Adaptec GDTSETUP User manual

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We refer to firmware as the operating system which controls the ICP Controller with all its
functions and capabilities. The firmware exclusively runs on the ICP Controller and is stored
in the Flash-RAM on the ICP Controller PCB. The controlling function is entirely independ-
ent of the PCI computer and the host operating system installed (for example UNIX), and
does not "drain" any computing power or time from the PCI computer. According to the
performance requirements needed, the ICP Controllers are available with two firmware vari-
ants. The firmware is either already installed on the controller upon delivery, or can be
added as an upgrade: RAIDYNE upgrade.
Standard Firmware (installed on the GDT61xyRP controllers).
In addition to simple controlling functions regarding SCSI hard disks or removable
hard disks, this version allows disk chaining (several drives can be linked in order to
form a single "large" drive), and the configuration of Array Drives of the types data
striping (RAID 0) and disk mirroring or duplexing (RAID 1).
RAIDYNE Firmware (installed on the GDT65xyRP controllers). In addition to disk
chaining, RAID 0 and RAID 1, RAIDYNE allows you to install and control Array
Drives of the types RAID 4 (data striping with dedicated parity drive), RAID 5 (data
striping with distributed parity) and RAID10 (a combination between RAID 0 and 1)
RAIDYNE is the name of the ICP disk-array operating system for the ICP Controllers. Unlike
pure software solutions, RAIDYNE is totally independent of the host operating system, and
can therefore be accessed under MS-DOS, Windows, OS/2, SCO-UNIX, Interactive UNIX,
Novell NetWare, etc.. Special RAID drivers are not needed. The integration of a RAID Array
Drive into the host operating system is carried out with the same drivers used for the inte-
gration of a single SCSI hard disk. All ICP Controllers are equipped with a hardware which is
particularly well suited for Array Drives. RAIDYNE uses this hardware with extreme effi-
ciency and therefore allows you to configure Array Drives that do not load the host com-
puter (whereas all software-based RAID solutions more or less reduce the overall
performance of the host computer.).
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Both GDT firmware versions (Standard and RAIDYNE) are based on four fundamental levels
of hierarchy. Each level has its "own drives" ( = components). The basic rule is:
To build up a “drive“ on a given level of hierarchy, the “drives“ of the next lower level
of hierarchy are used as components.
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Physical Drives = hard disks, removable hard disks, some MO drives are located on the
lowest level. They are the basic components of all "drive constructions" you can set up.
However, before they can be used by the firmware, these hard disks must be "prepared", a
procedure we call initialization. During this initialization each hard disk receives information
which allows an univocal identification even if the SCSI-ID or the controller is changed. For
reasons of data coherency, this information is extremely important for any drive construc-
tion consisting of more than one physical drive.
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On the next higher level are the Logical Drives. Logical Drives are introduced to obtain a
full independence of the physical coordinates of a physical device. This is necessary to eas-
ily change the whole ICP Controller and the channels, IDs, without loosing the data and the
information on a specific Array Drive.
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On this level of hierarchy, the firmware forms the Array Drives. Depending on the firmware
installed, this can be
Single Disks (one hard disk, some vendors call it JBOD - Just A Bunch Of Drives)
Chaining Sets (concatenation of several hard disks)
RAID 0 Array Drives
RAID 1 Array Drives, RAID 1 Array Drives plus hot fix drive
RAID 4 Array Drives, RAID 4 Array Drives plus hot fix drive
RAID 5 Array Drives, RAID 5 Array Drives plus hot fix drive
RAID 10 Array Drives, RAID 10 Array Drives plus hot fix drive
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On the highest level of hierarchy, the firmware forms the Host Drives. In the end, only these
Host Drives can be accessed by the host operating system of the computer. Drives C, D, etc.
under MS-DOS, OS/2, etc. are always referred to as Host Drives by the firmware. The same
applies to NetWare- and UNIX-drives. The firmware automatically transforms each newly
installed Logical Drive and Array Drive into a Host Drive. This Host Drive is then assigned a
Host Drive number which is identical to its Logical Drive or Array Drive number.
The firmware is capable of running several Host Drives of the most various kinds at the
same time. An example for MS-DOS: drive C is a RAID 5 type Host Drive (consisting of 5
SCSI hard disks), drive D is a single hard disk, and drive E is a CD-ROM communicating with
RAIDYNE through corelSCSI and the GDT ASPI manager.
On this level the user may split an existing Array Drive into several Host Drives.
After a capacity expansion of a given Array Drive the added capacity appears as a new Host
Drive on this level. It can be either used as a separate Host Drive, or merged with the first
Host Drive of the Array Drive.
Within GDTSETUP, each level of hierarchy has its own special menu:
/HYHO ÖMenu: Configure Physical Device
/HYHO ÖMenu: Configure Logical Drive
/HYHO ÖMenu: Configure Array Drive
/HYHO ÖMenu: Configure Host Drive
Generally, each installation procedure passes through these 4 menus, starting with level 1.
Therefore:
First initialize the Physical Drives.
Then configure the Logical Drives.
Then configure the Array Drives (e.g. Array Drives with RAID 0, 1, 4, 5
and 10).
Finally, configure the Host Drives.

