RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1 Drive Enclosure: 4U SAS-2 SATA/600 External RAID-Ready JBOD with Dual Mini-SAS HD Interfaces

The RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1 is a high-capacity external storage chassis designed for demanding data centers, editing suites, and enterprise backup environments. Built as a 4U, 8-bay hot-swappable disk enclosure, it delivers the flexibility and scalability you need to grow your storage infrastructure while minimizing downtime. This rugged black enclosure is purpose-built to house SAS and SATA drives in a RAID-friendly configuration, offering reliable performance and streamlined management when paired with a compatible RAID controller. With dual Mini-SAS HD host interfaces, a robust cooling system, and a rack-ready footprint, the JAGE480HDBK-M1 makes it easy to centralize storage, simplify maintenance, and optimize data workflows across demanding workloads.

• Massive 4U, 8-bay external chassis: A spacious form-factor designed to hold up to eight drives in hot-swappable bays, enabling scalable storage pools and flexible RAID configurations for long-term business needs.
• SAS-2 and SATA/600 drive support: Compatibility with high-performance SAS-2 and SATA drives delivers solid throughput and broad drive choice, letting you optimize for capacity, speed, or a balanced mix.
• Dual Mini-SAS HD host interfaces (SFF8644): Two high-speed Mini-SAS HD connectors provide ample bandwidth to connect to modern servers, reducing bottlenecks and enabling efficient data transfer across large datasets.
• Hot-swappable bays with dedicated cooling: Designed for hot-swapping, this enclosure minimizes downtime during drive maintenance while a 120mm cooling solution helps maintain drive health and consistent performance under load.
• 4U rack-mountable, enterprise-ready chassis: A rugged black enclosure built to integrate seamlessly into standard data-center racks, supporting organized cable management and scalable deployment across multiple racks.

Technical Details of RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1

• Form Factor: External 4U rack-mountable enclosure
• Drive Bays: 8 hot-swappable bays designed for SAS/SATA disks
• Drive Interface: SAS-2, SATA/600 compatibility
• Host Interface: 2 x Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors for high-bandwidth connections
• Chassis Color: Black
• Cooling: 1 x 120mm cooling fan to support sustained performance
• RAID/JBOD Capability: Supports RAID configurations when used with a suitable RAID controller; also usable as a high-capacity JBOD for expandability
• Hot-Swappable: Yes, for easy maintenance without system downtime
• Applications: Suitable for data centers, media storage, backup and archival solutions, editing suites, and any workflow requiring expandable, reliable external storage

How to install RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1

Installing the RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1 into a rack and configuring it for use with your server or storage controller is a straightforward process designed to minimize downtime and maximize performance. Follow these steps to ensure a safe and efficient installation:

1. Prepare the rack: Confirm your rack space is clean and accessible. Verify that you have the appropriate rack rails and mounting hardware compatible with a 4U enclosure. If rails are included with the unit, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for rail installation before mounting the chassis.
2. Mount the enclosure: Slide the JAGE480HDBK-M1 into the allotted 4U rack space. Align the mounting ears with the cage nuts, secure with screws, and ensure the chassis is level and stable. Allow space for cable management and airflow behind the unit.
3. Connect the host interfaces: Route and connect two Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) cables from your server or storage controller to the dual host ports on the enclosure. Ensure the cables are firmly seated and routed to prevent strain during operation.
4. Power and cooling: Connect the enclosure to a stable power source. Verify that the 120mm fan is functioning and that there is adequate airflow across the drive bays. If your environment requires redundant power, plan for additional redundancy as appropriate.
5. Install drives: With the enclosure powered off, or when using hot-swappable bays, insert SAS/SATA drives into the 8 bays as needed. Ensure each drive is properly seated and secured in its sled/drawer for reliable operation.
6. Configure in the host: Power on the host server and access your RAID controller’s management utility. Create the desired logical drives (RAID levels such as 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, etc., depending on controller support), initialize the drives, and assign a suitable cache policy and rebuild settings if necessary.
7. Verify performance: After configuration, run a quick health check and verify drive hot-swap readiness by performing a test replacement to confirm the system recognizes bay changes without disruption.

Tip: When planning for a production deployment, consider hot-spare configurations and backup strategies to maximize data protection. The JAGE480HDBK-M1’s flexible 8-bay design makes it easy to allocate drives for performance, capacity, or redundancy, depending on your workload requirements.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What drives can I put in the RAIDage JAGE480HDBK-M1?
  A: The enclosure supports SAS and SATA drives. It is designed for hot-swappable use and is compatible with standard enterprise-class SAS/SATA disks. Always confirm drive compatibility with your RAID controller and verify drive firmware requirements before deployment.
• Q: Does this enclosure include its own RAID controller?
  A: No. The JAGE480HDBK-M1 is a chassis that hosts drives and interfaces with your server or RAID controller. RAID capabilities come from the host controller you pair with it.
• Q: How many host connections does it have?
  A: The enclosure features two Mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors, providing high-bandwidth links to compatible servers or controllers.
• Q: Is the enclosure hot-swappable?
  A: Yes. All eight drive bays are hot-swappable, enabling drive replacement or expansion without powering down the entire system.
• Q: What is the form factor and where is it used?
  A: It is a 4U external rack-mountable chassis designed for data centers, editing suites, and enterprise storage environments that require scalable, high-capacity storage solutions.
• Q: Can it function as JBOD as well as in a RAID configuration?
  A: Yes. It supports RAID configurations when used with a compatible RAID controller, and it can operate as JBOD to present individual drives to the host system when needed.