Which HBA would you choose?

[Allan_M]

Hi there

Simple question: For a 20 bay solution, based on (local) availability and price. Which would you choose?

• ~$42 - Dell PERC H200
• ~$45 - Dell PERC H310
• ~$60 - LSI SAS 9211-8i
• ~$70 - LSI MegaRAID SAS 9240-8i
• ~$70 - IBM 6Gb SAS Performance optimized HBA
• ~$70 - ServeRAID M1015
• ~$75 - Cisco UCSC RAID SAS 2008M-8i
• ~$85 - LSI SAS 9201-8i
• ~$85 - LSI SAS 9210-8i
• ~$110 - Fujitsu D2607
• ~$150 - Intel RAID Controller RS2WC080
• ~$320 - LSI SAS 9201-16i

Based on this thread: "Confused about that LSI card? Join the crowd ..." - I should go for the ones marked in bold. But the two Dell HBA's has piqued my interest. A quick search reveals some success using this HBA.

 

[BigDave]

9211-8i gets my vote, it's proven with a long track record and the ports face the front of the box making connections to disks
neat and tidy. Not to mention the superior fit in a 1U chassis.

 

[Ericloewe]

• ~$60 - LSI SAS 9211-8i

• ~$70 - LSI MegaRAID SAS 9240-8i

• ~$70 - IBM 6Gb SAS Performance optimized HBA

• ~$70 - ServeRAID M1015

Any of those will work nicely and be relatively easy to crossflash (not even needed on the 9211). Pick the one that fits your chassis best, since some have the ports facing out of the motherboard and others have them at the end of the controller card.

 

[Mlovelace]

LSI SAS 9211-8i

I've have 4 of these in production for over two years without issue.

 

[Mirfster]

If I was buying, Dell PERC H200.. cuz I have 4 of them and no issues. Plus I am cheap like that...

 

[SirMaster]

Dell PERC H200

IMO no reason to spend more as it uses the exact same IT firmware ROM as the H300, 9211-8i, and M1015.

 

[Allan_M]

If I was buying, Dell PERC H200.. cuz I have 4 of them and no issues. Plus I am cheap like that...

Dell PERC H200

IMO no reason to spend more as it uses the exact same IT firmware ROM as the H300, 9211-8i, and M1015.

I bought two 9211-8i's - why? Got them cheap. Perhaps too cheap, only time will tell.

I have a question though. Considering that the 9211-8i's are HBA's - would I need to flash them to IT-mode? If that's the case, then why are they labelled as HBA's and not RAID-controllers (like the 9260-8i)?

 

[Mirfster]

Possibly, I believe that they have an IR mode as well. Of course this is just me presuming...

 

[Mlovelace]

I bought two 9211-8i's - why? Got them cheap. Perhaps too cheap, only time will tell.

I have a question though. Considering that the 9211-8i's are HBA's - would I need to flash them to IT-mode? If that's the case, then why are they labelled as HBA's and not RAID-controllers (like the 9260-8i)?

In IR mode they support raid 0, 1, 1E and 10. IT mode is the HBA firmware.

 

[Allan_M]

Possibly, I believe that they have an IR mode as well. Of course this is just me presuming...

In IR mode they support raid 0, 1, 1E and 10. IT mode is the HBA firmware.

That's my understanding too - just don't get, why they are sold as HBA's when they are RAID-controllers as well.

 

[Mirfster]

That's my understanding too - just don't get, why they are sold as HBA's when they are RAID-controllers as well.

More than likely because they are limited in their RAID ability and don't have a cache or BBU.

 

[jgreco]

That's my understanding too - just don't get, why they are sold as HBA's when they are RAID-controllers as well.

Because the 9211 is a true HBA but the 9240 (M1015 and friends) is an entry level RAID controller that can be bludgeoned into 9211 mode.

 

[Stefan75]

My D2607 works fine after flashing it to P20 IT mode (9211-8i).
Currently have 12 SATA disks connected using a HP SAS expander.
Got it for about $35 :)