mission impossible - How to connect IcyDock SATA/SAS enclosure to SAS HBA ??

petar · Mar 10, 2018

I have Icy Dock ToughArmor 5.25" enclosure (6 x 2,5") for SAS/SATA model MB996SP-6SB. SAS controller is 9361 and it supports all drives I have, SAS, SATA as long as they are connected directly to controller (using appropriate sas or sata forward breakout cables). Problem begins when I connect enclosure to SAS controller (using SFF-8087 SAS to SATA Forward Breakout Cable) then my SAS SSDs aren't recognized any longer while SATA SSDs work fine. Do I need different cable for these SAS SSDs (Reverse Breakout, crossover)?

Thanks for help.

PS:
Details:
- IcyDock backplane has connectors that accept both SAS and SATA drives in enclosure. Both SAS and SATA disks fit correctly and that's according the manufacturer's manual.
- On rear side of IcyDock there are 6 "SATA" connectors (labeled SATA), which I find strange for SAS/SATA enclosure.
- SFF-8087 SAS to SATA Forward Breakout Cable is used between SAS controller and enclosure.

Specs:
Product Name : Full Metal 6 Bay 2.5" SATA HDD & SSD Backplane Cage
Model Number : MB996SP-6SB
Support Drive Size : 2.5" SSD / HDD
Compatible Drive Type : SATA / SAS (Support Single Channel SAS)
Number of Drives : 6
Host Interface : 6 x SATA 7pin
Power Input : 2 x 4 pin power connector
Transfer Rate : Up to 6Gbps (Depending on hard drive speed)

alceryes · Mar 12, 2018

SAS controllers do support SATA 3+ drives (with proper connectors) but the reverse is not true. Only certain SATA controllers will support SAS drives.
It appears that yours does not.

petar · Mar 12, 2018

alceryes :

Answer is not related to the question. Thx for trying. I will rephrase the question.

PS - Just to clarify: my sas controller works with everything I throw on it as long as it's connected directly to controller. Once i put enclosure SAS drives don't work. I made sure that enclosure is SAS/SATA so it should work. I guess problem is with cables.

alceryes · Mar 12, 2018

I'm sorry, I wasn't as clear as I could've been.
SATA signalling is a subset of SAS signaling, not the other way around. If your enclosure is made for SATA drives only (which appears to be the case) it may not allow the signalling required. Specs for MB996SP-6SB enclosure refer to SATA not SAS.

In any case. Good luck!

petar · May 29, 2019

alceryes said:
If your enclosure is made for SATA drives only (which appears to be the case) it may not allow the signalling required. Specs for MB996SP-6SB enclosure refer to SATA not SAS.

MB996SP-6SB is clearly specified as "Rugged Full Metal 6 Bay 2.5" SAS/SATA HDD & SSD"

In further conversation manufacturer proposed: "Rugged Full Metal 8 Bay 2.5" SAS/SATA SSD&HDD (7mm) Mini-SAS Backplane Cage" and that one worked from the first try.

So to finalize this horrible story about the case: SPECS are wrong. it's simply SATA enclosure. Nothing to do with SAS. End of story.

PS -

So Alceryes - I really wanted to get rid of "IF" in this conversation and in your answer, because that "IF" was the "core" of my problem. Is it or it's not SAS enclosure. Specs say "yes" but all my experiments defy specs.

10 different cables and adapters used. Got it disassembled to see PCB wiring and finally concluded that wiring is for SATA. Yes SAS drive fits there, but that's where compatibility ends. There is no need to talk about "subset" as there is no in-between chip. HBA is SAS and works with everything I throw on it (except this enclosure) due to wiring and connectors on it.

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mission impossible - How to connect IcyDock SATA/SAS enclosure to SAS HBA ??

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