Using the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

A P P E N D I X C

The BIOS RAID Configuration utility is a BIOS-based utility that you can use to create and manage controllers, disk drives and other devices, and arrays.

Note - If you are using a SPARC system, you cannot use the BIOS RAID Configuration utility. Instead, use the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager graphical user interface (GUI). For more information, see the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software User’s Guide at:
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/stortek.raid.hba#hic

Note - If you are not an advanced user familiar with working in a computer BIOS, do not use the BIOS RAID Configuration utility tools. Instead, use the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager graphical user interface.

This appendix contains the following sections:

Introduction to the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

Understanding Hot-Plug Limitations and Conditions Within the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

Running the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays

Using the -Select Utility to Modify HBA Settings

Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives

Viewing the BIOS-Based Event Log

Introduction to the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

The BIOS RAID Configuration utility comprises these tools:

The Array Configuration Utility (ACU)--For creating and managing arrays and initializing and rescanning disk drives. See Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays.

A -Select Utility--SerialSelect, or SATASelect, for modifying the HBA and disk drive settings. See Using the -Select Utility to Modify HBA Settings.

Disk Utilities--For formatting or verifying disk drives. See Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives.

Understanding Hot-Plug Limitations and Conditions Within the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

Hot-plugging of hard disk enclosures is not supported from within the BIOS RAID Configuration utility. However, hot-plugging of SAS/SATA hard disk drives (HDDs) is supported, but only within hard disk enclosures and under the following conditions:

Hot-Unplug Removal Conditions

Hot-Plug Addition Conditions

Hot-Unplug and Plug Replacement/Reinsertion Conditions

Note - Hot-plugging of hard disk drives is NOT supported during periods when the controller is busy performing actions on logical drives (building, rebuilding, or migrating RAID volumes).

Hot-Unplug Removal Conditions

Hot-unplug, removal, of HDDs is supported under the following conditions:

The hard disk drive to be removed must not be a part of a logical device (its status must be ‘available’).

After the hard disk drive is removed from the enclosure, you must perform a bus scan by using the Rescan Drives option from the main menu of the Array Configuration Utility (ACU).

You must confirm that the Disk Utility reports the correct configuration of the attached target devices.

Hot-Plug Addition Conditions

Hot-plug, add, of HDDs is supported under the following conditions:

After the hard disk drive is added to the enclosure, you must perform a bus scan by using the Rescan Drives option from the main menu of the ACU.

You must confirm that the Disk Utility reports the correct configuration of the attached target devices.

Hot-Unplug and Plug Replacement/Reinsertion Conditions

Hot unplug and plug, replace/reinsert, of HDDs is supported under the following conditions:

The hard disk drive to be removed must not be a part of a logical device (its status must be ‘available’).

If a hard disk drive is to be removed and replaced either into the same slot or a different unused slot using the same disk drive or a new disk drive, you must perform a bus scan between the removal and the replacement steps, as follows:

a. Remove the selected hard disk drive.

b. Complete a bus scan by using the Rescan Drives option in the ACU.

c. Confirm that the Disk Utility reports the correct configuration of attached target devices

d. Replace/reinsert the hard disk (new or same) into the enclosure slot (same or another unused slot).

e. Complete a bus scan by using the Rescan Drives option in the ACU.

f. Confirm that Disk Utility reports the correct configuration of attached target devices.

Running the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

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

To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

To Navigate the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

1. If the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA is connected to a RAID enclosure, power on the enclosure (or enclosures) before you power on the computer.

2. Start or restart the computer.

3. When prompted, press Ctrl+A.

During boot up, if your system has insufficient memory the following message will be displayed.


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

Note - The first time you power on the computer after you install a new HBA, the BIOS may display a configuration that doesn’t match the system’s configuration. This is normal behavior.

To Navigate the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility

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

All the tools within the BIOS RAID Configuration utility are menu-based and instructions for completing tasks are displayed on-screen.

Using the ACU to Create and Manage Arrays

You can use the ACU, a tool of the BIOS 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

To Start the ACU

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

2. If you have more than one HBA, select the HBA that you want to manage and press Enter.

3. Select Array Configuration Utility and press Enter.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create and manage arrays, and initialize, rescan, and erase disk drives.

To Create a New Array With the ACU

Note - You can create an array with the ACU and the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager graphical user interface (GUI). However, it is a much quicker process to create an array through the GUI than the ACU. Creating an array with the ACU might take two to three times longer than creating an array with the GUI. For more information, see the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software User’s Guide.

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.

Note - For more information about RAID levels and using disk drives to create arrays, see Selecting the Best RAID Level.

Note - Creating a new array might change the BIOS boot order. Check the BIOS settings to verify the correct boot order. For more information, see Best Practices For Controlling the Boot Order of Logical Drives.

To Manage Existing Arrays With the ACU

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.

Note - Failed drives are displayed in a different text color.

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.

To Make an Array Bootable With the ACU

Note - You may need to change the system BIOS to modify the boot order. For more information, refer to your computer documentation or see Best Practices For Controlling the Boot Order of Logical Drives.

The Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA always uses the lowest numbered array as its bootable array.

1. Select Manage Arrays from the main ACU menu.

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

Note - You cannot make an array bootable while it is building, verifying, or rebuilding.

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

3. Restart the computer.

To Initialize Disk Drives With the ACU

If a disk drive is displayed grayed-out (unavailable for use in a new array), it may 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 may make the array unusable. Back up all data from your disk drive before you initialize it.

To Rescan Disk Drives With the ACU

Select Rescan Drives from the main ACU menu.

To Perform a Secure Erase on Disk Drives With the ACU

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 may want to perform a secure erase only on disk drives that contain confidential or classified information.

