Owners Manual

Controller Modules

Topics:

• RAID Controller Modules

• RAID Controller Module Connectors and Features

• Host Channel LED Link Rate Indications

• RAID Controller Module—Additional Features

• Cache Functions and Features

• SFP Transceivers, Fiber Optic, and SAS Cables

• Interoperability of 4 Gbps, 8 Gbps, and 16 Gbps Devices

RAID Controller Modules

The RAID controller modules provide high-performance, advanced virtual disk configuration, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem

management. Each RAID controller module contains 4GB or 8GB of mirrored cache for high availability and a battery-powered cache

offload mechanism.

NOTE: The 8GB mirrored cache is an optional feature.

RAID controller modules provide the following data path and enclosure management functions:

• Monitoring and controlling enclosure environment elements (temperature, fans, power supplies, and enclosure LEDs)

• Controlling access to the physical disks

• Communicating enclosure attributes and states to the host server and management station

Each RAID controller module has multiple Fibre Channel (FC) ports (labeled FC IN) for host access. The ports provide redundant host

connections and support a high availability storage environment. Each port must have a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver

module installed for connectivity. Various configurations can be utilized, in both single controller (simplex) and dual controller (duplex)

modes, to connect the storage enclosure to hosts depending on specific redundancy needs.

For information on cabling, see the MD3800f and MD3820f Series Storage Arrays Deployment Guide, at dell.com/powervaultmanuals.

RAID Controller Module Connectors and Features

Figure 7. MD3800f and MD3820f Series Fibre Channel RAID Controller Module

Controller Modules 11