PERC H730

SAS-SATA Controller - PERC H730

The PERC H730 is a highly reliable SAS-SATA controller designed to meet the storage demands of modern data centers. Known for its superior performance and scalability, the PERC H730 offers flexible options for connecting SAS and SATA drives. This controller is an essential part of high-performance storage systems and ensures that your data remains safe, secure, and easily accessible at all times.

Overview of PERC H730 Controller

The PERC H730 is an advanced RAID controller from Dell, primarily designed for large-scale enterprise storage environments. It provides robust support for both SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA (Serial ATA) drives, ensuring that businesses can take advantage of high-speed data transfer rates and the flexibility to choose the most suitable storage solution for their needs. The PERC H730 controller supports a wide range of RAID configurations, making it a versatile choice for different data storage applications.

Key Features of the PERC H730 Controller

• Dual-Ports for Enhanced Performance: The PERC H730 features dual-port SAS 12Gbps support, providing faster data access speeds, which is crucial for enterprise-grade applications that demand high throughput.
• Advanced RAID Support: This controller supports RAID levels from 0 to 60, ensuring that users can choose the configuration that best matches their data redundancy and performance requirements.
• Data Protection: With advanced RAID features, the PERC H730 ensures the integrity and security of stored data, making it an ideal solution for mission-critical environments.
• High Scalability: The PERC H730 offers support for up to 240 drives, providing enterprises with the flexibility to scale their storage as needed without facing limitations.
• Battery-Backed Write Cache: With a battery-backed cache module, the controller provides enhanced performance and data integrity, even in the event of a power failure.

Compatibility with Various Storage Drives

The PERC H730 is fully compatible with both SAS and SATA hard drives, as well as SSDs (Solid State Drives), making it an ideal choice for users looking to implement a mix of different storage technologies in their systems. Whether you are looking for high-capacity HDDs for archival storage or fast SSDs for high-performance applications, the PERC H730 can support both, allowing you to optimize your system for performance or capacity as needed.

RAID Configuration and Management

One of the most notable features of the PERC H730 is its ability to handle complex RAID configurations. The PERC H730 supports multiple RAID levels, providing users with the flexibility to choose the configuration that aligns with their storage needs. Below are some of the key RAID levels supported by the controller:

Supported RAID Levels

• RAID 0 (Striping): This RAID level provides the best performance as it strips data across multiple drives. However, it does not offer any data redundancy, making it suitable for non-critical data or high-performance environments where speed is prioritized.
• RAID 1 (Mirroring): RAID 1 mirrors data across two drives, offering data redundancy in case of a drive failure. This configuration is ideal for environments that require data protection without sacrificing too much performance.
• RAID 5 (Striped with Parity): RAID 5 strikes a balance between performance and redundancy. It distributes data and parity across three or more drives, providing fault tolerance while maintaining good read/write speeds.
• RAID 6 (Double Parity): Similar to RAID 5, RAID 6 uses double parity and requires a minimum of four drives. It offers greater protection against data loss by tolerating two simultaneous drive failures.
• RAID 10 (1+0): RAID 10 combines the features of RAID 1 and RAID 0, providing both redundancy and high performance. It requires a minimum of four drives and is ideal for high-performance applications where data security is also a priority.
• RAID 50 and RAID 60: These hybrid RAID configurations combine the advantages of RAID 5/6 with RAID 0 for increased performance and data redundancy. They are ideal for users who require both high capacity and high throughput in enterprise environments.

RAID Management with OpenManage Storage Management

RAID management is simplified with the use of Dell’s OpenManage Storage Management software. This software provides an intuitive interface for configuring and monitoring the PERC H730 RAID controller. It allows administrators to easily manage arrays, check drive health, and configure settings remotely. This software is especially useful in large data center environments, where managing multiple systems can be challenging.

Performance Optimization

The PERC H730 is built to deliver exceptional performance for demanding workloads. By leveraging SAS 12Gbps and the advanced RAID features, this controller ensures that your storage system can handle high I/O demands with minimal latency. Below are some ways the PERC H730 optimizes performance:

Cache Management

Cache management is a critical component in improving the performance of storage systems. The PERC H730 comes equipped with an optional 2GB or 4GB battery-backed write cache that ensures fast data writes while maintaining data integrity in case of unexpected power loss. This feature significantly improves write performance, especially in environments with heavy write workloads.

Write-Back Cache vs. Write-Through Cache

The PERC H730 supports both write-back and write-through caching, which can be configured based on the needs of your application. Write-back cache improves write performance by temporarily storing data in the cache before committing it to disk, while write-through cache ensures that data is written to disk immediately for improved data integrity.

Drive Compatibility and Optimization

The PERC H730 is compatible with a wide variety of SAS and SATA drives, including both hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). By utilizing the latest drive technologies, the controller is able to take full advantage of the performance benefits offered by newer SSDs, such as faster read/write speeds and lower latency. This compatibility also ensures that users can mix and match drives based on their needs, balancing capacity and performance.

Integration with Dell PowerEdge Servers

The PERC H730 controller is designed to integrate seamlessly with Dell PowerEdge servers, making it the ideal choice for users already using or planning to use Dell hardware. Dell PowerEdge servers are known for their reliability and scalability, and the PERC H730 enhances these capabilities by providing flexible, high-performance storage options.

PowerEdge Server Models Compatible with PERC H730

• PowerEdge R630: A 1U rack server that delivers high performance and scalability for various workloads, perfectly suited for the PERC H730.
• PowerEdge R740: A 2U rack server offering expanded storage capacity and processing power, compatible with the PERC H730 for enhanced storage management.
• PowerEdge T640: A tower server that combines flexibility with scalability, and works seamlessly with the PERC H730 for advanced storage configurations.

Optimized for Data Center Environments

In large-scale data center environments, the PERC H730 ensures optimal performance by enabling smooth integration with other Dell products and technologies. By managing your storage efficiently with the PERC H730 controller, you can ensure that your data infrastructure is capable of supporting high-demand applications without compromise.

Why Choose PERC H730?

The PERC H730 controller stands out for its combination of performance, scalability, and reliability. Whether you're building a high-performance storage system or expanding your existing infrastructure, the PERC H730 provides the flexibility to scale your storage needs effectively. Its support for both SAS and SATA drives, advanced RAID configurations, and seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers makes it an excellent choice for enterprise-level storage solutions.