DELL 405-AAEK RAID controller PCI Express x8 3.0

The DELL 405-AAEK RAID controller is a PCI Express x8 3.0 storage controller designed for server environments. It supports both SAS and SATA III drives across 8 channels and implements hardware RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60. Built around the LSI family SAS 3108 processor, the controller is compatible with a range of PowerEdge servers and is intended for deployment in Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 systems where dependable RAID functionality and high throughput are required.

Advantages

The controller provides multi-level RAID support for flexible data protection and performance tuning, with hardware acceleration from the SAS 3108 chipset. Its PCI Express x8 host interface offers high-bandwidth connectivity to the host system, while support for both SAS and SATA III media enables mixed-drive configurations. Compatibility with common PowerEdge server models simplifies integration into existing server fleets.

Suitable for

• Enterprise and SMB server storage requiring hardware RAID
• Database servers and virtualized hosts where redundancy and performance are needed
• Backup and archival systems using mixed SAS/SATA drives
• Systems running Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2012

Key specifications

• Host interface: PCI Express x8 (PCIe 3.0)
• Supported drive interfaces: SAS and SATA III
• Number of channels: 8
• Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
• Controller chipset family: LSI SAS 3108
• Intended operating environments: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

How to use

Install the controller into a free PCIe x8 slot on a compatible server motherboard following standard electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions. Connect SAS or SATA drive backplanes or cables to the controller’s ports according to the server chassis layout. Power on the host and enter the system's pre-boot configuration utility to verify the controller is detected and to configure RAID arrays. Load the appropriate drivers in the operating system, then initialize and format logical volumes before placing them into production.

Recommendations

For optimal performance and reliability, use enterprise-class SAS drives when implementing RAID levels that require high I/O throughput or write performance. Ensure firmware and driver versions for both the controller and host server are kept up to date. Maintain regular backups and monitor array health through vendor or third-party management tools to detect degradations early.