Intel SRCMR - RAID Controller User manual

Intel®RAID Controller SRCMR
User’s Guide
Order Number: A75271-001

Disclaimer
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Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
†Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
Copyright © 2001, Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

iii
Contents
1 Introduction and General Information
Intended Audience ............................................................................................................. 13
RAID Levels ....................................................................................................................... 13
RAID 0 - Data Striping ............................................................................................... 13
RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring/Disk Duplexing ..................................................................... 14
RAID 4 - Data Striping with a Dedicated Parity Drive ................................................. 15
RAID 5 - Data Striping with Striped Parity.................................................................. 15
RAID 10 - Combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0 .......................................................... 16
Chaining ............................................................................................................................. 17
Configuring a Chaining Set Using Storage Console................................................... 17
Configuring a Chaining Set using StorCon+............................................................... 17
Levels of Drive Hierarchy Within the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Firmware.................... 18
Level 1....................................................................................................................... 18
Level 2....................................................................................................................... 18
Level 3....................................................................................................................... 18
Level 4....................................................................................................................... 19
Transparency of Host Drives .............................................................................................. 19
Using CD-ROMs, DATs, Tapes, etc........................................................................... 20
2 Getting Started
What is the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Firmware? ........................................................ 21
Standard Firmware .................................................................................................... 21
RAID Hardware Installation and Setup ............................................................................... 22
Minimum Hardware Requirements............................................................................. 22
Install the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR in the Intel Server Board............................. 22
Programming the Flash Memory................................................................................ 23
Recover the Firmware in the Flash Memory ...................................................... 23
SCSI Termination ...................................................................................................... 24
Termination....................................................................................................... 24
Configurable SCSI Parameters.................................................................................. 25
Choosing a Configuration .......................................................................................... 26
How many Hard Disks should be Integrated into the Disk Array?...................... 26
What Level of Redundancy is Needed? ............................................................ 26
Are Hot Fix Drives Needed?.............................................................................. 27
Intel RAID Controller Hardware Features................................................................... 28
Architechure Features (HW).............................................................................. 28
Electrical Characteristics ................................................................................... 28
Environmental Specifications ............................................................................ 28
Supported Hard Drive Technology .................................................................... 28
Support for Non-Hard-Disk-Drive SCSI Devices
(Non-Direct-Access Devices)...................................................................... 29
Compatible Intel RAID Controllers..................................................................... 30
Operational States of an Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Firmware Disk Array..................... 31
Operational States for RAID 4/5................................................................................. 31

iv Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
Methods for the Replacement of a Disk Drive..................................................................... 33
Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Quick Start .......................................................................... 34
Make an OS Installation Diskette............................................................................... 34
Install the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR in the Intel Server Board............................. 35
Use Storage Console to Create a RAID Volume........................................................ 36
Set the BIOS Boot Order ........................................................................................... 39
Install the Operating System...................................................................................... 40
Installing Windows 2000.................................................................................... 40
Installing Red Hat Linux 7.1 .............................................................................. 41
Alternative Method to Creating an Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Installation Diskette........ 42
Windows NT .............................................................................................................. 42
Windows 2000 ........................................................................................................... 42
SCO Unixware†......................................................................................................... 42
How to Use Auto Hot Plug with SAF-TE ............................................................................. 43
Setting Up Auto Hot Plug........................................................................................... 43
3 Installing Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000
Operating System Installation Procedures.......................................................................... 45
Pre-Installation Requirements Checklist .................................................................... 45
Minimum Hardware Requirements .................................................................... 45
Minimum Software Requirements ..................................................................... 46
Installing an Operating System onto a RAID Volume or Single Disk ......................... 46
Windows 2000 / NT 4.0 Installation Procedures ................................................ 47
Installing the OS................................................................................................ 47
Installing an OS onto an IDE or SCSI Disk Drive Not Attached to the
Intel RAID Controller SRCMR..................................................................... 48
Windows 2000 / NT 4.0 Installation Procedures ................................................ 48
Upgrading an OS (Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000) that is
Currently Installed on a RAID Volume or Single Disk.................................. 49
Installation to an Existing OS ............................................................................ 51
Installing Drivers for your Intel RAID Controller SRCMR..................................................... 51
4 Installing Linux
Before you Begin................................................................................................................53
Available Drivers and Tools on the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Software
Suite CD-ROM .................................................................................................... 53
Assumptions About Path Names ............................................................................... 53
General Installation Notes .................................................................................................. 54
Minimum Hardware Requirements............................................................................. 54
Minimum Hardware Requirements .................................................................... 54
Minimum Software Requirements ..................................................................... 54
Installing Red Hat Linux 7.x on a RAID Volume (Host Drive) ............................................. 55
Installing an Intel RAID Controller SRCMR onto an Existing Linux Server .......................... 56
Installation of Driver Sources from the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR CD-ROM ........ 56
GDT Driver Parameters...................................................................................................... 57
Reservation of SCSI Devices..................................................................................... 57
Further Driver Parameters ......................................................................................... 58

