| General |
| Q1. |
What is the maximum RAID volume that can be configured with the Smart Array 6400 Controller? |
| A1. |
The Smart Array 6400 controller has been enhanced to provide support of up to 2 TB RAID volumes under some operating systems including Windows 2000. It is possible to configure a 2-channel controller with a maximum of twenty-eight 146 GB hard disk drives for a total of 4TB of storage. |
| |
| Q2. |
What is the primary problem solved by Recovery ROM? |
| A2. |
The Smart Array 6400 controller has been enhanced to provide support of up to 2 TB RAID volumes under some operating systems including Windows 2000. It is possible to configure a 2-channel controller with a maximum of 28 hard disk drives for a total of 4TB of storage (28×146 GB) and a 4-channel controller with a maximum of 56 hard disk drives for a total of 8TB of storage (28×146 GB). |
| |
| Q3. |
How is this problem addressed with Recovery ROM? |
| A3. |
Recovery ROM provides a unique redundancy feature that helps ensure against controller availability. During the flash process, a new version of the 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 last known version of firmware and continue operating. This reduces the risk of flashing new firmware to the controller.
|
| |
| Q4. |
Which tape drives are supported by the Smart Array 6400 Controller? |
| A4. |
The SA-6400 supports HP Universal Hot-plug Tape drives.
|
| |
| Q5. |
Is online capacity extension supported? |
| A5. |
Yes. The Smart Array 6400 Controller it includes online capacity extension. |
| |
| Q6. |
What RAID levels are supported by the Smart Array 6400? |
| A6. |
The SA-6400 supports RAID 0, 1, 1+0, 5 and ADG (Advanced Data Guarding).
|
| |
| Q7. |
What cache size options are available for the Smart Array 6400 controller? |
| A7. |
There are 2 cache sizes available-128MB and 256MB. The SA-6402 model features 128 MB and the SA-6404 model features 256MB standard. In addition, customers who purchase a SA-6400 controller will be able to upgrade to 256 MB of cache with an option kit available through HP's standard channels. |
| |
| Ideal customers |
| Q1. |
Why should ProLiant customers consider a Smart Array controller? |
| A1. |
An array controller offers two primary benefits: 1) fault protection of data; and 2) increased system performance. Specifically, a Smart Array controller provides real-time data recovery when a hard drive fails, increasing system uptime and network availability while protecting against loss of data. In addition, multiple drives working together also increases system performance. The level of fault tolerance and performance is dependent upon the features and hardware components of each RAID controller. |
| |
| Q2. |
Where does the Smart Array 6400 controller fit in the HP family of array controllers? |
| A2. |
The Smart Array 6400 is the latest, high performance Smart Array controller, designed to replace both the SA-5300 & 5312, providing maximum SCSI performance for ProLiant servers. |
| |
| Technical questions - performance/bandwidth |
| Q1. |
What architecture enhancements have been made to increase performance of the Smart Array 6400 controller? |
| A1. |
There are several significant performance enhancements that were made to the architecture of the SA-6400 controller.
- Support for Ultra320
- New hardware RAID engine
- Support for133MHz PCI-X that is capable of two times the throughput of the standard 66MHz PCI bus
- New Double Data Rate battery backed write cache design
- Dual processor and RAID engine support on the SA-6404
|
| |
| Q2. |
Where will customers see the most significant performance improvements over previous Smart Array Controllers? |
| A2. |
Customers will see the most significant performance increases in servers designed to take advantage of Ultra320 SCSI interface and the increased bandwidth available with PCI-X. Although performance may vary based upon server configuration, application, workload and other variables, HP has been able to produce a significant performance increase over previous controllers. |
| |
| Technical questions - cache/memory |
| Q1. |
Does the Smart Array 6400 have battery-backed cache? |
| A1. |
Yes. The Smart Array 6400 has an innovative implementation of battery-backed cache. 1) In the event of a controller failure or server failure, the Smart Array cache can be removed from the SA-6400 controller and placed on another SA-6400 controller board; the cached data will be flushed to the disk drives. 2) The cache batteries provide up to 4 days of battery life. 3) In addition, this unique design offers redundant and replaceable battery packs for increased data protection and better serviceability. |
| |
| Q2. |
Does 256 MB cache module replace my existing controller cache module? |
| A2. |
Yes. The Smart Array 6400 Controller offers one socket which holds a 128 MB or 256 MB cache module. To upgrade from 128MB cache, that cache module must be removed and replaced with the 256 MB cache module. |
| |
| Q3. |
Can the new 256 MB cache be used on a Smart Array 5300 series controller? |
| A3. |
No. The Smart Array 6400 utilizes double data rate memory (DDRRAM). The SA-5300 series uses single data rate memory (SDRAM). |
| |
| Q4. |
Will the SA-6400 support standard server DIMM memory? |
| A4. |
No. The controller DIMM socket is not designed to accommodate standard DIMM memory because standard server memory DIMM does not support battery backed up and does not meet fault tolerant standards for a RAID controller. |
| |
| Q5. |
What kind of performance difference will I see from different cache sizes? |
| A5. |
