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Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

 
Paul_637
Regular Advisor

Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

I have a need to connect a 1760 SAS external drive (in a 1U rack-mount) to a DL380 G4.

Having searched the forums I found a thread stating the following:

"The HP supported option is the 347786-B21 PCI-X HBA which is an internal only HBA, then you have to use a special internal to external cable: AE468A"

So, I purchased these parts but the cable turns out to be a standard *external* cable rather than internal-to-external (despite every search for the part revealing a totally different picture of it which *looks* potentially internal-to-external!).

So, does such a lead actually exist?

Any pointers very much appreciated!
6 REPLIES 6
CLEB
Valued Contributor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

Sounds to me like you need a blanking plate with an embedded adapter port. So you can use an internal SAS cable to it, then use an normal SAS external cable.

I don't recall ever seeing this part on the HP site though.
Paul_637
Regular Advisor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

Sounds like a perfectly sensible solution but I've not seen anything remotely like that either...
CLEB
Valued Contributor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

You probably won't get the best from the 1760 drive using the DL380G4 as the PCI-X bus might not be able to keep up.

You really need a PCIe bus and HBA inorder to make sure the drive gets a constant stream of data.

If you have to keep the DL380G4 you might have to look at a 3rd part cable solution, like this http://www.tmcscsi.com/SASextint.shtml#SASCABLES
Paul_637
Regular Advisor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

Indeed. I'm actually investigating the option of shifting it to another server (by re-using a PCIe riser from another server) and have posted another question in the Proliant forum (about drivers) as another option.
CLEB
Valued Contributor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

I wouldn't expect that to work as the DL380G4 motherboard has a PCI-X chipset and not PCIe.

It may even damage the motherboard and/or expansion cards.
Paul_637
Regular Advisor

Re: Need PCI-X SAS external Tape connectivity solution but can't find right cable

I'm achieving it with the HP part specific to the job (354675-B21) so don't expect any problems other than getting drivers installed.