One decent model that isn’t that much is the <ahref="https://www.amazon.ca/SAS9211-8I-8PORT-Int-Sata-Pcie/dp/B002RL8I7M/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=9211-8i&qid=1586699707&sr=8-2">LSI 9211-8I</a>.
This is ideal for future expansion.</p>
<p>A cheaper option is a PCIe multi-SATA connector <ahref="https://www.amazon.ca/Rivo-Controller-Expansion-Profile-Non-Raid/dp/B0836MKFCR?ref_=ast_slp_dp">like this</a>.</p>
<p>Either work, but one is cheaper and the other is more expandable.
The 9211-8I uses two SAS ports, which can be expanded indefinetely. SAS supports splitting.
SATA can be connected in a 4:1 ratio to SAS connectors with some <ahref="https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-SFF-8087-Breakout/dp/B012BPLYJC">cheap cables</a>.</p>
<h3id="problem-2-drives">Problem 2: Drives</h3>
<p>I do not have enough drives to make this work right now.
For the setup I want it would require 5 or 6 drives.
I will get 4-5 drives worth of space as one drive worth of space is dedicated to “parity”, making you able to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Verify data integrity. If anything goes wrong with a write, it will be fixed automatically.</li>
<li>If <em>one</em> drive dies, the system can stay online with no problem. Two drives and I’m eff-you-see-kay-ed-dee.</li>
</ol>
<p>My other option is to use two drives worth of space for partiy.
This would only have me 3-4 drives of space, but
this system can withstand the failure of <em>two</em> drives.</p>
<li>Celery Stick. An old grey HP laptop with a Braille stickered keyboard. <em>Does not work right now; bad thermal paste job.</em></li>
<li>A Dell laptop lent to me by my school during my studies.</li>
<li>Houston. A 21-inch 2011 iMac for which the screen does not work under Linux (excep with the <codeclass="highlighter-rouge">nomodeset</code> kernel option enabled).</li>
<li>An Old Toshiba laptop (circa 2010) that I got for $50 to test with OpenBSD (works….sometimes).</li>
<li>Main Rig. My main laptop is an ASUS-705 TUF gaming laptop.</li>
</ol>
<p>None of these have PCIe expansion slots with a case that can handle the new drives.</p>