Serial Attached SCSI - FAQ
General SAS Questions
Q: What is Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)?
A: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is the logical evolution that satisfies the enterprise data center requirement of scalability,
performance, reliability and manageability, while leveraging a common electrical and physical connection interface with Serial
ATA (SATA). This compatibility provides users with unprecedented choices for server and storage subsystem deployment.
Q: Why is Fujitsu leading the way with SAS?
A: Fujitsu is the first company to offer Serial attached SCSI into the market. The Fujitsu 2.5" small form factor (SFF) hard
disk drives are the first offered by any company. Fujitsu was also one of the first hard disk drive companies to commit to
SAS and the first to demonstrate full compliance to the specification. In addition, Fujitsu is a contributor to the Serial
Attached SCSI Trade Association. Its role is to influence the developmental direction of the specification, based on future
market needs as defined by the members.
Q: Why do I need SAS?
A: SAS was developed to address anticipated input/output (I/O) and direct attach storage requirements in the future. It provides
universal interconnect with SATA, while offering logical SCSI compatibility along with SCSI reliability, performance and manageability.
Q: When do you expect Serial Attached SCSI products to begin entering the market?
A: Fujitsu will be shipping in volume this quarter (2CQ04) to both major OEMs as well as into the distribution channel.
Q: How will Serial Attached SCSI benefit the storage industry?
A: SAS leverages the proven SCSI technologies that customers expect in data center environments, providing robust solutions
and generational consistency. It is based on a serial interface, allowing for increased device support and bandwidth scalability,
and reducing the overhead impact that challenges today's SCSI environments. It utilizes SATA development work on smaller cable
connectors, providing customers a downstream compatibility with desktop class ATA technologies. Simplified routing will
enable a new generation of dense devices, such as small form factor hard disk drives, enabling storage solutions to scale
externally.
Q: What are the end user benefits of Serial Attached SCSI?
A: Key end user benefits include enterprise class robustness, investment protection in compatible SCSI software and middleware
and the choice of direct-attach storage devices (SAS or SATA). In addition, longer cabling distances, smaller form factors
and greater addressability will all lead to a new level of flexibility when deploying mainstream data center servers and subsystems.
Since SAS is based on the foundation of the industry-leading SCSI specification, reliability and peace of mind will satisfy
user's needs for continuity in the data center.
Q: Are Serial Attached SCSI connectors compatible with those of current SCSI server and storage solutions?
A: No, SAS connectors differ from current SCSI connectors. They are much smaller.
Q: Is Serial Attached SCSI complementary to Serial ATA?
A: SAS complements SATA by adding dual porting, full duplex, device addressing and it offers higher reliability, performance
and data availability services, as well as logical SCSI compatibility. It will continue to enhance these metrics as the specification
evolves, including increased device support and longer cabling distances. SATA is targeted to cost-sensitive non-mission-critical
desktop storage environments. Most importantly, these are complementary technologies based on a universal interconnect, where
SAS customers can choose to deploy cost-effective SATA drives in a SAS storage environment.
Q: Can I use Serial Attached SCSI hard disk drives in my Serial ATA workstation or desktop PC?
A: SAS hard disk drives can be used on desktops and workstations by adding a host bus adapter.
More Information
Q: Where can I find more information on Fujitsu hard disk drive technology?
A: More information about Fujitsu hard disk drives can be found at us.fujitsu.com/hdd.
Q: How can I get more information on Serial Attached SCSI? What other companies support the move to SAS?
A: More information can be found at www.sata-io.org. In addition, this site includes a list of supporting companies.
