High Density SAS Cables From IBM

IBM Storage Technology Group offers new high-density SAS cables to support attachment of some 3580 LTO Ultrium tape drive models to POWER7 Systems with HD capabilities.

The following new IBM System Storage hardware features are available on IBM System Storage TS2250 (machine type 3580) Tape Drive Express Model H5S, the System Storage TS2260 (machine type 3580) Tape Drive Express Model H6S, the System Storage TS2350 (machine type 3580) Tape Drive Express Model S53, and the System Storage TS2360 (machine type 3580) Tape Drive Express Model S63:

• HD SAS to Mini-SAS Cable for attachment of a single 3580 Tape Drive to an IBM System with HD applications
• Y SAS HD to Mini-SAS Cable for attachment of up to two 3580 Tape Drives to IBM Systems with HD applications

This HD function offers higher performance with a 6Gb/s sustained data rate compared to the 3Gb/s delivered with Mini-SAS.

Machine type 3580 external stand-alone or rack mountable units are designed to offer capacity, performance, and reliability for tape storage and retrieval in midrange systems environments.

Key prerequisites
Attaching a TS2250 Model H5S, TS2260 Model H6S, TS2350 Model S53, or TS2360 Model S63 using an HD SAS to Mini-SAS cable or Y SAS HD to Mini-SAS cable will support all system functions supported by current Mini-SAS to Mini-SAS cables, as well as HD capabilities that are available on the attaching IBM System. A POWER7 System must have an HD HBA installed.

Planned availability date: May 6, 2014