PMC launches industry’s first true hardware 6Gb/s SATA/SAS RAID with on-board DRAM cache for entry-level market segment

SUNNYVALE, USA: PMC-Sierra Inc. has announced the industry’s first true hardware 6Gb/s SATA/SAS RAID controllers with on-board DRAM cache for the entry-level market segment.

The Adaptec by PMC family of Series 6E RAID controllers enables HBA and hardware RAID functionality in an affordable single card. Based on PMC’s industry-proven PM8013 SRC 6Gb/s RAID-on-Chip (RoC) and ARC RAID stack, the entry-level Series 6 four-port 6405E and eight-port 6805E controllers also leverage compatible GUI and management utility tools featured with all Adaptec RAID controllers.

“Having shipped more than 74 million 6Gb/s SAS ports across controllers and expanders, our partners will benefit from the performance and reliability of an industry-proven RAID Series 6E entry-level solution,” said Jared Peters, VP and GM, PMC’s Channel Storage Division. “The Series 6E outperforms software-based HBAs and SATA controllers and is the first true hardware 6Gb/s SATA/SAS RAID controller with on-board DRAM cache for the entry-level market segment with this capability.”

The Series 6E controllers significantly accelerate performance, in particular spinning media, and overcome the limitations of software-only entry-level RAID and hardware RAID without DRAM caching by offering HBA and hardware RAID functionality with caching in a single card.

The Adaptec RAID 6405E is a four-port, LP/MD2 form factor optimized for maximum host connectivity with its PCIe x1 host interface that fits into any workstation, industrial PC or entry server platform. The Adaptec RAID 6805E is an eight-port, LP/MD2 form factor with bandwidth optimized PCIe x4 host connectivity for higher throughput. Both products use PMC’s proven PM8013 SRC 6Gb/s RoC, SAS 2.0, PCIe 2.0 and 128 MB DDR2-800 memory.

The Series 6E controllers use the same RAID stack, drivers and tools as other members of the Series 6 family and allow customers to deploy an entry-level solution with the same enterprise-class management features and full operating system support with minimal additional effort for integration, training and validation.

Series 6E controllers have been qualified with the full ecosystem supported by all Series 6 RAID controllers, with additional focus on storage devices and motherboards for workstation use, entry server platforms and industrial PCs. All Series 6 products support “green” alternatives by offering technology innovations, such as Intelligent Power Management and streamlined product package sleeves, which help reduce waste created by excessive product packaging.

Series 6E RAID controllers are available now at authorized Adaptec by PMC distributors and channel partners in singles and kits. The suggested retail pricing for the Adaptec RAID 6405E and Adaptec RAID 6805E ranges from $200 to $275.