Many industry standard benchmark tests do not show appreciable differences between 128 and 256 MB of controller cache because they place a maximum workload on the controller and quickly saturate the cache, not allowing it an opportunity to flush. Because the benchmarks do not vary their workloads, allowing the cache to flush during low load periods, it is difficult to measure the performance impact of various cache sizes. HP is currently working to create benchmarks that demonstrate the performance impact of cache. |
| |
| Q6. |
Why is HP offering multiple cache sizes? |
| A6. |
HP is responding to customer request for higher and lower cache sizes: 128 and 256 MB cache. Because not all computing environments will see performance benefits from higher amount of controller cache, we offer a 128 MB cache module that offers a large amount of cache on a high performance controller at a low cost. For customers with computing environments that will benefit from increased cache, we now offer 256 MB of cache. |
| |
| Technical questions |
| Q1. |
Can other Smart Array controllers be easily upgraded to the Smart Array 6400? |
| A1. |
Yes, this is the Smart Array Advantage! Upon reaching the limitation of the SMART-2SL, SMART-2DH, SA221, SA3200, SA4200, SA431, SA532 or the SA5300, customers can easily replace them with the SA-6400 to increase data performance, data availability and data capacity. Just upgrade the drivers, shut down the server, replace the old controller with the new controller, and the new array controller will seamlessly recognize the disk drives, RAID configuration and data. It's that simple. Please refer to the server compatibility table for support information. |
| |
| Q2. |
How many disk drives will the Smart Array 6400 support? |
| A2. |
Up to 14 drives per channel - for a total of 28 on the SA-6402 and 56 on the SA-6404. This is based upon utilizing the StorageWorks Enclosure 4214 or 4314 that supports 14 disk drives per enclosure. |
| |
| Q3. |
Will the Smart Array 6400 support both internal and external disk drives at the same time? |
| A3. |
Yes. The SA-6400 controller has two internal and up to four external SCSI connectors to support both internal and external drives. Two of the channels share an internal and external connector. For the shared SCSI channels, you can choose to use the internal connector or external connector, but you cannot use the same internal and external channels at the same time. |
| |
| Q4. |
What is the maximum number of channels that can be spanned by a single RAID volume with the Smart Array 6400 Controller? |
| A4. |
A RAID volume can be configured across a maximum of two channels on the Smart Array 6400. RAID volumes on the SA-6402 are able to span channels 1 and 2. RAID volumes on the SA-6404 are able to span channels 1 and 2 or channels 3 and 4. |
| |
| Q5. |
Which SCSI channels on the Smart Array 6400 can be configured with boot volumes? |
| A5. |
A boot volume can be configured on channel 1 or 2, using either the internal or external ports. Boot volumes cannot be assigned to channel 3 or 4. |
| |
| Q6. |
Which servers will the Smart Array 6400 support? |
| A6. |
Please refer to the server compatibility table for support information. |
| |
| Q7. |
Which operating systems will the Smart Array 6400 support? |
| A7. |
SA-6400 will support several operating systems including: Windows 2000, Novell NetWare, and Linux. Please refer to OS support for a complete list. |
| |
| Q8. |
Which SCSI disk drives does the Smart Array 6400 controller support? |
| A8. |
The SA-6400 supports HP hot-plug and non-hot-plug Ultra320, Ultra3 and Ultra2 disk drives. |
| |
| Q9. |
Which disk drive enclosures does the Smart Array 6400 controller support? |
| A9. |
The SA-6400 supports the StorageWorks Enclosure 4314, 4354, 4214, and 4254. |
| |
| Q10. |
What connectors are on the Smart Array 6400 controller? |
| A10. |
The SA-6400 controller uses Very High Density Cable Interconnects (VHDCI) for the external SCSI buses and high density 68-pin connector for internal SCSI buses. The same connectors found on the StorageWorks Enclosure 4214 and 4314. |
| |
| Q11. |
Are the Ultra320, Ultra3 and Ultra2 Hard Disk Drives compatible? |
| A11. |
Yes. HP Ultra320 technology will be backward compatible to Ultra3 and Ultra2 interface technologies. Ultra320 will plug & play with previous generations of technology for one of the industry's strongest investment protection stories. When mixing Ultra320 and Ultra3 or Ultra2 drives, the drives in the box will operate at the lowest common denominator of the controller or the backplane. |
| |
| Q12. |
What is LVD? |
| A12. |
Low-Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI is an electrical platform for SCSI protocols. Ultra2 was the first protocol to reside on a LVD platform, followed by Ultra3 and now Ultra320. The LVD electrical platform enables Ultra2 and Ultra3 protocols to reach the higher bandwidths that previous SCSI protocols could not achieve on the single-ended electrical platform. |
| |
| Technical questions - software |
| Q1. |
Does the Smart Array 6400 controller use the same configuration utilities and management software as the other Smart Array controllers? |
| A1. |
Yes, this is the Smart Array Advantage. All Smart Array controllers use the same configuration utility (ACU) diagnostic (ADU) and management software (HP Insight Manager) as the entire Smart Array family of products. In addition, the SA-6400 also provides Options ROM Configuration for Arrays (ORCA) that allows a simplified configuration tool at the time of controller boot. |
| |
| Q2. |
How can I obtain driver support for my Smart Array 6400 controller? |
| A2. |
Device drivers are provided with the support software shipped with the Smart Array controller. In addition, you can also find drivers on SmartStart CD version 6.3 or later and drivers will also be available from www.hp.com. |
Printable version
