SATA Controllers Eye Enterprise Storage Apps

Designed for enterprise storage applications, the SiI 3124 serial ATA (SATA) host controller is a 64-bit, 133-MHz PCI-X to four-port device that is available in two pin-compatible versions. The SiI 3124-1 operates at first-generation SATA speeds of 1.5 Gb/s per port and the SiI 3124-2, also operating at 1.5 Gb/s, provides support for 3 Gb/s signaling. Both versions are compliant with the SATA 1.0 spec and support all SATA II extensions, including native command queuing, enclosure management device support, selectable output strengths for backplanes, hot-plug support, and FIS-based switching with port multipliers. The controllers come with drivers for Windows, Linux and Netware operating systems for both RAID and non-RAID operation. SiI 3124-1 and SiI 3124-2 cost $22 and $28 each/10K, respectively. For more information, call Kristen Fuller at SILICON IMAGE, INC., Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 616-419.