LSI MegaRAID™ 9580-8i8e PCIe 4.0 Tri-Mode RAID Adapter

The MegaRAID 9580-8i8e Raid Storage Adapter is based on the SAS3916 high-port count PCIe 4.0 x8 RAID-on-Chip (RoC), and delivers twice the performance of previous generations.

The 9580-8i8e is compatible with existing PCIe SFF-8639 Module (U.2) backplanes, allowing users to boost performance for today’s ever increasing bandwidth environments. Coupled with two industry initiatives expanding the deployment of Tri-Mode SerDes technology, the 9580-8i8e is instrumental in getting the most performance and flexibility out of U.3 backplanes:

• SFF-TA-10001 Specification (U.3), which defines a common bay type for SAS, SATA and NVMe
• Universal Backplane Management (UBM), which defines a common backplane control and management framework

With Tri-Mode SerDes technology, the MegaRAID 9580-8i8e can operate in all three modes concurrently, serving NVMe, SAS or SATA drives. The adapter negotiates between speeds and protocols to seamlessly work with any of the three types of storage devices. Tri-Mode support provides a non-disruptive way to evolve existing data center infrastructure.

General Information

Data center, cloud, and high-performance computing environments not only require large amounts of storage capacity, but must also provide the data protection, flexibility, and performance that today’s applications and end users demand. The MegaRAID™ 9500 Series of 12Gb/s SAS/SATA/PCIe (NVMe) Gen 4.0 Tri-Mode Storage Adapters, with 16 and 8 ports, address these needs by delivering more performance and offering RAID data protection for a range of high-end server storage applications.

Based on the Broadcom SAS3916 and SAS3908 eight-lane host PCIe to SAS/SATA/PCIe RAID on Chip (RoC) controller, these 9500 series MegaRAID adapters are the first RAID adapters to offer both PCIe Gen 4.0 host and PCIe Gen 4.0 storage interfaces. PCIe Gen 4.0 enables these adapters for high bandwidth by delivering twice the bandwidth and 75% more IOPs.

Applications:

Key RAID Features:

Tri-Mode SerDes Technology

The Broadcom Tri-Mode SerDes technology enables operation of NVMe, SAS, or SATA storage devices in a single drive bay. A single adapter can operate in all three modes concurrently servicing NVMe, SAS, or SATA drives. The adapter negotiates between speeds and protocols to seamlessly work with any of the three types of storage devices. Tri-Mode support provides a nondisruptive way to evolve existing data center infrastructure. By upgrading to a Tri-Mode adapter, users can expand beyond SAS/SATA and use NVMe without major changes to other system configurations. The 9500 series adapters are compatible with existing PCI Express SFF-8639 Module (U.2) backplanes, allowing users to boost performance for today’s ever increasing bandwidth requirements.

As next-generation systems expand the adoption of Tri-Mode SerDes technology through implementation of the SFF-TA-1001 and SFF-TA-1005 standards, the 9500 series adapters allow users to get the most performance and flexibility. The SFF-TA-1001 specification commonly known as U.3 defines a common bay type and connector for SAS (x1, x2, x4), SATA, and NVMe (x1, x2, x4) devices. The creation of the U.3 standard gives unprecedented flexibility to system OEMs and data centers that want to support the latest storage technologies at the lowest cost and system complexity. With a single 9500 series adapter, system implementers can take full advantage of SAS, SATA, and x1, x2, and x4 NVMe drives in a U.3 based backplane.

Control and management of multiprotocol (SAS/SATA/NVMe) backplanes has been loosely defined in previous generations of products. Recognizing this, Broadcom worked with key industry members to introduce Universal Backplane Management (UBM) or SFF-TA-1005. UBM builds upon current management frameworks to provide a comprehensive approach to managing SAS, SATA, and NVMe. The 9500 series adapters are UBM ready, and customers can immediately integrate these adapters into their U.3 backplanes utilizing UBM.

Hardware Secure Boot Security

The onboard controller incorporates advanced security through hardware secure boot. The hardware secure boot feature permits only authenticated firmware to execute on the adapter. The controller’s Internal Boot ROM establishes an initial Root of Trust (RoT). Hardware secure boot authenticates and builds a Chain of Trust (CoT) with succeeding firmware images using the RoT, meaning only authorized firmware is executed on the adapter. Broadcom provides the signed firmware images, making the use of hardware secure boot transparent to customers, while providing confidence in the security of the solution.

Additional Information:

Download the Manufacturer Product Brief

Download the Manufacturer Data Sheet

Download the Manufacturer User Guide

The LSI MegaRAID 9580-8i8e is Tested and Supported by these Operating Systems:

• CentOS Linux
• Citrix XenServer
• Debian Linux
• Fedora
• FreeBSD
• Oracle Enterprise Linux
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SuSE Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• VMware vSphere / ESXi
• Windows
• Windows Server

• 1x Intel® X550-T2 Dual 10Gb RJ45 PCI-E x4 Network Interface Card, P/N: X550T2BLK
• 1x Standard Profile Bracket Adapter (Preinstalled)
• 1x Low Profile Bracket Adapter