(No Cache/Battery/Bracket) Supermicro Add-On 12G 8 Port SAS Raid Card AOC-S3108L-H8IR-16DD

Supermicro AOC-S3108L-H8IR-16DD 12Gb/s 8-Port SAS RAID Controller (No Cache/Battery/Bracket)

The Supermicro AOC-S3108L-H8IR-16DD is an enterprise-grade 12Gb/s SAS RAID controller built for high-performance server environments. Powered by the Broadcom (LSI) SAS 3108 RAID-on-Chip processor, it delivers reliable hardware RAID capabilities and supports up to 16 internal drives, making it ideal for data centers, virtualization, and storage-intensive applications.

Core Specifications

• Model: AOC-S3108L-H8IR-16DD
• Controller Chip: Broadcom (LSI) SAS 3108 ROC (dual-core)
• Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x8
• Port Configuration: 8 internal ports via 2x Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8643)
• Drive Support: Up to 16 SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs
• Data Transfer Rates: 1.5Gb/s, 3Gb/s, 6Gb/s, and 12Gb/s

RAID & Performance

• RAID Levels Supported: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
• Cache Memory: 2GB DDR3 1866MHz
• Cache Features: Supports SSD CacheCade 2.0 (read/write caching)
• Max Devices: Firmware-limited to 16 drives

Physical & Form Factor

• Form Factor: Low-profile plug-in card
• Dimensions: 2.71" (H) x 6.6" (L)
• Bracket: Not included (low-profile bracket required for installation)

Compatibility & OS Support

• Motherboard Compatibility: Designed for Supermicro server platforms and compatible PCIe x8 slots

Operating Systems:

• Windows Server (2012 / 2016 / 2019)
• Linux (RHEL, Ubuntu, SUSE)

Advanced Features

• Optional Data Protection: Supports Supermicro/Broadcom supercapacitor module (BTR-TFM8G-LSICVM02)
• Power Management: Advanced power optimization features
• Enterprise Reliability: Hardware RAID with enhanced data integrity and fault tolerance

Related Part Numbers

• LSI2108-SUPERMICRO
• SAS3108-SUPERMICRO
• Broadcom 3108

Platform Compatibility & Deployment Notes

The AOC-S3108L-H8IR-16DD is highly compatible with a broad range of Supermicro server platforms and standard enterprise motherboards, though there are specific firmware and hardware nuances to consider.

Motherboard & Platform Compatibility

• Supermicro X9, X10, and X11 Generations:
  This card is primarily validated for Supermicro’s X9 (LGA 2011), X10 (LGA 2011-3), and X11 (LGA 3647) motherboard series.
• Note for X9 Boards:
  Some systems may require older firmware (v4.6800-8290 or earlier) to boot properly.
• Standard PCIe 3.0 Slots:
  Uses a standard PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, making it physically compatible with most servers from Dell (PowerEdge), HP (ProLiant), and Lenovo with available x8 or x16 slots.
• Form Factor:
  Low-profile design supports installation in 1U, 2U, and larger rackmount chassis.

Chassis and Backplane Requirements

• Connector Type:
  Uses Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8643) internal connectors. Matching backplane ports are required, or adapter cables (e.g., SFF-8643 to SFF-8087) for older SAS2 backplanes.
• Direct Connect vs. Expander:
  This “-16DD” model is firmware-limited to 16 drives. Best suited for 8-bay or 12-bay direct-connect backplanes.
  When used with expander backplanes (24-bay / 36-bay), only the first 16 drives will be recognized.

Operating System Support

• Windows Server: 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022
• Linux: RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu, CentOS
• Virtualization: VMware ESXi 6.0 and newer (requires LSI/Broadcom megaraid_sas driver)

Known Limitations

• JBOD Mode:
  As a hardware RAID controller, it does not natively support true IT Mode (pass-through), making it less suitable for software-defined storage platforms like TrueNAS or ZFS without firmware workarounds.
• Thermal Requirements:
  Requires strong server-grade airflow. In workstation environments, additional cooling (dedicated fan) may be necessary to prevent overheating.