Note - To erase (or zero) a disk drive with non-classified information, you may choose to format it (see Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives) instead, or clear it using Sun StorageTek RAID Manager graphical user interface (GUI)--both options take much less time than the secure erase option.

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

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

To Stop a Secure Erase in Progress With the ACU

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

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

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

Using the -Select Utility to Modify HBA Settings

Included in the BIOS RAID Configuration utility is a tool for modifying the settings of the HBA and the disk drives connected to it. This utility is called SerialSelect or SATASelect. This section contains the following subsections:

To Start Using a -Select Utility

To Apply Changes and Exit a -Select Utility

To Modify General HBA Settings With a -Select Utility

To Modify SAS-Specific HBA Settings With a -Select Utility

To Start Using a -Select Utility

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility (see To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility), select the -Select utility, and press Enter.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to modify the settings of the HBA and connected disk drives, as required.

To Apply Changes and Exit a -Select Utility

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.

To Modify General HBA Settings With a -Select Utility

Note - Default HBA settings are suitable for most computers. Do not change the default settings.

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

Some options may not be available for the HBA.

Note - Default settings are shown in bold type.

TABLE C-1 General HBA Settings
Option	Description
Drive’s Write Cache	When enabled, write cache is enabled on the disk drive. When disabled, write cache is not used on the disk drive. It is recommended that you disable write cache on the disk drive. Caution - When write cache is enabled, there is a slight possibility of data loss or corruption during a power failure.
Runtime BIOS	When enabled, the HBA BIOS allows the HBA to act as a bootable device. Disabling the BIOS allows another HBA to act as a bootable device.
Automatic Failover	When enabled, the HBA automatically rebuilds an array when a failed disk drive is replaced. When disabled, the array must be rebuilt manually.
Array Background Consistency Check	When enabled, the HBA constantly verifies a redundant array. Note that there may be a significant performance reduction. Default is disabled.
BBS Support	When enabled in systems that support BBS, the HBA is presented as a bootable device in the BIOS.
Array-based BBS Support	When enabled in systems that support BBS, the HBA presents attached bootable devices up to the BIOS for boot device selection. This is relevant for logical arrays. Default is disabled.
Physical Drives Display During POST	When enabled, connected disk drives are displayed during system Power On Self Test (POST). Displaying the disk drives adds a few seconds to the overall POST time. Default is disabled.
CD-ROM Boot Support	When enabled, the system can be booted from a bootable CD. Note--CDs are not supported by current software.
Removable Media Devices Boot Support	When enabled, removable media devices, such as CD drives, are supported.
Alarm Control	When enabled, the alarm sounds. Default is enabled. Note--When the alarm is turned off (disabled), it will automatically turn back on after a reboot.
SATA Native Command Queuing (NCQ)	When enabled, NCQ is enabled. Disable this feature if you want to attach more than 48 SATA II disk drives. Only available with SATA II disk drives.

To Modify SAS-Specific HBA Settings With a -Select Utility

In addition to the general settings listed onTo Modify General HBA Settings With a -Select Utility, the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA has SAS-specific settings that can be modified if required. (For more information about SAS, see Introduction to Serial Attached SCSI.)

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

Note - Default settings are shown in bold type.

TABLE C-2 SAS-Specific HBA Settings
Option	Description
PHY Rate	The data transfer rate between the HBA and devices. The default setting is Auto, which allows the SAS card to adjust the data transfer rate as required.
CRC Checking	When enabled, determines whether the HBA verifies the accuracy of data transfer on the serial bus. Default setting is Yes (enabled). Set to No (disabled) only if the HBA is connected to a device that does not support CRC Checking.
SAS Address	In a situation where you want each phy on a HBA to be in a different SAS domain, this setting specifies a unique world-wide name for each phy. Default is 0. Note: This setting is for SAS address conflict resolution only and must otherwise remain at its default value.

Using the Disk Utilities to Manage Disk Drives

You can use the disk utilities, another tool in the BIOS RAID Configuration utility, to low-level format or verify your disk drives. (New disk drives are low-level formatted at the factory and do not need to be low-level formatted again.)

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

To Format or Verify a Disk Drive With the Disk Utilities

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

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

3. Select Disk Utilities.

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

5. Select Format Disk or Verify Disk Media.

To Locate Disk Drives With the Disk Utilities

Note - This feature is only available with disk drives that have an activity LED.

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

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

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

3. Select Disk Utilities.

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

5. Select Identify Drive, then press Enter.

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

To Identify Disk Drives With the Disk Utilities

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

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

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

3. Select Disk Utilities.

The Disk Utilities view will provide you with the following information:

TABLE C-3 Information Provided by Disk Utilities
Location	Model	Rev#	Speed	Size
CN1=DEV1 Box0=Slot0 Exp0=phy0	The manufacturer information.	The revision number of the disk drive.	The speed of the disk drive.	The size of the disk drive.

The location information of a disk drive is determined by three types of connections:

Direct attached drives--The connection is determined by the cable connected to a device, for example CN1 (connector 1) is connected to DEV1 (device 1). For more information, see Direct-Attach Connections.

Storage Enclosure Processor (SEP) managed devices--The connection is determined by an active backplane. Box0 (enclosure 0) is connected to slot0 (disk drive slot 0 in the enclosure). For more information, see Backplane Connections.

Expanders--The connections is determined by an expander. Exp0 (expander 0) is connected to phy0 (phy 0 within a connector). For more information, see SAS Expander Connections.

Note - Devices other than disk drives (CDROM, tape drives, and so on) are listed in order after your system disk drives.

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; additionally, once the log is full, new events overwrite old events.

To View the Event Log

1. Start the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

See To Start the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

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

3. When the BIOS RAID Configuration utility menu is displayed, then press Ctrl+P.

4. Select Controller Log Information, then press Enter.

The current event log opens.