Acard AEC-6880 User manual

Copyright 2001 ACARD Technology Corp.
ACARD ATA-133RAID
AEC-6880
PCI-to-IDE ATA-133
RAID Controller
User’s Manual
Ver:1.1.20011016.6880
Version:1.1

Copyright and Trademarks Information
The information of product in this manual is subject to change without
prior notice and does not represent a commitment on part of the vendor,
who assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors that may appear
in this manual.
ACARD and SCSIDE are the trademarks of ACARD Technology Corp.
Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft. All brand names and trade-
marks are properties of their respective owners.
This manual contains materials protected under International Copyright
Laws. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced,
transmitted or transcribed without the expressed written permission of
the manufacturer and authors of this manual.

ACARD AEC-6880
3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction.......................................................5
1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................5
1.2 Feature ...........................................................................................5
1.3 Packing List ...................................................................................5
1.4 Specification ..................................................................................6
Chapter 2 Hardware Installation.......................................7
2.1 Quick start hardware installation.................................................7
2.2 ACARD AEC-6880 Board Layout .................................................7
2.3 ACARD AEC-6880 cable & power installation ............................8
2.4 What you should know before the installation ...........................9
2.4.1 Striping Mode ..........................................................................9
2.4.2 Mirror Mode.............................................................................9
2.4.3 Normal Mode.........................................................................10
2.5 Compatibility list .........................................................................11
Chapter 3 BIOS Setup ......................................................12
3.1 Functions description.................................................................12
3.1.1 Set RAID Mode screen .........................................................13
3.1.2 Explanation of each RAID mode: ..........................................13
3.1.3 Stripe Size.............................................................................14
3.1.4 Build Mirror Disk....................................................................15
3.1.5 Other Functions.....................................................................15
3.1.6 Exit Setup..............................................................................15

ACARD AEC-6880
4
Chapter 4 System Installation .........................................16
4.1 Normal Mode Installation............................................................16
4.1.1 DOS Environment .................................................................16
4.1.2 Windows 95/98/ME Environment ..........................................17
4.1.3 Windows NT Environment.....................................................20
4.1.4 Windows 2000 Environment .................................................23
4.1.5 Windows XP (Beta Version) Environment.............................28
4.2 Striping Mode (RAID 0) Installation ...........................................34
4.2.1 DOS Environment .................................................................34
4.2.2 Windows 95/98/ME Environment ..........................................34
4.2.3 Windows NT Environment.....................................................34
4.2.4 Windows 2000 Environment .................................................34
4.2.5 Windows XP (Beta Version) Environment.............................34
4.3 Mirror Mode (RAID 1) Installation...............................................35
4.3.1 DOS Environment .................................................................35
4.3.2 Windows 95/98/ME Environment ..........................................35
4.3.3 Windows NT Environment.....................................................35
4.3.4 Windows 2000 Environment .................................................35
4.3.5 Windows XP (Beta Version) Environment.............................35
4.4 RAID 0+1 Mode Installation ........................................................36
4.4.1 DOS Environment .................................................................36
4.4.2 Windows 95/98/ME Environment ..........................................36
4.4.3 Windows NT Environment.....................................................36
4.4.4 Windows 2000 Environment .................................................36
4.4.5 Windows XP (Beta Version) Environment.............................36
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting..............................................37
Appendix 1 Application Utility.........................................38
Appendix 2 Technical Support Form..............................40

ACARD AEC-6880
5
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
ACARD AEC-6880 is a high performance PCI P&P bus master Ul-
tra ATA-133 RAID adapter, supports true Hardware RAID 0,1 and 0+1, the
on board Flash BIOS that quickly creates RAID array and supports to boot
from RAID volume or Ultra ATA 100/66/33 and even ATA-133 drives.
ACARD AEC-6880 supports full featured PCI 32-bit bus master trans-
fer capability including PCI enhanced data transfer commands (133MB/s)
and Built-in Scatter/Gather function improves performance for multi-task-
ing OS.
1.2 Feature
!!
!!
!A standalone PCI-to-IDE RAID controller
!!
!!
!Can be configured as RAID or normal IDE adapter
!!
!!
!Supports true Hardware RAID 0,RAID 1 and RAID 0+1 (under
Windows)
!!
!!
!Capable Booting from standard and RAID volume (under Windows)
!!
!!
!Supports Ultra ATA 133/100/66/33 HDD
!!
!!
!Cost effective and high performance
1.3 Packing List
When you open the ACARD AEC-6880 cabinet, check the following pack-
ing list.
!!
!!
!One ACARD AEC-6880
!!
!!
!Two ATA-133 Cables
!!
!!
!One Y-splitter Cable for Power
!!
!!
!One User’s Manual

