ICY Dock Datacage Question

[fatboy95]

I have been looking at Datacage for potential build of a NAS system.. while trying to figure out how I want to build it I was looking at the ICY Dock Datacages for storage of the HDD's. Can someone explain why on the
DataCage Classic MB453IPF-B 3x3.5" in 2x5.25" SAS/SATA HDD Cage

there are x6 7pin SATA connectors basically having x2 each bay? I have looked all around without any luck and I couldn't find an answer on ICY Dock webpage.


http://www.icydock.com/product/images/MB453IPF-kit-lowres.jpg



Thanks..

 

[imagoon]

In order to support the 6 drives it need 6 sata connectors. I am not sure I am following the question.

 

[fatboy95]

The Dock Cage has x3 HDD bays.. that's what confused me.. I have two ideas in my head what it may do but I can't find a straight answer anywhere on this back plane

 

[imagoon]

It is 3 x 3.5 or 6 x 2.5.

 

[fatboy95]

I got that part.. the part I don't get is the back plane.. see HDD1-1, HDD2-1, & HDD3-1 in yellow connector then HDD1-2, HDD2-2, and HDD3-2 connectors but only supports x3 physical drives.. I am trying to figure out why x2 sets of SATA ports. Hopefully this makes more sense.. sorry for being confusing.

 

[Old Hippie]

Check it out.....

There are six SATA/ SAS connectors on the back, three yellow, three black. The primary connectors are yellow, so if one is using a SATA drive, or a single channel SAS drive, then cables only need to be connected to the yellow connectors. The black connectors are for dual channel SAS drives where each drive has two lanes to use. Most home servers will skip this and only use the yellow connectors.

 

[fatboy95]

Ok... so neither of those was what I was thinking.. but thanks for the link.. I had been searching for a specific review of this thing without any luck.. dang google.. lol

Really thanks a lot for the link.. now I am in the know.

 

[Old Hippie]

How about this single owner review...

Drive Bay Aluminum Rack W/ Swappable Fan - Black (Electronics)

The functioning of the unit as a multibay device is perfect. Detachable fan is a plus. Unfortunately it fails in most others aspects...

Price: Too expensive for what it is. If you run out of space for hard drives, you might be better off bying a full tower case.

Noise: No noise dampening for hard drives. WD Raptors will give you headaches if you place them in this device. Also the fan is quite noisy.

Size: Does not quite fit in 2 5.25'' bays. The dimensions are not quite correct on the height. I have a gigabyte Triton case and had to mod it to fit this thing in 2 5.25'' bays

 

[Old Hippie]

Well Now, Lookie, Lookie,

I think these 12 are the best you're gonna do.

 

[imagoon]

Yeah I looked more in depth that is the dual channel SAS connection. SAS drives are normally multipathed and can have 2 connections to the SAS card. I thought this was like the one I have where there is 6 connectors and an adapter that can hold 2 2.5" sata drives in one 3.5 bay. IE 3 3.5" drives would mount and you would only connect SATA 1-(1-3). If you used the adapter in the box you would have to connect (example) sata 1A and 1B so that both 2.5" drives would be connected.