If you ever find yourself looking for a simple, reliable NVMe RAID solution for a Linux platform, we highly recommend checking out our FnL BRD RAID drives. At the time of this writing, we offer two BRD (Bootable RAID Drive) product ranges – the dual-M.2 SSD6202P, and the quad-M.2 SSD6204P. Each range is based on our SSD6202 and SSD6204 RAID controllers respectively, but includes pre-configured RAID 0 or 1 storage (your choice) comprised of either Samsung 970 EVO Plus or 980PRO SSD’s (also your choice). BRD series drives can be used for either boot or storage applications (or even a combination of the two) – the BRD6204P can support multiple arrays. OK, that sounds good, but…so what? HighPoint seems to offer bazillions of NVMe RAID controllers, many of which support Linux and are capable of booting. Aside from the convenience of not having to buy SSD’s separately, why go with a BRD drive? Well, we will attempt to shed some light on this – patience, dear reader. Only x8? Isn’t that slow? The first thing you may notice is the PCIe lane requirement. PCI Gen3 x8. No, x8 doesn’t exactly scream performance, but that’s not the real draw here. The PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface means they can be connected to any PCIe 3.0/4.0 x8 or x16 slot. Don’t be so quick to dismiss the benefits of Universal Compatibility; it’s nice to be able to plug a thing into your system and not have to worry about whether it will work or not (or even be recognized, for that matter). BRD6202P Recognized by VMware7.0 Secondly, it wouldn’t be accurate to label either model line as a slouch. 7000+MB/s is plenty fast, especially if you consider these drives are tuned to maximize random access performance, and not sequential transfers. They easily beat out any 2 or 4-drive SAS/SATA HDD or SSD solution by a substantial margin (300% faster, minimum). But again, that’s not the real draw here. BRD’s prime advantage is the simplicity of the solution, which is largely derived from our BRD IOP RAID architecture. Integrated RAID Support (IOP RAID Architecture) BRD 6200 AIC drives benefit from built in IOP RAID technology. Though this architecture does not result in major performance gains over your standard “software” NVMe RAID product, it trivializes installation and setup procedures. This architecture also means BRD AIC RAID drives are natively supported by all major PC-compatible operating systems. Basically, anything running Windows 10/11/2019, FreeBSD, or Linux setups running Kernels starting from v3.10 or later have built-in support for any BRD drive. Think; no drivers, no complicated software app and no compatibility issues. Sounds simple as can be, right? It is. BRD NVMe RAID drives are essentially plug-and-play devices. They are shipped ready to go, can be installed in seconds by anyone capable of using a screwdriver, and will be instantly recognized by any OS as ordinary “drives”. Need to update your kernel? No problem… This leads to the next major benefit of BRD drives – hassle free OS updates. Modern operating systems seem to launch major updates on a weekly basis, many of which include critical patches or fixes designed to circumvent unauthorized intrusion, and head off the threat of evolving malware. Unsurprisingly, most customers are inclined to follow the OS’s lead, or enable auto-updates in an effort to avoid potential security problems. However, this can be a painful process for any non-natively supported device installed into a Linux environment. Once the kernel updates, a non-native device is no longer supported. The resolution – manually compiling a new driver from a source package, can be a headache, and requires a pro-caliber Linux Admin skillset. And, if you happen to be booting from that device, your sore noggin may quickly be replaced with a nightmarish migraine. Fast, but not always user friendly. To be frank, the vast majority of HighPoint products were designed for users with professional IT backgrounds. This has been the case for many years now. While it is true that our Auto-compile feature can minimize downtime for the majority of our NVMe RAID products, it’s not a perfect solution for all customers. And it’s hard to ignore the fact that many modern SMB’s (small to medium businesses) no longer have dedicated IT departments to manage all of this (especially in the wake of Covid-19), so it’s unrealistic to expect all customers to be comfortable with patching the NVMe driver anytime an OS update rolls around. FnL: Speedy & Easy: Our FnL product lines were developed to address the complexity of professional NVMe storage, and make things as simple as possible. BRD drives eliminate all of the hassle associated with configuring NVMe RAID for Linux platforms. Native hardware support means you can update as needed, at any time without having to worry about losing data or the ability to boot after fumbling a driver patch. A complete package You are probably sick of hearing “out of the box ready” thrown around by any number of solution providers. However, in the case of our BRD RAID drives, it is more than a simple marketing jargon. Unlike our SSD series RAID controllers, FnL BRD RAID drives are complete storage solutions; everything really is shipped pre-configured and ready for use as soon as you open the package. Aside from installing the actual Linux distribution, you don’t have to touch another piece of software.

