SAS RAID Card Hardware Design With ROC Architecture

Computing server industry has been rising rapidly and technology is regenerating more and more often. Customer application market becomes bigger and bigger especially in recent years traditional industries started developing their information system; internet, information security and aeronautic industries are growing faster and faster which defines higher requirement for computing server products. These requirements are higher performance, better security, more reliable and more stable. RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks) adapter is one of the key parts in computing server to support the above requirements. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)) is the major next generation storage interface. Therefore designing SAS RAID adapter is vital to master the core technology of server storage sub-system, improve product uniqueness and make it more competitive also drive down the cost.Background of this thesis is the project "Inspur High Performance Server" - One of the national 863 program projects done in Inspur Group High Performance Server & Storage Technology Laboratory. This project is to resolve technology obstacles such as expanding on demand, high speed communication, central management and control, remote monitoring etc. Meanwhile it setup firm foundation for China own intelligence property high performance server, improved product uniqueness and competitiveness also drove down the cost. Goal of this project is to design a RAID adapter base on ROC architecture, meet high speed communication requirement in high performance server products as well as improve system security and reliability.Design guide of this project is splitting into modules. System hardware was divided into four modules as Memory, PCI Express, SAS and Power, they are "Bones" of the system. Schematic design, PCB design, debugging and test of each module are "Soul" of the system. The most optimized design solution of SAS RAID adapter was achieved. Also have done in-depth analysis and study of DDR2 memory, PCI Express and SAS protocol, core chips, learned excellent experience on high speed signal PCB design, signal integrity test and created an efficient total test solution for SAS RAID adapter.This paper starts from RAID technology and evolution, and then base on the developing trend expatiates the design of ROC architecture SAS RAID adapter. The hardware design includes schematic of memory, PCI-Express, SAS interface and power supply sub-system.Next part of the thesis is SAS RAID adapter PCB design. In this part there are detail depictions of component layout and high speed signal tracing which considers memory PCB design the most important part. Thereafter is a summary of issues found in debug stage and solutions for each of them.Last part is the test of SAS RAID mechanical, signal integrity, function, compatibility, reliability and performance. Design target was met. Conclusion of this thesis summarized contents of the whole project, also proposed next topic of the study according to technology developing trend.