Enclosure Services Configuration for the LSI 9750 “8i”, “16i4e” and “24i4e” with the Supermicro SAS826A and SAS836A backplanes December 2010  v0.6

See also KB15858

This article describes the integration enclosure services with the LSI 9750-8i, LSI 9750-16i4e and LSI 9750-24i4e controllers
when used with the Supermicro SAS826A and SAS836A internal backplanes.   SAS826A internal backplane supports 12 directly
attached drives with one AMI 9072 and one AMI 9071 enclosure processor.  SAS836A internal backplane supports 16 directly
attached drives with two AMI 9072 enclosure processors.  The LSI 9750 series of controllers uses the I2C interface and protocol
to communicate with the AMI enclosure processors via sideband signals embedded in the mini SAS data cables. 
The I2C infrastructure provides support for the direct attach drive status lights (power, identify, error) and backplane connected
peripherals like fans and temperature sensors.

This article applies only to LSI 9750 controllers running 10.2 FW (v5.12.00.007) or later.   This article was written to support Supermicro SAS826A and SAS836A backplanes version 1.0 or later. 

This article does not apply to LSI 9750 configurations that use expander based backplanes, internal or external.   The LSI 9750 supports enclosure services for expanders using a SES based data path protocol.  In configurations with expanders, both data and enclosure services information use only the 4 lane SAS cables without a need for the sideband connections.

The number of connecting cables between the LSI 9750 and the Supermicro SAS “A” backplane is based on the specific LSI 9750 model used,
along with the arrangement of drives used.  One 4 lane mini SAS cable is used for each set of 1 to 4 installed drives. 

        Front View of Chassis for the 836A backplane      Front View of Chassis for the 826A backplane

The first of two AMI 9072 enclosure processors supports drives 0-7 in the first and second sets.  The second AMI 9072 processor supports
drives 8 and above.  The firmware expects to find the first enclosure processor before attempting to use the second enclosure processor. 
There are two different types of mini SAS cables required for proper operation, and there are specific cable orientation requirements: 

 The Cables

This configuration is based on two variants of the Molex IPass Cable Assembly, part 79576 or equivalent.  The full Molex part numbers
used to develop this article are listed below.   Refer to the Molex cable specification “SD-79576-200” for more information.

·         79576-2103 - a controller to backplane cable with a 0.6 meter length.  This cable uses Molex “pin out 1” that includes sideband conductors. 
The 79576-2103 cable requires a modification before enclosure services will work. 
The LSI online store sells the following unmodified cables on http://store.lsi.com

o    Part #: LSI00249 (0.8 meters long)

o    Part #: LSI00255 (0.5 meters long)

o    Part #: LSI00256  (0.6 meters long)

·         79576-2123 - a controller to backplane cable with a 0.6 meter length.  This cable uses Molex “pin out 3”.  The data connections are identical to
pin out 1 but do not include sideband conductors.  This cable will work in this application without modifications. 
The LSI online store sells the following equivalent cables on http://store.lsi.com

o    3ware CBL-SFF8087-05M (0.5 meters long)

o    3ware CBL-SFF8087-06M (0.6 meters long)

The Cable Modifications

Ejector For high port count controllers, one ribbon cable conductor (for signal SB6) must be cut near the Mini SAS connector
that will be used at the controller end.  The most convenient place to cut this conductor is very close to the Ipass connector, in an area exposed by cutting into the heat shrink tubing just enough to expose the gray ribbon cable conductors. 
The sideband signals, carried on two gray four conductor ribbon cables, lays on either side of the data conductor cables, under the heat shrink tubing.  There are four sideband ribbon cable conductors on each side of the Ipass cable assembly.   The sideband ribbon cable conductor to be cut on is one edge of the four conductor ribbon cable. 

For controllers with only 4 or 8 ports, a second sideband ribbon cable conductor (for signal SB7) must also be cut near the Mini SAS connector that will be used at the controller end.  The most convenient place to cut this conductor is very close to the Ipass connector, in an area exposed by cutting into the heat shrink tubing just enough to expose the gray ribbon cable conductors. 

This table does not include jumper settings for the Fans or Buzzers.   Refer to the Supermicro documentation for fan and buzzer information.

Refer to the Supermicro “BPN-SAS- 836A Backplane User’s Guide” or the “SC8x6 Chassis Series User’s Manual” (where “x” could be a “2”, “3” or “4”) for the jumper locations.   See http://www.supermicro.com/manuals/other/BPN-SAS-836A.pdf