Creating a Bootable Array on an x64 System

C H A P T E R 3

As an installation option, you can choose to create a bootable array and then install an operating system and the HBA driver onto that array. This chapter describes how to set the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA to be the boot controller, and how to create a bootable array on an x64 system.

Note - If you are a SPARC system user, and you want to create a bootable array and then install the Solaris operating system and the HBA driver onto that array, DO NOT complete any task in this chapter. Instead, go to Creating a Bootable Array on a SPARC System.

Note - If you want to complete a standard installation onto an existing operating system, DO NOT complete any task in this chapter. Instead, skip to Installing the Driver on an Existing Operating System.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Creating an Array

Making the Array Bootable

Setting the Boot HBA

Creating an Array

A RAID 5 array is created in the examples shown in this section because RAID 5 provides the most security and best performance with a minimum of three disk drives. However, you can choose to create an array with a different RAID level; you can also change array level later, after the operating system is installed.

You can create an array using either of these tools:

Array Configuration Utility (ACU)--BIOS-based menus and keyboard navigation. See To Create a RAID 5 Array With the ACU.

Command Line Interface (UCLI)--Refer to the Uniform Command-Line Interface User’s Guide at the following website:

http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/stortek.raid.hba#hic

You can use either tool, but the ACU utility is the quicker and easier tool for this task. The ACU is menu-based and provides instructions for completing tasks on-screen. Menus can be navigated using the arrows, Enter, Esc, and other keys on your keyboard.

Note - Do not combine SAS and SATA disk drives within the same array. The Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software generates a warning if you try to create a logical drive using a combination of SAS and SATA disk drives. See Introduction to Serial Attached SCSI for more information.

To Create a RAID 5 Array With the ACU

Note - Hot-plugging of enclosures is not supported in the BIOS RAID Configuration utility. Hot-plugging of SAS/SATA hard disk drives (HDDs) is supported only within hard disk enclosures and only under the conditions specified in Understanding Hot-Plug Limitations and Conditions Within the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

1. Power on the computer.

2. When prompted, press Ctrl+A to enter the BIOS RAID Configuration utility.

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

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

3. If you have more than one HBA of the same model or family in the computer, select the HBA that you want, and press Enter.

4. Select Array Configuration Utility, then press Enter.

5. Select Initialize Drives, then press Enter.

6. Select at least three disk drives for the array, press Insert for each selected disk drive, then press Enter.

Caution - During initialization, all data is deleted from the disk. Before continuing, back up any data you want to keep.

7. Press Y, then press Enter.

The selected disk drives are initialized, then the ACU screen is displayed.

8. Select Create Array, then press Enter.

9. Select the disk drives that were just initialized, press Insert for each selected disk drive, and press Enter.

10. When the Array Properties screen is displayed, follow the instructions in the following table.

TABLE 3-1 Filling in Array Properties Screen
Property Line	Entry or Selection
Array Type	Select RAID 5, then press Enter.
Array Label	Type a name, then press Enter.
Array Size	Press Enter, then press Enter again to use the default granularity of GB.
Stripe Size	Press Enter to use the default (256 KB).
Read Caching	Press Enter to use the default (Yes).
Write Caching	Press Enter to use the default (Disable). Caution - When write cache is enabled, there is a slight possibility of data loss or corruption during a power failure.
Create RAID via	Press Enter to use the default (Build/Verify).
[Done]	Press Enter.

11. If a cache warning message is displayed, type Y.

12. After the array is created, a message is displayed telling you that the array can now be used.

13. Press any key to return to the ACU Menu.

You can start using the array immediately. However, performance is reduced until the build process is complete.

14. Press Esc until the Exit utility window is displayed.

15. Select Yes, then press Enter.

The computer restarts.

16. Continue with Installing an OS Onto a Bootable Array on an x64 System.

Making the Array Bootable

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.

To Make the Array Bootable

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 number of the array changes to Array 00, which makes this array the boot array for the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA.

3. Restart the computer.

Setting the Boot HBA

The Sun StorageTek SAS RAID Internal HBA supports bootable disk drives and bootable arrays. You can configure the computer system to boot from either a disk drive or an array connected to the HBA.

To Set the Boot HBA

Note - For more information about completing these steps, refer to your computer documentation.

1. Enter the system setup.

2. Navigate to the drive boot sequence.

3. Move the boot HBA to the top of the list.

Next Steps

Install an operating system (OS) onto the bootable array and then install the HBA driver on the array, as described in Installing an OS Onto a Bootable Array on an x64 System.