Non-Intelligent Enclosures; Figure 40. Select Enclosure - Intel SRCU32 - RAID Controller User Manual

Today's modern subsystems are either using SAF-TE (SCSI Accessed Fault Tolerant Enclosures)
or SES (SCSI Enclosure Services) as communication links to the controller. These intelligent
subsystems are normally built on so-called backplanes, which host hard drives equipped with SCA
(Single Connector Attachment) connectors. The backplane has dedicated electronics with
microprocessor and firmware which allows intelligent communication between the
subsystem/backplane and the Intel RAID Controller SRCU32. Through this channel the subsystem
can report its temperature and the power supply status to the Intel RAID Controller SRCU32. The
major objective of SAF-TE or SES is auto hot plug. In contrast to hot plug, auto hot plug allows a
defective drive to be simply removed from the subsystem and the replacement unit installed in its
place. Both the Intel RAID Controller SRCU32 and the subsystem control this process so that
problems on the SCSI/FC-AL bus are eliminated and the rebuilding of the missing data is initiated
automatically. No further user interaction is necessary.

Non-Intelligent Enclosures

Since SAF-TE or SES subsystems are expensive, Intel RAID Controller SRCU32 integrates
functionality which allows for the control of up to 16 non-intelligent enclosures with up to 15 hard
drives each, and provides for auto hot plug.
In the example in Figure 40 one subsystem is defined. The hard drives with their disk shuttles
could also be mounted directly into the server enclosure. The term enclosure in this case is a
definition set, which includes all hard drives which should be auto hot pluggable.
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Figure 40. Select Enclosure

Intel RAID Controller SRCU32 User's Guide