IBM
IBM M5210Product ServeRAID 12Gb/s SAS/SATA switch module
12 Gb/s SAS controller with PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface and two SFF-8643 ports
- Electrical Outlet Plug TypeSAS Controller
- 12Gb/s SAS throughput speeds data movement
- PCI Express 3.0 x8 host link removes bottlenecks
- Dual SFF-8643 ports connect up to eight drives
- Hardware RAID offloads parity work from the CPU
- Plug-in card form factor fits standard server slots
ServeRAID M5210 12Gb/s SAS/SATA controller
The IBM ServeRAID M5210 is a 12Gb/s SAS/SATA controller designed for servers that need to connect internal drives through a PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot. It suits administrators who manage RAID arrays on SAS or SATA storage.
Plug-in card with two SFF-8643 connectors
The card uses a plug-in form factor and provides two SFF-8643 ports for direct attachment of drive backplanes or cables. Each port supports 12Gb/s SAS and Serial ATA links, so mixed drive types can share the same controller.
Upgrades from earlier 6Gb/s SAS RAID cards
Moving to this 12Gb/s controller doubles the per-lane bandwidth available to each attached drive compared with 6Gb/s SAS RAID cards. The jump is worth it when newer SSDs or HDDs would otherwise be limited by the older controller interface.
Highlights
- 12Gb/s SAS throughput speeds data movement
- PCI Express 3.0 x8 host link removes bottlenecks
- Dual SFF-8643 ports connect up to eight drives
- Hardware RAID offloads parity work from the CPU
- Plug-in card form factor fits standard server slots
Specifications
| Brand | IBM |
|---|---|
| Electrical Outlet Plug Type | SAS Controller |
Questions about this item
What host interface does the ServeRAID M5210 use and what does the PCI Express 3.0 x8 link cap in practice?
The ServeRAID M5210 connects via a PCI Express 3.0 x8 host interface, which caps the controller's host bandwidth at the x8 lane limit while the SAS side runs at 12Gb/s per port.
What physical slot and bracket does the ServeRAID M5210 plug-in card need to fit in the server?
The ServeRAID M5210 is a plug-in card that requires a PCI Express x8 or wider slot and ships with a full-height bracket for standard server chassis.
How is the ServeRAID M5210 installed and which step involving the SFF-8643 connectors is often missed?
Install the card into a PCI Express x8 slot, then attach Mini-SAS HD cables to the two SFF-8643 ports; the step often missed is securing the cable latches so the 12Gb/s links stay reliable.
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