ACARD AEC-6880
6
1.4 Specification
Power requirement - voltage : 3.3V+/- 2%
5V+/- 2%
current : 0.5A Max.
Environment - Temperature
Operating 0 oC to 70 oC
Storage -20 oC to 85 oC
Humidity - 15% to 90%
Models: AEC-6880
Dimentions - Width: 14 cm
Height: 4.7 cm
Connectors - Dual 40 pins IDE internal connectors

ACARD AEC-6880
7
ATA-133 Cable Layout:
Chapter 2 Hardware Installation
2.1 Quick start hardware installation:
1. Open the PC case
2. Choose an empty PCI slot and plug in ACARD AEC-6880 adapter
3. Fix the hard drives in the computer
4. Connect ATA-133 cable from the adapter to the hard drives
5. Close the PC case
2.2 ACARD AEC-6880 Board Layout:
IDE1: The Primary IDE port
IDE2: The Secondary IDE port
Connect to
ACARD AEC-
6880 Adapter
IDE ports
(IDE1/IDE2)
Connect to
IDE hard
drive (Slave) Connect to
IDE hard drive
(Master)
LED
IDE2 IDE1

ACARD AEC-6880
8
2.3 ACARD AEC-6880 cable & power installation
The cable connection methods:
Step 1. Find out pin 1 of IDE connector on IDE hard drive.
Step 2. Find out a color line of the internal IDE ribbon cable which indi-
cates pin 1 of the connector.
Step 3. Connect the internal IDE cable to the IDE hard drive by aligns
with pin-1 to pin-1.
Step 4. Connect 4-pin power cable to the IDE hard drive.
Master
Master
Slave
Slave
Power Cable
IDE hard drive
For the hard drive’s Jumper setting (Master / Slave), refer to hard drive’s
Manual

ACARD AEC-6880
9
2.4 What you should know before the installation
Before installing the ACARD AEC-6880, the following tips will help you to
get the best performance of the system:
2.4.1 Striping Mode
!!
!!
!If two hard drives are in different storage capacity, ACARD AEC-6880
will treat the smaller hard drive as a standard capacity, and double-up
the standard capacity as the total available disk capacity.
!!
!!
!For one pair striping connection using 2 HDD, the Jumper set on
each hard drive must in the same mode (either both “Master” or both
“Slave”). Two hard drives must connect to two independent ATA-133
cables on ACARD AEC-6880 card.
!!
!!
!When using two pairs striping for 4 hard drives on ACARD AEC-
6880, the hard drives needed to be identify two pairs of Jumper
setting into “Master” and “Slave” position on each IDE port cable
connector (refer to page 8).
!!
!!
!For two pairs striping with 4 hard drives, the Jumper setting can not
be set at both “Master” nor both “Slave” in same connector cable.
!!
!!
!In order to achieve best performance, use same hard drive model, ex.
Ultra ATA 66, 100 or 133.
2.4.2 Mirror Mode
! !
! !
! Please beware of that if two HDD have different volumes, that ACARD
AEC-6880 could not back-up data from a larger HDD into a smaller
HDD.
! !
! !
! When it is at the Mirror Disk Array stage, to increase operating
performance, please ensure that your ATA-66, ATA-100 or ATA-133
HDD in-use is at the same speed.
! !
! !
! After set-up the Mirror Disk Array, if the HDD has not already been
backed-up, please do so. Please choose a correct source to complete
this action.

ACARD AEC-6880
10
2.4.3 Normal Mode
!!
!!
!Two IDE connectors of ACARD AEC-6880 can be treated as normal
IDE port extension.
! !
! !
! When two hard drives connected with ACARD AEC-6880 at the same
IDE port (i.e.on same cable), the hard drives Jumper setting must be
set as a respectively positioning “Master” and a “Slave” on the hard
drives. The two hard drives could not be set on both “Master” nor both
“Slave” on the same cable.
!!
!!
!In order to achieve best performance, use same hard drive model, ex.
Ultra ATA 66, Ultra ATA 100 or Ultra ATA 133 hard drive.
As the hard drives may contain old data which might cause the
OS installation problems. For RAID function use, the clean hard
drives will achieve best performance.

