SAS and SATA

[Red Squirrel]

Just for fun I was looking at Dell and IBM servers, like the real rack mount ones. Most if all have SAS as their storage arrays. Is SAS compatible with SATA or is it something different? I've read that it is compatible but it was very misleading.

I usually build my own servers but I've started to consider if I should just buy pre made that way it works out of the box, I'm not RMAing parts, I just plug it in and go. They're more pricy though, and I'd want to buy one with little to no hard drives (just lot of bays) and buy my own regular sata drives. Would this work?

As a comparison, here's one I was looking at:

http://configure.dell.com/dell...oc=PE2950III_BASIC_RBP

In the customize option it allows for sata as well as SAS drives, so my guess is they are compatible, unless the customize process automatically makes them change something so it works.

 

[MustISO]

That server comes with a SATA/SAS controller so you should be able to use either SAS or SATA drives. If the server uses some type of backplane make sure you can use a standard SATA drive and that it doesn't need a special type of connector. You'll probably need some drive sleds too.

 

[Red Squirrel]

oh ok so guess for backplane that would be more vendor specific. But good to know the interface would work. I'm not planning to buy one, but I've decided my next server will be a "real" one. Less trouble. So in that case I'd just contact dell support for more details. Or IBM, or whatever other company I would go with.

 

[XR250rdr]

SAS controllers can run SATA drives, but not vice versa.

Dell backplanes use the drive connector. I've yet to see a backplane that has an intermediate connector on the drive caddy.