SAS9380-8I8E Broadcom MEGARAID SAS PCI-E Raid Card

Overview of Broadcom MegaRAID Enterprise-Class Controller  

The Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9380-8i8e RAID controller is engineered to support modern data centers, cloud platforms, web hosting infrastructures, and high-performance computing environments. It is designed to manage growing storage footprints while maintaining consistent throughput, fault tolerance, and operational reliability. By combining advanced RAID processing with high-speed SAS and SATA connectivity, this controller delivers a balanced foundation for performance-driven and capacity-oriented server deployments.

Main Specification

• Manufacturer: Broadcom
• Part Number: SAS9380-8I8E 
• Product Type: RAID Controller 

Designed for Demanding Workloads

• Optimized for data-intensive and transactional environments
• Supports virtualization, databases, analytics, and cloud services
• Built to handle sustained throughput and concurrent access

Port and Connector Configuration

• 8 internal SAS ports via Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643 connectors
• 8 external SAS ports via Mini-SAS HD SFF-8644 connectors
• 12Gb/s bandwidth per port for fast data transfers

Supported RAID Configurations

• RAID 0 for maximum performance
• RAID 1 and RAID 10 for mirrored data protection
• RAID 5 and RAID 50 for balanced performance and redundancy
• RAID 6 and RAID 60 for enhanced fault tolerance

Benefits of PCIe 3.0 Integration

• Higher data transfer rates compared to previous PCIe generations
• Improved responsiveness for latency-sensitive workloads
• Enhanced compatibility with current server platforms

CacheVault Technology

• Preserves cached data during power loss events
• Improves write performance while maintaining data integrity
• Reduces risk of data corruption in enterprise environments

Management Software Options

• LSA (LSI Storage Authority) for graphical management
• MegaRAID Storage Manager for centralized control
• StorCLI command-line interface for scripting and automation
• Ctrl-R BIOS utility and UEFI HII support for pre-boot configuration

Compatibility  

• Microsoft Windows Server editions
• Linux distributions including Red Hat, SUSE, Oracle, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu
• VMware virtualization platforms
• FreeBSD, Solaris, and Citrix environments

Physical and Electrical Characteristics

• Form factor dimensions: 6.600 x 2.712 inches
• Operating voltage: +3.3V and +12V
• Maximum ambient operating temperature: 55°C

Outline of Enterprise-Class RAID Controller Architecture  

The Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E MegaRAID SAS Dual Core RAID Controller represents a high-performance storage management category engineered for enterprise data centers, professional server environments, and advanced storage infrastructures. This category focuses on intelligent RAID controllers designed to handle mixed workloads, large-scale data volumes, and mission-critical applications where consistency, throughput, and data protection are essential. Built around a dual-core processing architecture, this class of controller is designed to offload complex RAID calculations from the host CPU, ensuring predictable system performance even under sustained I/O pressure.

At the core of this category is a design approach that emphasizes hardware-based RAID acceleration, deep command queues, and intelligent caching mechanisms. The Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E family integrates advanced firmware logic with purpose-built silicon to deliver reliable parity calculations, rapid rebuild operations, and low-latency access paths. This category is particularly suited for environments where storage performance must remain stable during peak activity, such as virtualization clusters, database servers, and transactional platforms.

Dual Core Processing and Intelligent Offload Capabilities

The defining characteristic of this RAID controller category is the inclusion of a dual-core processing engine that operates independently from the host system. This architecture allows the controller to manage RAID operations, queue management, and error handling without consuming server CPU resources. By delegating these tasks to the controller, system-level performance remains consistent, enabling processors to focus on application workloads rather than storage management overhead.

Dual-core processing also enhances multitasking efficiency within the storage subsystem. Concurrent read and write operations, background consistency checks, and rebuild processes can execute simultaneously without creating performance bottlenecks. This capability is essential in enterprise environments where downtime or degraded performance during maintenance tasks is unacceptable.

Hardware-Based RAID Acceleration

Hardware-based RAID acceleration is a foundational element of this category. Unlike software RAID implementations that rely on system resources, the Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E class leverages dedicated processing logic to perform parity calculations and data striping operations. This approach reduces latency, improves throughput, and ensures predictable performance across diverse workloads.

By utilizing on-board processing and cache memory, these controllers can manage complex RAID levels with efficiency. This is particularly valuable in configurations where multiple RAID arrays coexist, each serving different applications or departments within a data center.

Optimized Command Queuing and Load Balancing

Advanced command queuing mechanisms are integrated into this category to handle high volumes of simultaneous I/O requests. The controller intelligently prioritizes and balances workloads across available channels, ensuring that no single interface becomes a performance choke point. This optimization is critical in environments with mixed read and write workloads, where latency sensitivity varies between applications.

Connectivity Options and Flexible Storage Topologies

The Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E MegaRAID SAS Dual Core RAID Controller category is defined by its versatile connectivity options, combining internal and external SAS interfaces to support a wide range of storage topologies. This flexibility allows organizations to design scalable storage architectures that adapt to evolving capacity and performance requirements.

By supporting both internal and external connections, this category enables seamless integration with direct-attached storage, external enclosures, and expansion shelves. This adaptability is essential for enterprises seeking to future-proof their infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with existing hardware investments.

Internal and External SAS Integration

Controllers in this category are designed to manage both internal server drive bays and external storage enclosures from a single interface. This unified approach simplifies storage management and reduces the need for multiple controllers or adapters. It also allows administrators to consolidate storage resources while maintaining high levels of performance and reliability.

