Using Tri-mode NVMe HBA/RAID Card with ToughArmor Enclosures

Introduction to Compatibility Issue

Thorough testing has revealed a compatibility issue when using ToughArmor enclosures (models MB699VP-B, MB601VK-B, MB601VK-1B, MB601M2K-1B, MB705M2P-B, MB720M2K-B, MB833M2K-B, MB834M2K-B) with certain Intel and Broadcom Tri-Mode HBA and RAID cards. This issue arises because PCIe card manufacturers may use a different pinout for Tri-Mode cards than is standard for U.2 connections. To ensure Tri-Mode cards can detect U.2/M.2 NVMe drives and revert to standard U.2 specifications, a U.2 enabler cable is required.

Important Cautionary Steps

Broadcom advises the following steps to ensure compatibility and prevent damage to drives, RAID cards, and enclosures:

• For PCIe / NVMe connections, use the appropriate U.2 enabler cable. This cable enables connection to the backplane connectors by routing REFCLK, sidebands, and PCIe signals to the correct pins.
• Using standard 12Gb/s SAS cables for NVMe connections may result in damage to the PCIe adapter or the drive.

Compatible U.2 Enabler Cables

The following tables list Tri-Mode HBA and RAID cards affected by this issue and the compatible U.2 enabler cable model numbers.

Table 1: Compatible U.2 Enabler Cable for ToughArmor MB699VP-B / MB720M2K-B / MB833M2K-B / MB834M2K-B + Tri-Mode Cards

Table 2: Compatible U.2 Enabler Cable for ToughArmor MB601VK-B / MB601VK-1B / MB601M2K-1B / MB705M2P-B + Tri-Mode Cards

Further Information

For more details regarding Tri-mode compatibility or to purchase a U.2 enabler cable, please contact your specific HBA or RAID card manufacturer.