LSI SAS3442X-R SAS/SATA HBA Card and an external enclosure.

There are many Sun Systems that only have two drive bays, so expanding internally really isn't an option. However, if you are willing to think outside the box, you have more options.

I found a SAS/SATA card by LSI that supports Solaris SPARC. It has internal and external connectors. It is not cheap. The cheapest I have found was about 212. I believe it is the 8-port version (SAS1068) of the adapter that is built in to the T2000. (SAS1064)

Right now, I am thinking about getting that card and an external SATA enclosure which will hold around 4 drives. SATA drives are relatively cheap, so a workable solution would be to get a pair and mirror them.

BTW, I am a probably upgrading to a Sun Blade 2000. It would be kind of pointless to spend more on storage than a Blade 100 is worth.

http://www.lsilogic.com/storage_home/products_home/host_bus_adapters/sas_hbas/l sisas3442xr/index.html

[925 byte] By [s-wilsona] at [2007-11-26 14:18:57]
# 1
Didn't really understand your question, but I currently use the 3442 in my T2000 connected to a Dell(EMC) array. Works just fine.
Lee_McCreerya at 2007-7-8 2:09:48 > top of Java-index,Sun Hardware,Workstations - General Discussion...
# 2
It wasn't a question, but it was an option. The LSI card supports SPARC and SATA drives.It is the same type of card already used in the T2000, so it is not really surprising it works.
s-wilsona at 2007-7-8 2:09:48 > top of Java-index,Sun Hardware,Workstations - General Discussion...
# 3

This card is not an option on your Sun Blade 100 anyway - it's a 3.3V only card & is keyed so that it won't fit in the Sun Blade PCI slot. Ask me how I know :-)

The thing is that in the Sun Systems Handbook the PCI slots on the Sun Blade 100 and 150 are listed as 3.3v/5v and 32/64 bit. So, looking that the specs it seems like it is *supposed* to work. However, looking more closely at the docs, the PCI riser card FRU part description states "The PCI signaling is 5V, 32Bits, 33MHz".

If I knew that the signalling was both 3.3v and 5v I'd probably remove the PCI key. However, if it's really 5v I'd just likely destroy my LSI card :-S

I wanted very badly to get an external enclosure for some more storage on my 100 and it looks like I'm about out of options (firewire panics the kernel from time to time under heavy I/O). I'm thinking of finally dumping my SPARC gear and moving over to x86 out of frustration.. I would be SPARCless for the first time in 15 years.

jaherringa at 2007-7-8 2:09:48 > top of Java-index,Sun Hardware,Workstations - General Discussion...