User`s guide

PCIe to 3.0-Gb/s SAS Host Bus Adapters User’s Guide 3-1
Copyright © 2006-2007 by LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
LSI Confidential
Chapter 3
Host Bus Adapter
Characteristics
This chapter describes the characteristics of the LSI PCIe to 3.0-Gb/s
SAS HBAs. The chapter includes these topics:
• Section 3.1, “Characteristics of the LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs”
• Section 3.2, “Electrical and Environmental Specifications”
3.1 Characteristics of the LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs
The LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs use either the LSISAS1064E controller or
the LSISAS1068E controller. The LSISAS1064E controller connects up
to four SAS/SATA devices to a computer system through the PCI
Express interface. The LSISAS1068E controller connects up to eight
SAS/SATA devices to a computer system through the PCI Express
interface. The LSI controllers are implemented using either four
(LSISAS1064E) or eight (LSISAS1068E) PCI Express PHYs. Each PHY
operates at 2.5-Gb/s, which provides possible host-side maximum
transmission and reception rates of up to 4.0-GB/s.
The LSISAS1064E controller chip and the LSISAS1068E controller chip
contain the PCI Express functionality for the LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs. The
controller chip connects directly to the PCI Express bus and generates
timing and protocol in compliance with the PCI Express specification.
The LSISAS1064E controller chip and the LSISAS1068E controller chip
contain the SAS/SATA functionality for the LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs. The
controller chips connect channels directly to the SAS/SATA devices.
The LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs provide a 2M x 8-b Flash ROM for storing
the BIOS and firmware. The LSI PCIe to SAS HBAs provide up to 32K
x 8-b NVSRAM for storing the nonvolatile RAID information when a
system failure happens. The SAS3442E, SAS3442EL, SAS3444E,