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Intel RES2SV240 24-Port SAS Expander Card: features, specs and who it suits
A low-profile Intel SAS/SATA expander card that turns a few controller ports into up to 24 drive connections at 6Gb/s. What it does and what it needs.
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The Intel RES2SV240 is a 24-port SAS expander card. It lets a RAID controller or host adapter connect to many more drives than its own ports allow, which is useful in servers and storage builds that hold more than eight disks. It is a component for system builders and IT staff rather than a general consumer part.
What an expander does
A SAS controller card has a limited number of ports. An expander works like a switch for storage: you connect one or a few links from the controller to the expander, and the expander fans them out to many drives. Intel says the card is a complement to its SAS-2 generation RAID cards and suits storage with more than eight drives.
The listing says the card uses an LSI SAS 2x24 expander chip to communicate with 24 ports at 3 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s. That means it can connect both older SATA/SAS-1 speeds and 6Gb/s SAS-2 devices. Transfer rates are given as up to 6 Gb/s per port, or 600 MB/s per port.
Connectors
The card carries SFF-8087 connectors, which are Mini-SAS connectors that each carry four lanes. The listing's features say eight connectors and the technical section says six, so confirm the exact count against Intel's product documentation. It gives up to 24 targets or initiators to attach. Drives usually connect through cables that break each Mini-SAS connector out to individual drives, or to a backplane that does this.
Power and the host connection
The technical information gives PCI Express x4 as the host interface. In practice, an expander like this often takes power from the slot and doesn't need to carry data through it, which is why it can also be fixed to a chassis wall or air duct when no slot is free, as Intel notes. Check the manual for power requirements in your arrangement.
Size and form factor
It is a half-length, low-profile card. Intel says the low height allows installation in 1U or 2U systems with a low-profile cutout, and the MD2-compliant depth of 6.6 inches fits motherboards where a heat sink would interfere with a longer card. The item dimensions listed are 11.0 x 9.0 x 3.0 inches, which appear to be the packaging.
Compatibility and warranty
Intel says the card is compatible with its current and future RAID products and was tested across its SAS-2 RAID product line. It is backed by a three-year warranty.
Who it suits
It suits people building or expanding a server, NAS or archive that needs many drives, and who already use a compatible SAS RAID card or host bus adapter.
What to check before you buy
- Controller: confirm your RAID card or HBA is compatible with this expander.
- Cables: you need the right SFF-8087 cables for your controller, drives or backplane.
- Drive type: check your SAS and SATA drives are supported, and the speeds they run at.
- Connection point: decide whether you will use a PCIe slot or mount the card in the chassis.
- Space: check the chassis height and depth, and airflow.
- Documentation: compare the listing's connector count with Intel's official specification.
The short version
- An Intel 24-port SAS/SATA expander card, model RES2SV240.
- Up to 6 Gb/s per port with 3 Gb/s support.
- SFF-8087 Mini-SAS connectors.
- Half-length, low-profile form factor for 1U and 2U systems.
- Three-year warranty, per Intel.
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