Sun Intel Adaptec RAID User’s Guide

This chapter describes how to use the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility (ARCU), a BIOS-based utility used to create and manage controllers, disk drives and other devices, and arrays on systems equipped with an Adaptec-based disk controller. It contains the following sections:

• Introduction to the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
• Running the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
• Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays
• Using the Select Utility to Modify Controller Settings
• Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives

Caution - 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. See Chapter 21for more information.

Many of the tasks described in this document can also be done using the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager graphical user interface (GUI). This is described in Parts I and II of this document.

---

Introduction to the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility

The Adaptec RAID Configuration utility provides three tools:

• The Array Configuration Utility (ACU)--Use this for creating and managing arrays and initializing and rescanning disk drives. See Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays.
• A Select Utility--This might be called SerialSelect or SATASelect. Use it for modifying the controller and disk drive settings, and for checking the battery status. See Using the Select Utility to Modify Controller Settings.
• Disk Utilities--Use this for formatting or verifying disk drives. See Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives.

---

Running the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility

This section describes how to start and navigate through the Adaptec RAID Configuration utility. The section contains the following subsections:

• To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
• To Navigate the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility

1. Start an RKVM session, or connect a keyboard, mouse, and video device to the server module.

2. Power on or start the server module.

3. When prompted, press Ctrl-A.

The Adaptec RAID Controller Utility (ARCU) screen appears.

During bootup, if your system has insufficient memory, the following message appears.

BIOS RAID Configuration Utility will load after system initialization. Please wait... Or press <Enter> Key to attempt loading the utility forcibly [Generally, not recommended]

  Use the arrow keys, Enter, Esc, and other keys on your keyboard to navigate through the utility menus.

All the tools within the Adaptec RAID Configuration utility are menu-based. Instructions for completing tasks are displayed onscreen.

---

Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays

You can use the ACU, a tool of the Adaptec RAID Configuration utility, to create and manage arrays. This section contains the following subsections:

• To Start the ACU
• To Create a New Array With the ACU
• To Manage Existing Arrays With the ACU
• To Make an Array Bootable With the ACU
• To Initialize Disk Drives With the ACU
• To Rescan Disk Drives With the ACU
• To Perform a Secure Erase on Disk Drives With the ACU
• To Stop a Secure Erase in Progress With the ACU

1. Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility.

2. On the ARCU screen, select Array Configuration Utility and press Enter.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions to create and manage arrays, and initialize, rescan, and erase disk drives.

1. Select Create Arrays from the main ACU menu.

Only disk drives that can be used in a new array are available for selection. (Disk drives must be initialized before they can be used in an array. See To Initialize Disk Drives With the ACU for more information.)

2. Use the Array Properties menu to modify the RAID level, size, name, stripe size, and caching settings of the array.

1. Select Manage Arrays from the main ACU menu.

2. From the Manage Arrays menu, do any of the following:

• View the properties of an array.

• Make an array bootable. See To Make an Array Bootable With the ACU.
• Assign or remove hot-spares.
• Delete an array.

Caution - Before deleting an array, back up the data to avoid permanently losing it.

1. Select Manage Arrays from the main ACU menu.

2. Select the array that you want to make bootable, and then press Ctrl-B.

The array number changes to Array 00, which makes the array the boot array.

3. Restart the computer.

If a disk drive is grayed-out (unavailable for use in a new array), it might need to be initialized.

  Select Initialize Drives from the main ACU menu.

Caution - Do not initialize a disk drive that is part of an array. Initializing a disk drive that is part of an array might make the array unusable. Back up all data from your disk drive before you initialize it.

  Select Rescan Drives from the main ACU menu.

When you perform a secure erase on a disk drive, all data on that disk drive is completely and irretrievably eradicated. Secure erase performs three distinct writing passes to the disk drive being erased--it does not just write zeros.

Performing a secure erase takes up to six times longer than clearing (or zeroing) a disk drive. You might want to perform a secure erase only on disk drives that contain confidential or classified information.

  Select Secure Erase from the main ACU menu, then select Y (yes).

To return to the main ACU menu after the secure erase has started, press Esc. The selected disk drive(s) cannot be used until the erase is complete.

1. From the main ACU window, select Secure Erase.

2. Select the disk drive being secure erased, and then press Ctrl-Q.

The secure erase stops and the ACU returns to its main window.

---

Using the Select Utility to Modify Controller Settings

The ARCU includes a tool for modifying the controller settings, and for modifying the disk drives connected to it. This utility is called either SerialSelect (SAS) or SATASelect.

This section contains the following subsections:

• To Start Using the Select Utility
• To Apply Changes and Exit the Select Utility
• To Modify General Settings With the Select Utility
• To Modify SAS-Specific Controller Settings With the Select Utility

1. Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration utility (see To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility).

The ARCU screen appears.

2. Select the Select utility and press Enter.

The utility might be named SerialSelect or SATASelect.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions to modify the settings of the controller and connected disk drives, as required.

1. Press Esc until you are prompted to exit.

If you modified any settings, you are prompted to save the changes before you exit.

2. Select Yes to exit, then press any key to restart your computer.

Any changes you made take effect after the computer restarts.

  Select Controller Configuration from the main Select utility menu and change the settings listed in the following table.

Some options might not be available.

In addition to the general settings listed in To Modify General Settings With the Select Utility, some controllers have SAS-specific settings that can be modified if required.

  Select PHY Configuration from the SerialSelect main menu and change the settings listed in the following table.

Using the Select Utility to Check Battery Status

The Select Utility has the ability to monitor the controller’s battery status.

  Select Battery Unit Status from the Select Utility menu.

The utility displays the following information about the status of the battery.

• Battery Status
• Battery Temperature
• Battery Charge %
• Estimated Remaining Charge

The estimated remaining charge indicates how long the battery will continue to operate if the power fails.

---

Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives

You can use the disk utilities tool to perform low-level formatting, or to verify your disk drives.

Caution - Before you format a disk drive, back up all data. Formatting destroys all data on a disk drive.

This section contains the following subsections:

• To Format or Verify a Disk Drive With the Disk Utilities
• To Locate Disk Drives With the Disk Utilities
• To Identify Disk Drives With the Disk Utilities

1. Start the ARCU.

See To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility.

The ARCU screen appears.

2. On the ARCU screen, select Disk Utilities.

3. Select the disk drive you want, then press Enter.

4. Select Format Disk or Verify Disk Media.

You can use the Identify Drive feature to physically locate a disk drive by blinking the LED.

1. Start the ARCU.

See To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility.

2. Select Disk Utilities.

3. Select the disk drive you want, then press Enter.

4. Select Identify Drive, then press Enter.

5. When you have finished locating your disk drive, press any key to stop the blinking.

You can identify disk drives by viewing the list of disk drives on your system. Only physical drives that appear during POST are shown.

1. Start the ARCU.

See To Start the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility.

2. Select Disk Utilities.

The Disk Utilities view displays the following information:

---

Viewing the BIOS-Based Event Log

The BIOS-based event log records all firmware events, such as configuration changes, array creation, and boot activity.

Some events are not stored indefinitely. The event log is cleared of any non-persistent events each time you restart your computer. Also, when the log is full, new events overwrite old events.

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See “Running the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility.

2. Select the controller you want, then press Enter.

The BIOS RAID Configuration utility menu appears.

3. Press Ctrl+P.

4. Select Controller Log Information, then press Enter.

The current event log opens.

Sun Intel Adaptec RAID User’s Guide

820-4708-13

Copyright © 2009 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.