Intel RS25SB008 RAID Controller - LSI 9286-8e rebrand w/ CacheVault

[denpa]

Just registered to share this:

Link Seller accepted $150 best offer for this Intel RAID controller.

It's a rebranded LSI 9286-8e with CacheVault included. Those go for over $700 on eBay without CacheVault, so I think this is a great deal.

 

[whitey]

That's a riot...same seller as a bunch of us have been getting that Intel RESV240 24 port sas expander from for 60-80 bones. Seems like another great deal although I am only interested in HBA SAS cards for my SW raid ZFS setups.

 

[T_Minus]

Wow! Too bad I got 2 LSI cards in jan, these are a step up!

 

[TType85]

Snagged one at $150. I also picked up a open box san digital 8-bay SAS tower for $75 at microcenter (TowerRAID TR8X-B - 8 Bay SAS / SATA JBOD Storage Enclosure (Black) I have 8 600GB 15K sas drives to put in it. should give me a nice little array to play with. I think I am going to pick up one of those 16-bay rackables though.

 

[T_Minus]

I'm debating about selling my 16 bay rackable, not 100% yet... I haven't used it, but ended up with 2x24 Bay HOtSwap 4Us, so the 16 bay is probably over kill.

Does anyone know if you can use the 16bay rackable but power it off when not needed, and turn it on when needed and the drives/array will appear and work w/out a reboot?

 

[tby]

That's just what I've been looking for. I'm on my second allegedly-new eBay BBU for my PERC H800 that has less capacity than the one I was replacing.

Of note, the original version of this card is PCIe 2.0. Seller's listing says PCIe 3.0 but they might be listing the current spec and have old stock. Doesn't matter to me but might to someone.

RS25SB008 and CacheCade questions | Intel Communities

 

[Kristian]

Got one for $150. Thanks man

 

[denpa]

@tby
Mine arrived today and the manufacture date on the box is November 2013. According to that link the old version was 'over a year ago' from 2013, so these should support 3.0 with a firmware upgrade. My server is PCIe 2.0 though so I won't be able to test it.

Does anyone know if it's possible to crossflash these to a 9286-8e? I haven't been able to find any articles on crossflashing raid cards, only HBAs.

 

[tby]

I think my server is 2.0 as well, but regardless, I don't have enough fast storage for it to matter.

FWIW, same seller took $75 on the AXXRPFKSSD2 CacheCade key. Probably should have offered less.

 

[azev]

What an awesome deal, $225 total for a new fully featured card. Let us know if the cachecade key works on the card.

 

[Boddy]

Looks like an awesome RAID card. Seller has version with 8 internal ports $550:
Intel RS25DB080 RAID Controller MD2 SAS SATA PCIe 3 0 New Retail Box | eBay

If I wanted to create a super NAS (wiki) between one or two C6100 and one or two Supermicro 16 Bay unit.
Would I be better with hooking up an internal port version Intel RS25DB080 in each Supermicro unit (or do I need 2 cards for 16 bays)?

Useful link comparing Intel raid cards:
ARK | Compare Intel Products

 

[Kristian]

Got the AXXRPFKSSD2 CacheCade key in addition to the card for $70

 

[britinpdx]

Does anyone know if the AXXRPFKSSD2 CacheCade key is limited to only work with "Intel branded" cards or if it's "universal" and works with LSI 2208 based cards such as the 9271 ? (Is it just an LSI00290 HW key with an Intel sticker)

 

[Boddy]

Seems like you need a LSI2208 product:
Intel® RAID SSD Cache

Intel info for Intel compatable products for CaschCade:
ARK | Intel RAID SSD Cache with Fast Path *I/O

 

[Boddy]

I'm looking to purchase Intel RS3DC080 with 8 internal ports for my supermicro 16 bay chassis (NAS). Please forgive my lack of knowledge, how useful is having a RAID with 8 external ports, eg configuration options (eg. joining 2 x supermicro 16 bay chassis together or joining C6100 to supermicro 16 bay chassis) Is there better options for joining C6100 to supermicro 16 bay chassis?
Thanks in advance

 

[T_Minus]

I'm looking to purchase Intel RS3DC080 with 8 internal ports for my supermicro 16 bay chassis (NAS). Please forgive my lack of knowledge, how useful is having a RAID with 8 external ports, eg configuration options (eg. joining 2 x supermicro 16 bay chassis together or joining C6100 to supermicro 16 bay chassis) Is there better options for joining C6100 to supermicro 16 bay chassis?
Thanks in advance

They make external to internal connectors and even adapters to go where PCI slots would be to convert internal/external. So technically you can use it for internal with an adapter, or to connect a JBOD chassis like the Rackable a lot of people use or like you said to go from 1 SM chassis to another either with an adapter, through PCI area, etc...

When you say "joining" is one just as a JBOD chassis

 

[tby]

Anybody dealt with drives not migrating to this RAID card? I'm coming from a Perc H800 (2108). I've got 12 VDs/LDs on 21 drives... curious that it seems to be seeing 8.

 

[T_Minus]

Mine is on the way. Next round of purchases will be drives, drives, drives

Where are you guys getting the cachecade ? I can't locate it so affordable.

 

[tby]

Where are you guys getting the cachecade ? I can't locate it so affordable.

Same seller. Try an offer under $70.

Intel AXXRPFKSSD2 RAID Activation Key SSD Cache with Fast Path I O New | eBay

 

[T_Minus]

Thanks! I just put in my offer. Awesome.