For an r730xd configured with split zoning backplane (not the flex bay, im talking a 4/20 split zoning of the main backplane with the flex zone option) is it a supported configuration to use (for example) a mini HBA330 and a PCIe H730 rather than 2x PERC? Obviously I could also be asking if it is a H730p and a PCIe HBA330 (most likely the case)
I only ask because all the dell documentation state flexible zoning is possible with 2x RAID controllers- HBA330 isnt a raid controller. I am aware that the H730 can present drives in pseudo non-raid HBA mode but that is not suitable for my usage, drives must be presented from a non RAID card, i.e. HBA330.
The system will not have a flex bay at the rear and I don't want to use the onboard software RAID.
EDIT: further info I have found:
There are only two instance I have found where this has been mentioned. A keynote speech by Michael Dell https://www.crn.com/news/data-center/300080217/dell-updates-13th-gen-servers-with-broadwell-cpu-improved-software-defined-storage.htm and this single entry that says a HBA330 is supported but a H330 not, which really surprised me as I though a H330 was a proper RAID card with no cache https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/openmanage-server-administrator-v9.3.1/omss_9.3.1_users_guide/backplanes?guid=guid-6da822f8-31a1-496b-855c-429a40c22f13 which is in the OMSS but not the 730 pdf
Figure 3 of the 730xd manual shows how the cabling is possible but has no mention of what PERC configurations are possible. https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/poweredge-r730xd/r730xd_ompublication/removing-the-hard-drive-backplane?guid=guid-ad50f394-cb7b-48b7-be67-08bb40b4d60f&lang=en-us
iDRAC8 says it only supports SATA for H330 mini https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/poweredge-c6320p/idrac_2.40.40.40_ug_pub/supported-controllers?guid=guid-2684848c-5cb7-40be-9269-6b9dbb01ed49&lang=en-us but can configure split zoning https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/poweredge-c6320p/idrac_2.40.40.40_ug_pub/configuring-backplane-mode?guid=guid-e6a2c637-cd00-41dd-a81b-a76cfb58e80e&lang=en-us according to the documents, idrac lets you set this up regardless of the presence of a second controller.
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Not relevent to the 730xd information I am looking for but flexible zoning has carried onto the 14gen line: https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/idrac9-lifecycle-controller-v4.x-series/idrac9_4.00.00.00_ug_new/configuring-backplane-mode?guid=guid-d66d6130-1a2b-4530-843e-4e749105e77e&lang=en-us but it seems that support configurations are sketchy - it only says it is NOT possible with a H750 or HBA350i (adapter cards) https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/idrac9-lifecycle-controller-v4.x-series/idrac9_4.00.00.00_ug_new/configuring-backplane-mode?guid=guid-d66d6130-1a2b-4530-843e-4e749105e77e&lang=en-us
Not relevent to the 730xd information I am looking for but Figure 139 of the 740xd guide shows the cabling for dual PERC/HBA controller backplane setup but doesnt give a valid combination. Confusingly this is a dual ADAPTER setup and doesnt involve the mini card!