Contents v
Installation of Intel RAID Controller SRCMR StorCon Monitoring Utility.............................. 59
Installation of StorCon from the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR CD-ROM................... 59
Using StorCon Monitoring Utility ................................................................................ 59
Remote Monitoring with the Intel SRCD Remote Access Service....................................... 60
SRCD Installation Instructions from the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR CD-ROM....... 60
5 Installing Novell Netware
Pre-Installation Requirements Checklist ............................................................................. 61
Minimum Hardware Requirements .................................................................... 61
Minimum Software Requirements ..................................................................... 61
New Installation of NetWare 5.1 ......................................................................................... 62
New Installation of NetWare 5.xx with the SRCRX.HAM Driver ................................. 62
Adding Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Controller(s), Drivers, and/or Storage Console
to an Existing NetWare Installation............................................................................... 63
Installing the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Driver Package ...................................... 63
Installing the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Tools Kit Package.................................. 64
Configuring Tools for Remote Access ............................................................... 64
ASPI Support for NetWare 5.1............................................................................................ 64
Tips and Tricks................................................................................................................... 65
Optimize Data Throughput......................................................................................... 65
Cache Memory Allocator Out of Available Memory’in PCI-ISA Systems ................... 65
NetWare-Server Not Stable When Under High Utilization.......................................... 66
Intel RAID Controller SRCMR and Non-ASPI Compatible Controllers........................ 66
Last Status Information.............................................................................................. 67
Adding Additional Capacity After an Online Capacity Expansion ............................... 67
Notes on ARCserve............................................................................................................ 67
6 Installing UnixWare
General Installation Notes .................................................................................................. 69
Minimum Hardware Requirements............................................................................. 69
Minimum Software Requirements .............................................................................. 69
Installing the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR as an Additional Controller.............................. 70
No Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Has Yet Been Configured for UnixWare................ 70
An Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Has Already Been Configured for UnixWare ......... 70
Installing an Operating System onto a Host Drive or Single Disk........................................ 71
Installation of the RAID Software Suite for UnixWare ......................................................... 71
Coordinates of SCSI Devices ............................................................................................. 72
Host Adapter Number (HA)........................................................................................ 72
UnixWare Bus Number, Target ID and LUN............................................................... 73
Configuration Example...................................................................................... 73
Additional Information......................................................................................................... 74

