Asrock FM2A55M-DGS RAID Installation Guide

AMD RAID Installation Guide

1. AMD BIOS RAID Installation Guide …………………………………………………………………….. 3

1.1 Introduction to RAID ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3

1.2 RAID Configurations Precautions ………………………………………………………………… 4

1.3 Installing Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit / XP With RAID Functions …................. 5

1.3.1 Installing Windows XP With RAID Funtions ………………………………….................. 5

1.3.2 Installing Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit With RAID Funtions ……………… 6

1.4 Opening Option ROM ………..…………………………………………………………………….. 7

1.5 Using the Main Menu ………..…………………………………………………………………….. 8

1.6 Viewing Drive Assignments ………..…………………………….……………………………...... 9

1.7 Secure Erasing a Physical Drive ………..……………………….…………………………….... 10

1.8 Creating a Logical Drive ………..…………………………………………………………….….. 12

1.9 Deleting a Logical Drive ………..……………………………………………………………..….. 17

1.10 Viewing Controller Configuration ………..…………………………………………………..….. 18

1.11 Responding to Logical Drive Problems ………..……………………………..……………..….. 19

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2. AMD Windows RAID Installation Guide ……………………………………………………………… 20

2.1 Components of RAIDXpert Installation Software ……………………………………………. 20

2.2 Browser Support ………………………………………………………………………………… 20

2.3 Installing RAIDXpert ……………………………………………………………………………. 20

2.4 Logging into RAIDXpert ………………………………………………………………………… 23

2.5 Regular Connection……………………………………………………………………………... 23

2.6 Secure Connection………………………………………………………………………………. 23

2.7 Creating a New Logical Drive ………………………………………………………………….. 24

2.8 Connecting to RAIDXpert from the Internet ………………………………………………….. 27

2.9 Running RAIDXpert without Network Connection …………………………………………… 27

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1. AMD BIOS RAID Installation Guide

AMD BIOS RAID Installation Guide is an instruction for you to configure RAID functions by using the Option ROM

under BIOS environment. After you make a SATA / SATAII

BIOS setup to set the option to RAID mode by following the detailed instruction of the “User Manual” in our support CD

or “Quick Installation Guide”, then you can start to use the Option ROM to configure RAID.

driver diskette, press <F2> or <Del> to enter

1.1 Introduction to RAID

The term “RAID” stands for “Redundant Array of Independent Disks”, which is a method combining two or more hard

disk drives into one logical unit. For optimal performance, please install identical drives of the same model and

capacity when creating a RAID set.

RAID 0 (Data Striping)

RAID 0 is called data striping that optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved

stacks. It will improve data access and storage since it will double the data transfer rate of a single disk alone while the

two hard disks perform the same work as a single drive but at a sustained data transfer rate.

WARNING!!

Although RAID 0 function can improve the access performance, it does not provide any fault tolerance. Hot-Plug any HDDs of the

RAID 0 Disk will cause data damage or data loss.

RAID 1 (Data Mirroring)

RAID 1 is called data mirroring that copies and maintains an identical image of data from one drive to a second

drive. It provides data protection and increases fault tolerance to the entire system since the disk array

management software will direct all applications to the surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of the data in

the other drive if one drive fails.

RAID 10 (Stripe Mirroring)

RAID 0 drives can be mirrored using RAID 1 techniques, resulting in a RAID 10 solution for improved performance

plus resiliency. The controller combines the performance of data striping (RAID 0) and the fault tolerance of disk

mirroring (RAID 1). Data is striped across multiple drives and duplicated on another set of drives.

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1.2 RAID Configurations Precautions

1. Please use two new drives if you are creating a RAID 0 (striping) array for performance. It is recommended

to use two SATA drives of the same size. If you use two drives of different sizes, the smaller capacity hard

disk will be the base storage size for each drive. For example, if one hard disk has an 80GB storage

capacity and the other hard disk has 60GB, the maximum storage capacity for the 80GB-drive becomes

60GB, and the total storage capacity for this RAID 0 set is 120GB.

2. You may use two new drives, or use an existing drive and a new drive to create a RAID 1 (mirroring) array

for data protection (the new drive must be of the same size or larger than the existing drive). If you use two

drives of different sizes, the smaller capacity hard disk will be the base storage size. For example, if one

hard disk has an 80GB storage capacity and the other hard disk has 60GB, the maximum storage capacity

for the RAID 1 set is 60GB.

3. Please verify the status of your hard disks before you set up your new RAID array.

WARNING!!

Please backup your data first before you create RAID functions. In the process you create RAID, the system will ask if you

want to “Clear Disk Data” or not. It is recommended to select “Yes”, and then your future data building will operate under a

clean environment.

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1.3 Installing Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit / XP

With RAID

Functions

If you want to install Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit / 7 / 7 64-bit on a RAID disk composed of 2 or more

SATA / SATAII

HDDs with RAID functions, please follow below procedures according to the OS you install.

1.3.1 Installing Windows XP With RAID Functions

If you want to install Windows XP on a RAID disk composed of 2 or more SATA / SATAII HDDs

with RAID functions, please follow below steps.

STEP 1: Set up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY → Advanced screen →Storage Configuration.

