Todays external enclosure designs are based on architectures that support both SATA and SAS drives. The MegaRAID SAS 9280-8E with eight external SATA+SAS ports is ideal for configuring these external enclosures with your choice of high-performance SAS hard drives high-capacity SATA hard drives or power-saving solid state drives (SSDs). With data transfer rates of up to 6Gb/s per port the MegaRAID SAS 9280-8E brings users features and improved performance while continuing to support all the features of the previous 3Gb/s SATA+SAS generation. The feature line controller employs the latest in RAID-on-Chip technology plies with the PCI Express 2.0 specification and provides additional data security using LSI SafeStore encryption services. 6Gb/s SAS is designed for backward patibility with 3Gb/s SAS as well as with 6Gb/s and 3Gb/s SATA hard drives. Regardless of the drive speed 6Gb/s MegaRAID controllers will deliver significant performance improvements in both read and write applications as pared to their 3Gb/s predecessors. Other features to the 6Gb/s MegaRAID SATA+SAS controllers include greater signal integrity using Decision Feedback Equalization support for more sophisticated SAS topologies using Expander Self-discovery/Self-configuration and additional safeguards to enhance data protection. LSI is pleased to offer SafeStore encryption services which offer instant secure erase and local key management for self-encrypting drives (SEDs). This technology represents a significant step forward in securing a drives data from any unauthorized access or modification resulting from theft loss or repurposing of drives. Instant secure erase cryptographically erases an SED whether it is 73GB or 1TB in less than a second. This allows for secure drive returns or reuse. SafeStore local key management provides the necessary management and protection of SEDs using a simple pass phrase security key identifier and security key file which can be set and applied to all SEDs as