Chapter 5: Installing the HostRAID Controller and Disk Drives ● 26Connecting Disk Drives to HostRAID ControllersYou can connect SAS disk drives, SATA disk drives, or a combination of both to yourHostRAID controller. There are no jumpers or switches to set before installation.If you plan to build a bootable array using internal disk drives, ensure you install at least theminimum number disk drives required to support the RAID level you want. See page 57 formore information.Note: Although you can connect both SAS and SATA disk drives to your SAS controller,Adaptec recommends that you not combine SAS and SATA disk drives within the samearray or logical drive. See page 54 for more information.You have two connection options:● To connect directly to the controller, see page 26.● To connect to a backplane, see page 27.Connecting Directly to the HostRAID ControllerIn a direct-attach connection, SAS or SATA disk drives are connected directly to a SAS cardwith SAS cables.The number of direct-attached disk drives is limited to four per internal SASconnector. (For more information about direct-attach connections, see page 55.)1 Install your internal SAS or SATA disk drives, following the instructions in your system’sdocumentation.2 Use internal SAS cables to attach the disk drives to the controller.3 When all internal disk drives have been installed and attached to the controller, close yourcomputer cabinet, reattach the power cord, then continue with Installing the Controller to aSAS Expander on page 28.SATA disk drives attached tocontroller with fan-out cableExternalSAS cableExternal SAS connector