vi Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
7 Storage Console
StorCon Features ............................................................................................................... 75
StorCon Features Include.......................................................................................... 75
StorCon Is .......................................................................................................................... 75
Loading StorCon ................................................................................................................ 76
Loading the StorCon Program Under NetWare.......................................................... 76
Loading StorCon on a Fileserver ............................................................................... 76
Loading StorCon on a Workstation ............................................................................ 76
Loading the StorCon Program Under Windows NT/2000........................................... 77
Uninstalling the RAID Software Suite......................................................................... 79
Loading the StorCon Program Under Windows 95/98................................................ 80
Loading StorCon Under Linux.................................................................................... 80
Loading StorCon Under SCO UnixWare.................................................................... 81
StorCon.............................................................................................................................. 81
The StorCon Program ........................................................................................................ 81
Select Interface.......................................................................................................... 83
Select Controller ........................................................................................................ 83
Monitor and Express / Advanced Setup..................................................................... 84
Monitor Menu .................................................................................................... 85
Express Setup / Advanced Setup Menus .......................................................... 85
Monitor Menu ..................................................................................................................... 86
View Statistics ........................................................................................................... 86
View Events............................................................................................................... 87
View Hard Disk Info ................................................................................................... 88
The Retries Counter.......................................................................................... 88
The Reassigns Counter..................................................................................... 88
The Grown Defects Counter.............................................................................. 88
Last Status........................................................................................................ 89
Save Information ....................................................................................................... 89
Express Setup.................................................................................................................... 91
Configure Host Drives................................................................................................ 91
Host Drive States .............................................................................................. 91
Configure New Host Drive................................................................................. 93
Host Drive Options ............................................................................................ 95
Repair Array Drives ................................................................................................... 97
Advanced Setup................................................................................................................. 99
Configure Controller................................................................................................... 99
Controller Settings............................................................................................. 99
Firmware Update............................................................................................. 100
Intelligent Fault Bus......................................................................................... 100
Non-Intelligent Enclosures .............................................................................. 101
Advanced Settings .......................................................................................... 102
Cluster Channels............................................................................................. 103
Clear Log Buffer.............................................................................................. 103

Contents vii
Configure Physical Devices ..................................................................................... 104
Keyboard Commands ..................................................................................... 104
SCSI Parameter / Initialize .............................................................................. 105
Check Surface ................................................................................................ 106
View Status/Defects ........................................................................................ 107
De-initialize Disk.............................................................................................. 107
Lock/Unlock Disk............................................................................................. 107
Enclosure Status............................................................................................. 108
Configure Logical Drives ................................................................................. 110
Keyboard Commands ..................................................................................... 110
Configure Array Drives ............................................................................................ 112
Keyboard Commands ..................................................................................... 112
Change Drive Name........................................................................................ 113
Expand Array Drive ......................................................................................... 113
Add RAID 1 Component.................................................................................. 114
Replace Array Component .............................................................................. 114
Remove RAID 1 Component........................................................................... 114
Remove Array Drive........................................................................................ 114
Add Hot Fix Drive............................................................................................ 115
In the Event of a Drive Failure ................................................................................. 115
Remove Hot Fix Drive ..................................................................................... 116
Hot Fix Pool Access ........................................................................................ 116
Parity Verify..................................................................................................... 116
Periodic Parity Verify....................................................................................... 116
Build/Rebuild Progress.................................................................................... 117
Create New Array Drive........................................................................................... 117
Notes on the Configuration of RAID 0, 1, 4, 5 and 10 Arrays Drives................ 119
Configure Host Drives.............................................................................................. 120
Change Drive Name........................................................................................ 120
Swap Host Drives............................................................................................ 120
Remove Host Drives ....................................................................................... 121
Split Host Drive ............................................................................................... 121
Merge Host Drives .......................................................................................... 121
Partition Host Drives ....................................................................................... 121
Overwrite Master Boot Code ........................................................................... 121
Drive Type (Cluster) ........................................................................................ 121
8 Storge Console Plus
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 123
Monitoring of the Whole Subsystem ........................................................................ 123
Remote Configuration and Maintenance.................................................................. 123
The StorCon+ Controls..................................................................................................... 124
The Toolbar ............................................................................................................. 124
The Status Bar......................................................................................................... 125
Window Menu Commands....................................................................................... 125
Help Menu Commands ............................................................................................ 125
File Menu Commands.............................................................................................. 126

