SmartRAID 3162 FAQs
Overview
» How is the Microsemi Adaptec SmartRAID 3162 different from the other 31xx adapters?» What is the performance of the the SmartRAID 3162?
» What RAID levels does the SmartRAID 3162 support?
» What operating systems are supported?
» What management utilities are included with the SmartRAID 3162?
» How compatible is the SmartRAID 3162 family?
» What is the warranty period on the SmartRAID 3162 RAID Adapter Family?
» What applications are ideal for the 3162?
» How does the SmartRAID 3162 compare with competitive offerings?
» Do customers need different cables for the mini SAS HD connectors?
» When and where are these products available?
Cache Protection
» Why do IT managers need to protect adapter cache?» What is Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP)?
» How is 6th generation Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection an improvement for IT managers?
» Is the ZMCP feature offered on competitors' products?
MaxCrypto
» What is maxCrypto?» How does maxCrypto work?
» How does maxCrypto prevent data lost?
» What are the benefits of maxCrypto?
How is the Microsemi Adaptec SmartRAID 3162 different from the 310xx adapters?
The 12 Gbps SmartRAID 3162 Series is also built upon the unified Smart Storage stack that utilizes the industry's lowest-power 28nm SmartROC SAS/SATA protocol controller. The 3162 adapters offer 8 SAS/SATA ports with the industry’s only onboard capacitor module form factor that fits into a PCIe slot and optimizes the airflow for operation with only 150 LFM. The onboard cache backup circuitry and flash memory integrates the ZMCP power source (capacitor module) in the adapter to enable instant cache protection without the need to find space to mount the supercap elsewhere in the system.
The 3162-8i /e also includes maxCrypto encryption, our new controller based encryption (CBE) which provides an encryption storage solution, now a security required in many key market verticals such as Health Care, Financial, E-Commerce, Government, Insurance, and Defense.
What is the performance of SmartRAID 3162?
The SmartRAID 3162 can achieve 1.5M IOPS. In addition, maxCache 4.0 SSD caching accelerates HDD-based RAID arrays and logical drives, advancing the performance capabilities for a broader set of application workloads. SmartRAID 3162 adapters support read- and write-back caching. By caching writes to a redundant SSD cache pool, maxCache 4.0 leverages the performance and latency capabilities of SSD technology for both read and write workloads. Read performance is also improved by caching frequently accessed data on the SSD tier with additional optimizations through the learned-path algorithm, which leverages the aggregate performance of all available storage devices.
What RAID levels do the SmartRAID 3162 products support?
The SmartRAID 3162 RAID adapters supports standard RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60, 1 ADM, and 10 ADM. It also features “Mixed Mode” support for simultaneous use of RAID and HBA devices with no comporomise in performance for those drives configured for HBA mode.
What operating systems are supported?
Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux, Fedora, Debian Linux, Ubuntu Linux, Sun Solaris, FreeBSD, VMware ESXi. The latest drivers are available at storage.microsemi.com/en-us/support/. Supports open-source Linux drivers and inbox drivers.
What management utilities are included with the SmartRAID 3162?
Microsemi Adaptec maxView Storage Manager is a one-view utility which centralizes management. This new standards web-based utility enables remote RAID management, monitoring, and configuration through secure, encrypted communication and easily integrates with third-party clients via SMI-S.
maxView Storage Manager • Web-based GUI management utility • OS support: Windows, Linux, Solaris VMware • Remote configuration, monitoring, and notification • Remote firmware updates • SMI-S support • SMTP |
ARCCONF • Command-line interface • SMI-S support for VMware Event Monitor • Lightweight event monitoring and logging tool • Distributes adapter events and notifies user |
ROM-Based uEFI BIOS Configuration Utilities • HII-based pre-boot GUI configuration utility • Arcconf CLI for uEFI shell • Flashable BIOS support |
How compatible is the SmartRAID 3162 family?
The SmartRAID 3162 adapters are tested and supported on all the major vendors' motherboard, enclosures, and disk drives. Please visit our website at https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/storage/4055-compatibility for a list of tested components.
What is the warranty period on the SmartRAID 3162 RAID adapter Family?
The SmartRAID 3162 RAID adapters have been extensively tested with third-party systems to deliver the utmost in compatibility, now and in the future. Each is backed by a 3-year warranty and Adaptec industry-leading technical support.
What applications are ideal for the 3162?
The 12 Gbps SmartRAID 3162 adapters are ideal for enabling 12 Gbps storage capabilities in performance-hungry server and workstation platforms, without compromising proven Microsemi reliability. In addition, coupled with 12 Gbps SSDs, provide maximum read/write bandwidth and IOPS as well as acceleration and latency optimization through caching for the most performance-hungry transactional and database applications.
