03T6KY Dell / LSI SAS9207-8e 8-Port External HBA

Dell / LSI SAS9207-8e 8-Port Ext 6Gbps SATA+SAS PCIe 3.0 SFF-8088 Low Profile HBA DPN: 3T6KY,03T6KY

• Brand: Dell
• Part #: 3T6KY,03T6KY
• Specs:-
• ::Device Type: Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
• ::Model: LSI SAS9207-8e (Dell OEM)
• ::Interface (Host): PCI Express 3.0 x8 (sometimes listed as 2.0 x8)
• ::Data Transfer Rate: 6 Gbps per port (SAS/SATA)
• ::Ports: Dual External Mini-SAS (SFF-8088 connectors)
• ::Channels: 8 (four per external port)
• Function: Connects up to 256 physical devices (SAS/SATA) in a non-RAID, pass-through mode, used for JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) configurations.
• Condition: New; open box
• Warranty: 1 (one) year Tekmart Africa warranty
•  

INT271025UKT2025

**Eligible for immediate collection / shipping  upon order confirmation*

The SKU:3T6KY is a Dell part number referring to an LSI SAS9207-8e Host Bus Adapter (HBA).

This is a server add-on option used to connect external SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) and SATA storage devices to a server.

Its special uses revolve around its function as a "dumb" controller that provides direct access to storage devices, which is critical for Software-Defined Storage solutions.

Best use case scenarios:-

1. Software-Defined Storage (SDS) Systems

This is the most common special use. Modern SDS platforms require direct, unhindered control over the physical drives for their own internal software RAID and data management.

• ::ZFS (e.g., in TrueNAS/FreeNAS): ZFS is highly dependent on having direct access to the entire disk to manage its own array, checksumming, and error correction. The 3T6KY in IT Mode is a widely recommended HBA for ZFS-based systems.

• ::Storage Spaces Direct (Microsoft) / Ceph / Proxmox ZFS: These storage platforms also rely on the operating system or hypervisor to manage the array, making an HBA that simply passes the raw drive data essential.

•  

2. JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks) Expansion

The card's primary role is to connect to external drive enclosures using its two Mini-SAS SFF-8088 ports, effectively acting as an expander port.

It allows a single server to connect to a JBOD enclosure or tape libraries, providing access to large numbers of drives (up to 256 non-RAID devices). This is perfect for high-density storage where the server's internal drive bays are insufficient.

3. Maximum Disk Compatibility and Drive Monitoring

Because it avoids the hardware RAID layer, the HBA offers benefits in disk management:

• ::Drive Health: It allows the operating system and monitoring tools (like S.M.A.R.T.) to see the individual health status of each disk, which is often masked when drives are behind a hardware RAID controller.

•  

• ::Interchangeability: Disks connected to an HBA in IT Mode are more easily moved to another HBA of the same type or a different system, improving flexibility and disaster recovery.

•  

4. Flashing to IT Mode

The card is based on the LSI SAS2308 controller chip. While the card as a Dell OEM part may come with Dell's firmware (sometimes called "IR" or Integrated RAID mode), it can typically be cross-flashed with the generic LSI "IT" firmware to fully ensure true pass-through functionality, making it highly desirable in the  storage community.

Its most significant and "special" use cases emerge from its ability to run in "IT" (Initiator Target) Mode, meaning it passes the disks directly to the operating system without any on-card RAID processing.