viii Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
View Menu Commands............................................................................................ 126
The Chart Menu....................................................................................................... 126
The Configuration Menu Commands ....................................................................... 127
Select Controller............................................................................................................... 128
Physical Configuration Window................................................................................ 130
Controller Configuration Settings ............................................................................. 132
Change Settings ............................................................................................. 132
Save Information............................................................................................. 132
Firmware Update ..................................................................................................... 133
I/O Processors......................................................................................................... 134
Channel Settings............................................................................................. 136
Rescan ID(s) ................................................................................................... 136
Hot Plug: Add Disk ......................................................................................... 136
Direct Access Devices ............................................................................................. 137
The SCSI Parameter/Initialize ......................................................................... 139
Synchronous Transfer..................................................................................... 139
Disconnect ...................................................................................................... 140
Tagged Queues .............................................................................................. 140
SCSI Read Cache / SCSI Write Cache ........................................................... 140
De-initialize a Physical Disk ............................................................................ 140
Lock / Unlock a Removable Disk..................................................................... 140
Non Direct Access Devices (Raw Devices).............................................................. 141
Logical Configuration Window .......................................................................................... 142
Host Drives.............................................................................................................. 142
Normal Host Drive........................................................................................... 142
Local Mounted Cluster Drive ........................................................................... 143
Remote Mounted Cluster Drive ....................................................................... 143
Private Host Drive Belonging To Another Intel RAID Controller SRCMR......... 144
Array Drives............................................................................................................. 145
Logical Drives .......................................................................................................... 146
Physical Drives ........................................................................................................ 147
The Host Drive Information Window ........................................................................ 147
The Array Drive Information Window ....................................................................... 148
The Logical Drive Information Window..................................................................... 150
Change the Name of a Drive ................................................................................... 151
Remove a Host Drive............................................................................................... 151
Create a New Host Drive ......................................................................................... 151
Parity Verify ............................................................................................................. 153
Parity Recalculate.................................................................................................... 154
Progress Information ............................................................................................... 154
Expansion of an Array ............................................................................................. 155
Add a Hot Fix Drive.................................................................................................. 157
Remove a Hot Fix Drive........................................................................................... 158
Hot Fix Pool Access................................................................................................. 158
Add a RAID 1 Component (Mirror a Drive)............................................................... 158
Remove a RAID 1 Component (Remove a Mirror Drive).......................................... 159
Replace a Logical Drive........................................................................................... 160

Contents ix
The Different States of an Array Drive ..................................................................... 160
The Ready State ............................................................................................. 160
The Idle State.................................................................................................. 161
The Build / Rebuild State................................................................................. 161
The Fail State.................................................................................................. 162
The Error State ............................................................................................... 162
The Statistics Window ...................................................................................................... 163
The Controller Events Window ......................................................................................... 164
StorCon+ Help.................................................................................................................. 165
Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Service and Intel RAID Controller SRCMR Mail ................ 167
9 Getting Help
World Wide Web .............................................................................................................. 173
Telephone ........................................................................................................................ 173
In U.S. and Canada: ................................................................................................ 173
In Europe:................................................................................................................ 173
In Asia-Pacific Region:............................................................................................. 174
In Japan:.................................................................................................................. 174
In Latin America:...................................................................................................... 174
10 Regulatory and Certification Information
Product Regulatory Compliance ....................................................................................... 175
Product Safety Compliance ..................................................................................... 175
Product EMC Compliance........................................................................................ 175
Product Regulatory Compliance Markings ............................................................... 176
Electromagnetic Compatibility Notices.............................................................................. 177
FCC Verification Statement (USA)........................................................................... 177
ICES-003 (Canada) ................................................................................................. 178
CE Declaration of Conformity (Europe).................................................................... 178
VCCI (Japan)........................................................................................................... 178
BSMI (Taiwan)......................................................................................................... 179
Canadian Users....................................................................................................... 179
Warnings and Cautions .................................................................................................... 179
Warnings ................................................................................................................. 179
Cautions .................................................................................................................. 179
Figures
1. RAID 0 –Data Striping ............................................................................................. 13
2. RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring............................................................................................. 14
3. RAID 0 - Disk Duplexing........................................................................................... 14
4. RAID 4 ..................................................................................................................... 15
5. RAID 5 ..................................................................................................................... 16
6. RAID 10 ................................................................................................................... 16
7. Jumper Positions for Flash Update and REcovery.................................................... 23
8. Operational State Diagram ....................................................................................... 32
9. Controller Settings.................................................................................................... 47
10. Component Selection (Windows NT)........................................................................ 78
11. Component Selection (Windows 2000)..................................................................... 78

