[SOLVED] Using PCIe RAID Controllers without a Motherboard?

[Tito_P]

Hi,

is it possible to use PCIe RAID Controllers without a Motherboard?

I would like to build an external storage enclosure with hardware RAID and most of them are build on a PCIe card.
Basically the connection should go from a Storage back plain to the RAID controller, and then out of the enclosure via such an adapter Linkreal External USB 3.1 Type-C to Internal Mini-SAS SFF-8643 Adapter Support 1 port NVMe SSD with ASMedia2362 chipset

Greetings

 

[USAFRet]

What type RAID array?
With what drives?
Why?

 

[Tito_P]

Because of the costs and flexibility. I would like a rack solution with two 4x 2.5" backplanes each with their own raid and their own 10 Gbs USB adapter. For the Data a RAID0 and for the Backup a RAID5.

So is it possible to use a PCIe RAID Controller without a Motherboard? The non PCIe Hardware RAIDs a pretty expensive.

p.s.: the DATA with SATAIII SSDs and the Backup with HDDs

 

[USAFRet]

Because of the costs and flexibility. I would like a rack solution with two 4x 2.5" backplanes each with their own raid and their own 10 Gbs USB adapter. For the Data a RAID0 and for the Backup a RAID5.

So is it possible to use a PCIe RAID Controller without a Motherboard? The non PCIe Hardware RAIDs a pretty expensive.

p.s.: the DATA with SATAIII SSDs and the Backup with HDDs

That particular device would not seem to support what you want to do.
"Support Equipment:1*NVMe SSD"

And "PCIe" requires a connection to....something. Not just the drives.

If you're going to do this, do it right. And yes, hat costs actual money.

 

[vov4ik_il]

Stand alone raid controllers are expensive because they have a whole computer in them. Usually running Linux and based on ARM.

 

[Tito_P]

That particular device would not seem to support what you want to do.
"Support Equipment:1*NVMe SSD"

And "PCIe" requires a connection to....something. Not just the drives.

If you're going to do this, do it right. And yes, hat costs actual money.

The particular device has a SFF-8643 Connector which can be used with such connectors https://cs-electronics.com/product/internal-hd-mini-sas-sff-8643-to-sff-8482/

And yes, the topic question is asking for that "something" that you can connect to a PCIe.
Please explain what is the right way? Do I have to build a hole PC to get access to the PCIe lanes?

PCIe RAID cards like this one are pretty cheap: https://www.delock.com/produkt/89395/merkmale.html

 

[Alabalcho]

The whole idea about RAID (or any other storage device) is to provide for storage services over some medium. So, how do you plan to connect to your RAID array - Ethernet, USB, SCSI, SATA? This will determine what kind of "interface" you need between the drives, and "users".

 

[Tito_P]

The whole idea about RAID (or any other storage device) is to provide for storage services over some medium. So, how do you plan to connect to your RAID array - Ethernet, USB, SCSI, SATA? This will determine what kind of "interface" you need between the drives, and "users".

The adapter that I already linked answers the "interface" question: USB.
I would like to connect a hardware RAID between the drives and the USB adapter. Since most hardware RAID controllers are PCIe designed I'm asking if there is a possibility in general to use an PCIe without a motherboard like I put the card into a "riser x" and get the data stream into another format like USB for example?

Drives >Raid controller> 10Gbs USB.

Sorry, I have some technical understanding but I'm unexperienced and don't know the possibilities.
As I understand the classic connection path would be

Drives > PCIe RAID controller > Motherboard > Operating System. Does it have to be that way?

I would skip the PCIe RAID controllers if there is another option for a hardware RAID but I only found one with SATAII connections and it would limit the transfer rate since SATAII only provides 3 Gbs.

 

[Alabalcho]

If I understand you correctly:

• you want (or need) 10Gbps interface to storage;
• you are looking for a "box" with USB interface and RAID capabilities.

The commercial storage boxes (commonly called "NAS") provide for just that, and

Drives > PCIe RAID controller > Motherboard > Operating System. Does it have to be that way?

they do it that way, one way or another (even that SATA port multiplier you've listed).

So - you can either build your own (if you want 10Gbps USB interface, which is just a marketing figure)), or go "commercial" way by getting an off-the-shelf NAS.

 

[Tito_P]

Problem are the available sizes. If they have the speed they are to big, if they have the right size they are to slow.
But thanks for the suggestion