IBM eServer BladeCenter SCSI Storage Expansion Unit

The IBM eServer BladeCenter SCSI Storage Expansion Unit option is supported on the IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 and IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40. It attaches directly to the blade server via an IMB connector. When the unit is attached to the HS40, it forms a three-bay-wide blade server. When the unit is attached to the HS20, it forms a double-wide blade server. This expansion option obtains power through the midplane connector. SCSI signals are routed through the CIOB-X2 to the IMB connector of the blade server, while system management signals are directed through the I2C bus to the management processor.

The new SCSI expansion unit features:

- CIOB-X2 chipset - I/O control through the IMB connector to the blade-server memory controller
- LSI 53C1020 SCSI controller - Supports Ultra320 or Ultra160 HDDs and integrated RAID 1 function
- SCSI accessed fault-tolerant enclosure (SAF-TE) interface - Industry standard for monitoring the SCSI subsystem
- Power interface
- SCSI bus with two SCA-2 connectors - Support two 3.5-inch, slim-high, hot-swap LVDS HDDs