xIntel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
12. Add/Remove Programs (Windows 2000 Example) ................................................... 79
13. Select Interface ........................................................................................................ 82
14. Remote Machine ...................................................................................................... 83
15. Select Controller....................................................................................................... 83
16. Monitor and Express Setup / Advanced Setup Menu................................................ 84
17. View Statistics Menu ................................................................................................ 86
18. Physical Drive Statistics ........................................................................................... 86
19. Logfile Name ............................................................................................................ 87
20. Controller Events...................................................................................................... 87
21. Hard Disk Information............................................................................................... 88
22. Hard Disk Last Status............................................................................................... 89
23. Save Information ...................................................................................................... 89
24. Screen Service Messages and Async. Events.......................................................... 90
25. Select Host Drive...................................................................................................... 91
26. Choose Type............................................................................................................ 93
27. Create Host Drive Confirmation................................................................................ 93
28. Hard Disk Capacity................................................................................................... 94
29. Drive Status.............................................................................................................. 94
30. Host Drive Options ................................................................................................... 95
31. Array Drive Summary ............................................................................................... 97
32. Failed Hard Drive ..................................................................................................... 97
33. Select Drive to Repair .............................................................................................. 98
34. Replace Hard Drive Prompt...................................................................................... 98
35. Add Disk to Array Confirmation ................................................................................ 98
36. Array Drive Summary ............................................................................................... 98
37. Array Drive Error State Dialog .................................................................................. 98
38. Controller Settings Dialog......................................................................................... 99
39. Select Enclosure .................................................................................................... 101
40. Enclosure Slots ...................................................................................................... 102
41. Advanced Settings Dialog ...................................................................................... 102
42. Cluster Channels.................................................................................................... 103
43. Select Physical Drive.............................................................................................. 104
44. Initialize Disk .......................................................................................................... 105
45. Disk Initialization Confirmation................................................................................ 106
46. View Status/Defects ............................................................................................... 107
47. Enclosure Status .................................................................................................... 108
48. Enclosure Slots ...................................................................................................... 108
49. Block Diagram of a SAF-TE Subsystem. ................................................................ 109
50. Select Logical Drive................................................................................................ 110
51. Select Physical Drive.............................................................................................. 110
52. Create Single Drive ................................................................................................ 111
53. Drive Size............................................................................................................... 111
54. Select Array Drive .................................................................................................. 112
55. Array Drive Menu ................................................................................................... 112
56. Expand Array Dialog .............................................................................................. 113
57. Remove Drive Confirmation ................................................................................... 114
58. Progress Information .............................................................................................. 116
59. Create New Array Drive.......................................................................................... 117
60. Choose Type.......................................................................................................... 118

