Lenovo TS440 70AQ000YUX - RAID card recommendation for passthrough

[karpodiem]

Hello,

Just purchased a Lenovo Server (E3-1225V3, max 32GB ECC memory, potential for 8x3.5 drives, assuming you get a 2nd backplate/cage) from TigerDirect - $300. Amazing deal - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9091972&sku=LQW-102507595

It's basically the ideal ZFS server on the cheap (I'll bump the memory up to 16GB to start), assuming I have the right hardware. May need to purchase a new power supply to support 8x3.5, along with a 24-pin to 14-in adapter - http://www.moddiy.com/products/IBM-Lenovo-PSU-Main-Power-24%2dPin-to-14%2dPin-Adapter-Cable-(30cm).html

Here's my question - I don't know much about backplanes. I read this thread - https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...-sas-sy-a-primer-on-basic-sas-and-sata.26145/

But while it does a good job going over the architecture of SAS (I've always owned SATA drives), I guess the takeaway from it is - it will 'just work' (famous last words) if you have the right hardware/connectors.

It looks like I will need a RAID card though to make this work, just to facilitate passthrough from the mini-SAS connectors.

Can anyone recommend a good RAID card for this purpose?

Would this work? - http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-M1015-S...211?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a48da5383

 

[depasseg]

Just to confirm, you got a TS440 with 8x3.5" hot swap drives, correct?

If so, it looks like the factory cabling can be swapped over to the M1015 (2 mini-sas cables and plugs).

Yes, the M1015 is the recommended card.

Page 33:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkservers/ts440_hmm.pdf

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips0740.html

 

[karpodiem]

Just to confirm, you got a TS440 with 8x3.5" hot swap drives, correct?

If so, it looks like the factory cabling can be swapped over to the M1015 (2 mini-sas cables and plugs).

Yes, the M1015 is the recommended card.

Page 33:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkservers/ts440_hmm.pdf

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips0740.html

Oops, yes. My first link was to the wrong URL. Fixed it, here is the link to the TigerDirect page - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9091972&sku=LQW-102507595

It only comes with 4x.3.5 backplane/cage, but a 2nd one can be added. I know this because the exact model number on the TigerDirect page (70AQ0009UX), upon Googling, yields an Amazon review for a person who bought this and went on eBay to acquire a 2nd cage/backplane - http://www.amazon.com/review/R1O0C6...-glance&nodeID=541966&store=pc#wasThisHelpful