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Smart Array 5i controller - retired


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Smart Array 5i Controller

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The embedded Smart Array 5i Controller is an intelligent array controller for entry-level, hardware-based fault tolerance for protection of OS, applications, and logs. Dual Ultra3 SCSI channels (one internal and one external) allow you to support all Ultra2 and/or Ultra3 SCSI internal hard disk drives as well as support up to 14 Ultra2 and/or Ultra3 SCSI external hard disk drives using the StorageWorks Enclosure 4300 Family. The Smart Array 5i controller provides one of the most cost-effective alternatives to software-based RAID in the market today. Designed and integrated with Compaq ProLiant DL380 G2 server, the Smart Array 5i controller provides worry-free data protection for all server internal storage needs (optional upgrade for the ProLiant ML370 G2 server).

 
  product overview
 
» key benefits
» ideal environment
» quickspecs
» model comparison

  key benefits

The Smart Array Family Advantage - The Compaq Smart Array family brings an unparalleled return on investment lowering the total cost of ownership of ProLiant servers, through ease of use and higher availability features.

Compaq's Smart Array Controller Advantage
Compaq's innovative design and integration work of the Smart Array family of products creates customer value that is unmatched in the industry. Use of Smart Array products across multiple applications results in a much lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than any other server storage RAID products. The Compaq Smart Array family brings an unparalleled return on investment through ease of use and higher availability features.

  • Ease of Use -Smart Array controllers increase customer value generation after generation with data consistency and upgradeability.
  • Data Compatibility - among all models of Smart Array Controllers means customers can instantly upgrade their Smart Array products to get to higher performance, capacity and availability. Unlike competitive products, successive generations of Smart Array products understand the data format of other Smart Array controllers, providing investment protection for your Compaq storage solution.
    • Note: You cannot upgrade from the Integrated Smart Array Controller to the Smart Array 5i Controller because the Integrated Smart Array Controller is embedded on the system board and cannot be removed. However, any hard drives on the Integrated Smart Array Controller can be moved to another server that has the Smart Array 5i Controller and that data would be seamlessly recognized
  • GUI based configuration, management and diagnostic software tools
  • Data migration between servers and external storage enclosures
  • Consistent Configuration and Management Tools - across the entire family of Smart Array controllers minimizes Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by reducing training requirements and technical expertise necessary to install and maintain the Compaq server storage.
  • Availability - Smart Array controller's availability features lowers the ProLiant servers total cost of ownership with increased server uptime by providing advanced storage functionality through:
  • Online RAID Level Migration (between any RAID level)
  • Online Capacity Expansion
  • Logical Drive Capacity Extension
  • Universal Hard Drive - form factor is for use across multiple Compaq servers, disk enclosures and storage systems. With compatibility across many enterprise platforms, you are free to deploy and re-deploy these drives to quickly deliver increased storage capacity, migrate data between systems, and easily manage spare drives.
  • Pre-Failure Warranty means Compaq Insight Manager not only reports when a drive is going to fail but allows replacement of failing drives prior to actual failure. For complete details, consult the Compaq Support Center or refer to your Compaq Server documentation.
  • Fault Prevention features offer detection of possible failures before they occur, allowing preventive action to be taken:
    • S.M.A.R.T.: Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology first developed at Compaq detects possible hard disk failure before it occurs, allowing replacement of the component before failure occurs.
    • Drive Parameter Tracking monitors drive operational parameters, predicting failure and notifying the administrator.
    • Dynamic Sector Repairing continually performs background surface scans on the hard disk drives during inactive periods and automatically remaps bad sectors, ensuring data integrity.
    • Environment Tracking for External Storage System monitors
  • Fault Recovery - minimizes downtime, reconstructs data, and facilitates a quick recovery from drive failure
    • Recovery ROM: This new feature provides a unique redundancy feature that protects from a ROM image corruption. A new version of firmware can be flashed to the ROM while the controller maintains the last known working version of firmware. If the firmware becomes corrupt, the controller will revert back to the previous version of firmware and continue operating. This reduces the risk of flashing firmware to the controller.
    • On-Line Spares: Up to two spare drives can be installed prior to drive failure. If a failure occurs, recovery begins with an On-Line Spare and data is reconstructed automatically.
      • Note: On-Line Spares can only be used with RAID level 1, 1+0, and 5.


  ideal environment
The Smart Array 5i Controller offers excellent investment protection for ProLiant DL380 G2 and ProLiant ML370 G2 customers in the following environments:

Non-RAID: Current storage operations where, until now, there has not been a perceived need for data protection, security, or performance gains.

Software RAID: Current storage operations using software RAID where growing data storage requirements demand the robustness, efficiency, and performance increases available with entry-level hardware RAID

Problems and Requirements

  • Entry-level hardware-based RAID fault tolerance
  • Investment protection in legacy Ultra2 hard disk drives

Typical Use

  • Dual Ultra3 SCSI channels allow for the user to use the one internal SCSI channel for the OS, applications and logs on the internal hard disk drives and the one external SCSI channel for small database storage using the StorageWorks Enclosure 4300.
  • Consistent with Compaq's LVD strategy, the Smart Array 5i Controller can be used to mix and match Ultra2 and Ultra3 devices on the same Ultra3 SCSI bus. When Ultra2 devices and Ultra3 devices are found on the same Ultra3 SCSI bus, each Ultra2 device will transfer data up to 80 MB/s, while each Ultra3 device will transfer data up to 160 MB/s.
 
quickspecs
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model comparison
 
Smart Array 5i Plus Smart Array 5i Integrated Smart Array
Data Compatible with all Smart Array Controllers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Instant Upgrades to other Smart Array Controllers
Yes
 Yes
Yes
Consistent Software Management Tools 1
Yes
Yes
Yes
PCI Bus
32-bit, 33 MHz
32-bit, 33 MHz
32-bit, 33 MHz
PCI Peak Data Transfer Rate
133MB/s
133MB/s
133MB/s
SCSI Protocol Support
Ultra3, Ultra2, Wide-Ultra
Ultra3, Ultra2, Wide-Ultra
Ultra2, Wide-Ultra
SCSI Peak Data Transfer Rate
160MB/s per channel
160MB/s per channel
80MB/s 3
Channels
2
2
13
SCSI Ports (External/Internal)
1/1
1/1
0/13
Drives Supported (Max)
212
212
4
Cache
64 MB of DRAM used for code, transfer buffers, and non-battery backed read cache
32 MB of DRAM used for code, transfer buffers, and non-battery backed read cache
16 MB of DRAM used for code, transfer buffers, and non-battery backed read cache
RAID Support
0, 1, 0+1, 5
 0, 1, 0+1, 5
 0, 1, 0+1, 5
Online Spare Support
 Yes
Yes
 Yes
Battery Connector for BBWC Enabler
 Yes
No5
 No

Note 1: Upgrading from the Integrated Smart Array to the Smart Array 5i is not supported.
Note 2: Drives Supported (maximum) is based on use of Compaq StorageWorks Enclosure 4300 family (14 hard disk drive enclosure).
Note 3: For ProLiant servers having TWO internal drive bays on separate SCSI ports: SCSI Peak Data Transfer Rate is 160MB/s total; 80MB/s per channel and Channels is 2.
Note 4: Maximum is the total number of internal drives on each specific ProLiant server.
Note 5: The DL 360 G2 server is the only server which has a battery connector for the optional upgrade, the BBWC Enabler, for the Smart Array 5i controller.



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