SAS is the latest generation interface for the server environment, a successor to the SCSI parallel interface that combines high-end features, such as multi-initiator support and full-duplex communication, with the smaller Sata interface. SAS can support both SAS and Sata drives, so Sata drives can be connected to $AS controllers, though you can't go the other way.

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SAS, like Sata, operates at speeds up to 3Gbits/sec. It also has extended drive addressing which allows it to support up to 4,032 devices per port, a huge advantage over parallel SCSI or Sata.