Description
Product Overview of the Dell J4717
The Dell J4717 PERC4 is a dual-channel PCI-X Ultra320 SCSI RAID controller card designed for servers and workstations. It provides high-performance data transfer rates, advanced RAID capabilities, and improved fault tolerance for critical applications. The card comes with a standard bracket that allows it to be installed in any compatible computer system with a PCI-X slot.
What is a RAID Controller Card
A RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) controller card is a hardware device that manages the data storage and retrieval process on a computer. It is responsible for creating and managing RAID arrays, which combine multiple hard drives to improve performance and data redundancy.
RAID controller cards come in different forms, such as PCI, PCI-X, and PCIe, and they use different RAID levels, such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10, depending on the specific requirements of the system.
Features of Dell J4717 PERC4 Controller Card
The Dell J4717 PERC4 is a high-performance RAID controller card that supports SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) technology. It provides the following features:
- Dual-Channel: The card has two SCSI channels, which enable it to connect up to 30 SCSI devices, including hard drives, tape drives, and optical drives. The dual-channel configuration also improves data transfer rates and reduces latency.
- Ultra320 SCSI: The card supports Ultra320 SCSI technology, which provides a maximum data transfer rate of 320 MB/s per channel, making it ideal for data-intensive applications such as video editing, database management, and scientific computing.
- RAID Support: The card supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), which offer different combinations of performance, data redundancy, and capacity utilization. RAID 0 provides high performance but no data redundancy, while RAID 1 provides data redundancy but lower performance. RAID 5 provides a balance between performance and data redundancy, while RAID 10 combines the benefits of RAID 0 and RAID 1.
- Cache Memory: The card has 128MB of cache memory, which improves the performance of read and write operations by temporarily storing frequently accessed data.
- Battery Backup Unit (BBU): The card comes with an optional BBU that provides backup power to the cache memory in case of a power outage or system failure. This prevents data loss and improves data integrity.
Installation and Configuration
The Dell J4717 PERC4 controller card is easy to install and configure. It comes with a standard bracket that fits most computer systems with a PCI-X slot. To install the card, follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer and disconnect all cables.
- Open the computer case and locate an available PCI-X slot.
- Remove the bracket cover from the PCI-X slot and insert the card into the slot.
- Secure the card with the screw provided and replace the bracket cover.
- Connect the SCSI cables to the card and the SCSI devices.
- Reconnect all cables and power on the computer.
To configure the card, you need to access the RAID BIOS by pressing a specific key during the boot process. The key varies depending on the computer system and the BIOS version, but it is usually displayed on the screen during startup.
Once you access the RAID BIOS, you can configure the RAID settings, such as the RAID level, the cache memory, and the BBU, using the menu-driven interface. You can also monitor the status of the RAID arrays and the SCSI devices, and perform diagnostic tests and firmware updates.
General Information about this Dell J4717
- Manufacturer: Dell
- Part Number or SKU# J4717
- Product Type: ULTRA320 Controller
Technical Specifications for J4717 SCSI Controller
- Controller Type: Scsi Controller
- Enclosure: Internal
- Scsi Interface: Pci-x, Ultra320 Scsi
- Recommended Machine Type: Server, Workstation
Contact us or ask for live chat/help if you have any questions about the compatibility of this item to ensure the model’s matching features with your current system.
