Storage with PCI-e Slot Expander

[Bob Zelin]

good research Marc ! This looks like one of the new JMR 16 bay chassis’ with PCI-e built in expander. I have not yet compared the two, but GOOD RESEARCH !

bob zelin

[Marc Bostrøm]

Thanks Bob!
I have found two European resellers and their prices are extremely competitive compared to the established brands.
A NA333A-R 16 bay chassis + ARC-1680IX-16 (incl. extra DDR2-2048ECC) + 16 enterprise class 1TB discs (+1 spare). at about $6K. That’s 16TB – with raid controller!!

I became interested in the Areca controller after reading this:
https://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/articles/areca/1680ix12/
I know it is the ix-12 – that is mentioned in the review and the one you need for this set-up would be the ix-16. I don’t think that there is a big difference, other than positive. Areca also state on their website that card works with 10.5.6, which many other manufacturers still are working on.
There are probably other Raid cards that could work. I don’t know??

I would also like to point out that this is kind of a BIY system…. So be prepared..or get some help.
Anyway…I think it is very interesting. If the chassis and controller work and is stable it is hard to beat.

Now… where did I misplace my credit card??

Marc Bostrom
-| just another PRO FCP user |-

[Bob Zelin]

the areca 1680x (the card I use most in 2009) is absolutely amazing. It supports SAS/SATA expansion ports, but remember, there is no guarantee that this will work with the chassis you pointed out – it should, but you better find some way of getting confirmation of this before spending your money.

Bob Zelin

[Simon Blackledge]

My reseller (UK) is currently testing this chassis with HBA’s for me.

The one above is due out soon as has a pci-e expander.

Current one available now (in testing 4 osx) is the Dulce clone as I call it.
https://www.netstor.com.tw/_03/03_02.php?NjE=

This new one is the one with SAS expansion built in. And will work with the like of the ATTO R380.
https://www.netstor.com.tw/_03/03_02.php?NzQ=

I’ll post up any more info I get.

s

[Simon Blackledge]

Also in this diagram
https://www.netstor.com.tw/_03/img/NS330S_8020(A).jpg

The HBA would be the 1680ix16 inside the NA332A not in a PC/MAC

So you daisychain the NS330S off the 1680 in the NA332A

OR wait for the NS330S to come out..

Benefit is the 1680ix16 can have 2gig of cache.

s