Description
A Glance at Broadcom 9460-16I PCI-E Raid Controller
In the realm of data storage and management, the 9460-16I Broadcom 12GBPS SAS-SATA NVMe Tri-Mode PCI-E RAID Controller stands out as a powerful and versatile solution. This component plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance, reliability, and efficiency of storage systems, making it a key consideration for enterprises and individuals alike. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the 9460-16I RAID controller, breaking down its features, benefits, and applications in simple English.
Understanding RAID Controllers
Before we explore the specifics of the 9460-16I, it’s essential to grasp the concept of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controllers. RAID is a technology that combines multiple disk drives into a single logical unit to improve data redundancy, performance, or a combination of both. RAID controllers are hardware components responsible for managing these arrays, ensuring data integrity, and optimizing storage operations.
Overview of the 9460-16I Broadcom RAID Controller
The 9460-16I Broadcom RAID Controller is a cutting-edge storage solution designed to address the evolving needs of modern data centers and storage environments. Let’s break down its key features and functionalities:
Connectivity Options
The “12GBPS” in the product name indicates the impressive data transfer rate of 12 gigabits per second. This high-speed connectivity ensures swift and efficient communication between the RAID controller and connected storage devices.
The support for SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA (Serial ATA) interfaces makes the 9460-16I versatile, accommodating various types of hard drives and solid-state drives.
NVMe Support
NVMe, or Non-Volatile Memory Express, is a protocol designed for accessing high-speed storage media, particularly SSDs (Solid State Drives). The 9460-16I’s compatibility with NVMe ensures optimal performance when using these advanced storage devices.
Tri-Mode Operation
One of the standout features of the 9460-16I is its Tri-Mode operation. This means it supports SAS, SATA, and NVMe devices concurrently. This versatility allows users to create RAID arrays with a mix of different storage types, optimizing storage configurations based on specific needs.
PCI-E Interface
The RAID controller connects to the motherboard or server through a PCI Express (PCI-E) interface. This high-bandwidth connection ensures that data can flow seamlessly between the controller and the rest of the system, avoiding bottlenecks and optimizing overall performance.
Applications and Use Cases
The 9460-16I Broadcom RAID Controller finds application in various scenarios where robust storage solutions are paramount. Some notable use cases include:
- Enterprise Data Centers: Large-scale data centers with extensive storage requirements benefit from the 9460-16I’s ability to handle multiple types of storage devices. Its high data transfer rate and support for NVMe make it well-suited for the demanding workloads of enterprise environments.
- Cloud Storage Infrastructure: Cloud service providers can leverage the versatility of the 9460-16I to build scalable and high-performance storage infrastructures. The Tri-Mode operation allows them to adapt to different storage demands, providing flexibility in accommodating various client needs.
- Media and Entertainment Workstations: In environments where high-speed data access is critical, such as media and entertainment workstations handling large video files, the 9460-16I ensures smooth and reliable storage operations. Its NVMe support is particularly advantageous for applications requiring fast read and write speeds.
- Server Farms: Server farms, which often handle diverse workloads, can benefit from the 9460-16I’s ability to create RAID arrays with different types of drives. This flexibility allows for efficient data organization and retrieval, contributing to overall system performance.
Benefits of the 9460-16I RAID Controller
- Improved Performance: The high-speed connectivity and support for NVMe contribute to enhanced data transfer rates, reducing latency and improving overall system responsiveness.
- Data Redundancy and Reliability: The RAID functionality provided by the controller ensures data redundancy, protecting against data loss in the event of drive failure. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of valuable information.
- Versatility and Scalability: The Tri-Mode operation and support for different interfaces make the 9460-16I a versatile solution that can adapt to evolving storage needs. This scalability is vital for businesses experiencing growth and changes in their data storage requirements.
- Compatibility and Interoperability: The 9460-16I is designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of storage devices and systems, ensuring compatibility and interoperability. This makes it easier for users to integrate the RAID controller into their existing infrastructure.
Flexible RAID Support
The 9460-16I Broadcom SAS/SATA NVME Tri-Mode PCI-E Raid Controller provides flexible RAID support for storage systems through its support for multiple RAID levels and advanced RAID features.
