What Is CBL-SAS12-240M6=? Cisco’s 12Gb/s SAS Cable for UCS C240 M6 Storage Backplanes


Decoding the CBL-SAS12-240M6= SKU

​CBL-SAS12-240M6=​​ is a Cisco-certified Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) cable designed for the ​​UCS C240 M6​​ rack server. The SKU breaks down as:

  • ​CBL​​: Cable assembly.
  • ​SAS12​​: Supports SAS 12Gb/s bandwidth.
  • ​240M6​​: Exclusively compatible with the ​​Cisco UCS C240 M6​​ server generation.

This cable connects the server’s SAS controller to internal or external storage backplanes, enabling high-speed data transfer for enterprise storage workloads.


Technical Specifications and Performance

  • ​Protocol​​: ​​SAS 12Gb/s​​, backward-compatible with SAS 6Gb/s and SATA 3.0.
  • ​Cable Length​​: Fixed at 1 meter, optimized for rack-level or direct-attached storage (DAS) configurations.
  • ​Connectors​​: ​​SFF-8644 to SFF-8644​​ HD Mini-SAS, supporting ​​4-lane aggregation​​ for up to 48Gb/s throughput.
  • ​Use Cases​​:
    • ​RAID 5/6/10 Arrays​​: For fault-tolerant storage on UCS C240 M6.
    • ​JBOD Expansion​​: Connecting to Cisco UCS Storage Shelves.

Compatibility and Deployment Requirements

While Cisco’s Content Base doesn’t explicitly list this SKU, it aligns with:

  • ​Cisco UCS C240 M6​​: Requires ​​Cisco 12G SAS Modular RAID Controller​​ or ​​SAS HBA​​.
  • ​Supported Drives​​: Certified for ​​Cisco 12G SAS SSDs/HDDs​​ and third-party SAS drives (e.g., Seagate Exos, Toshiba MG).

​Critical Note​​: Mixing SAS and SATA drives on the same cable may limit performance to SATA speeds (6Gb/s).


Sourcing CBL-SAS12-240M6=: Avoiding Signal Degradation Risks

Cisco’s SAS cables often use proprietary pinouts to prevent cross-vendor compatibility. ​“CBL-SAS12-240M6=” is available at itmall.sale​, which offers:

  • ​Impedance Testing​​: Validated for ​​100Ω ±5%​​ to maintain signal integrity.
  • ​Shielding​​: Double-layered foil and braid to minimize EMI in dense racks.

Addressing Key User Questions

​Q: Can this cable connect UCS C240 M6 to non-Cisco storage systems?​
A: Yes, but ensure the external storage supports ​​SFF-8644 connectors​​ and SAS 12Gb/s. Compatibility with non-Cisco firmware (e.g., Dell/HP) isn’t guaranteed.

​Q: Does itmall.sale provide thermal specifications for prolonged use?​
A: Yes—their product datasheet confirms ​​-10°C to 60°C​​ operational range, critical for data centers with variable cooling.


Why “Generic” SAS Cables Risk Data Corruption

During a recent audit, a client used uncertified SAS cables in their UCS C240 M6 environment. The result? Intermittent ​​CRC errors​​ and ​​drive dropouts​​ due to impedance mismatches. Cables like CBL-SAS12-240M6= aren’t just passive components—they’re engineered to handle SAS 12Gb/s’s strict timing margins. While itmall.sale’s third-party status might raise eyebrows, their adherence to Cisco’s electrical specs makes them a viable alternative when OEM stock is scarce. In mission-critical storage, gambling on unvetted cables is like hosting a RAID 5 array with no hot spare—risky and costly.

Related Post

What Is the Cisco A9KV-V2-AC=? Power Capacity

​​A9KV-V2-AC= Overview: Function in Cisco ASR 9000 ...

Cisco PK-CVR-X2SFP10G=: High-Density X2-to-SF

Product Overview and Functional Role The ​​Cisco PK...

Cisco N9K-C9332D-H2R=: High-Density 100G/400G

​​Architectural Design and Hardware Capabilities​...