SAS stands for Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). It's a protocol used for connecting and transferring data between storage devices and computers or servers. SAS cables and connectors are designed to provide high-speed data transfer and reliability for enterprise storage systems.

Key Points about SAS:

1. Serial Interface:

Unlike the older parallel SCSI (which used multiple parallel cables and connectors), SAS uses a serial interface. This allows for higher data transfer speeds, improved signal integrity, and reduced cable complexity.

2. High-Speed Data Transfer:

SAS cables support high-speed data transfer rates. For example, SAS-2 supports up to 6 Gbps per channel, while SAS-3 supports up to 12 Gbps per channel. The newer SAS-4 standard supports even higher speeds, up to 22.5 Gbps.

3. Backward Compatibility:

SAS is backward compatible with SATA (Serial ATA) devices. This means SAS controllers can often interface with SATA drives, although the reverse is not true. This compatibility offers flexibility in storage solutions.

4. Data Channels:

SAS cables can support multiple data channels. For instance, a Mini-SAS cable with four lanes can handle connections for up to four drives simultaneously.

5. Types of SAS Cables:

Mini-SAS: A more compact version of SAS cables used for internal connections, typically with SFF-8087 or SFF-8088 connectors.

Mini-SAS HD: The high-density version of Mini-SAS with improved performance, featuring connectors like SFF-8643 (internal) and SFF-8644 (external).

Standard SAS Cables: Used for connecting various SAS devices, often with different connector types depending on the configuration.

 

Summary

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) cables and connectors are crucial for high-performance storage systems, providing efficient, high-speed data transfer between storage devices and computers or servers. They support advanced features like multiple data channels and compatibility with SATA devices, making them suitable for enterprise and data center environments.