modifying existing configuration to go to Supermicro SC847J SAS2 Chassis

[ricka777]

Good day,

I have an existing configuration running with12 disks. I tried creating a side-car from an old case running 12 more disks using esata, but daily I would get random errors that could be cleared, but returned randomly on different drives-presumably because of the esata connections. I ditched that idea and removed the side car. Additionally, the machine I have the 12 drives in is overloaded and running a bit hot.

I came across a SC847J 45 disk rackmount chassis, which I'd like to use. A PDF for it can be found here:

https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/chassis/4U/SC847J.pdf

It has 2 backplanes: BPN-SAS2-846EL1 (24 port) and BPN-SAS2-847EL1 (21 port )

My machine has a LSI SAS 9207-8i controller (and I have a second one I am not currently using). I currently use (2x) 4-to-1 SAS to SATA cables for 8 Ironwolf drives, and 4 of the on-board SATA for the remaining 4 drives. I'd like to hook up 24 drives.

Does anyone have any experience going from a regular case hosting your drives in an external chassis like this one? I'm not very knowledgeable about SAS, I don't understand if I can hook up my LSI card to the chassis backplane directly and communicate with all 24 drives, or if I need a different card, or if I need something Supermicro specific. Some confusion because all SAS cards I see generally are referred to as 4 or 8 port, leading me to believe they can only communicate with 4 drives per connector.

Any help greatly appreciated, I'd like to get my drives out of the oven I created for them.

- Rick

 

[Chris Moore]

Your SAS controller can handle hundreds of drive by way of SAS expander backplanes. You just need the right cabling and you can put all your drives in that rack chassis and connect the chassis to your SAS controller. No problem. I will look for some photos to add to this post to help clarify the connectivity for you.
I do this kind of thing for work. Very familiar.

 

[Chris Moore]

Click the images to see them larger

I came across a SC847J 45 disk rackmount chassis, which I'd like to use.

Like this?

Supermicro 4U 45-Bay Hard Drive Storage Chassis SAS2 SATA JBOD SC847E16-RJBOD | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Supermicro 4U 45-Bay Hard Drive Storage Chassis SAS2 SATA JBOD SC847E16-RJBOD at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

The eight "ports" on a SAS controller are more appropriately called "communication lanes" and can be directly attached to individual drives or to a SAS expander. The backplanes inside that rack chassis have integrated SAS expander chips that spread the communication between the connected drives in a similar way to what a network switch moves data packets between the ports. Each drive can communicate with the controller and the controller can talk to the drives.

On the back of that unit are these external SAS connectors:


You connect to those with a cable like this:

Dell W390D External SAS Cable PowerVault MD1200 ML6000 | eBay

Please click on 'See Full Description' to see all the pictures.

www.ebay.com

Many vendors have these cables in different lengths, just make sure the model of the connector.

This cable set will allow you to turn the internal SAS controller into an external one:

Supermicro (CBL-0168L-LP) SAS 216EL2 Backplane 2-Port Internal Cascading Cable 672042015702 | eBay

The Supermicro CBL-0168L-LP enables internal to external low profile cascading MiniSAS 2 ports connections for storage. This cable is compliant with T10 and SFF standard and is verified with Supermicro servers, AOC cards, and storage.

www.ebay.com

Alternatively, you can purchase a SAS controller that was made to be external to begin with:

LSI 9207-8e SAS HBA 6Gbps PCI-E 3.0 P20 IT mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID low profile | eBay

I have fully tested them using all 8 SAS lanes connecting both external SFF-8088 connectors. I've used ZFS for many years. I'm familiar with ZFS on Linux, FreeNAS, and many of the technologies commonly used by other enthusiasts.

www.ebay.com

Or this one:

LSI 9207-8e SAS HBA 6Gbps PCI-E 3.0 P20 IT mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID USA Seller | eBay

They have been flashed to Avago / LSI 9207-8e IT (Initiator Target) firmware version P20 (specifically 20.00.07.00). Not exactly the HBA / IT mode adapter you were looking for?. You will need a compatible external cable to connect these to your external JBOD chassis.

www.ebay.com

At work I have multiple external disk shelves attached to a single server. It is pretty easy as long as you follow the rules.
There is more documentation to be found on the internet, including in this forum, if you do some searching.
Here is an example: https://www.servethehome.com/external-sassata-disk-chassis-wiring-part-1/
Please ask if you have questions.
Better to ask than do it wrong.