How to use Non-Volatile Memory Express* (NVMe*) on Intel® Server Boards and Intel® Server Systems
Where do I find this information?
NVMe* is only supported on/with the following:
- Intel® Server Board families, out of the box.
When using NVMe drives, native support (for bootable purposes) is only possible on the following board families with the use of Intel® VROC:
Intel® Server Board D50TNP Family
Intel® Server Board M50CYP Family
Intel® Server Board S2600BP Family
Intel® Server Board S2600WF Family
Intel® Server Board S2600ST FamilyAvailable VROC Keys, for different usages See also Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU (Intel® VROC) Upgrade Key Installation Guide.
- The following would require the use of special, add-in backplanes or PCIe* slots.
The use of NVMe drives would only be as stand-alone. While you could create RAID volumes through either Intel® Rapid Storage Technology enterprise (Intel® RSTe) or RAID configuration from within the operation system, these would still be for storage purposes only. They are not bootable.
Intel® Server Board S2600TP
Intel® Server Board S2600KP
Intel® Server Board S2600WT
Intel® Server Board S2600CW
- The following would require the use of special, add-in backplanes or PCIe* slots.
- The supported CPUs are those within the Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processor family.
- As for NVMe on hardware Tri-Mode Intel® RAID Controllers and Intel® Storage Controllers, only:
- The compatible Tri-Mode Intel RAID Controllers are:
Intel® RAID Adapter RS3P4TF160F
Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3DD080F
Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3TD160F
Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3WD080E
Intel® RAID Adapter RSP3MD088F
Intel® RAID Module RMSP3AD160F
Intel® RAID Module RMSP3CD080F
Intel® RAID Module RMSP3HD080E - The compatible Tri-Mode Intel® Storage Controllers (for hard drive stand-alone use only; not for RAID) models are:
Intel® Storage Adapter RS3P4QF160J
Intel® Storage Module RMSP3JD160J
Intel® Storage Adapter RSP3QD160J
- The compatible Tri-Mode Intel RAID Controllers are:
- A special Hot Swap Backplane (HSBP) needs to be used for NVMe support when using 2.5-inch drives [except the PCIe* card type of NVMe* drives (those that fit on a PCIe slot)]:
For Intel Server Board S2600CW Family FUP8X25S3NVDK: Hot-swap backplane PCIe combination drive cage kit for the Intel® Server Chassis P4000 family supporting 2.5-inch NVM Express SSDs
For Intel Server Board S2600ST Family AUP8X25S3NVDK: Hot-swap backplane PCIe combination drive cage kit for the Intel® Server Chassis P4000 family supporting 2.5-inch NVM Express SSDs
A2U44X25NVMEDK2: 4P NVMe Kit for 2U R2000, x8 Host PCIe Switch AIC, FH brackets, with 2U combo HSBP and cables, drive carriers Support - As for the use of 24x NVMe drives on the Intel® Server System R2224WFTZS, note the only way to achieve this is by using VROC and adding switch cards to the configuration:
4-port PCIe Switch Add-in Card AXXP3SWX08040 any open PCIe slot
8-port PCIe Switch Add-in Card AXXP3SWX08080 any open PCIe slot
For further information, refer to Drive Bay Module # 1 - NVMe* Cable Guide section of the Configuration Guide.
| Note |
Tri-Mode RAID controllers cannot be used in combination with switch cards; therefore, you are limited to the amount of ports on the Tri-Mode Controller. |