Proxmox, like VM-Ware and Microsoft Hyper-V, is an established Virtual Machine platform. Proxmox is a Linux Debian based solution, and is most often used to host Server-based Virtual Machines (VM), rather than desktop installations. Although capable of supporting Windows operating systems, it is most often used to host Linux Distributions. As with other VM Platforms, Proxmox each hosted VM to emulate the functions of a physical computing system – servers in this case. Our VDI applications article covers virtualization workflows and applications in more detail. BRD6200 Series: Ideal NVMe RAID Storage for Proxmox VM Solutions FnL BRD6200 AIC drives are natively supported by all major VM platforms, including Proxmox. The built-in boot capability, driverless installation and an IOP RAID engine with integrated RAID 0 and 1 support are ideal features for virtualization solutions. FnL BRD6200 Series NVMe AIC RAID drives are available with up to 16TB of storage capacity, which can easily host a large number of Virtual Machines installations and software suites required to emulate a wide range of hardware platforms. In addition, BRD6200AIC drives are capable of delivering excellent random I/O performance, especially when equipped with DC-Class M.2 SSD’s. We recently document Proxmox compatibility using a BRD6202PB AIC Drive. Proxmox can be easily installed to the BRD6202PB, as it will automatically recognize the AIC drive as an available disk – no driver or additional software is required. FIO was used to benchmark four Ubuntu Server Virtual Machines. As with previous VM platform tests, the BRD6202PB AIC Drive was configured as RAID 0 arrays in order to illustrate maximum transfer throughput. Test Platform: Samsung 980PRO 1TB (2x configured as RAID 0) / ASUS WS X299 (Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-7900X CPU @3.30GHz / 32GB) As shown above, the BRD6202 was able to deliver solid sequential and random performance, even with all four Vms being used simultaneously.

We will be launching a new SSD7xxx controller this October, known as the SSD7104F. The SSSD7104F, and the longstanding SSD7101A-1, are HighPoint’s fastest PCIe Gen3 4-Port M.2 NVMe RAID controllers - and remain the fastest in the current marketplace. Similar to the SSD7101A-1 in concept, the SSD7104F features a more compact PCB design and our 2nd generation, “hyper-cooling” system. Note, the SSD7104F shouldn’t be considered a replacement – the SSD7101A-1 will remain in production. However, the SSD7104F may be a better solution for some applications, depending on the host platform’s hardware configuration. In the near future, the SSD7101A-1 webpages will be updated to include both models. We refer to this pair of controllers as the SSD710x Series. Both controllers deliver outstanding performance in single card configurations (up to 14,000MB/s of sustained read & write performance). Both are also Cross-Sync capable – customers can link as many of four SSD7104F or SSD7101A-1 controllers, and up to 16 M.2 NVMe SSD’s, to function as a single gargantuan RAID array. We’ve already benchmarked many dual-card configurations – a pair of either controller’s is capable of dishing out up to 28,000MB/s! SSD7104F: 2nd Generation Cooling System The SSD7104F features HighPoint’s 2nd generation NVMe cooling system, which was first introduced with the release of the SSD7500 Series PCIe Gen4 RAID controllers. It combines a full-length heat sink, thermal pad and low-noise cooling fan into a single unit, which can be removed in order to install or service the M.2 media. The system was originally designed for Gen4 NVMe SSD’s, which produce considerably more heat than their Gen3 counterparts. As a result, it is highly effective for the NVMe’s SSD’s most commonly used with the SSD710x controllers, but equally well suited for Gen4 media.