B. Set the “SATA Mode” option to [RAID].

STEP 2: Make a SATA / SATAII

A. Insert the ASRock Support CD into your optical drive to boot your system.

B. During POST at the beginning of system boot-up, press <F11> key, and then a window for boot devices

selection appears. Please select CD-ROM as the boot device.

C. When you see the message on the screen, “Do you want to generate Serial ATA driver diskette [YN]?”, press

<Y>.

driver diskette.

D. Then you will see these messages,

Please insert a diskette into the floppy drive.
WARNING! Formatting the floppy diskette will lose ALL data in it!
Start to format and copy files [YN]?

Please insert a floppy diskette into the floppy drive, and press any key.

E. The system will start to format the floppy diskette and copy SATA / SATAII

diskette.

STEP 3: Use “RAID Installation Guide” to set RAID configuration.

Before you start to configure RAID function, you need to check this RAID installation guide for proper configuration.

Please refer to the BIOS RAID installation guide part in this document for details.

drivers into the floppy

STEP 4: Install Windows XP OS on your system.

After step 1, 2, 3, you can start to install Windows XP

press F6 to install a third-party RAID driver. When prompted, insert the SATA / SATAII

containing AMD RAID driver. After reading the floppy disk, the driver will be presented. Select your required driver to

install according to the OS you install.

on your system. At the beginning of Windows setup,

driver diskette

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1.3.2 Installing Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit With RAID Functions

If you want to install Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit on a RAID disk composed of 2 or more SATA / SATAII

HDDs with RAID functions, please follow below steps.

STEP 1: Set up UEFI.

A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY → Advanced screen →Storage Configuration.

B. Set the “SATA Mode” option to [RAID].

STEP 2: Use “RAID Installation Guide” to set RAID configuration.

Before you start to configure RAID function, you need to check this RAID installation guide for proper configuration.

Please refer to the BIOS RAID installation guide part in this document for details.

STEP 3: Make a SATA / SATAII

STEP 4: Install Windows 7 / 7 64-bit / Vista / Vista 64-bit OS on your system.

driver diskette.

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1.4 Opening Option ROM

The Option ROM and the Option ROM Utility are built-in components of the AMD motherboard. When the Option ROM

loads during boot-up, it displays pertinent information about the RAID logical drives that it finds.

When the Option ROM screen appears, press Ctrl-F to enter the Utility. The Option ROM screen displays the

following information:

ID – An identification number assigned to each logical drive by the Option ROM.
Mode – The RAID mode (level) configuration of the logical drive
LD Name – The name you assigned when the logical drive was created, or a default name
LD Size – The data capacity of the logical drive in GB (Gigabytes).
Status – Shows one of three logical drive conditions:
Functional – The logical drive is fully operational, and no problems are present.

Critical – The logical drive is still operational, meaning you can read and write data to it. But the logical

drive has lost fault tolerance. For RAID levels 1, 5, and 10, the logical drive contains a failed

physical drive. You must identify and replace the failed physical drive, then rebuild the logical

drive using the RAIDXpert software.

Offline – The logical drive is no longer operational, meaning you cannot read and write data to it. You

must identify and replace the failed drive(s). Then you can create a new logical drive and copy

your data to it from the last tape backup or other device.

For RAID levels 1, 5, and 10, two or more physical drives in the logical drive have failed.

For a RAID 0 or JBOD at least one physical drive has failed.

A RAID Ready logical drive disappears from the user interface when its physical drive fails.

Port – The AMD motherboard port ID number to which the Single Disk (unassigned physical drive) is

attached.

Device Name – The manufacturer’s name and model number of this physical drive. S.M.A.R.T. refers to the

Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting System that monitors the condition of disk drives. Healthy means the

disk drive is OK.

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1.5 Using the Main Menu

When the Option ROM displays on your computer screen, press Ctrl-F to enter the Utility and display the Main Menu.

The Main Menu (above) has five options:

Press 1 to view physical drive assignments

Press 2 to create a logical drive or view information about an existing logical drive.

Press 3 to delete a logical drive.

Press 4 to view the controller configuration.

Press Esc (Escape) to exit the utility and reboot your PC.

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1.6 Viewing Drive Assignments

From the Main Menu screen, press 1 to see the View Drive Assignments screen.

This screen reports physical drive assignments and provides the following information:

Port: ID – Shows the AMD motherboard port ID number to which a particular physical drive is attached. The

total number of ports depends on the motherboard and whether a port multiplier is connected.
Drive Model – Identifies the manufacturer, model, and model number (if applicable) of each physical drive.

S.M.A.R.T. refers to the Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting System that monitors the condition of disk

drives. Healthy means the disk drive is OK.
Capabilities – The type and speed of the physical drive, such as SATA 1.5 Gb/s, 3.0 Gb/s, or 6.0 Gb/s.
Capacity (GB) – Reflects the capacity in GB (gigabytes) of the physical drive.
Assignment – This field identifies the logical drive to which the physical drive belongs. In the example above,

there is one logical drive composed of two physical drives. LD 1-2 means logical drive 1, physical drive 2.

Unassigned drives are labeled Single Disk. You can use unassigned drives to create a new logical drive.
Extent – An extent is a portion of the physical drive. The Option ROM Utility allows you to split the capacity of a

physical drive between two logical drives. The portion of a physical drive available to be used in a logical drive

is called an extent. The sum of the two extents is slightly smaller than the total capacity of the physical drive.

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