ACARD AEC-6880
11
2.5 Compatibility list
ACARD AEC-6880 is designed specifically for DMA hard drive, fully tested
on the hard drives which are available in lab. The ACARD AEC-6880
supports many ATA 66/100/133 hard drives from the following vendors
and models:
!Quantum
FireBall LM series, LC series , LB series
FireBall KX series, KA series
FireBall CX series, CR series , EX series
FireBall EL series
!Seagate
Barracuda IDE series
ST320430A , ST313620A , ST3240AT ,
ST38422A, ST36531A
!IBM
DTLA series, DPTA series, DTTA series, DJNA series
!Maxtor
54098U8, 52049U4 , 91366U4 , 94098U8 , 91020U3
!Fujitsu
MPF-3204AT, MPD-3173AT, MPD-3084AT
!Western Digital
Expert 13BA, Caviar AC14300
For the lastest compatibility list, please refer to http://www.acard.com

ACARD AEC-6880
12
Chapter 3 BIOS Setup
Plug the ACARD AEC-6880 IDE RAID card in the PCI slot, while the PC
remains power on. When you see the following messages, press <F1> or
<F10> to setup RAID utility.
3.1 Functions description
Press <F1> or <F10>, the RAID setup utility screen will be appeared :

ACARD AEC-6880
13
3.1.1 Set RAID Mode screen
3.1.2 Explanation of each RAID mode:
! !
! !
! Stripe (4 Drives) : Use RAID 0 (Striping Mode) to operate. Set-up the
ACARD AEC-6880 to connect with 3 HDD or 4 HDD devices into a Stripe
Disk Array.
! !
! !
! Stripe * Stripe : Use the ACARD AEC-6880, 2 Master HDD devices
which are the IDE1-Master HDD and the IDE2-Master HDD respectively
into the first Stripe Disk Array (Array 0). Use the 2 Slave HDD devices
which are the IDE1-Slave HDD and the IDE2-Slave HDD into the second
Stripe Disk Array (Array 1). Both Array 0 and Array 1 use RAID 0 (Striping
Mode) to operate.
! !
! !
! Mirror * Mirror : Use the ACARD AEC-6880, 2 Master HDD devices
which are the IDE1-Master HDD and the IDE2-Master HDD respectively
into the first Mirror Disk Array (Array 0). Then set-up the 2 Slave HDD
devices which are the IDE1-Slave HDD and the IDE2-Slave HDD into the
second Stripe Disk Array (Array 1). Both Array 0 and Array 1 use RAID 1
(Mirror Mode) to operate.

ACARD AEC-6880
14
! !
! !
! Stripe * Mirror : Use RAID 0 (Stripe Mode) to operate, 2 Master HDD
devices which are the IDE1-Master HDD and the IDE2-Master HDD re-
spectively into the Stripe Disk Array (Array 0). Then set-up the 2 Slave
HDD devices which are IDE1-Slave HDD and the IDE2-Slave HDD into
the Mirror Disk Array (Array 1). Use RAID 1 (Mirror Mode) to operate.
! !
! !
! Mirror * Stripe : Use RAID 1 (Mirror Mode) to operate, set-up 2 Master
HDD devices which are the IDE1-Slave HDD and the IDE2-Slave HDD
into the Mirror Disk Array Mirror (Array 0). Use RAID 0 (Stripe Mode) to
operate, set-up the 2 Slave HDD devices which are the IDE1-Master HDD
and the IDE2-Master HDD respectively into the Stripe Disk Array (Array
1).
! !
! !
! Stripe + Mirror : For RAID 0/1 mode (Stripe Mode+ Mirror Mode; RAID
10), set-up the ACARD AEC-6880’s IDE1-Master HDD and the IDE2-Slave
HDD into the first Stripe Disk Array (Array 0). Then set-up the IDE1-Slave
HDD and the IDE2-Master HDD into the second Stripe Disk Array (Array
1). Set-up both Array 0 and Array 1 into RAID 1(Mirror Mode) to operate.
! !
! !
! Normal : Normal mode, do not use RAID mode to operate.
3.1.3 Stripe Size
When choose RAID 0 (Stripe Mode) to operate, there are the Stripe(4
Drives), Stripe * Stripe, Stripe * Mirror, Mirror * Stripe, Stripe + Mirror
mode settings. Regarding to the Stripe size, there are 7 setting up options,
which are 1K, 2K, 4K, 8K, 16K, 32K, 64K. Choose a best Stripe size ac-
cording to the system requirements. In general, under the MS DOS oper-
ating system use 1K Stripe size and while under Windows NT operating
system use 64K Stripe size .

