Introduction of common Mini SAS, SAS, HD Mini SAS interface types

SFF-8643: Internal Mini SAS HD 4i/8i

The SFF-8643 is the latest HD MiniSAS connector design for implementing HD SAS internal interconnect solutions.

The SFF-8643 is a 36-pin "High Density SAS" connector with a plastic body normally used for internal connections.

A typical application is an INTERNAL SAS link between a SAS HBA and a SAS drive.

SFF-8643 complies with the latest SAS 3.0 specification and supports 12Gb/s data transfer protocol

The HD MiniSAS external counterpart of SFF-8643 is SFF-8644, which is also compatible with SAS 3.0 and also supports 12Gb/s SAS data transfer speed. Both SFF-8643 and SFF-8644 can support up to 4 ports (4 lanes) of SAS data .

These newer SFF-8644 and SFF-8643 HD SAS connector interfaces basically replace the old SFF-8088 external and SFF-8087 internal SAS interfaces.

SFF-8087: Internal Mini SAS 4i

The SFF-8087 Mini-SAS connector is designed for implementing Mini SAS internal interconnect solutions.

The SFF-8087 is a 36-pin "Mini SAS" connector with a plastic locking interface compatible with internal connections.

A typical application is a SAS link between a SAS HBA and a SAS drive subsystem.

SFF-8087 complies with the latest 6Gb/s Mini-SAS 2.0 specification and supports 6Gb/s data transfer protocol.

The Mini-SAS external counterpart of the SFF-8087 is the SFF-8088, which is also compatible with Mini-SAS 2.0 and also supports 6Gb/s SAS data transfer speed.

Both the SFF-8087 and SFF-8088 support up to 4 ports (4 lanes) of SAS data.

SFF-8644: External Mini SAS HD 4x/8x

The SFF-8644 is the latest HD MiniSAS connector design for implementing HD SAS external interconnect solutions.

The SFF-8644 is a 36-pin "High Density SAS" connector with a metal shell compatible with shielded external connections.

A typical application is a SAS link between a SAS HBA and a SAS drive subsystem.

SFF-8644 complies with the latest SAS 3.0 specification and supports 12Gb/s data transfer protocol

The HD MiniSAS internal counterpart of the SFF-8644 is the SFF-8643, which is also SAS 3.0 compatible and also supports 12Gb/s SAS data transfer speed.

Both the SFF-8644 and SFF-8643 can support up to 4 ports (4 lanes) of SAS data.

SFF-8088: External Mini SAS 4x

The SFF-8088 Mini-SAS connector is designed for implementing Mini SAS external interconnect solutions.

The SFF-8088 is a 26-pin "Mini SAS" connector with a metal shell compatible with shielded external connections.

A typical application is a SAS link between a SAS HBA and a SAS drive subsystem.

SFF-8088 complies with the latest 6Gb/s Mini-SAS 2.0 specification and supports 6Gb/s data transfer protocol.

The Mini-SAS internal counterpart of the SFF-8088 is the SFF-8087, which is also compatible with Mini-SAS 2.0 and also supports 6Gb/s SAS data transfer speed.

Both the SFF-8088 and SFF-8087 support up to 4 ports (4 lanes) of SAS data.

SFF-8639 (now called 'U.2')

The SFF-8639 is the latest connector design for connecting MultiLink SAS drives or PCIe drives (including hard drives and SSD drives).

It was recently renamed "U.2" by the SSD Small Tool Group. SFF-8639 is a revision of SFF-8680, which is a 29-pin 2-lane SAS drive interface.

The SFF-8639 U.2 is a 68-pin drive interface connector with higher signal quality that supports 12Gb/s SAS and Gen 3 x4 PCIe or PCI Express NVMe.

The SFF-8639/U.2 connector can be integrated onto a pcb "docking backplane" for multiple drives, or onto a single drive "T-Card" adapter.

The SFF-8639 U.2 connector has a total of 6 high-speed signal paths, but the SAS and PCIe specifications can only use up to 4 lanes at any one time.

It complies with the latest 12Gb/s SAS 3.0 specification as well as x4 Gen3 PCIe and SSD Form Factor V 1.0.

SFF-8680

SFF-8680 is the latest connector design for connecting SAS drives - SAS HDDs and SAS SSD drives.

The SFF-8680 is a 29-pin connector with a plastic body configured with 15 pins to support the power requirements of the drive, and (2) 7 sets of pins to carry SAS data signals.

The SFF-8680 supports connections between 2 SAS ports (lanes) and drives.

The SFF-8680 can be integrated onto a pcb "docking backplane" for multiple drives, or a single drive "T-Card" adapter.

The SFF-8680 complies with the latest SAS 3.0 specification and supports 12Gb/s data transfer protocol.

This newer SFF-8680 drive interface connector interface basically replaces the old SFF-8482 drive interface connector.

SFF-8482

The SFF-8482 is a connector design for the connection of SAS drives, SAS hard drives and SAS SSD drives.

The SFF-8482 is a 29-pin connector with a plastic body configured with 15 pins to support the power requirements of the drive; (2) 7 sets of pins for transmitting SAS data signals.

The SFF-8482 supports connections between 2 SAS ports (lanes) and drives.

The SFF-8482 can be integrated into a multiple drive pcb "docking" backplane, mounted on a single drive "T-Card" adapter.