How does the SmartRAID 3162 compare with competitive offerings?
The SmartRAID 3162 boasts all of the competitive benefits of the SmartHBA 2100. In addition, the SmartRAID 3162 adapters boast the industry’s lowest power RAID adapters, starting as low as 11 W, integrated zero maintenance cache protection (ZMCP), maxCache 4.0 for read- and write-back caching from an SSD pool for HDD acceleration, and several unique RAID features like Advanced Data Management (ADM, or triple mirroring).
Do customers need different cables for the mini SAS HD connectors?
No, Microsemi Adaptec provides a full-range of prequalified, high-quality SAS HD Cables and SAS cables.
When and where are these products available? Products are available now through Microsemi Authorized Retail partners. For a distributor/reseller near you, please visit https://www.microsemi.com/salescontacts.
Cache Protection
Why do IT managers need to protect adapter cache?
Adapter cache should always be protected whenever write caching is enabled to guard against loss of data stored in the cache if system power goes out. Enabling the adapters write cache offers benefits in performance – especially RAID 5 and RAID 6 performance – and extends the duration and cost savings of Microsemi Adaptec's Intelligent Power Management by storing data rather than writing it to a spun-down drive.
What is Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP)?
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection is a revolutionary advancement that solves Lithium Ion BBU deficiencies by providing full protection to cached data with no installation, monitoring, maintenance, or replacement costs. It utilizes flash memory and super-cap technology to deliver an advanced and superior adapter cache protection solution. The super-cap charges while your system boots offering backup protection immediately, while flash memory dedicated to protecting the data in adapter cache offers continued protection that never needs to be monitored or replaced after installation. Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection removes the hardware maintenance associated with other battery based adapter cache backup solutions.
How is 6th Generation Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection an improvement for IT managers who are currently using a previous module to protect adapter cache?
The Microsemi Adaptec 5th generation Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP) solution maintains the same cache protection benefits as its predecessor (the Series 8 RAID adapters with the AFM 700), but now the circuitry and the NAND flash memory is integrated on all SmartRAID 315x adapters and each adapter ships with the ASCM-35F super capacitor (note that ZMCP it is not available for the SmartRAID 310X models) The SmartRAID adapters support larger cache sizes (2 GB and 4 GB) in this generation. Despite this, the ASCM-35F super capacitor fits into a low-profile MD2 PCIe slot. A mounting plate that ships with the RAID adapter that can hold up to two adapters' super capacitor modules.
The SmartRAID 3162 adapters include onboard cache backup circuitry, flash memory, AND the super capacitor mounted onto the adapter itself to enable instant cache protection without the need to find space to mount the supercap elsewhere in the system. This is the 6th generation of ZMCP technology from Microsemi. The onboard capacitor module form factor fits into a PCIe slot and optimizes the airflow for operation with only 150 LFM. As with prior generations it supports a five-year lifetime and is continuously monitored by the smart firmware to ensure the data can be safely backed up to the flash memory on the SmartRAID adapter.
Is the ZMCP feature offered on competitors' products?
Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection is an industry-first solution offered by Microsemi Adaptec and is the result of conquering several technical hurdles in design and validation. We deliver the most innovative and impactful technological advances to our customers, emphasizing performance, efficiency, and value. SmartRAID 3162 extends all three of these criteria, and is essential to ensure your data is protected.
MaxCrypto
What is maxCrypto?
MaxCrypto is controller based encryption (CBE): The controller silicon (I/O Controller or RAID on Chip silicon) supports encryption in hardware.
The User provides master key that is stored on the adapter (Crypto NVSRAM). Encryption is enabled through tools (Offline Tools, GUI, CLI) on the adapter, on a per volume bases (authenticated users can elect to not encrypt a volume if privilege is given).
Existing data can be encrypted without host interruption.
After installation of maxCryto key all data is encrypted in real-time before stored on either HDDs or SSDs. If the maxCrypto device is destroyed or removed, data on the drives become unreadable.
How does maxCrypto prevent data lost?
In case of an adapter failure, only the matching master key needs to be re-entered on replacement.
What are the benefits of MaxCrypto?
Secure data contained on any supported Media encrypting all data from Adapter Host Interface down to media. MaxCrypto is based on the storage adapter, remains independent of drive suppliers, models of drive, or drive firmware revisions. MaxCrypto has flexible deployment using internal /external, appliances, SAS, SATA, HDD, or SSDs.
Other benefits include low cost Set-it and Forget It Deployment, deploying encryption once using “low” touch adapter configuration. There is also no impact on common storage operational tasks, and supports replacement of adapters and servers while retaining data. Limited access control allows for greater security and lower operational costs. And finally, secure replacement parts can be preconfigured for ease of service (servers, adapters)