Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrading to SAS Drives

Upgrading to SAS (Serial-Attached SCSI) drives is a powerful way to enhance storage reliability, performance, and scalability. Whether you’re migrating from SATA disks or upgrading an existing SAS-based system, this guide covers every aspect of the process, including hardware requirements, installation steps, and best practices.

SAS vs. SATA Performance – Learn the advantages of SAS drives, including better I/O performance and reliability.
Choosing Between SAS HDD and SAS SSD – Understand when to opt for high-capacity hard drives or high-speed solid-state drives.
Installing a SAS Controller – Find out how to install and configure an HBA (Host Bus Adapter) or RAID controller for maximum efficiency.
BIOS Configuration & Firmware Updates – Ensure your system correctly detects the new storage devices.
RAID and JBOD Mode Setup – Optimize drive configurations for redundancy, speed, or flexibility.
Ensuring Proper Power Management & Cooling – Keep your new SAS storage running smoothly with the right power and cooling solutions.

Why Upgrade to SAS Drives?

For enterprise storage solutions, data center storage, and high-performance computing environments, SAS drives provide superior reliability and speed. Unlike standard SATA disks, SAS drives are built for continuous operation, offering better latency reduction and multi-drive support.

Key benefits of SAS drives include:

Higher data transfer speeds – SAS drives operate at 12Gbps, while SATA tops out at 6Gbps.
Dual-port capability – Redundant connections improve failover protection.
Better data integrity – Error correction and advanced queuing for seamless performance.
Enterprise-grade reliability – Designed for 24/7 workloads in critical environments.

Step 1: Selecting the Right SAS Drives

Before upgrading, determine whether you need SAS SSDs or SAS HDDs.

SAS HDD vs. SAS SSD: Which One Is Right for You?

Feature	SAS HDD	SAS SSD
Speed	7,200 – 15,000 RPM	Up to 100x faster than HDDs
Durability	Mechanical wear over time	No moving parts, longer lifespan
Use Case	High-capacity storage, archival	High-speed applications, real-time processing
Cost per GB	Lower	Higher

For those handling vast amounts of archived data, a SAS HDD from our SAS Hard Disk Drive collection is ideal. If performance is the priority, a SAS SSD from our Solid State Drive range will dramatically improve IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second).

Compatibility with Existing Storage

SAS drives can coexist with SATA drives in the same system if your SAS controller supports it. However, SAS drives cannot connect to a SATA controller. If upgrading from SATA, consider using a SAS-to-SATA controller for mixed drive compatibility.

Step 2: Installing a SAS Controller

To use SAS drives, you need a SAS host adapter (HBA) or RAID controller. These components manage drive communication and allow for advanced configurations like RAID 10 for redundancy or JBOD mode for flexible storage expansion.

Choosing the Right SAS Controller

LSI SAS HBA (LSI 9300-16i) – Popular for high-density drive arrays.
Broadcom SAS Controllers – Enterprise-grade reliability for large-scale deployments.

Tip: If your system does not support hot-plugging, shut down before installing the SAS controller.

How to Install a SAS Controller

Power Down Your System – Always unplug to avoid electrostatic discharge.
Install the HBA or RAID Card – Insert into a PCIe slot and secure with screws.
Connect the SAS Drives – Use Mini-SAS (SFF-8643, SFF-8482) cables for proper connectivity.
Enable SAS Ports in BIOS – Navigate to BIOS/UEFI settings and ensure SAS support is active.
Perform a Firmware Upgrade – Check for the latest IT firmware to ensure optimal performance.

After installation, the system should detect your drives. If not, double-check the BIOS configuration and verify that SAS channels are enabled.

Step 3: Formatting and Partition Alignment for SAS Drives

Once your SAS drives are installed and recognized by your system, the next step is to format them properly and ensure correct partition alignment for optimal performance. Unlike consumer-grade SATA drives, SAS drives often require additional configuration steps to function efficiently in enterprise environments.

Why Partition Alignment Matters

Partition alignment is crucial for maximizing I/O performance (IOPS) and minimizing unnecessary read/write operations. Misaligned partitions can cause data to be written across multiple blocks, significantly reducing performance and increasing latency.

Pro Tip: For best results, align partitions to a 64KB offset, especially if you’re using high-speed 15,000 RPM SAS HDDs or enterprise-grade SSDs.

