Maximum Data Protection and Cost Savings for Adaptec
Series 7 and Series 7Q RAID Adapters


Enabling the onboard cache on a RAID adapter card significantly enhances performance especially in RAID 5 and RAID 6 scenarios by accommodating both read caching and write caching of data. But data stored in the cache for write caching can be lost if the cache is not protected against a power or system failure.



Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery backup units (BBUs) are traditionally employed to protect cached data on RAID adapters. Once installed, a new BBU will take several hours to reach a full charge. During the charge cycle, write cache is unprotected (i.e. turned o_ ), which adversely affects the RAID adapter???s performance. A typical BBU requires routine capacity testing and performs sub-optimally during those test periods. Lastly, a fully-charged BBU can only preserve data for a maximum of 72 hours during a power loss before the battery power depletes.



Li-ion BBUs have hidden costs that can drastically increase a RAID adapter???s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by hundreds of dollars per year through monitoring, maintenance, replacement, and disposal expenses



Zero-Maintenance Cache Protection


Now in its third generation, Adaptec Zero- Maintenance Cache Protection (ZMCP) drastically reduces a RAID adapter???s TCO through the use of flash memory versus Li-ion batteries. These flash modules provide full protection of cached data without the costs associated with Li-ion batteries.