How to choose Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies?

Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies

There are many factors to consider when choosing a Mini-SAS HD interconnect product. Here are a few tips STC-CABLE on how to specify Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies to help you achieve the necessary performance levels.

Serial SCSI (SAS) connectors are critical to the interconnection of storage systems in the data center.

SAS specifies a standard interconnect in a storage device. The standard has evolved over the years, from SAS-1 (3.0 Gbps per second) in 2005 to SAS-2 (6 Gbps per second) in 2009 to SAS-3 (12 Gbps per second) in 2013. Mini-SAS HD (high density) connectors and cable assemblies are SAS-3 compliant.

Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies support both internal and external applications. In addition to storage, the Mini-SAS HD connector is also used in some industrial and medical equipment. Internal connections link server processors with internal storage systems, while external connections connect rack-to-rack or rack-to-rack storage disks or other devices.

To specify a Mini-SAS HD connector or cable assembly, several variables must be considered, including the number of ports on the connector, the cable gauge of the cable assembly, and the cable length, the cable type in the cable assembly, and the lock (of the external cable assembly) Latch design and manufacturing delivery time. Also consider the performance criteria you want to achieve.

Number of ports

Based on the required data throughput, the designer will choose a Mini-SAS HD connector with a different number of ports. There are four channels in the Mini-SAS HD connector system, each with a data transfer capacity of 12Gbps. Therefore, one port can achieve 48Gbps. Customers who want to transfer more data faster may use a more connector design with a larger number of ports. Available in single, dual and quad ports. In the storage industry, you'll see that a 1U-sized storage rack mounts a lot of ports because it needs to move data from servers and switches. In industrial or medical equipment, the number of ports on the connector is likely to be small, as there is usually not much data to move.

Cable length and wire gauge

Another standard includes cable lengths and wire gauges. SAS not only specifies the form factor of the connector, but also specifies the performance. The SAS standard specifies the performance of cable assemblies in terms of insertion loss, crosstalk, and other factors that degrade signal quality. Mini-SAS HD cable assemblies typically have four different wire gauges: 30, 28, 26, and 24; the smaller the number, the larger the wire diameter. Because the larger the wire diameter, the smaller the attenuation, the cable assemblies with large wire diameters typically meet industry specifications for longer distances. For example, a 30-wire cable is about three meters long, while a 24-wire cable can be 6-7 meters long, but it also meets industry specifications.

Customer standard

Customers typically have unique connector and cable assembly performance requirements. Depending on the channel's loss budget, they may need to increase the wire diameter of the cable assembly to achieve a better performance margin. The basic performance is dictated by industry standards, but the customer will determine the actual performance criteria based on the configuration of the system. Customers often ask the connector manufacturer for a loss budget. For example, customers may require a 10 dB loss budget within three meters. Manufacturers may say that customers need to use 26 wire gauges in cable assemblies to achieve this loss budget.

Cable type

The external connector uses a round cable, while the internal cable tends to use a flat twinaxial cable to save space inside the system. However, some designers prefer to use round cables in internal cable assemblies.

Latch design

The latching mechanism of cable assemblies for some external connectors is more powerful than the latching mechanism for other cable assemblies. If the latch design has a high latch retention, the plug will not fall off easily when moving the storage system or other equipment.

Manufacturing delivery time

Delivery times from order placement to delivery should also be taken into consideration and should be discussed with the manufacturer, especially for custom orders. The delivery time for Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies will vary depending on the manufacturer and the parts ordered. It is important to discuss the expected delivery time as early as possible in the specification requirements.

Mini-SAS HD connectors and cable assemblies are ideal for storage applications. Their small form factor and excellent performance allow system manufacturers to add many ports to a single device. By considering the above criteria, system designers can find the right Mini-SAS HD connector for any storage application.

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Post time: Aug-01-2018
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