Before I could add any input here I'd rather get more questions off my back.
- Bend Radius of cable options
- Bend radius of cable options when multiple cables in a modular design get merged together? And the stress that produces on the card?
- Room for LEDS on either side of the connectors and still fit in the PCI form-factor?
- EMI performance modelled? Common mode impedance/s-params simulations?
- Keying options? Even though we shouldn't have them...
- Release mechanisms push-pull? Does it matter?
- Heatsink capabilities on connector body?
- Color coding the body of the cable/connector?
 
If the design was modular, a power pin per x4 block would answer alot of your questions below. As would using I2C or other such 2 wire/3 wire management interfaces on a per x4 block design.
 
 

From: owner-t10@t10.org [mailto:owner-t10@t10.org] On Behalf Of Alvin.Cox@seagate.com
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 2:25 PM
To: t10@t10.org
Subject: SAS 2.1 connector considerations


Feedback from users would help to narrow the selection field and number of proposals to better fit the application model. In addition to the posting by Alvin Cox regarding the input from the November t10 meeting, a few opinions would be extremely helpful. Please consider both internal and external applications.

08-453

Is a modular design favored over a set number of connections?
        This would likely consist of 4x blocks and could allow for multiple cables or different single cables that have the 4x, 8x, 12x, 16x configurations.
        Trade-off of modular may be encountered due to area.
        Suggestions for sideband support?
                Separate module?
                Include in one module?
                Duplicate on all modules?
                        Partial or all lines?
Sidebands?
        How many required for internal and external?
        Does external provide more information than just cable power and type?
Power requirements?
        How much power is required for a 16x configuration?
                Copper
                Optical
        What voltage and current?
                Cable perspective
                User perspective


Alvin Cox
Seagate Technology, LLC
Office 405-392-3738
Cell 405-206-4809
E-Mail  alvin.cox@seagate.com