Adaptec unveiled a new family of entry-level Unified Serial RAID controllers. The new low-profile Series 2 RAID controllers, built on the same Adaptec dual core RAID-on-Chip (ROC) architecture used in its successful Series 5 RAID controllers, provide significant performance enhancement and scalability to low-cost data storage systems. 

The Series 2 controllers eliminate the limitations of software RAID-based hardware solutions commonly found in entry-level systems, delivering a wide range of advantages for inexpensive SATA and SAS disk and tape drive systems. This includes offering the performance of advanced hardware RAID 0, 1 and 10 independent of the server and its operating system; a increase in data storage system configurability through the controllers’ innovative internal and external port architecture; support of Open Source drivers; and no vulnerability to viruses. With these controllers, Adaptec provides system integrators, value-added resellers, OEMs, and enterprise data centers with the ability to meet a wide range of data storage I/O (input/output) requirements using entry-level systems. 

“The Adaptec Series 2 family is critical to our comprehensive line of Unified Serial RAID controllers,” said Suresh Panikar, director, Worldwide Marketing, Adaptec.  “Customers who have specific storage needs – increased RAID performance for disk drives, tape backup, or are working with applications based on Linux – will find our Series 2 controllers exceed those needs.”

The new controllers offer complete compatibility with more than 300 SATA/SAS devices, including midplanes, disk drives, and tape drives. Series 2 controllers are also “plug and play” compatible with Linux drivers 2.4.2 or later. 

“We are committed to providing best-in-class SAS tape drive solutions, and the compatibility and performance of the new Series 2 Adaptec controllers is an ideal complement to our LTO family of internal and external SAS tape drives,” said Bharat Kumar, vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Development, Tandberg Data.  "We will continue to work closely with Adaptec to ensure our SAS tape drives, coupled with the Series 2 controllers, meet the performance and needs of our customers."

Adaptec RAID Series 2 controllers are engineered to deliver cost-effective solutions for increasing data storage access and scalability. Equipped with 128MB of DDR2 cache, customers can connect up to 128 SATA/SAS I/O devices, including disk drives or tape drives using SAS expanders. The Series 2 family integrates the latest PCIe connectivity, the broadest operating system support, including embedded open source Linux drivers and proven compatibility.

For more information on Adaptec contact Brianne Schulze, bshulze@walt.com