Contents xi
61. Strip Size................................................................................................................ 118
62. Choose Build Type ................................................................................................. 118
63. Create Array Drive Confirmation............................................................................. 118
64. Drive Size Dialog.................................................................................................... 119
65. Array Drive Status .................................................................................................. 119
66. Host Drive Configuration ........................................................................................ 120
67. Host Drive Cluster .................................................................................................. 121
68. StorCon+ Plus Toolbar ........................................................................................... 124
69. Status Bar .............................................................................................................. 125
70. Window Menu ........................................................................................................ 125
71. Help Menu.............................................................................................................. 125
72. File Menu ............................................................................................................... 126
73. View Menu ............................................................................................................. 126
74. Chart Menu ............................................................................................................ 126
75. Physical Configuration Menu.................................................................................. 127
76. Logical Configuration Menu.................................................................................... 127
77. Refresh Rate Settings Dialog ................................................................................. 127
78. Logical Configuration Menu.................................................................................... 128
79. Select Controller..................................................................................................... 129
80. Sockets .................................................................................................................. 129
81. Physical Configuration Icon .................................................................................... 130
82. Example of a Physical Configuration and the Controller Settings ........................... 130
83. Controller Icon........................................................................................................ 131
84. Controller Settings Dialogs ..................................................................................... 131
85. Processor Information ............................................................................................ 135
86. Physical Drive Information...................................................................................... 138
87. Logical Configuration.............................................................................................. 142
88. Host Drive Information Window .............................................................................. 147
89. Array Drive Information Window ............................................................................. 148
90. Logical Drive Information Window .......................................................................... 150
91. Create a New Host Drive........................................................................................ 152
92. Array Build Information Dialog................................................................................ 153
93. Parity Verify............................................................................................................ 153
94. Parity Verify Progress Information .......................................................................... 154
95. Logical Configuration.............................................................................................. 156
96. Add Hot Fix Drive ................................................................................................... 157
97. Add RAID 1 Component......................................................................................... 159
98. The Ready State .................................................................................................... 160
99. The Idle State......................................................................................................... 161
100. The Build / Rebuild State........................................................................................ 161
101. The Fail State......................................................................................................... 162
102. The Error State ...................................................................................................... 162
103. Statists Window Icon.............................................................................................. 163
104. Statists Window...................................................................................................... 163
105. Controller Events Window Icon .............................................................................. 164
106. Controller Events.................................................................................................... 165
107. StorCon+ Help ....................................................................................................... 166
108. Services ................................................................................................................. 167
109. RAID Configuration Services.................................................................................. 168

xii Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
110. RAID Configuration Service Add/Remove Users .................................................... 169
111. RAIDMail................................................................................................................ 170
112. Log File Name........................................................................................................ 170
113. Workstation Names................................................................................................ 171
114. RAID Mail Utility ..................................................................................................... 172
Tables
1. Disk Drive SCSI Parameters........................................................................................ 25
2. RAID Level, Array Type, and Hard Disk Requirements ................................................ 26
3. RAID Level, Hard Drives, and Usable Storage Capacity .............................................. 26
4. Hardware Architecture ................................................................................................. 28
5. Electrical Specifications ............................................................................................... 28
6. Environmental Specifications ....................................................................................... 28
7. Supported SCSI Hard Disk Drive Standards ................................................................ 29
8. Disk, Volume, and Array Limitations............................................................................. 30
9. Operational States ....................................................................................................... 31
10. Additional Operational States....................................................................................... 33
11. Disk Drive Replacement Options ................................................................................. 33
12. Linux Path Names........................................................................................................ 53
13. UnixWare Bus Number, Target ID and LUN................................................................. 73
14. Host Drive Types ......................................................................................................... 82
15. Controller Settings ....................................................................................................... 99
16. Advanced Settings ..................................................................................................... 103
17. View Status/Defects................................................................................................... 107
18. Toolbar Icons ............................................................................................................. 124
19. Configuration Menu Refresh Settings......................................................................... 128
20. Controller Settings ..................................................................................................... 132
21. I/O Processor Icons ................................................................................................... 134
22. Direct Access Device Icons........................................................................................ 137
23. Data Transfer Rates................................................................................................... 139
24. Non Direct Access Devices........................................................................................ 141
25. Host Drive Icons......................................................................................................... 142
26. Array Drive Icons ....................................................................................................... 145
27. Logical Drive Icons..................................................................................................... 146
28. Physical Drive Icon .................................................................................................... 147
29. Event Window Icons .................................................................................................. 164