How to Format SAS Drives

Depending on your operating system, here’s how to correctly format and align SAS drives:

Windows (Using Disk Management)

Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).
Locate the uninitialized SAS drive.
Right-click and select Initialize Disk (choose GPT for modern systems).
Right-click the unallocated space and select New Simple Volume.
Format using NTFS (for Windows) or ReFS (for advanced redundancy).
Ensure allocation unit size is at least 64KB for optimal performance.

Linux (Using fdisk & mkfs)

For Linux-based systems, use the following command to check alignment:

To format the drive with optimal alignment:

For ZFS storage pools, use:

ZFS is highly recommended for enterprise storage due to its built-in data integrity checks and snapshot capabilities.

Step 4: Configuring RAID Arrays and JBOD Mode

One of the key benefits of SAS storage is its flexibility in supporting various RAID configurations for redundancy, performance, or a balance of both.

RAID vs. JBOD: Choosing the Right Setup

Configuration	Best For	Pros	Cons
RAID 0	High-speed applications	Fast read/write speeds	No redundancy
RAID 1	Critical data	Full redundancy	Uses 50% of capacity
RAID 5/6	Balanced performance & redundancy	Fault tolerance	Slower writes
RAID 10	High-performance storage	Fast & redundant	Requires more drives
JBOD Mode	Flexible storage	Independent disks	No redundancy

If you’re using a RAID controller, set up your array via the controller’s BIOS. If you prefer software-based RAID, Linux mdadm or Windows Storage Spaces can be used for configuration.

Tip: For data center storage, RAID 10 provides the best balance of speed and redundancy, especially when using 12Gbps SAS drives.

Step 5: Optimizing SAS Drive Performance

After installation and RAID configuration, optimizing performance ensures long-term efficiency. Several benchmarking tools help assess disk read/write speed, latency reduction, and overall drive health.

Benchmarking SAS Drive Performance

To test and fine-tune your setup, use:

SQLIO Benchmarking (Windows) – Measures IOPS for database workloads.
fio (Flexible I/O Tester) (Linux) – Simulates real-world data loads.
Seatools for SAS Drives – Seagate’s diagnostic tool for performance tuning.

Example: Testing IOPS with fio

This test simulates 4K random reads with 8 concurrent jobs, perfect for enterprise workloads.

Step 6: Power Management & Cooling for SAS Drives

SAS drives are built for high-performance computing, but they generate more heat and consume more power than SATA alternatives. Without proper power fail protection and cooling, performance can degrade over time.

Essential Cooling Solutions for SAS HBAs

Install SAS drive trays/carriers with built-in airflow channels.
Use active cooling fans for HBAs and RAID controllers.
Monitor drive temperatures using software like smartctl:

If temperatures exceed 45°C, consider additional cooling measures.

Step 7: Enhancing Security with SAS Drive Encryption

When upgrading your storage, data security is just as important as speed and reliability. Many enterprise-grade SSDs and HDDs support SAS drive encryption, also known as SED (Self-Encrypting Drives). These drives provide hardware-level encryption that protects data without impacting performance.

Why Use SAS Drive Encryption?

Hardware-based encryption – Faster and more secure than software encryption.
Instant secure erase – Quickly wipe a drive when repurposing or disposing of hardware.
Compliance with data security standards – Essential for industries handling sensitive data.

To enable encryption, check if your SAS controller or RAID card supports TCG Opal or IEEE 1667 encryption standards. You can manage SEDs using built-in firmware tools or third-party software like Seagate Secure.

Step 8: Drive Failure Prevention and Replacement

Even the most reliable enterprise storage solutions experience drive failures over time. Understanding power management for SAS arrays, proactive monitoring, and implementing a replacement strategy can prevent data loss and minimize downtime.

How to Monitor Drive Health

Use SMART diagnostics to check the health of your SAS drives.

For Windows users, tools like CrystalDiskInfo provide real-time health monitoring. On Linux, use the smartctl command:

Key parameters to watch for:

Reallocated sectors count – High values indicate potential failure.
Temperature – Keep below 45°C for optimal longevity.
Uncorrectable errors – A warning sign that the drive may be failing.

Tip: Enterprise setups should use RAID 10 or parity drives to mitigate the risk of drive failure.

When and How to Replace a SAS Drive

Identify the failing drive using diagnostic tools.
Backup critical data before making any changes.
Hot-swap the drive (if your system supports hot-plugging).
Rebuild RAID or restore data from backups.
Verify performance with benchmarking tools like fio or Seatools for SAS Drives.

