Home > Ask the Storage Technology Experts > Storage Networking: SAN/NAS Questions & Answers > SATA port: Can you run multiple drives off of one?
Ask The Storage Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

SATA port: Can you run multiple drives off of one?

Greg Schulz EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Greg Schulz

Pose a Question
Other Storage Categories
Meet all Storage Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 16 March 2006
Can you run multiple drives off a SATA port?


BROWSE BY TAG
Storage Networking: SAN/NAS,   Primary Storage or Storage Hardware,   Disk drives,   Advanced data storage components,   Advanced Data Storage,   Disk storage components,   Disk Storage,   Disk drives,   SATA drives,   SAN planning,   Related information,   Storage Area Network FAQ,   SAN management,   SAN (storage area network),   VIEW ALL TAGS

Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


RELATED CONTENT
Storage Networking: SAN/NAS
Upgrading operating systems for two fabrics
Data centers and synchronous replication
Network File Sharing vs. Common Internet File System
Use of RAID with multiple drives
How to add more channels to a network
Achieving secure data storage for shared read/write I/O operation
SAN server accommodation
Offsite vs. onsite storage
SATA on a Dell Dimension 4400
FCID on two separate fabrics

Disk drives
Storage Decisions Chicago 2009 Session Downloads
Gamer's DRAM solid-state disk technology leaves Fibre Channel in the dust
SSD trends in enterprise storage
Storage, heal thyself
6 Gbps SATA specification ratified, but role in enterprise data storage unclear
IBM writes software to improve data placement on solid-state drives
Texas Memory Systems rolls out all-Flash disk array
SandForce seeks to improve SSD controllers
Fusion-io plans to add software, SSD-based storage systems
Storage admins mull SSDs at SNW
Disk drives Research

Disk storage components
Learn all about SATA
Using SAS and SATA for tiered storage
SATA port multiplier vs. SATA multilane
SATA plugs on motherboards?
SATA drives: Four worst practices
Implementing SAS storage
Think 'big picture' for SATA Exchange storage
How to troubleshoot SATA drive connection problems

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
backup robot  (SearchStorage.com)
DASD  (SearchStorage.com)
disk-to-disk-to-tape  (SearchStorage.com)
Fibre Channel  (SearchStorage.com)
hard-drive encryption  (.com)
holographic disk drive  (SearchStorage.com)
hybrid hard drive  (SearchStorage.com)
Robson  (SearchStorage.com)
Serial ATA  (SearchStorage.com)
solid-state drive  (SearchStorage.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


By default, basic SATA supports a point-to-point connection, for example between a server and a disk drive. However, you can run multiple SATA disk drives off of a single SATA port if port multipliers are used.

Port multipliers enable a SATA controller port to fan-out to multiple SATA devices. When a port multiplier is used, for example, in a storage enclosure or disk shelves, a single SATA port and cable can access multiple SATA disk drives. With the emergence of SAS and co-existence of SAS and SATA, you will start to hear more about SAS and SATA port multiplexers, multipliers, expanders and switches to facilitate connectivity between servers and storage arrays. These components are also found inside of storage systems between server and the storage controller and between storage controllers and disk drives.

Vendors to watch or learn more about if you are interested in SAS and SATA components include Broadcom, Intel, LSI Logic, PMC-Sierra and SiliconStor.




Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Search for Data Management Tools and Tiered Storage Reseller Solutions
TechTarget Storage Media
Storage Magazine View this month\\'s issue and subscribe today.
Storage Decisions Apply online for free conference admission.
SearchStorage.com
HomeNewsMagazineTopicsLearningMultimediaWhite PapersBlogsEventsAbout Us

About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2000 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts