How to work with SAS disks on a regular, non-server computer?

Question

Hard disks

There are several SAS disks on hand, 146 and 300 GB each. All 2.5 inch, there is a desire to test them, check the surface for bad sectors, etc. I don’t understand how to do this without a server piece of hardware with a RAID array. Are there any budget options? I need to be able to work with a SAS disk as with a regular SATA, in the usual form, RAIDs are not needed, just working with disks one at a time is enough. There is a desire to launch the same Victoria and count the indicators, check the surface. Is there anything suitable?

Answer 1

At a minimum, you need a SAS HBA (Host Bus Adapter), discrete or built-in to the mother. And matching cables.
In fact, it is easier to find SAS RAID, although it is more expensive.

Answer 2

You need an HBA adapter (some people call it an HBA controller).
You can take a used one on eBay, junk, or Avito.

without a server hardware with a RAID array ... RAIDs are not needed

You not only do not need a RAID controller, but it is also contraindicated.
A number of controllers can normally switch to HBA mode, but many can desperately and unexpectedly do weird things - automatically initialize disks and do other similar things.
So we generally recommend avoiding raid boards for this kind of work.

several SAS disks ... there is a desire to test them, check the surface for bad sectors

Get iron and take R.tester. As far as we know, at least among free utilities, it has the widest range of options for working with SCSI and SAS disks: https://rlab.ru/tools/rtester.html
For example, the program allows you to view SMART for CAC and SKAZI hard drives, and has a smart built-in SCSI commander with tips.

Answer 3

Any sashba adapter is not expensive