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Definition

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is the logical evolution of SCSI that satisfies the enterprise data center requirement for scalability, performance, reliability and manageability, while leveraging a common electrical and physical interface with Serial ATA (SATA). This compatibility provides users with unprecedented choices for server and storage subsystem deployment.

Serial Attached SCSI vs traditional SCSI

SAS was developed to address I/O and direct attach storage requirements that traditional SCSI cannot meet. It provides universal interconnect with SATA, while offering logical SCSI compatibility along with SCSI reliability, performance and manageability.

FAQ about Serial Attached SCSI

1. Why was Serial Attached SCSI developed?

SAS was developed to address I/O and direct attach storage requirements that traditional SCSI cannot meet. It provides universal interconnect with SATA, while offering logical SCSI compatibility along with SCSI reliability, performance and manageability.

2. How will Serial Attached SCSI benefit the storage industry?

SAS leverages the proven SCSI technologies that customers expect in data center environments, providing robust solutions and generational consistency. It is based on a serial interface, allowing for increased device support and bandwidth scalability, as well as reducing the overhead impact that challenges today's SCSI storage environments. It utilizes SATA development work on smaller cable connectors, providing customers a downstream compatibility with desktop class ATA technologies.

Simplified routing enables a new generation of dense devices such as small form factor (SFF) hard drives, permitting storage solutions to scale externally.

3. What are the end-user benefits of Serial Attached SCSI?

Key end-user benefits include enterprise class robustness, investment protection in compatible SCSI software and middleware and the choice of direct-attach storage devices (SAS or SATA) in a single SAS system. In addition, longer cabling distances, smaller form factors and greater addressability will lead to a new level of flexibility when deploying mainstream data-center servers and subsystems. SAS is based on the foundation of the industry-leading SCSI specification and as a result, reliability, familiarity and peace of mind will satisfy user's needs for continuity in the data center.

4. What are the estimated costs of Serial Attached SCSI solutions?

It is anticipated that SAS solutions will not exceed current SCSI pricing.

5. Are Serial Attached SCSI connectors compatible with those of SCSI server and storage solutions?

No, they are not compatible, as SAS connectors are much smaller than SCSI connectors.

6. Is Serial Attached SCSI complementary to Serial ATA?

SAS complements SATA by adding dual porting, full duplex and device addressing, plus it offers higher reliability, performance and data availability services, as well as logical SCSI compatibility. STA will continue to enhance these metrics as the specification evolves, including increased device support and longer cabling distances. SATA is targeted to cost-sensitive non-mission-critical desktop storage environments. Most importantly, SAS and SATA are complementary technologies based on a universal interconnect, where SAS customers can choose to deploy cost-effective SATA drives in a SAS storage environment.

7. Can I use Serial Attached SCSI hard drives in my Serial ATA workstation or desktop PC?

While not native, SAS hard drives can be used on SATA desktops and workstations by adding a host bus adapter.

Netstor's SAS Solution

Internal SAS JBOD Enclsoure / Backplane / RAID cage
NS160S

4-in-3 SAS Enclosure with 1*miniSAS connector

NS170S

5-n-3 SAS Enclosure with 10*7pin L-type connector

External SAS JBOD Enclosure / Chassis

NS750S / NS760S

Tower 4/ 8 Bay SAS JBOD with Multi-lane(SFF8470) connector

External 4 bay SAS/SATA Desktop Solution         External 8 Bay SAS/SATA Desktop Solution

NS370S / NA341A

1U 4-Bay / 2U 8-bay SAS JBOD Chassis with miniSAS(SFF-8088) connector

1U-4 bay SAS JBOD Solution      2U-8 bay SAS/SATA JBOD Solution  

SAS Accessories (Convert Kit / Adapter / Cable)
NA950C MultilaneX4 Adapter, Host
NA951C MultilaneX4 Adapter, Device
NS950S Single Internal/External mini SAS Adapter, Host
NS951S Single Internal/External mini SAS Adapter, Device
NS960S Dual Internal/External mini SAS Adapter, Host
NS961S Dual Internal/External mini SAS Adapter, Device
Optional
  Internal SAS Cables
AAMMMI-H Internal mini SAS cable, 0.5 meter
AAMMMI-1 Internal mini SAS cable, 1 meter
AAMFMI-H Internal SAS 32pin/mini SAS convert cable, 0.5 meter
AAMFMI-1  Internal SAS 32pin/mini SAS convert cable, 1 meter
AAMLMI-H  Internal Multilane LATCH/mini SAS convert cable, 0.5 meter
AAMLMI-1  Internal Multilane LATCH/mini SAS convert cable, 1 meter
  External SAS Cables
AAMSS1  External Multilane cable, SCREW Type, 1 meter
AAMSS2  External Multilane cable, SCREW Type, 2 meter
AAMSL1  External Multilane SCREW/LATCH convert cable, 1 meter
AAMSL2 External Multilane SCREW/LATCH convert cable, 2 meter
AAMSM1  External Multilane SCREW/mini SAS convert cable, 1 meter
AAMSM2  External Multilane SCREW/mini SAS convert cable, 2 meter
AAMMM1  External mini SAS cable, 1 meter
AAMMM2  External mini SAS cable, 2 meter
Compatibility List 

LSI/Netstor's Storage

SAS HBAs

SAS HBA graphic

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is a broadly supported industry standard that represents the evolution of SCSI beyond Ultra320.

  • LSISAS3041E-R
  • LSISAS3041X-R
  • LSISAS3442E-R
  • LSISAS3442X-R
  • LSISAS3800X
  • LSISAS3080X-R
  • LSISAS3801E
  • LSISAS3801X

LSI/Netstor Storage

MegaRAID SAS                           MegaRAID SAS

As the recognized leader in driving and developing storage interface standards and technologies, LSI is extending its leadership with SAS to the next generation of DAS for enterprise servers and high performance workstations.

  • MegaRAID SAS 8308ELP
  • MegaRAID SAS 8344ELP
  • MegaRAID SAS 8408E
  • MegaRAID SAS 8480E
  • MegaRAID SAS 8300XLP
  • MegaRAID SAS 8708ELP
  • MegaRAID SAS 8888ELP

Adaptec/Netstor Storage

Adaptec Serial Attached SCSI RAID 4805SAS

Adaptec Serial Attached SCSI RAID 4800SAS

Adaptec RAID 4000

Adaptec Serial Attached SCSI 58300