLI (Command-Line Interface)
• HII (UEFI Human Interface Infrastructure)
• OS Support: Microsoft Windows, VMware vSphere/ESXi, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux, Ubuntu Linux, Citrix XenServer, CentOS Linux, Debian Linux, Oracle Enterprise Linux, Fedora, FreeBSD
• Typical Power: 6.0W

• Operating: 0°C to 55°C, 5% to 90% non-condensing
• Storage: -45°C to 105°C, 5% to 95% non-condensing
• Operating Voltage: 12V ±8%, 3.3V ±9%
• MTBF (Calculated): >3,000,000 hours at 40°C

In summary, the Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller is a powerful and versatile storage management solution designed for data-intensive environments. Its support for 12Gbps SAS and SATA drives, compatibility with NVMe devices, and Tri-Mode RAID capability make it an attractive choice for a wide range of applications, from data centers to high-performance computing.

By providing enhanced data security, high performance, and flexibility, this controller empowers organizations to build storage systems that meet their specific needs. While installation and configuration may require technical expertise, the benefits of improved data management, protection, and speed make it a valuable addition to any IT infrastructure.

As data continues to be a critical asset for businesses and institutions, having reliable and efficient storage solutions like the Broadcom 9540-8I MegaRAID Controller becomes increasingly essential for ensuring the integrity and availability of data.