Hardware RAID modules for select Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 family server boards

The new Intel Integrated RAID Modules RS25CB080, RS25CB040, and RT3CB080 are uniquely designed to offer advanced RAID and configuration flexibility to select Intel Xeon processor E5-2600-based server boards. The 1U capable mezzanine board form factor affords configuration flexibility by delivering intelligent hardware RAID 0/1/5/6 functionality without taking up a standard add-in card slot. The Intel Integrated RAID Modules RS25CB080, RS25CB040, and RMT3CB family of products, powered by LSI MegaRAID technology, include two 800MHz processor cores and up to 1GB DDR3 1033MHz cache memory to drive exceptional storage performance and scalability.

The modules come with an option for either traditional battery-based cache backup or a maintenance free backup unit (MFBU). The MFBU uses a super capacitor to copy data in flight from dynamic memory to NAND flash-based memory when a server loses power or crashes. The MFBU eliminates maintenance associated with LiON batteries, is more environmentally friendly, and is expected to offer a lower total cost of ownership over the life of the RAID module.

Target applications

The Intel Integrated RAID Module RMS25CB and RMT3CB families of products are best deployed in mainstream server environments to help optimize the performance and reliability of applications such as database servers, e-mail servers, and web servers. These modules can be used with a SAS expander board such as the Intel RAID Expander RES2CV360 to offer scalable performance solutions for applications such as streaming media. In addition, by connecting one or more SSDs to these modules and adding the SSD Cache 2.0 with FastPath I/O upgrade feature, the performance of most applications can be further enhanced.