Overview of the Intel RAID Controller RS3DC080

Article ID: 556

Last updated: 08 Apr, 2016

Article ID: 556

Last updated: 08 Apr, 2016

Revision: 8

Posted: 08 Apr, 2016
by Andrew Sharrad

Updated: 08 Apr, 2016
by Andrew Sharrad

Hardware RAID Controller

The Intel RS3DC080 is a hardware RAID controller, with an Avago / LSI Chipset. This is a PCI Express based device and is compatible with a number of Intel server motherboards.

This module is based on the the first generation of Avago 12Gbit (12G) SAS controllers and is the sucessor to the RS25 range of produdcts. It is backwards compatible with 6GB SAS and 6GB SATA devices.

The Card

The module has a warning buzzer as per previous products and two Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643 connectors for drives. Drive LED Management is normally performed through the sideband connection in the data cable.

Key Features:

PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface
1GB Cache
Supports 8 drives directly connected
Supports up to 128 drives through expanders
LSI 3108 Chipset
Supports SAS and SATA drives
Supports RAID modes 0,1,5,6,10,50,60.

Driver Support

This module is supported by the same LSI Hardware Family Driver as per the RS2BL080 and RMS25CB080, upgraded to support the new chipsets. Operating system migration between controllers is only possible if the new model controller has been present when Windows is booted, or if the Windows inbox driver supports the card. Only the Windows 2012 R2 or newer Inbox LSI Driver supports the RS3DC080 in emergency situations.

RAID Web Console 2 version 15 or later should be used to perform management of this controller from within Windows.

New Connector Standard

The mini-SAS HD Connector SFF-8643 supports 12Gbit/Second transfers. 12Gbit/second transfers also requires compatible devices and backplanes. The use of older devices or backplanes will result in a lower connection speed. Cables are available to connect SFF-8643 cards or modules to older SFF-8086 6Gbit/second backplanes.

SFF-8643 Connector

Revised RAID BIOS

To get into the new RAID BIOS, unlike previous generations which used CTRL+G, use CTRL+R during system POST.

The new 12G Generation of LSI / Avago cards comes with a revised RAID BIOS which reverts from a GUI to a more text-based look. Most operations that were possible in the previous generation as still possible. Note the intructions on the bottom of the screen on how to move between tabs (CTRL+N / CTRL+P) and how to open the properties of an element, for example by pressing F2, for Operations.