The controller supports multiple RAID levels, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, RAID 50, and RAID 60, which allows the user to select the appropriate RAID level based on their specific data protection and performance needs. RAID 0 provides improved performance by striping data across multiple disks, but does not provide any data protection. RAID 1 provides data protection by mirroring data across multiple disks, but does not provide improved performance. RAID 5 and RAID 6 provide data protection by using parity data but have a penalty on performance when writing data. RAID 10 provides both data protection and improved performance by using a combination of mirroring and striping.
The controller’s advanced RAID features such as RAID level migration, online RAID level migration, and automatic data recovery, provide flexibility and ease of use for managing RAID levels and data protection. These features allow the user to easily change the RAID level of a logical drive, and recover from a failed hard drive without any data loss.
The controller also supports SAS, SATA, and NVME drives which provides more flexibility in terms of drive options and compatibility.
The 9460-16I Broadcom SAS/SATA NVME Tri-Mode PCI-E Raid Controller provides flexible RAID support for storage systems through its support for multiple RAID levels and advanced RAID features such as RAID level migration, online RAID level migration and automatic data recovery, and support for SAS, SATA and NVME drives. These features allow the user to select the appropriate RAID level based on their specific data protection and performance needs, and provide flexibility and ease of use for managing RAID levels and data protection, ensuring the data is always safe and secure.
Advanced-Data Protection
Advanced data protection refers to the various features and technologies that are implemented to ensure the safety and security of data stored on a storage system. The 9460-16I Broadcom 12GBPS SAS/SATA NVME Tri-Mode PCI-E Raid Controller provides advanced data protection through its support for multiple RAID levels, advanced RAID features, and support for encryption.
The controller also has support for Error Correction and Monitoring which detects and corrects errors in real-time, and also provides monitoring of the storage system to ensure the data is always safe and secure.
The controller also provides support for hardware encryption which helps protect data stored on the hard drive by encrypting it. These features help to ensure that the data stored on the storage system is protected against various types of data loss, such as hardware failure or human error, while also providing ease of use and flexibility in terms of data management.
Scalability
The 9460-16I Broadcom SAS/SATA NVME Tri-Mode PCI-E Raid Controller provides scalability for storage systems through its support for 16 internal ports, and advanced features such as RAID level migration, online RAID level migration, and automatic data recovery.
The controller has 16 internal ports, which allows for connecting multiple storage devices at the same time and can provide scalability and flexibility for the storage system. The internal ports also provide improved performance and increased data protection, as they allow for multiple storage devices to be connected at the same time, which can improve data management and protection options.
The controller’s advanced RAID features such as RAID level migration, online RAID level migration, and automatic data recovery, provide flexibility and ease of use for managing RAID levels and data protection. These features allow the user to easily change the RAID level of a logical drive, and recover from a failed hard drive without any data loss.
General Information about this Broadcom 9460-16I Controller
- Manufacturer: Broadcom
- Part Number or SKU# 9460-16I
- Product Type: SAS-SATA
- Product Name: Controller
Technical Specifications of SAS-SATA Controller
- Cache Protection: Cachevault Cvpm05
- Host Bus Type: X8 Lane PCI Express® 3.1
- Cache Memory: 4GB 2133 MHz DDR4 SDRAM
- RAID Management Software: LSI Storage Authority (LSA), Storcli (command-line interface), HII (UEFI Human Interface Infrastructure)
- Internal Ports: 16
- Data Transfer Rates: 12 Gb/s SAS-3 and 8 GT/s PCIe Gen 3 (NVMe) compliant
- Devices Supported: SAS/SATA: 255, NVMe: 4 x4, up to 24 x2 or x4*
- Internal Connectors: 4 Mini-SAS HD x4 SFF-8643
- Operating Temperature: 10° to 55° C
- Operating Voltage(V): +12V +/-8%, 3.3V +/-9%
- OS: Microsoft Windows. Contact Oracle Support for Oracle Solaris driver or software support.
- I/O Processor/SAS Controller: SAS3516 Dual-core RAID-on-Chip (ROC).
Finally, the 9460-16I Broadcom 12GBPS SAS-SATA NVMe Tri-Mode PCI-E RAID Controller represents a powerful and flexible solution for modern storage challenges. Its combination of high-speed connectivity, support for different storage interfaces, and RAID functionality make it a valuable asset for enterprises and individuals looking to optimize their storage systems. Whether in large-scale data centers, cloud environments, media workstations, or server farms, the 9460-16I contributes to improved performance, data reliability, and scalability, making it a compelling choice for those seeking advanced storage solutions.