Summary
Information of the maximum drive limit for Intel(R) RAID Controllers
Description
The system is unable to add more than 32 drives to build RAID 5 or RAID 6.
For instance; in the picture below when using Advanced method it shows all 52 drives in a list but when all drives are selected, the "Add Drives" button still inactive; however when using Simple method it automatically takes maximum 32 drives and creates RAID 6 array.
Resolution
There is a Drive Support Limits. The next table describes the SAS/SATA drive support limits of the Intel Tri-Mode RAID Adapters.
| Specification | RSP3TD160F | RSP3MD088F | RSP3DD0B0F | RSP3WD080E |
| Maximum virtual drives per adapter | 64 | 64 | 64 | 32 |
| Maximum drive groups per adapter | 64 | 64 | 64 | 32 |
| Maximum virtual drives per drive group | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Maximum drives per drive group | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Maximum physical devices per adapter | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
| Maximum hot spares per adapter | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 |
| Maximum spans per virtual drive | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Maximum enclosures | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
1This setting is firmware dependent.
So, this will show there is a limitation on maximum drives per drive group. That is 32 devices not matter the RAID level or RAID Controller.