Microchip Technology Microchip Adaptec SmartRAID 3200 Series 3258Up-16i /e - Storage Controller (RAID)

Enterprise storage environments demand uncompromising data integrity and throughput. The Microchip Adaptec SmartRAID 3200 Series 3258Up-16i /e answers that need with a 16-port SAS/SATA RAID controller engineered for PCIe 4.0 x8 host connectivity and a robust 8GB DDR4 cache. It consolidates eight internal and eight external 12Gb/s ports via four SFF-8654 SlimSAS connectors, eliminating bottlenecks in mixed server and JBOD topologies.

Who is it for

System integrators, data center operators, and IT administrators who require flexible, high-performance storage acceleration for virtualized servers, backup appliances, or high-availability clusters. It is equally suited for edge deployments needing reliable RAID protection without sacrificing port density.

Main features

• 16 native SAS/SATA ports (8 internal + 8 external) with universal port technology
• PCIe 4.0 x8 host interface for up to 16 GT/s per lane
• 8GB ECC-protected DDR4 cache with optional flash-backed protection (AFM-700)
• RAID levels 0, 1, 1E, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60, JBOD, and maxCache 4.0 SSD caching
• Controller-based encryption via maxCrypto for data-at-rest security
• Low-profile MD2 form factor fits 1U and 2U servers
• Management via maxView Storage Manager, ARCCONF CLI, and uEFI BIOS

Specifications

• Host interface: PCI Express 4.0 x8
• Internal connectors: 4 x SFF-8654 SlimSAS
• External connectors: 4 x SFF-8654 SlimSAS
• Supported devices: SAS/SATA 12Gb/s
• Data transfer rate: 12 Gb/s per port
• Cache memory: 8GB DDR4 ECC
• Cache protection: Optional AFM-700 flash module
• Processor: Microchip SmartROC 3200
• RAID levels: 0, 1, 1E, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60, JBOD, maxCache 4.0
• Form factor: Low-profile MD2 (half-length, half-height)
• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, VMware, FreeBSD, Solaris
• Compliance: RoHS, WEEE, CE, FCC, UL, C-Tick, VCCI, KCC
• MTBF: 2,000,000 hours

Tips

Pair this controller with enterprise SAS SSDs and enable maxCache 4.0 to dramatically accelerate read-intensive workloads. For mission-critical data, add the AFM-700 flash module to protect the cache during power loss. Use maxView Storage Manager to monitor array health and receive proactive alerts.