Green IT Solutions
Overview
Faced with escalating energy costs and exploding data growth that needs to be transmitted, cached, stored, analyzed and archived, today's data centers require platforms and architectures that can minimize their footprint and reduce power consumption without sacrificing performance or connectivity.
Smart data center managers know that one of the most effective - and sometimes the most overlooked - methods for achieving highly efficient, high-density servers is to optimize the storage.
Microsemi Adaptec® Delivers Energy-Saving Performance
Microsemi has a history of technical innovation and a design philosophy that rewards simplicity by continuously eliminating overdesigned components and purposely defining features and functionality. This philosophy helps data centers reduce costs by optimizing their power, cooling, and cabling solutions in dense server environments as they evolve from traditional power-hungry big-box server units with limited internal storage to smaller, more efficient 1U and 2U servers with expandable external storage.
The Series 8Q RAID Adapters are a good example of our design philosophy with flash backup circuitry built into the adapter (no need for daughter board) for maximum efficiency and a best-in-class Green IT solution.
The unified Smart Storage Platform is further revolutionizing power management by integrating flash backup onto all 315x RAID adapters and using high-port RAID and HBA adapters to reduce the need for multiple expanders and cards.
Microsemi Customers Benefit From:
- Lower Watts Per Port:
For example, a SmartHBA 2100 Series Host Bus Adapter with 8 native SAS/SATA ports compared to a typical 8 port adapter:
- Typical 8 port PCIe Gen3 LP HBA = 10 W of power.
- SmartHBA Series 2100-8i PCIe Gen3 LP HBA = 8.5 W of power
- ~1.5 W Power savings enabled per adapter
A second example, a SmartRAID 315x Series RAID adapter with 8 native SAS/SATA ports compared to a typical 8 port adapter:
- Typical 8 port PCIe Gen3 LP RAID Adapter = 16 W of power.
- SmartRAID Series 315x-8i PCIe Gen3 LP RAID Adapter= 10.3 W of power
- ~6 W Power savings enabled per adapter
- Full utilization of PCIe Gen3 bandwidth: Smart storage RAID and HBA adapters saturate the PCIe Gen3 interface to maximize performance.
- Low profile MD2 form factor: Microsemi offers more low-profile high port count RAID adapters and HBAs than any other manufacturer. The low-profile form factor is ideal for increasingly-dense server environments, and promotes better airflow and more efficient cooling than full-height adapters without compromising performance.
- Connectors: Microsemi was first to market with mini-SAS HD connectors on 6Gbps adapters as well as top-mounted connectors, coupled with cables with right-angle and straight connectors. Smaller than traditional connectors, mini-SAS HD connectors enable adapter designs of up to 24 ports in a LP/MD2 form factor, making optimal use of PCIe slots for maximum connectivity and optimal airflow in dense server environments.
- Flash-based cache protection: Series 3100 and Series 8 adapters with Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP) protect cached data without disposable lithium ion-powered battery backup units. Each new generation of AFM module has been designed to minimize the number of components for maximum efficiency.
- maxCache: Available with the SmartRAID 315x Series and Series 8Q, maxCache reduces latency and improves application performance by storing frequently-read data in an SSD cache, reducing usage of hard disk drives and the energy needed to spin them.
Leading by Example
Our commitment to the responsible use of environmental resources doesn't stop with product performance and features. Microsemi's corporate culture is fully dedicated to keeping our carbon footprint small throughout our offices, where we encourage employees to adopt eco-friendly habits, and also in our facilities where we utilize socially- and environmentally-conscious manufacturing materials and techniques.
Microsemi products are manufactured in accordance with strict government environmental regulations, including RoHS, which reduces the uses of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, which dictates the safe use of certain chemicals.