DL580G5 16 disks storage controller

[Ooi Wooi Jin]

I am prepared to purchased a DL580G5 with 16 SFF SAS disk. But I was told I need 2 SmartArray P400i controller instead of using 1 SmartArray P800. Can anyone here help to confirm that this is true? Any possible that I can using all 16 disks in 1 array? I read the specs that DL580 do support 16 disks... any catch here?

[KarloChacon]

hi Ooi Wooi Jin

no it is not possible.

I mean you will need 2 controllers(to use 16 HDDs) and because of that you won't be able to a big one RAID of 16 HDDs.

check page 45 adding secong cage requieres another controller
http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01062643/c01062643.pdf

regards

[Ooi Wooi Jin]

Very dissapoiting on the HP storage arrangement for DL580G5. For my case then the P800 seem not required since it basically support 8 disks although it can do 16 disks. But still then under what conditions do the Smart Array P800 really in its action or when it will able to support 16 disks on any other HP DL/ML models? Since I want a very fast disks I/O access server without to invest on a SAN.

[Jimmy Vance]

I'd have to so some more checking to be sure. The P800 controller does have 2 internal ports, so you should be able to cable 8 drives to one internal port, and 8 drives to the second internal port giving you 16 drives on one controller.

[Neal Bowman]

As others have stated, you will have to use 2 separate controllers. Even though the P800 has two internal connections, each connection can only manage 4 SAS/SATA drives.

The older ML570G4 server had an internal multiplexer device on each drive cage that shared one or two ports on the P400 controllers. Too bad HP didn't bring over this feature since they decided to retire the ML570 line.

[Neal Bowman]

one other option is to install the P800 controller and connect an external chassis (MSA50-10 drives in 1U or MSA70-25 drives in 2U). Don't install the additional internal drive bay.

Neal