[NTLUG:Discuss] High end PCIe storage/RAID adapters

[Chris Cox]

This is a new thread spinning off of the request from
David Simmons about "Fastest Access for moving
large (video) files"

Bryan J. Smith wrote:
...
> 
> SAS isn't going to be as expensive as people think.  Once the
> cards come out with the Broadcom BCM8603 IC (only $60 in
> quantity), you're going to have a wealth of PCI-X and PCIe
> (the IC does both) controllers that do both SAS and SATA for
> only several hundred bucks.
> 
> Especially for solving the darth of PCIe storage controllers
> right now.
> 
> 

I'm figuring there are some problem in SAS-land.  The
new Sun line of servers was due out already... I think
something has held them back... I'm wondering if there's
some kind of problem with the LSI chipset or with
the 2.5" drives... not sure.

Tunneling SATA in SAS is theoretically possible, but
I don't think there's an available implementation.
Again, I think they're still working out some kinks.

I was not aware of Broadcom's entry into SAS space.
Could be interesting.

My next home workstation would ideall have 2xdual core
Opterons and an all PCIe board (someday).  I haven't
seen anything great on the PCIe end with regards to
good high end RAID controllers though...

I'm going to make this a new thread and see what
others may have seen/heard.