Newer Technology (http://www.newertech.com) has announced its MAXPower RAID mini-SAS controller card line.

Available in a choice of two external ports or one internal/one external port configurations, the MAXPower RAID mini-SAS cards provide full data transfer of four drives through a single cable connection for up to twice the data transfer speed offered by the SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) data bus. Available now, both versions of the MAXPower RAID mini-SAS controller card have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$299.99.

The MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G-2e card features two external mini-SAS ports that enable connecting and RAIDing multi-drive mini-SAS external enclosures or up to eight eSATA external enclosures via mini-SAS to eSATA breakout cables. For Mac and PC users who want to connect and RAID both external enclosures as well as internal drives, the MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G-1e1i card features one external mini-SAS port and one internal mini-SAS port.

The MAXPower RAID mini-SAS controller cards come complete with a Web browser-based utility that automatically logs all events that occur — from minor issues like inconsistent data to major issues like a failed drive. The built-in scheduling system offers convenience in setting up RAID arrays, managing connected drives, viewing storage health status and reviewing information
about connected storage.