IBM ESA3 PCIe2 1.8 GB Cache RAID SAS Adapter Power Systems

IBM ESA3 PCIe2 1.8 GB Cache RAID SAS Adapter is supported on the following IBM Power system models: 8286-41A, 8286-42A, 8202-E4B, 8202-E4C, 8202-E4D, 8205-E6B, 8205-E6C, 8205-E6D, 8231-E2C, 8231-E2D, 8233-E8B, 8247-21L, 8247-22L, 8284-22A, 8408-E8D, 9080-MHE, 9080-MME, 9109-RMD, 9117-MMB, 9117-MMC, 9117-MMD, 9119-MHE, 9119-MME, 9179-MHB, 9179-MHC, 9179-MHD

Two ESA3 adapters provide additional performance and adapter redundancy with mirrored write-cache data and mirrored RAID parity footprints between the adapters. If the FC ESA3 pairing is broken, the write cache is disabled. Integrated flash memory with capacitors protects the write cache during a power failure, without the need for batteries. To provide the highest bandwidth between two paired feature ESA3 adapters for the mirroring of cache data and parity update footprints, a SAS Adapter-to-Adapter (AA) cable is required by default on the third adapter port until maximum device quantity attachment is required. When all three connectors are attached to SAS drives, the communication between the adapter pair is performed through the SAS fabric via the I/O drawer and cables.

The IBM ESA3 is a single wide, full-height, short adapter. Every ESA3 requires another 6 Gbps SAS RAID adapter ESA3 on the server it is attached to, or on another server, which pairs with the SAS RAID adapter and enables the onboard caches to function. Systems that are running the AIX or Linux operating systems support either having both the ESA3 adapters in the same system or partition, or in two separate systems or partitions. IBM i Power Systems do not support the pairing of adapters on different servers or different partitions, so both ESA3 adapters must be installed in the same iSeries system or partition.

ESA3 Considerations:

If IBM SSDs are installed in one of the FC 5886 EXP12S drawers, then a second FC 5886 is not allowed to be attached (or cascaded) to the first FC 5886 on that port.

Supports a maximum of 72 hard disk drives or a maximum of 24 SSDs (depending on the type of enclosures attached), or a combination of both with specific placement rules for each enclosure.

If FC ESA3 is controlling drives that are installed in FC 5802 or FC 5803, then the AA cable is required on the top mini-SAS HD port of the adapter pair. Use a pair of FC 3689, 0.6 m AT SAS cables to connect the FC ESA3 adapter pair to the SAS connectors. An FC 5887 EXP24S or FC 5886 EXP12S can be attached to the other port on the FC ESA3 pair.

An AA SAS cable with HD connectors attached to the FC ESA3 pair provides a higher performance path for mirrored write-cache data and mirrored RAID parity footprints between the adapters and is required unless all three ports are being used to attach EXP24S or EXP12S I/O drawers.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are not allowed on the top port (T2).

Support of the SAS Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) and Serial Management Protocol (SMP).

Provides RAID 0, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10 with hot-spare capability. System level mirroring through the operating system is also supported. JBOD functionality (512 byte) is not supported except for the initial formatting to 528 bytes of new devices, as required.

A single pair of FC ESA3 adapters is not supported to attach to both halves of an FC 5887 EXP24S drawer that is configured in mode 2.

Double looping of the I/O enclosure system connection is suggested to enhance performance when more than four adapters are installed in either FC 5803 or FC 5873.

System Requirements:

IBM i V7R1: RS710-10 OS & Technology Refresh 7 (TR PTF Group SF99707 Level 7) with fix level C3298710
IBM i V6R1 with i 6.1.1 machine code: RS610-10 OS & RS611-M LIC with fix level C3312610
IBM i as a client of VIOS V7R1: RS710-10 OS & TR7 (TR PTF Group SF99707 Level 7) with VIOS 2.2.3.0 with fix level C3298710
IBM i as a client of VIOS V6R1 with i 6.1.1 machine code RS610-10 OS & RS611-M LIC with VIOS 2.2.3.0 with fix level C3312610