13
1 Introduction and General Information
Intended Audience
To use this product you should have experience in configuring computer equipment. For example,
you should be able to install and configure your operating system (OS) to recognize peripherals and
you should be able to use software utilities to configure and troubleshoot those installed
components. Be sure that you are familiar with the installation and setup of the OS that you are
installing. For detailed OS installation procedures, consult the documentation that came with
the OS.
Read and adhere to all warnings, cautions, and notices in this guide and the other documents in the
user documentation set supplied with this product.
RAID Levels
RAID 0 - Data Striping
Data blocks are split into stripes based on the adjusted stripe size (for example, 128 KB) and the
number of hard disks. Each stripe is stored on a separate hard disk. Significant improvement of the
data throughput is achieved using this RAID level, especially with sequential read and write.
RAID 0 includes no redundancy. When one hard disk fails, all data is lost. RAID 0 requires a
minimum of two disks.
✏NOTE
In the following figures, the SCSI connections are those on the server board since Intel®RAID
Controller SRCMR is a zero channel RAID adapter.
Figure 1. RAID 0 –Data Striping

14 Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring/Disk Duplexing
All data is stored twice on two identical hard disks. When one hard disk fails, all data is
immediately available on the other without any impact on performance and data integrity.
With Disk Mirroring (Figure 2) two hard disks are mirrored on one I/O channel. If each hard disk
is connected to a separate I/O channel, it is called Disk Duplexing (Figure 3).
RAID 1 represents an easy and highly efficient solution for data security and system availability. It
is especially suitable for installations that are not too large (the available capacity is only half of the
installed capacity). RAID 1 requires a minimum of two disks.
Figure 2. RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring
Figure 3. RAID 1 –Disk Duplexing

Introduction and General Information 15
RAID 4 - Data Striping with a Dedicated Parity Drive
RAID 4 works in the same way as RAID 0. The data is striped across the hard disks and the
controller calculates redundancy data (parity information) that is stored on a separate hard disk
(P1, P2). Should one hard disk fail, all data remains fully available. Missing data is recalculated
from existing data and parity information.
Unlike in RAID 1 only the capacity of one hard disk is needed for redundancy. For example, in a
RAID 4 disk array with 5 hard disks, 80% of the installed hard disk capacity is available as user
capacity, only 20% is used for redundancy. In systems with many small data blocks, the parity hard
disk becomes a throughput bottleneck. With large data blocks, RAID 4 shows significantly
improved performance. RAID 4 requires a minimum of three disks.
Figure 4. RAID 4
RAID 5 - Data Striping with Striped Parity
Unlike RAID 4, the parity data in a RAID 5 disk array are striped across all hard disks. The
RAID 5 disk array delivers a balanced throughput. Even with small data blocks, which are very
likely in a multi-tasking and multi-user environment, the response time is very good. RAID 5
offers the same level of security as RAID 4. When one hard disk fails, all data is still fully
available. Missing data is recalculated from the existing data and parity information. RAID 4 and
RAID 5 are particularly suitable for systems with medium to large capacity requirements, due to
their efficient ratio of installed and available capacity. RAID 5 requires a minimum of three disks.

16 Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
Figure 5. RAID 5
RAID 10 - Combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0
RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 (Performance) and RAID 1 (Data Security). Unlike RAID 4
and RAID 5, there is no need to calculate parity information. RAID 10 disk arrays offer good
performance and data security. As in RAID 0, optimum performance is achieved in highly
sequential load situations. Identical to RAID 1, 50% of the installed capacity is lost through
redundancy. RAID 10 requires a minimum of four disks.
Figure 6. RAID 10