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The following summary gives you an overview of all Host Drive types you can create with the
GDT firmware. The ICP Controller can simultaneously control several Host Drives of most
various types.
For instance, MS-DOS drive C could be a Host Drive of the type disk (consisting of a single
SCSI hard disk), MS-DOS drive D is a type RAID 5 Array Drive, MS-DOS drive E is a Host
Drive of the type chain, and MS-DOS drive F is a CD-ROM which communicates with MS-
DOS through corelSCSI and the GDT ASPI manager.
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S = Standard; R = RAIDYNE Firmware.
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SCSI devices which can be configured with GDTSETUP are called Direct Access Devices (SCSI
devices such as hard disks or removable hard disks, or other devices behaving like a hard
disk). SCSI devices other than SCSI hard disks or removable hard disks, or devices that do
not behave like them, are called Not Direct Access Devices. They are not configured with
GDTSETUP and cannot form cache or Host Drives. These SCSI devices are either run
through the ASPI interface (Advanced SCSI Programming Interface) (MS-DOS, Windows,
Novell NetWare or OS/2), or they are directly accessed from the operating system (true for
UNIX and Windows NT). For details on how to operate these devices, please refer to the
corresponding chapters of this manual.
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Any installation or maintenance procedures regarding the ICP Controller are carried out
with the configuration program GDTSETUP. The monitoring program GDTMON allows
continuous monitoring and maintenance of the ICP Controller and the connected Array
Drives. The GDTMON utility also include options to replace a defective drive with a new one
(Hot Plug) and is available for most of the operating systems supported by the ICP Con-
trollers. GDTSETUP allows you to set up single disks or complex Array Drives with simple
and user-friendly installation procedures. Little previous knowledge is needed to be able to
use GDTSETUP efficiently. It is only necessary to understand the hierarchy levels in the ICP

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Controller firmware (which are the same for both firmware versions: Standard and
RAIDYNE). For the user's convenience the GDTSETUP program is available in two different
variants:
GDTSETUP loaded from the ICP Controller's Flash-RAM after switching on the computer
GDTSETUP loaded from disk under MS-DOS.
The header of the GDTSETUP program indicates with a letter after the version number,
whether GDTSETUP was loaded from disk or from Flash-RAM:
"R" for GDTSETUP loaded from the Flash-RAM after switching on the computer
"D" for GDTSETUP loaded from Disk, i.e., under MS-DOS.
Loading GDTSETUP with <CTRL><G> from the Flash-RAM is very comfortable since no op-
erating system is required to carry out the configuration and setup works.
On the other side, loading GDTSETUP from disk (i.e., under MS-DOS) becomes necessary
for tasks like partitioning or enabling a totally disabled GDT BIOS (which includes
GDTSETUP).
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Used to select a menu option or command. If a Microsoft-compatible mouse and a mouse
driver are installed, you can also make your choices with the mouse.
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Confirms a choice, entry, warning or message in GDTSETUP.
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Exits the current menu.
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Multiple selections, or toggling between a number of preset options.
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This key has different functions, depending on the menu you are in:
a. Toggle between Express or Enhanced Setup.
b. Display drive configuration.
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To Lock and Unlock removable media.
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Refresh Information.
When GDTSETUP is loaded, the main menu appears as shown below:

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This function allows the easy setup of Array Drives and does not require any previous
knowledge. If you choose this function, GDTSETUP carries out the complete installation
entirely on its own, giving you, for example, a fully operational RAID 5 Array Drive with opti-
mized settings (for instance, with all SCSI features of a given drive activated).
After selecting Configure Host Drives and Create new Host Drive, GDTSETUP scans the system for
ICP Controllers and "free" hard disks (i.e., drives which are not yet logical drives or Host
Drives or part of Array Drives).

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Select with the <Space> bar the hard disks you want to integrate into the new Host Drive.
Depending on the number of selected drives in the Choose Type windows all possible Host
Drive configurations are high-lighted.

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Press <ENTER> . You may select the desired Host Drive type. In our example select RAID5
and press <ENTER> .
That's it!
As you can see from the next picture, the RAID5 Array Drive has been fully automatically
configured. It is in the build state.

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Press several times <F2> to get detailed information on the Array Drive's configuration and
components.
Press several times <ESC> to leave GDTSETUP. A new screen comes up giving you detailed
progress information on the build process.

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As you can see, the build process for the 4GB Array Drive takes approximately 22 minutes.
If you press <ESC> GDTSETUP warns you that the array is not yet redundant.
Pressing again <ESC> brings up the following screen, telling you the system needs a reboot
to recognize the new Host Drive(s).