miniSAS to eSATA port multiplication question

[Jon Schilling]

Petros,

Taking mini-SAS to eSATA over-complicates what you’re trying to accomplish.

Use a PCIe to eSATA card, like our SJ20-X8 card.
https://www.raidon-usa.com/stardom/SJ20_x8.html

Then connect the card to 1-4 eSATa enclosure(s) with built-in RAID 0 or 5, like the STARDOM (4 bay) SOHORAID SR4
https://www.raidon-usa.com/stardom/sohoraid_sr4_feature.html

This setup will allow you to connect up to 16 drives via a 4 port card.

Jon Schilling | Vice President of Sales & Marketing
RAIDON-USA Technology
STARDOM Storage by RAIDON
15356 East Valley Blvd., Suite B
City of Industry, CA 91746
Tel: 626-333-7888
http://www.stardom-usa.com

[Petros Kolyvas]

Thanks for replying!

Unfortunately last time I bought a Stardom product (a RAID-0 Pro-Drive), it was of poor build quality and support never got back to me about why the enclosure wouldn’t work in the first place. We eventually figured out what was happening on our own.

However, regarding what I’m trying to achieve: the plan was to get a SAS card that could work with our existing eSATA setup and then slowly move to a SAS-centric storage setup over time.

I wanted to know was is if a SAS to eSATA fanout cable (in an ATTO 6G SAS host adapter) could connect to eSATA port-multiplied enclosures or if it has to be connected to drives directly.

ATTO hasn’t gotten back to me yet, so hopefully someone here might know.

—
There is no intuitive interface, not even the nipple. It’s all learned. – Bruce Ediger

[Jon Schilling]

Petros,

I’m sorry to hear that you had a problem in the past with the STARDOM Pro Drive, is a well built product that has a standard 2 year warranty.

I’m always available for contact if there’s a support question, we’ll make sure it’s handled in a timely manner. We were just trying to help by giving a viable alternative to your question.

Jon Schilling | Vice President of Sales & Marketing
RAIDON-USA Technology
STARDOM Storage by RAIDON
15356 East Valley Blvd., Suite B
City of Industry, CA 91746
Tel: 626-333-7888
http://www.stardom-usa.com

[Bob Zelin]

you are crazy for trying to hookup the ATTO R680 to your old port multiplier chassis. You will have nothing but problems. You want to future proof – but after years of experience, I have learned one thing – YOU CAN’T FUTURE PROOF. Buy what you need, make money, and when you have the money, buy the right equipment.

Bob Zelin

[Petros Kolyvas]

I never mentioned the R680, I was interested in the H680 (no on-board RAID controller.)

I was in touch with ATTO last night and they don’t recommend or support SAS to eSATA – it’s not that it won’t work, they just won’t guarantee it. They were curious about the possible setup though, indicating that I should take advantage of their 30 day money-back no-restocking fee and test it out – AND get back to them to let them know if it worked.

Ended up simply picking up a Sonnet-branded eSATA HBA.

—
There is no intuitive interface, not even the nipple. It’s all learned. – Bruce Ediger

[Jon Schilling]

I was in touch with ATTO last night and they don’t recommend or support SAS to eSATA

ATTO, answered your question.

This work-flow is bound to be problematic, because there are too many conversions involved.

Jon Schilling | Vice President of Sales & Marketing
RAIDON-USA Technology
STARDOM Storage by RAIDON
15356 East Valley Blvd., Suite B
City of Industry, CA 91746
Tel: 626-333-7888
http://www.stardom-usa.com

The STARDOM ST8-U5 with the ATTO R380 card, validated by Blackmagic Design