ATTO ThunderLink SH 3128 Thunderbolt 3 To SAS/SATA Adapter

ATTO ThunderLink SH 3128 – Thunderbolt 3 to 12Gb SAS/SATA Adapter

The ATTO ThunderLink SH 3128 is a desktop adapter that connects Thunderbolt-equipped workstations to professional SAS and SATA storage. Modern laptops and compact workstations rarely include a SAS port, yet production environments still rely on SAS disk arrays, SSD enclosures and LTO tape drives for editing, backup and archive work. The SH 3128 bridges that gap in a single external unit: two 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 ports on the host side and two mini-SAS HD connectors carrying eight 12Gb/s SAS/SATA lanes on the storage side.

ATTO rates the adapter at up to 2750 MB/s of total throughput, and its Advanced Data Streaming technology is designed to manage latency so that throughput stays consistent during sustained transfers rather than dipping when several streams run at once. Through SAS expanders it can address up to 3500 disk or tape devices, which makes it suitable for anything from a single tape drive on an editor’s desk to a large expander-based archive library.

Key features

• Dual 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 ports with daisy chaining for up to six devices
• Two x4 mini-SAS HD (SFF-8644) connectors giving eight 12Gb/s SAS/SATA ports
• Up to 2750 MB/s total throughput with latency management
• Support for up to 3500 disk or tape devices through SAS expanders
• Power Center Pro RAID software included, supporting RAID 0, 1, 1e and 10
• Thunderbolt certified for macOS and Windows
• Backward compatible with 20Gb/s Thunderbolt 2 hosts

Built for media and archive workflows

SAS remains the standard connection for LTO tape, and the SH 3128 supports SAS tape devices including transport layer retries for reliable error handling, making it a practical route for connecting an LTO drive to a Thunderbolt-only Mac or PC for long-term archiving. Auto-negotiation between 12Gb/s, 6Gb/s and 3Gb/s devices means older enclosures and drives keep working alongside current hardware. Protocol support covers SSP, STP, SMP and SAT, with SES and S.M.A.R.T. support for enclosure and drive health monitoring.

Management and installation

ATTO’s ConfigTool utility provides graphical configuration and monitoring, and a command line interface is available for scripted setups. Flash ROM allows field firmware updates as hosts and operating systems evolve. The compact desktop enclosure measures 22.0 x 10.34 x 3.05 cm, uses a locking power supply fed by a 100–240V AC input, includes a Kensington security slot, and is RoHS compliant. Interoperability is tested with leading storage hardware and software vendors, which matters in mixed studios where the adapter must sit between a workstation, an enclosure and backup software from three different makers.

For editors, DITs and IT teams who need dependable SAS connectivity on Thunderbolt machines, the SH 3128 offers a manufacturer-supported path instead of a chain of converters, keeping high-bandwidth disk and tape storage accessible to the current generation of workstations.