Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9280-8e
External JBOD storage with advanced data protection capabilities

Overview:

Next-Generation SATA+SAS RAID for External Enclosures

Today’s newest external enclosure designs are based on architectures that support both SATA and SAS drives. The MegaRAID SAS 9280-8e and 9280DE-8e, with eight external SATA+SAS ports, are ideal for configuring these external enclosures with your choice of high-performance SAS hard drives, high-capacity SATA hard drives or power-saving solid state drives (SSDs). With data transfer rates of up to 6Gb/s per port, the MegaRAID SAS 9280-8e and 9280DE-8e bring users new features and improved performance, while continuing to support all the features of the previous 3Gb/s SATA+SAS generation. These feature line controllers employ the latest in RAID-on- Chip technology, comply with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and provide additional data security using SafeStore encryption services.

6Gb/s SAS Performance Advantage

6Gb/s SAS is designed for backward compatibility with 3Gb/s SAS as well as with 6Gb/s and 3Gb/s SATA hard drives. Regardless of the drive speed, 6Gb/s MegaRAID controllers will deliver significant performance improvements in both read and write applications as compared to their 3Gb/s predecessors. Other new features to the 6Gb/s MegaRAID SATA+SAS controllers include greater signal integrity using Decision Feedback Equalization, support for more sophisticated SAS topologies using Expander Self-discovery/ Self-configuration, and additional safeguards to enhance data protection.

SafeStore Encryption Services

Broadcom is pleased to offer SafeStore encryption services, which offer instant secure erase and local key management* for self-encrypting drives (SEDs). This technology represents a significant step forward in securing a drive’s data from any unauthorized access or modification resulting from theft, loss, or repurposing of drives. Instant secure erase cryptographically erases an SED, whether it is 73GB or 1TB, in less than a second. This allows for secure drive returns or reuse. SafeStore local key management provides the necessary management and protection of SEDs using a simple pass phrase, security key identifier, and security key file, which can be set and applied to all SEDs assigned to a MegaRAID adapter. This removes the complexity of managing each SED’s unique encryption key, and essentially relieves the administrator from most of the daily tasks of securing data.

Intuitive RAID Management Utility

The MegaRAID Management Suite™ provides the essential software tools to efficiently manage MegaRAID products, whether deployed in an enterprise or small business. Broadcom offers a collection of applications and tools including a pre-boot setup utility and a full spectrum of online RAID management utilities. This suite of applications allow administrators to adjust SAS topology views from the system host, controller and disk enclosure down to the logical and physical drive level. Extending to enterprise deployments, these tools scale to easily configure, monitor and manage RAID volumes locally or over the LAN network.