Introduction and General Information 17
Chaining
The Intel RAID Controller SRCMR firmware supports Drive Chaining (also referred to as Disk
Spanning). Drive Chaining is the process of linking several individual drives to form a large single
drive. Chaining is only available after having selected two or more drives in the Storage Console or
StorCon+. Chaining is an inexpensive method to obtain a large logical unit from many smaller disk
drives.
WARNING
Using logical drives of the type chain as components of array drives is not recommended.
WARNING
Disk Chaining does not offer any form of data protection.
Configuring a Chaining Set Using Storage Console
1. Select Create New Host Drive
2. Select 2 or more drives
3. Press and select Chaining
Configuring a Chaining Set using StorCon+
1. Click on the New host drive icon.
2. Select the Configuration menu, then Host Drive, Create New. A new host drive window
appears.
3. Select a drive(s) using <Shift> and arrow keys. Chaining is greyed out before selecting 2
drives and is available after selecting 2 drives.
4. Select Chaining and press <Enter>.
The System will configure the chain set that is now a logical drive.

18 Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
Levels of Drive Hierarchy Within the Intel RAID Controller
SRCMR Firmware
The Intel RAID Controller SRCMR firmware is 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.
Level 1
Physical drives are hard disks and removable hard disks. Some Magneto Optical (MO) drives are
located on the lowest level. Physical drives are the basic components of all “drive constructions”.
However, before they can be used by the firmware, these hard disks must be “prepared” through a
procedure called 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 construction consisting of
more than one physical drive.
Level 2
On the next higher level are the logical drives. Logical drives are introduced to obtain full
independence of the physical coordinates of a physical device. This is necessary to easily change
the Intel RAID Controller SRCMR and the channels, IDs, without loosing the data and the
information on a specific disk array.
Level 3
On this level of hierarchy, the firmware forms the array drives. Depending on the firmware
installed an array drive can be:
•Single Disks: one disk or a 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 a hot fix drive
•RAID 4 array drives, RAID 4 array drives plus a hot fix drive
•RAID 5 array drives, RAID 5 array drives plus a hot fix drive
•RAID 10 array drives, RAID 10 array drives plus a hot fix drive

Introduction and General Information 19
Level 4
On level 4, the firmware forms the host drives. Only these drives can be accessed by the host
operating system of the computer. 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 kinds of host drives at the same time. For example, in
Windows†2000, drive C is a RAID 5 type host drive (consisting of 5 SCSI hard disks), drive D is a
single hard disk. 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 Storage Console, each level of hierarchy has its own menu:
Level 1 - Configure Physical Devices
Level 2 - Configure Logical Drives
Level 3 - Configure Array Drives
Level 4 - Configure Host Drives
Generally, each installation procedure passes through these 4 menus, starting with level 1.
Installation includes the initializing the physical drives, configuring the logical drives, configuring
the array drives (for example, RAID 0, 1, 4, 5 and 10) and configuring the host drives.
Transparency of Host Drives
The structure of the host drives installed with StorCon (see Chapter 7, Storage Console) is not
known to the operating system. For example, the operating system does not recognize that a given
host drive consists of a number of hard disks forming a disk array.
To the operating system this host drive simply appears as one single hard disk with the capacity of
the disk array. This complete transparency represents the easiest way to operate disk arrays under
the operating system. Neither operating system nor the PCI computer need to be involved in the
administration of these complex disk array configurations.

20 Intel RAID Controller SRCMR User’s Guide
Using CD-ROMs, DATs, Tapes, etc.
A SCSI device that is not a SCSI hard disk or a removable hard disk, or that does not behave like
one, is called a Non-Direct Access Device. Such a device is not configured with StorCon and does
not become a logical drive or host drive. SCSI devices of this kind are either operated through the
Advanced SCSI programming Interface (ASPI) (MS-DOS†, Windows, Novell NetWare†or OS/2†),
or are directly accessed from the operating system (UNIX†, Windows NT†).
✏NOTE
Hard disks and removable hard disks are called Direct Access Devices. However, there are some
Non-Direct Access Devices, for example, certain MO drives, which can be operated just like
removable hard disks if they have been appropriately configured (for example, by changing their
jumper settings).