The ability to connect external enclosures supports scalable storage expansion, enabling organizations to increase capacity without replacing core server components. This design philosophy aligns with modern data center strategies that prioritize modular growth and efficient resource utilization.

High-Speed Data Path Optimization

Optimized data paths ensure that high-speed SAS links operate at their full potential. The category emphasizes signal integrity, efficient lane aggregation, and minimal protocol overhead to deliver consistent throughput across all connected devices. This optimization is particularly important for environments that rely on high-performance solid-state drives alongside traditional hard disk drives.

Support for Mixed Drive Environments

Storage infrastructures increasingly rely on a combination of drive technologies to balance performance and cost. This category supports mixed environments where solid-state drives and mechanical drives coexist within the same system. Intelligent firmware logic ensures that each drive type is utilized effectively, enabling tiered storage strategies and optimized data placement.

Advanced RAID Levels and Data Protection Strategies

The Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E RAID controller category is built around comprehensive support for advanced RAID levels that address both performance and data protection requirements. These RAID configurations are implemented through robust firmware algorithms that ensure data integrity even under adverse conditions.

Enterprise environments demand storage solutions that can tolerate hardware failures without data loss. This category delivers that resilience through intelligent redundancy schemes, rapid rebuild capabilities, and proactive error detection mechanisms.

Parity-Based and Mirrored RAID Configurations

This category supports a wide range of parity-based and mirrored RAID configurations designed to meet different operational needs. Parity-based configurations provide efficient use of storage capacity while maintaining fault tolerance, making them suitable for large datasets and archival systems. Mirrored configurations prioritize performance and redundancy, ensuring immediate data availability in the event of a drive failure.

The controller’s firmware dynamically manages parity calculations and mirror synchronization, minimizing performance impact during normal operation and maintenance activities.

Fast Rebuild and Recovery Processes

One of the critical strengths of this category is its ability to perform fast rebuild operations. When a drive failure occurs, the controller initiates a rebuild process that restores redundancy with minimal disruption to ongoing workloads. Advanced algorithms prioritize active data regions, reducing the window of vulnerability and improving overall system resilience.

Proactive Error Detection and Correction

Continuous monitoring of drive health and data integrity is a key aspect of this category. The controller actively scans for inconsistencies, corrects errors where possible, and alerts administrators to potential issues before they escalate into critical failures. This proactive approach reduces unplanned downtime and enhances long-term reliability.

Caching Technologies and Performance Optimization

Caching plays a central role in the performance profile of the Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E MegaRAID SAS Dual Core RAID Controller category. By utilizing intelligent caching strategies, these controllers significantly reduce latency and improve throughput for both read and write operations.

The category emphasizes adaptive cache management, allowing the controller to respond dynamically to changing workload patterns. This ensures optimal performance across a wide range of applications, from transactional databases to large-scale file services.

Write-Back and Write-Through Cache Modes

Flexible cache modes allow administrators to tailor performance and data protection characteristics to specific workloads. Write-back caching accelerates write operations by temporarily storing data in cache memory before committing it to disk, while write-through caching prioritizes data integrity by ensuring immediate disk writes.

The controller intelligently manages these modes to balance speed and safety, adapting to environmental conditions and application requirements.

Read Cache Optimization for High Throughput

Read cache optimization techniques are employed to minimize disk access latency and maximize throughput. Frequently accessed data is retained in cache memory, allowing subsequent requests to be served quickly without additional disk operations. This is particularly beneficial for read-intensive workloads and applications with repetitive access patterns.

Cache Protection and Data Integrity Assurance

Cache protection mechanisms ensure that data stored in cache is preserved in the event of power interruptions or system failures. This category integrates safeguards that maintain cache integrity, preventing data loss and ensuring consistent recovery after unexpected events.

Enterprise Reliability and Long-Term Stability

Reliability is a defining attribute of the Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E RAID controller category. These controllers are engineered for continuous operation in demanding environments, where stability and predictability are essential for business continuity.

Extensive validation and testing processes underpin this category, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of server platforms, operating systems, and storage devices. This commitment to reliability makes the category suitable for long-term deployments in mission-critical systems.

Thermal Management and Power Efficiency

Effective thermal management is integral to maintaining consistent performance and extending component lifespan. This category incorporates efficient power usage and heat dissipation strategies that support sustained operation under heavy workloads. Optimized power profiles contribute to overall data center efficiency without compromising performance.

Compatibility with Enterprise Operating Systems

Broad compatibility with enterprise operating systems and virtualization platforms ensures seamless integration into existing infrastructures. This category is designed to work reliably across diverse environments, simplifying deployment and reducing administrative complexity.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Broadcom SAS9380-8I8E MegaRAID SAS Dual Core RAID Controller category is well-suited for a broad range of deployment scenarios. Its combination of performance, scalability, and reliability makes it an ideal choice for enterprises seeking to optimize storage efficiency and protect critical data assets.

From centralized data centers to distributed enterprise environments, this category supports diverse operational models and evolving storage strategies.

Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure

Virtualized environments demand consistent I/O performance and rapid response times. This category delivers the necessary storage reliability and throughput to support virtual machines, containers, and cloud-based workloads without compromising scalability or resilience.

Database and Transactional Systems

High-performance databases benefit from the low-latency access and intelligent caching features of this category. Transactional systems that require rapid read and write operations can rely on the controller’s hardware acceleration to maintain responsiveness under heavy load.

File Services and Data Repositories

Large file services and data repositories require efficient storage management and robust data protection. This category provides the necessary tools to manage large volumes of data while ensuring integrity, availability, and consistent performance over time.