HighPoint manufactures a large selection of bootable NVMe RAID controllers for PCIe Gen3 and Gen4 platforms. UEFI BIOS & Tools The easiest way to check if a controller has boot-RAID capability is whether or not a UEFI BIOS package is available from the Software Downloads table. In order to boot the host platform from an SSD or array hosted by bootable NVMe RAID controller, the system's motherboard must have a UEFI BIOS with option ROM settings. These options will allow the system to recognize the RAID controller as a bootable device. HighPoint's NVMe UEFI tool is used to configure arrays hosted by the SSD7000 and SSD7500 Series NVMe RAID controllers outside of an OS. This allows the administrator to install the OS to a pre-configured RAID array. The tool can be extracted to a bootable USB flash drive and provides a simple command line interface, allowing you to create, delete, or check the status of an array. PCIe Gen3 Boot-RAID Controllers SSD7000 Series SSD7105 – 4x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x16 SSD7202 – 2x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x8 The SSD7105 and SSD7202 are the fastest bootable PCIe 3.0 NVMe RAID controllers available in today’s marketplace. Both controllers provide x4 dedicated lanes for each M.2 port, enabling them to deliver class-leading performance; up to 14,000MB/s for a single card, or as much as 28,000MB/s in a Cross-Sync RAID configuration. SSD6200 Series SSD6202 – 2x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x8 SSD6204 – 4x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x8 Installing an SSD6200 series controller is the easiest way to add bootable NVMe RAID storage to your workstation or server. SSD6200 controllers require no device driver installation – they are natively supported by nearly all modern Windows and Linux platforms. In addition, the SSD6202 and “A” variants of the controllers feature a built-in RAID switch which enables administrators to quickly configure an array without an OS, software interface, or even powering on a system. PCIe Gen4 Boot-RAID Controllers SSD7500 Series SSD7502 – 2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x16 SSD7505 – 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x16 SSD7540 – 8x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x16 SSD7580B/7580A – 8x U.2/M.2 PCIe 4.0 x16 (B models supports Hot-Swap/Hot-Plug) The SSD7500 series represent our most versatile bootable NVMe RAID solutions. In addition, they are the industry’s fastest NVMe RAID controllers and are capable of delivering over 55,000MB/s in a dual-card Cross-Sync RAID configuration. Each SSD7500 series controller can support one or more bootable NVMe SSDs or RAID arrays. Resources We have a wide range of videos on our Youtube channel, covering: product introduction, installation, and performance. In addition, we have installation guides on our website. Check them out below. Youtube Gen3 7000 Series Gen3 6200 Series Gen4 M.2 Gen4 U.2

NVMe Storage is Fast, Compact, and Affordable Considering making the switch to NVMe? Now is a great time to replace aging SAS/SATA storage with an NVMe RAID solution. Unlike SAS/SATA technology, which has largely stagnated in recent years, NVMe technology has benefited from a continuous stream of advancements. Blisteringly Fast One of the easiest ways to boost the performance capabilities of modern computing platforms is to use NVMe storage. NVMe media is many times faster than the average SAS/SATA hard drive or SSD. Most run-of-the-mill PCIe Gen3 M.2 drives can deliver 3000MB/s of transfer performance - 10x that of today's fastest 12G SAS hard drives. Gen4 transfer rates are even more dramatic; up to 7000MB/s for a single SSD! HighPoint's NVMe RAID controllers enable customers to push the performance even further - up to an astonishing 55,000MB/s! Arrays can be configured using up to 8 SSDs in a single card, or as many as 16 with a dual-card Cross-Sync configuration. Ultra-Compact NVMe technology allows for extremely discreet, high-performance mass storage solutions. One, single-width, NVMe HBA or RAID controller can support up to 8 SSDs, making the small hardware footprint of HighPoint HPC (High Port Count) NVMe solutions ideal for compact server and workstation platforms, such as mini-PCs, half-tower desktops, and industrial computers. Additionally, many NVMe solutions are directly integrated into other devices, applicances, or machinery, such as autonomous driving applications, high-resolution digital recorders/image capturing systems, or IOT solutions. To put this into perspective, you would need approximately 40 12G SAS hard drives to match the performance capabilities of a single SSD7140A equiped with 8 M.2 SSDs. Our Gen4 SSD7500 Series RAID controllers raise the bar even higher; you would need to double the number of SAS devices to 80! Widely Available & Increasingly Affordable Despite the massive performance advantages of NVMe technology, storage capacity is still a concern for many would-be M.2/U.2 adoptees. While it's hard to match SAS/SATA dollar to TB ratio, NVMe SSDs are now widely available with up to 16TB of storage. And, due to the proliferation of the technology, most new computers have at least one NVMe option available at the time of purchase (typically as the boot volume). As a result, NVMe media is becoming more and more affordable.

