Lenovo ThinkStation P500 Instruction sheet

ThinkStation P500/P510, P700/P710,
and P900/P910 How to Create and
Configure RAID Arrays
Version 1.1

1. Introduction
The introduction of the new ThinkStation P500, P700, and P900 platforms brings with it several new
storage options that are designed to increase the storage capacity and performance of the system. As
with previous ThinkStation platforms, P500/700/900 will continue to support the standard SATA and SAS
storage technologies to provide users with a wide variety of data storage solutions. This document will
highlight the available SATA, SAS, and RAID storage solutions offered on this latest generation of
ThinkStations as well as provide valuable information about how users can configure these solutions to
provide the best performance possible. Note that P510, P710, and P910 will function in the same way as
their predecessors (P500, P700, and P900) when it comes to creating and configuring RAID arrays.
Therefore, this document will cover all of these platforms.

2. Configuring RAID Arrays
Configuring RAID arrays using the onboard Intel S-SATA controller
Legacy BIOS Method
Use this method to create a basic RAID array using the onboard Intel S-SATA controller with the system
BIOS set to Legacy mode.
NOTE: This document shows the BIOS screens in Text Mode. P510/710/910 uses a GUI interface for the
BIOS setup screens by default. The general structure/layout of the BIOS setup screens in GUI Mode are
the same as Text Mode, but will look slightly different.
1. Install the drives for the RAID array into the system.
2. Power on the system and enter BIOS setup using the F1 key when prompted.
P500/P510
1/
P700/P710
P900/P910

3. Once the BIOS setup window is visible, use the left and right arrow keys to select the “Devices”
tab. From this tab, use the up and down arrow keys to select “PCH S-SATA Configuration”.
4. Under “Configure S-SATA as”, change the setting from “AHCI” to “RAID”.
5. Press F10 key to Save and exit BIOS setup.

6. After exiting, the system will reboot and load the Intel option ROM (Note the option ROM
requires at least two drives to be installed to load). Press CTRL+I when prompted to enter the
Intel option ROM.
7. Once the RSTe Main Menu loads, select “1: Create RAID Volume” and press ENTER.
8. Enter a volume name (if desired) in the “Name” field and press ENTER.
9. Use TAB and the arrow keys to select the desired RAID type and press ENTER.
10. If necessary, the menu will prompt the user to select the disks to be included in the array. Select
the desired disks by pressing SPACE (the disks to be used will be marked with green arrows). If
the option to select disks is not available, it means RSTe has automatically selected the disks for
the array. Press ENTER when finished.

11. Select desired strip size and press ENTER.
12. Select desired capacity and press ENTER.
13. Press ENTER to create the volume/array.
Press “Y” to confirm.

14. The user will then be returned to the RSTe menu. The array should now be listed under RAID
Volumes and the disks that are part of the array listed under Physical Devices.
UEFI BIOS Method
Use this method to create a basic RAID array using the onboard Intel S-SATA controller with the system
BIOS set to UEFI mode (OS Optimized Defaults set to ‘Enabled’ or Storage CSM Configuration is set to
‘UEFI’).
1. Install the drives for the RAID array into the system (see “How to Utilize Intel S-SATA controller”
section above for installation instructions).
P500/P510
P700/P710

2. Power on the system and enter BIOS setup using the F1 key when prompted.
P900/P910

3. Once the BIOS setup window is visible, use the left and right arrow keys to select the ‘Startup’
tab. From this tab, use the up and down arrow keys to select ‘CSM Configuration’.
4. For Windows 7: Under ‘Storage’, change the setting from “Legacy” to “UEFI” and press F10 key
to save and exit the BIOS setup menu.
For Windows 8 & Windows 10: Under ‘Save & Exit’, change the setting for “OS Optimized
Defaults” from “Disabled” to “Enabled” and press F10 key to save and exit the BIOS setup menu.
5. During the system reboot, enter BIOS setup using the F1 key when prompted. Once the BIOS
setup window is visible, use the left and right arrow keys to select the ‘Devices’ tab. From this
tab, use the up and down arrow keys to select “PCH S-SATA Configuration”.

6. Under “Configure S-SATA as”, change the setting from “AHCI” to “RAID”.
7. Save and exit BIOS setup.
8. After exiting, the system will reboot. Press F1 to enter BIOS setup.
9. Use the left and right arrow keys to select the “Advanced” tab.
10. Use the up and down arrow keys to select “Intel RSTe S-SATA Controller” and press ENTER.