ACARD AEC-6880
15
3.1.4 Build Mirror Disk
While a failed drive in a disk array, the starting screen will show the follow-
ing message:
Array_0 => bad mirror array !!
Array_1 => bad mirror array !!
You can run utility to build array or check drives status !!
Press <F1> or <F10> and select “Build Mirror Disk” for backup data to a
new hard disk. Press Enter and confirm, the data will then be copied to the
selected drive. After mirroring data finsh, remreber to restart the computer.
3.1.5 Other Functions
! !
! !
! Quick Erase Disk: Quick erase the hard drive content. Please beware,
that data and partition will be complete erased.
! !
! !
! Delete Array_0 & Delete Array_1: In general, when a failed disk in
disk array under RAID 0 (Mirror Mode). After change new drives, delete
the original Array setting. Then restart the computer to detect the new disk
and reset RAID mode.
3.1.6 Exit Setup
Press <Esc> to quit the RAID setup utiltiy screen. Then choose the “Up-
date Data” or “No Update” to Exit.

ACARD AEC-6880
16
Chapter 4 System Installation
4.1 Normal Mode Installation
4.1.1 DOS Environment
For Boot Device
1. Complete ACARD AEC-6880 hardware installation.
2. Boot-up the computer, press <Del> to enter the motherboard’s BIOS
setup. Then change “Boot Sequence” to A:.
3. Restart the computer by a DOS bootable floppy and run DOS FDISK.
Then create a Primary partition onto the hard drive.
4. After re-booting to a DOS bootable floppy, run the DOS FORMAT
command.
Non Boot Device
1. Complete ACARD AEC-6880 hardware installation.
2. Boot-up the computer, press <Del> to enter the motherboard’s BIOS
setup. Then change “Boot Sequence” to C:.
3. Restart the computer, and run MS-DOS and DOS FDISK. Then create
a Primary partition onto the hard drive.
4. After re-booting, run the DOS FORMAT command.

ACARD AEC-6880
17
4.1.2 Windows 95/98/ME Environment
Non Boot Device
1. Complete ACARD AEC-6880 hardware installation.
2. The system will detect any new device and ask for directory to access
the device driver. Click “Next” to go on.
3. Select “Search for the best driver for your device (Recommend)”.
Then click on “Next”.

ACARD AEC-6880
18
4. Windows will display the message when the system has found the driver
for it and is going to install the driver.
5. Select “Specify a location”. Please insert the directory of AEC6880.inf
for it (such as a:\WIN9X).
6. Follow the procedures, the system will complete the action automatically.
7. Restart the computer.

ACARD AEC-6880
19
Verify ACARD AEC-6880
After boot-up the system, follow the direction below on the Device Man-
ager find out whether the ACARD AEC-6880 has installed OK.
Step 1. Enter “My Computer” and double click on “Control Panel”.
Step 2. Double click on “System” and enter “Device Manager”.
Step 3. Click the “SCSI controller” to check whether ACARD AEC-6880
adapter has installed properly.
For Boot Device
For bootable drive from ACARD AEC-6880, complete Windows 95/98/ME
operation system installation onto ACARD AEC-6880 drive first. Restart-
ing the computer, install the ACARD AEC-6880 driver when system access.

ACARD AEC-6880
20
4.1.3 Windows NT Environment
Driver installation is required when it is the first time to setup Windows NT
into the System
For Boot Device
AEC6880.SYS is designed for Microsoft Windows NT miniport drivers. It
allows driver connects to IDE devices (which support by Microsoft)
1. Insert Windows NT boot disk and boot from floppy disk.
(If boot from CD-ROM or install from hard disk, please press
“F6” for the first booting screen)
2. Follow the Windows NT setup procedures.
3. Press “S” to skip mass storage devices detection.
4. Move the highlight bar to “the other” and press “Enter”.
5. Before the installation, copy the AEC-6880’s driver into a floppy diskette
first. Then insert the ACARD AEC-6880 driver disk into the floppy.
6. The ACARD Miniport driver should be highlighted at this stage. Press
“Enter” to proceed.
7. NT should now recognize the ACARD Miniport driver and theIDE
hardware. Please follow the Microsoft Windows NT installation.
Install Driver for Windows NT
After Windows NT has been installed, you may wish to plug the ACARD
AEC-6880 device on the Windows NT system. Follow the procedures below,
Windows NT would install the newest ACARD AEC-6880 driver to the
system.