RAID solutions are added to Adaptec family for server storage

As the original true hardware RAID devices offering 12 Gbps throughput at each port, the new cost-effective Microsemi Adaptec Series 8E adapter solutions enable entry-level servers and workstations with redundant boot support and input/output (I/O) intensive applications such as databases, video editing and network video recording (NVR), which require high bandwidth. The 8405E and 8805E support hybrid RAID for maximum performance with solid state drives (SSDs) and cost-efficient redundancy.

“Our new additions to the Series 8 family were driven by customer demand for a true hardware RAID solution at the entry level. We went a step further by providing on-board cache for accelerated performance, making these devices attractive to both current and new customers,” said Pete Hazen, vice president of scalable storage solutions at Microsemi. “This is the ideal solution for cost-effective servers and workstations that do not require the full-featured capabilities of our Series 8 RAID adapters.”

Microsemi’s new devices offer a migration path for those seeking to transition from an alternative software RAID solution to a robust hardware RAID solution. It also provides customers a migration path from the company’s current Series 6E 6 Gbps products to a 12 Gbps solution to future-proof and add additional capabilities to their servers.

In addition to offering data reliability, the 8450E and 8805E deliver over nine times improvement in random read SATA SSD performance over the Series 6E devices and increase the bandwidth capability of SAS/SATA devices by 16 times.

“We had great success with the Microsemi Adaptec Series 6E 6 Gbps RAID products,” said Viktor Martens, Product Management, Servers, at Wortmann AG. “With the Series 8E 12Gbps RAID adapters we see overall performance improvement with SSDs and the reliability and robustness of hardware RAID that are important criteria for our customers.”

According to a global market intelligence and advisory firm IDC’s recent report, enterprise SSD shipments grew 44% year over year in the second quarter of 2016, reaching 3.9 million units per quarter. SAS and SATA SSDs make up more than 85% of the server storage market SSD unit shipments today and 100% of the hard disk drive (HDD) market shipments, making SAS/SATA connectivity and manageability a central component in the enterprise architecture.

“Entry-level hardware RAID is an essential technology to maximise the performance of SSDs or provide critical data protection in a cost-effective redundancy solution,” said Jeff Janukowicz, research vice president at IDC. “Microsemi has become a key player in the storage market and the addition of an entry-level RAID card to expand its proven 12G Series 8 SAS/SATA product line is another example of that commitment.”

Key features of Microsemi’s new 8405E and 8805E include:

• Hardware RAID 0,1,10 to provide data reliability and performance acceleration for up to four and eight direct attach devices (8405E and 8805E, respectively);
• Built-in high performance DRAM cache for HDD and SDD performance acceleration;
• Consistent suite of management tools across platforms and operating system, offering ease of use;
• Support of SAS/SATA devices (versus competitors’ SATA only offerings).

“Security, reliability, performance and scale are critical to the success of business-grade storage solutions,” said Ryan Grant, Senior Director, Components & Document Imaging, Ingram Micro.

“Microsemi’s new Adaptec 8E RAID devices are designed to complement existing infrastructure and enhance performance levels, making it easier and more cost-effective for channel partners to protect customers’ data.” Microsemi’s 8405E and 8805E devices are available now.