Question : Problem: External SAS Array to take 8+ disks and connect via Adaptec Mini SAS based RAID card - Advice Needed

Hi guys. My question is pretty simple - I'm hard pushed to find a sensibly priced solution that meets are needs below. Here's what I'm trying to do.

We are buying an Adaptec RAID 5085 adaptec card. This will support up to 8 x SAS / SATA drives via 2 x external mini SAS connections (SFF-8088). We want to buy a rack mountable unit, that will allow us to put at least 8 of our own SAS drives in, accessible from the front (hot swapable) and have the necessary ports on the back to connect 2 x Mini SAS cables back to the Adaptec card.

Seems a pretty resonable request, but I haven't been able to find anything that quite fits the bill for us. Most things out there seem to already have drives, have some RAID system built in, etc. We just essential want a unit that powers the drives, provides connectity to the RAID card, and makes them hot swapable from the front. Can anyone advise on a piece of technology that fits this description, and is available in the UK?

Many thanks,

Bluemercury

Answer : Problem: External SAS Array to take 8+ disks and connect via Adaptec Mini SAS based RAID card - Advice Needed

Depends on what you consider "... sensibly priced ..." :-)

These guys have "reasonably" priced (by rack-mounted server class standards) rack mount cases and cables that will do what you want:  http://www.pc-pitstop.com/
... and they ship to the UK

An example:  http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsata12rm.asp

If  "rack mountable"  isn't a hard-and-fast requirement, this looks like a convenient alternative at a much better price point:   http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat84x.asp