SSD6200 Series controllers provide a comprehensive suite of software management interfaces. Administrators of any experience level can easily configure, diagnose and maintain RAID storage and NVMe SSDs inside and outside of the host OS. The WebGUI is shorthand for our Web-based Graphical user interface. The software is available for all of our products lines, and is designed to work with any modern Web Browser. It is equipped with Wizard-like quick configuration menus as well as a suite of advanced tools for expert administrators, including Email notification and a real-time event log. The Event log is especially useful for tracking down problems, as it will record any NVMe related incident (aka “event”) triggered by an SSD, a RAID array or the controller itself. Although SHI (Storage Health Inspector) is not a standalone utility, it is an integral part of the WebGUI management software. SHI, enables customers to monitor the health of NVMe SSDs via SMART attributes, in real-time, such as temperature, TBW (Total Bytes Written), and operational status. The CLI (Command Line Interface) is text-only utility that was designed for experienced administrators and platforms that do not utilize graphical operating systems. It has the widest array of features and functions, and can be operated from a standard Linux or FreeBSD terminal. The UEFI Package is a command line RAID creation tool used to prepare NVMe configurations for OS installation without the need for a separate OS or application, and can be operated from a simple USB flash drive. The UEFI interface is generally used to configure and check the status of an array before installing an operating system A BIOS level interface is also available for specific configurations – please contact us for more information.

SSD6200 Series NVMe Host RAID controllers feature nativtive, in-box driver support for all major Virtual Machine platforms and Linux distributions. SSD6200 NVMe RAID arrays are Recognized as Ordinary Drives The SSD6200’s NVMe driver is embedded directly into every kernel release – this enables VM and Linux platforms to recognize and support these controllers without the need for user intervention. When installing the VM host or Linux distribution, SSD6200 RAID arrays will be recognized as ordinary drives. No Hassle Kernel Updates This also simplifies any OS related update – especially if a new kernel is released. Unlike devices that require a separate binary driver in order to function within the OS, SSD6200 controllers don’t require that every kernel update be patched in order to recognize the RAID storage. Host RAID Controller Standard RAID Controller The NVMe driver is embedded into the kernel - The NVMe device driver must be installed when the OS no installation is required. Subsequent kernel is first setup,and recompiled/reinstalled for every updates also incorporate the NVMe driver. No driver update is required! subsequent kernel update.