If you need high-reliability replacement drives, browse our SAS Hard Disk Drive collection.

Step 9: Hybrid Storage Solutions – Combining SAS & NVMe

For businesses and data centers requiring both high-speed access and massive storage capacity, combining SAS and NVMe in a hybrid storage setup is an excellent strategy.

Benefits of Hybrid Storage

Use SAS HDDs for high-capacity storage and NVMe SSDs for high-speed caching.
Improve IOPS and reduce latency by optimizing data placement.
Ensure cost efficiency by leveraging SAS for bulk storage while utilizing NVMe for real-time workloads.

Best Practices for Hybrid Storage Implementation

Use NVMe SSDs as cache drives for frequently accessed data.
Store archival data on high-capacity SAS HDDs.
Ensure a compatible controller that supports both SAS and NVMe.
Optimize software-defined storage solutions like ZFS storage pools to manage hybrid environments efficiently.

If you’re looking to upgrade your hybrid storage infrastructure, check out our External SCSI Storage solutions for enterprise-grade options.

Final Thoughts on Upgrading to SAS Drives

Upgrading to SAS storage is a long-term investment in reliability, speed, and scalability. Whether you’re enhancing a server storage upgrade or optimizing a data center storage solution, following these steps ensures a smooth transition to high-performance SAS drives.

Key Takeaways

Choose the right drives – Use SAS SSDs for performance and SAS HDDs for capacity.
Install a SAS controller – Ensure compatibility with RAID or JBOD configurations.
Format and align partitions – Prevent misalignment issues that reduce performance.
Monitor and maintain – Use firmware upgrades, SMART diagnostics, and cooling solutions to extend drive life.
Consider hybrid storage – Combining SAS and NVMe offers the best balance of speed and capacity.

For all your SAS storage needs, from SCSI controllers to enterprise HDDs, explore our range of SAS storage solutions.

Now that your SAS upgrade is complete, enjoy improved performance, reliability, and scalability for years to come.

FAQ: Upgrading to SAS Drives

Here are answers to 10 commonly asked questions about upgrading to SAS (Serial-Attached SCSI) drives, covering areas not already addressed in the main guide.

1. Can I install SAS drives in a desktop PC?

Most consumer desktop PCs do not natively support SAS drives because they lack a SAS controller. However, you can install a PCIe SAS HBA (Host Bus Adapter) to enable SAS drive compatibility.

2. Do I need special power connectors for SAS drives?

No, SAS drives use the same power connector as SATA drives. However, their data connectors are different, requiring a SAS backplane or SAS-to-SATA adapter in some cases.

3. Can I mix SAS and SATA drives in the same system?

Yes, but only if your SAS controller supports SATA compatibility. While SATA drives can connect to a SAS controller, SAS drives cannot connect to a SATA-only controller.

4. What’s the difference between a SAS Expander and a SAS Controller?

A SAS controller (HBA or RAID card) manages drive communication, while a SAS expander increases the number of drives that a single SAS controller can handle, similar to a network switch.

5. How do I check if my SAS drive is performing correctly?

Use I/O performance benchmarking tools like:

SQLIO (Windows) – For database-driven performance testing.
fio (Linux) – For general read/write performance tests.
Seatools for SAS Drives – For Seagate drive diagnostics.

6. Are SAS drives better for gaming or general PC use?

Not necessarily. NVMe SSDs are generally faster and better suited for gaming. SAS drives are designed for enterprise workloads, high-reliability storage, and multi-drive support.

7. Can I boot my operating system from a SAS drive?

Yes, but your system’s BIOS/UEFI must support booting from a SAS controller. Some motherboards may require a specific bootloader configuration for SAS-based OS installations.

8. How long do SAS drives last compared to SATA drives?

SAS drives are designed for 24/7 operation, offering a higher Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) than consumer SATA drives. They typically last 1.5 to 2 times longer under heavy workloads.

9. Do SAS drives consume more power than SATA drives?

Yes, SAS HDDs and SAS SSDs generally consume more power due to their higher performance and dual-port capabilities. Proper power management for SAS arrays is recommended to optimize efficiency.

10. What is the best RAID configuration for SAS drives?

The best RAID configuration depends on your needs:

RAID 10 – Best for performance and redundancy.
RAID 5/6 – Good for balancing storage capacity with fault tolerance.
JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks) – Best for flexible, independent storage without redundancy.

For more SAS storage solutions, check out our SAS Hard Disk Drive collection.