PERC H700

SAS-SATA Controller - PERC H700

Overview

The SAS-SATA Controller, such as the PERC H700, plays a critical role in managing storage devices within a server or data center environment. These controllers provide an interface between storage drives (SAS, SATA, or SSD) and the server's motherboard. They enable high-speed data transfer, manage RAID arrays, and ensure reliability and performance for demanding applications.

Understanding the Importance of the PERC H700 Controller

The PERC H700 is a high-performance SAS-SATA RAID controller from Dell, designed to provide fast, reliable, and scalable storage solutions. This controller supports both SAS and SATA hard drives, offering flexibility in storage configurations. The PERC H700 is ideal for organizations seeking to maximize storage efficiency while maintaining high availability and redundancy in mission-critical environments.

Key Features

RAID Support and Data Protection

The PERC H700 supports a variety of RAID levels, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, and 60. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) provides fault tolerance and improved data access speeds by combining multiple physical disks into a single logical unit. The controller ensures that your data is protected from drive failure while optimizing storage performance. RAID levels such as RAID 5 offer data redundancy without sacrificing storage capacity, while RAID 10 provides excellent redundancy and performance for high-demand applications.

Advanced RAID Management with PERC H700

The PERC H700 controller offers advanced RAID management features through its integrated management tools. Administrators can monitor disk health, configure RAID arrays, and perform other management tasks using the Dell OpenManage Storage Management (OMSM) software. This provides real-time visibility into system performance and simplifies the process of managing multiple storage devices and arrays within a server.

Scalability and Expansion

Scalability is a crucial factor in modern data centers. The PERC H700 supports up to 32 physical devices (drives) in a single RAID array, making it suitable for large-scale deployments. For further expansion, the controller includes support for external storage enclosures, allowing for seamless growth of your storage infrastructure. With this flexibility, organizations can start with smaller storage configurations and scale as their data requirements increase.

Compatibility with SAS and SATA Drives

The PERC H700 is designed to support both SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA (Serial ATA) drives, giving users the flexibility to choose the right drive type for their needs. SAS drives offer higher performance, reliability, and scalability, while SATA drives are typically more affordable and provide adequate performance for less demanding tasks. This compatibility enables organizations to mix and match drive types to create cost-effective storage solutions that meet their specific requirements.

Performance and Reliability

Data Throughput and Speed

The PERC H700 controller delivers high-speed data throughput to meet the performance demands of modern applications. It supports a data transfer rate of up to 6Gb/s per port, ensuring fast data read/write operations for both SAS and SATA drives. Whether running database applications, virtualization workloads, or large-scale file storage, the PERC H700 provides consistent performance to ensure optimal system operation.

Intelligent Caching for Enhanced Performance

The PERC H700 includes built-in cache memory to improve read and write performance. This intelligent caching mechanism allows frequently accessed data to be stored in faster memory, reducing the time required to retrieve that data. By offloading some of the data transfer tasks to the cache, the controller enhances overall system efficiency and minimizes latency during high-demand operations.

Data Integrity and Protection

Reliability and data integrity are paramount in storage environments, particularly in mission-critical systems. The PERC H700 controller incorporates several features designed to protect your data. These include power-loss protection, which safeguards against data corruption during unexpected power outages, and write-back cache protection, which ensures that data is safely written to disk in case of a system failure.

Configuration of PERC H700

Dell Servers

Installing the PERC H700 controller in a Dell PowerEdge server is a straightforward process. The controller is designed to be compatible with various Dell server models, ensuring easy installation without the need for complex configuration. Once installed, the controller can be accessed and configured through the BIOS or using the Dell OpenManage software.

Configuring RAID Arrays

Configuring RAID arrays with the PERC H700 is a simple process that can be done either during system startup or through the Dell OpenManage interface. Administrators can easily set up RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, or other configurations depending on their storage needs. The intuitive interface provides clear guidance and options for creating, expanding, or rebuilding arrays, making it easier for users to optimize their storage setup.

Advanced Configuration Options

The PERC H700 controller also supports advanced configuration options, such as disk groups, hot-spare drives, and cache settings. These features provide added flexibility in managing storage resources and can be customized to meet the specific needs of the organization. Hot-spare drives, for example, can automatically replace failed drives in a RAID array, ensuring continued operation without manual intervention.

Compatibility with Storage Enclosures and Expansions

External Storage Enclosures

The PERC H700 is compatible with various external storage enclosures, allowing users to expand their storage capacity without adding additional servers. These enclosures can house multiple SAS and SATA drives and can be connected to the PERC H700 controller for seamless integration. Whether you are looking to add more storage for a growing business or create a high-density storage solution for data centers, external enclosures offer the scalability and flexibility required to meet your needs.

Scalability in Large-Scale Deployments

For large-scale deployments, the PERC H700 controller's support for external storage enclosures is invaluable. This capability allows organizations to add storage capacity without the need for significant infrastructure changes. Whether expanding for higher data volumes or adding redundancy, the PERC H700 can handle the demands of enterprise-level storage systems.