Which Generation of NVMe RAID controllers is right for my application? At first glance, the answer is straight-forward; PCIe Gen3 if you need up to 14K MB/s, PCIe Gen4 if you need something faster. In truth, the real answer to this question is a bit more nuanced than that. Many customers are limited by their platform - upgrading may not be an option due to other requirements, such as compatibility or form factor. Other customers may find that a Gen3 NVMe solution is perfectly suited to their target application, despite working with a Gen4 platform. Likewise, many customers now use Gen 4 NVMe SSDs with Gen3 NVMe RAID controller, and vise-versa. Why? Basically for most applications, it really boils down to Cost vs. performance - how much speed do you need and how much are you willing to spend for it? Why PCIe Gen3? Gen3 is tried and true. PCIe 3.0 technology is mature, predictable, easily replaced, and easily serviced. The ideal performance number for a Gen3 workstation or server platform is 14,000 MB/s. To achieve this, all you need is a PCIe slot with x16 dedicated lanes. Our Gen3 Solutions The performance target of 14,000 MB/s can easily be met with our 8-port SSD7140A. However, you can still reach this number using a 4-port controller, with one caveat; Gen4 M.2 SSDs High-end workstations and server motherboards with multiple dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 slots can double this to 28,000 MB/s, thanks to our revolutionary Cross-Sync RAID Technology. This is on par with a PCIe Gen4 8-port RAID controller. Not too shabby... Cross-Sync enables Gen3 platforms to break the 14,000 MB/s barrier that would otherwise require you to upgrade to a PCIe Gen4 platform. When would I need PCIe Gen 4? Despite being introduced nearly 2 years ago, Gen4 platforms are still not the norm. While Gen4 NVMe SSDs and RAID controllers are getting increasingly afforable, actual Gen4 computing platforms are still priced at a premium. The best Gen4 workstations are often built using a server class motherboard. Why? CPU and memory performance. If you want to max Gen4 performance, you will need a host platform with multi-processor capability and a ton of RAM. Gen4 is only an absolute must if you need a single-controller solution capable of breaking the 14,000 MB/s (PCIe Gen3) barrier. Use Cases Example Gen4 applications include high-end media production, editing and playback solutions. Video Projection Applications rely on large-scale LCD or OLED screens for commercial advertising and public events, such as a digital billboard or full motion video display designed to broadcast coverage of a live sporting tournament or fan convention. The resolution requirements can vary drastically, from as low as 4K to an astronomical 36K! The storage solution must be able to adjust for these requirements; PCIe Gen3 simply won’t cut it. Our Gen4 Solutions With the 2-port SSD7502, you can reach 14,000 MB/s. Using the 4-port SSD7505 M.2 RAID controller can deliver up to 25,000 MBs. An 8-port SSD7540 can push your performance thresholds to 28,000 MBs. And if you need even faster speeds, dual Cross-Synced SSD7540 controllers will get you extreme transfer speeds - upwards of 55,000 MB/s! Learn more

HighPoint’s Auto-Compile feature has been integrated into the open-source driver packages released for SSD7000 and SSD7500 series NVME RAID controllers. Auto-Compile was designed to streamline the Kernel update process by minimizing downtime of the Linux server environment. Once initially installed by an administrator, Auto-Compile enables the open-source driver to handle all future updates automatically. Anytime the host system is restarted, Auto-Compile will check the status of kernel releases. If the current driver is unable to support the new kernel it will automatically initiate the upgrade process; the package will check the controller’s driver database and download the corresponding file. Checks Kernel/Driver compatibility after every reboot. If the kernel and driver are mismatched: a) Will check remote database for updates b) Download required update Automatically compile & install a new driver Once the download is complete, the Auto-Compile feature will prepare the system environment, recompile the NVMe driver for the new kernel, and finally, install the driver. Did the Linux system automatically install an incompatible Kernel? No problem – the Auto-Compile feature will revert to the last known working Kernel Release. The Auto-Compile feature automatically configures the kernel to load the Linux driver on boot. However, if the system attempts to reboot into a kernel not supported by the existing driver (say, after an automated update), Auto-Compile will ensure the system is booted using the previous stable kernel, download the required update from the controller’s remote driver database, recompile a compatible driver, then boot into the new kernel. What if Auto-Compile is unable to compile a new driver? Again – no problem. It will revert the kernel to the previous working version to ensure the platform remains operational. However, if you experience such an issue, don’t hesitate to contact our Support Team.

