IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Controller Card

IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Controller Card

The IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA RAID Controller Card is a high-performance storage solution designed for IBM servers and enterprise data centers. It supports multiple SAS and SATA drives with advanced RAID configurations, delivering fast and reliable data management. With robust data protection and scalable performance, it ensures optimal storage efficiency for demanding workloads.

IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS/SATA RAID Controller – Specifications

IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS/SATA RAID Controller – Description

The IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS/SATA RAID Controller Card is a robust enterprise‑class RAID adapter designed for external storage environments, particularly in IBM and Lenovo System‑x servers. It connects via a PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface and is based on the LSI SAS2208 RAID‑on‑Chip controller paired with an 800 MHz dual‑core PowerPC processor, delivering reliable performance for mixed SAS and SATA storage systems. The card provides eight external 6 Gb/s SAS/SATA ports through two Mini‑SAS (SFF‑8088) connectors, supporting up to 240 external drives when used with SAS expansion enclosures such as EXP2512 and EXP2524.

Out‑of‑the‑box, the M5120 supports RAID levels 0, 1, and 10, which offer basic performance and redundancy configurations. With an optional cache module (DDR3 with battery‑ or flash‑backed protection), it can enable advanced RAID levels such as RAID 5 and RAID 50, and additional Features‑on‑Demand upgrades can unlock RAID 6 and RAID 60 for high‑availability applications. The controller also supports key enterprise features like Online Capacity Expansion (OCE), Online RAID Level Migration (RLM), global and dedicated hot spares, and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring for comprehensive storage management.

Management and configuration are provided through MegaRAID Storage Manager, offering administrators flexible tools to monitor and optimize storage arrays. While the basic card does not include onboard cache by default, adding a cache module significantly improves performance and enables advanced RAID functionalities, making the ServeRAID M5120 a versatile choice for external RAID storage infrastructures.

Key Features

• 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA Support – High-speed data transfer for enterprise storage.
• 8 Internal Ports – Connect multiple SAS or SATA drives via internal Mini‑SAS (SFF‑8087) connectors.
• Supports Multiple RAID Levels – RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 for data protection and performance.
• PCIe 3.0 x8 Interface – Ensures high bandwidth and fast communication with server motherboards.
• Cache Memory – 1GB DDR3/DDR4 cache to boost read/write operations.
• Hot-Swap Drive Support – Replace or upgrade drives without server downtime.
• Enterprise-Grade Reliability – Designed for IBM servers, data centers, and virtualization environments.

Where It Can Be Used

• IBM enterprise servers for high-performance storage
• Data centers and cloud infrastructure
• Database servers for large-scale workloads
• Virtualization environments like VMware, Hyper-V, KVM
• Backup and storage servers requiring redundancy and fast access

Installing Steps

1. Power Off the Server – Disconnect power before starting.
2. Insert the RAID Controller – Place into a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot on the server motherboard.
3. Connect SAS/SATA Cables – Use Mini‑SAS (SFF‑8087) cables to connect drives or backplanes.
4. Install Optional Battery Backup Module (BBM) – To protect cache data during power failure.
5. Power On the Server – Enter RAID configuration utility (usually Ctrl+H) during boot.
6. Create RAID Array – Select drives and RAID level (RAID 5, 6, 10, etc.).
7. Install Drivers and Management Software – Use IBM ServeRAID Manager for monitoring and configuration.

Compatible Server Models for IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS & SATA RAID Controller Card

The IBM ServeRAID M5120 is a high‑performance SAS and SATA RAID controller designed for enterprise servers with PCIe expansion slots. It supports advanced RAID levels and works in a wide range of server platforms that support PCIe RAID cards.

✅ IBM / Lenovo Server Models

• IBM System x3650 M4
• IBM System x3550 M4
• IBM System x3850 X6
• IBM System x3950 X6
• IBM System x3650 M5
• Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630
• Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650
• Lenovo System x3550 M5
• Lenovo ThinkSystem SR550

FAQ for IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Controller Card

1. What is the IBM ServeRAID M5120 used for?

It manages multiple SAS and SATA drives in IBM servers, delivering high-speed storage and data protection.

2. How many drives can it support?

Up to 8 internal drives directly, expandable with SAS expanders.

3. Which RAID levels are supported?

RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 for performance and redundancy.

4. Can it handle SSDs and HDDs?

Yes, it fully supports SAS SSDs/HDDs and SATA SSDs/HDDs.

5. Is cache protection available?

Yes, with the Battery Backup Module (BBM) to safeguard cached data during power loss.

What is the price of IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Controller Card in Bangladesh?

The lowest price of IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Controller Card in Bangladesh is 45,000৳. You can buy the IBM ServeRAID M5120 SAS and SATA Raid Card at best price from our website or visit our Office.

For the most accurate pricing, stock availability, and warranty details, we recommend contacting us before placing your order.