Creating a RAID Array

C H A P T E R 21

This chapter describes how to use the ARCU to create a RAID array. You can also use the procedure in this chapter to create single-drive volumes. A volume, by definition, consists of a single drive.

Note - On servers equipped with an Adaptec disk controller, all drives must be part of a volume before they can be used by the BIOS or the OS. Adaptec controllers support single-drive volumes that can be used for drives that are not part of a RAID array. This is especially important when you add drives to a system.

To Create a RAID Array

Use the following procedure to create a RAID array.

1. Power-cycle your server.

2. During power up, type Ctrl-A to bring up the ARCU.

A message appears, then the ARCU opens. See FIGURE 21-1.

FIGURE 21-1 Adaptec RAID Controller Utility (ARCU) Initial View

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

3. Select Array Configuration Utility.

The Array Configuration Utility appears.

FIGURE 21-2 Array Configuration Utility View

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

4. Select Initialize Drives.

A list of drives appears.

FIGURE 21-3 shows an example of a system with multiple drives.

FIGURE 21-3 List of Drives

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

5. Select drives to initialize.

Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list.

Use the space bar to select a drive.

Note - You can select many drives, and initialize them all at once, even if they are going to be in different volumes or arrays.

6. When you have selected all the drives to be initialized, press Enter.

A message warns you that initializing a drive erases array information from it.

7. Type yes.

The utility initializes the selected drives, and the main screen appears.

FIGURE 21-4 Array Configuration Utility View

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

8. Select Create Array from the main menu.

A list of drives appears, as shown in FIGURE 21-5.

FIGURE 21-5 List of Drives to Include in Array

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

9. Select the drives to be included in the array or volume.

If you are going to create a volume, select the drive to be included in the volume. If you are going to create an array, select all the drives to be included in the array. Repeat Step 9 through Step 13 for each subsequent array or volume.

Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list.

Use the space bar to select a drive.

10. After you make your selections, press Enter.

The Array Properties view appears, as shown in FIGURE 21-6.

FIGURE 21-6 Array Properties View

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

11. Make the following selections:

Array Type - Select an array type from the drop-down list. If you selected a single drive, the array type will be “volume.”

Array Label - Type in a label.

Stripe Size - Type in a stripe size.

Read Caching - Type Y or N.

Write Caching - Select an option from the list.

12. Press Enter or click Done to proceed.

Depending on the Write Caching selection, a number of warnings might appear:

If the Write Caching setting is Enable Always, and if you do not have a battery, or if the battery is not charged sufficiently, several warnings might appear. Type Yes to proceed, or type No to return to the Array Properties screen.

If the write cache is enabled, a write cache warning appears (FIGURE 21-7).

FIGURE 21-7 Write Cache Warning

Adaptec RAID controller utility (ARCU) initial view.

13. Click Enter to proceed.

The utility initializes the array.

Note - After making a change to a volume or drive (including hot-plug actions) while using the BIOS-based Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility (ARCU), a rescan of the drives is necessary to see the changes. This can be done using the Rescan Drives option or by simply navigating back to the ARCU main menu.