This article discusses the differences between Random and Sequential NVMe storage performance, the types of applications that utilize each one, and which type of NVMe media is suitable for the task at hand. Random Performance By using NVMe storage tailored to maximize random performance, you can increase the responsiveness of file servers, databases, and virtualization solutions. These applications must be capable of accomodating a large user base simulataneously, likely carrying out a different sets of tasks (hence the term "random"). A high random performance is also ideal for the boot volume for a general use computing platform, such as home desktop/laptop running Windows 10 or 11. Example Applications: Datacenters File Servers Virtualization Platforms General Use/bootable solutions Sequential Performance Applications that have very strict performance requirements and are designed to accomplish a very specific set of tasks, use NVMe storage solutions that are designed to maximize sequential I/O (most often write transfers). For sequential I/O operation, data is transferred from start to finish, in a linear fashion. Some examples include an 8K video editing platform, a 3D design and animation workstation, and AI training and development systems for autonomous vehicles. Example Applications: High-speed data acquisition AI Training & Automation Engineering & Data Analysis High-end media production NVMe Media For applications that require a high level of random/sequential write transfer performance for an extended period of time, the best match are U.2 SSDs. They feature enterprise reliability and lifespans, are up to 16TB of storage, and deliver excellent random and sequential performance The next best option are datacenter class M.2 SSDs. Like U.2 SSDs, datacenter class M.2 SSDs are designed for 24/7 operation and are available in larger sizes.

RocketStor 6430 employ a newly-designed Cooling System with built-in monitoring and control features. New Cooling Hardware The RS6430 series features dedicated fans and temperature sensors for the drive bays and power supply. The power supply (PSU) fan is completely silent, and will adjust speed on the fly to keep the unit at a consistent operating temperature. The drive bay fan (or fans in the case of the 8-bay RS6438) operate in a similar manner. The enclosure will raise or lower fan RPM based on ambient conditions. However, the default operating state can be changed by the administrator. All RocketStor 6430 enclosures are equipped with a 16x2 backlit LCD that provides temperature reading in real time, along with manual fan speed controls (buttons) and an option to enable/disable the audible alarm (which will sound if the enclosure’s ambient temperature exceeds 60 degrees Celsius). Five speed settings are provided; 0 to 4 (0 being the lowest RPM, and 4 being the highest), and two mode settings: SMART Control (default) and Manual Control. Media professionals will likely appreciate the Mode and Speed settings features – they enable administrators to lower fan speeds to minimize noise. Selecting Manual, then choosing the lowest fan setting (0) will enable near silent operation. Fair warning; the lowest setting may not be ideal for long-term use. Depending on the type of drives you are working with, and the target application, the enclosure may have trouble to keeping ambient temperatures within the recommended range unless you intervene and reenable the SMART Control mode, or up the fan speed. Configurable Temperature Thresholds The WebGUI and CLI interfaces can be used to establish the temperature thresholds of the hard drives. By default, the interfaces will display a warning message if one or more drives reaches the threshold. Instead of relying on an audio/visual cue, administrators can use the CLI/WebGUI interfaces to trigger an automated Email warning message. You can set the disk temperature threshold (shown above as “HDD Temperature Threshold”) using the WebGUI’s SHI Tab. You can select between Fahrenheit or Celsius using the setting tab.

Thunderbolt 3 provides the most bandwidth for storage devices If you use Thunderbolt Connectivity for Storage devices, stick with Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 4 is shiny and new, but is actually slower for storage related applications. While it is true that Thunderbolt 4 controllers are capable of providing up to 3 Thunderbolt downlink ports (as opposed to 1 for Thunderbolt 3), this comes at a cost. The PCIe 3.0 bandwidth is limited to x1, versus x4 for Thunderbolt 3. In other words, Thunderbolt 4 will provide more connections, but will limit storage devices to PCIe 3.0 x1 speeds (985MB/s, MAX). By storage device we mean any drive; HDD, SSD, RAID array or enclosure, of any interface type (USB, NVMe, SAS, SATA). HighPoint Thunderbolt 3 products, such as the RocketStor 6661A PCIe Expansion chassis and RocketStor 6662A Hardware RAID Enclosure, require x4 lanes to perform optimally. These devices are capable of delivering up to 2800MB/s of transfer performance using a Thunderbolt 3 connection. The Takeaway: If you use Thunderbolt for storage, we recommend Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. It is able to allocate 400% more transfer bandwidth for storage devices. If you work primarily with video devices, or need general-use connectivity for large arrays of USB peripherals, Thunderbolt 4 may be a better option. However, it limits storage devices to PCIe 3.0x1 speeds.