Asus RAID Instruction Manual

RAID
Configuration
Guide

Motherboard

E16322
Revised Edition V5
January 2020

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Contents

About this guide ......................................................................................................... iv

Chapter 1: Intel® RAID Configuration

1.1 Intel® RAID configurations ........................................................................ 1-5

1.1.1 RAID definitions .......................................................................... 1-5

1.1.2 Installing storage devices ............................................................ 1-5

1.1.3 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS .......................... 1-6

1.1.4 Intel® Virtual Raid on CPU in UEFI BIOS .................................. 1-10

1.1.5 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM utility ................ 1-14

1.2 Installing the RAID controller driver during

Windows® 10 OS installation ..................................................................1-19

Chapter 2: AMD RAID Configuration

2.1 RAID configurations .................................................................................. 2-1

2.1.1 RAID definitions .......................................................................... 2-1

2.1.2 Installing storage devices ............................................................ 2-2

2.1.3 RaidXpert2 Configuration Utility in UEFI BIOS ........................... 2-2

2.2 Installing the RAID controller driver during

Windows® 10 OS installation ....................................................................2-6

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About this guide

This guide contains information that you need to create RAID configurations. You can create
different RAID configurations based on your motherboard chipset and software.

The screenshots in this guide are for reference only. The screenshots may vary with
models, but the configurations steps are similar.

How this guide is organized

This guide contains the following parts:

• Chapter 1: Intel® RAID Configuration

This chapter describes the Intel® RAID configurations and lists the setup procedures
to create Intel® RAID configurations.

• Chapter 2: AMD RAID Configuration

This chapter describes the AMD RAID configurations and lists the setup procedures to
create AMD RAID configurations.

Where to find more information

The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware and
software products.

iv

Chapter 1: Intel® RAID Configuration

Intel® RAID Configuration

1

1.1 Intel® RAID configurations

If your motherboard supports Intel® Rapid Storage Technology, you can create RAID 0,
RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 configurations.

If you want to install a Windows® operating system to a hard disk drive included in a RAID
set, you have to create a RAID driver disk and load the RAID driver during OS installation.
Refer to section 1.2 Installing the RAID controller driver during Windows® 10 OS

installation for details.

1.1.1 RAID definitions

RAID 0 (Data striping) optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in

parallel, interleaved stacks. Two hard disks perform the same work as a single drive but at a
sustained data transfer rate, double that of a single disk alone, thus improving data access
and storage. Use of two new identical hard disk drives is required for this setup.

RAID 1 (Data mirroring) copies and maintains an identical image of data from one drive to
a second drive. If one drive fails, the disk array management software directs all applications
to the surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of the data in the other drive. This RAID
configuration provides data protection and increases fault tolerance to the entire system.
Use two new drives or use an existing drive and a new drive for this setup. The new drive
must be of the same size or larger than the existing drive.

RAID 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more hard disk drives.
Among the advantages of RAID 5 configuration include better HDD performance, fault
tolerance, and higher storage capacity. The RAID 5 configuration is best suited for
transaction processing, relational database applications, enterprise resource planning, and
other business systems. Use a minimum of three identical hard disk drives for this setup.

RAID 10 is data striping and data mirroring combined without parity (redundancy data)
having to be calculated and written. With the RAID 10 configuration you get all the benefits
of both RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations. Use four new hard disk drives or use an existing
drive and three new drives for this setup.

1.1.2 Installing storage devices

The motherboard supports SATA hard disk drives and PCIE SSD storage devices. For
optimal performance, install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating
a disk array.

Refer to Chapter 2 in your motherboard’s user manual for details on installing storage
devices to your motherboard.

RAID Configuration Guide

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1.1.3 Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS

To enter the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology in UEFI BIOS:

1. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST.

Refer to Chapter 3 in your motherboard’s user manual for details on entering and
navigating through the BIOS Setup.

2. Go to Advanced > PCH Storage Configuration, then set SATA Mode Selection to
[Intel RST Premium With Intel Optane System Acceleration (RAID)].

Due to chipset limitation, when SATA ports are set to RAID mode, all SATA ports run at
RAID mode together.

3. Configure additional settings for your storage device and RAID configuration:

• If you are using SATA storage devices, no additional settings are required.

• If you are using onboard M.2 cards, go to Advanced > PCH Storage

• If you are using Hyper M.2 cards or PCIE SSDs, go to Advanced > CPU

4. Go to Boot > CSM (Compatibility Support Module), then set Launch CSM to

5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then enter the BIOS Setup again.

6. Go to the Advanced > Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology to display the Intel®

Please proceed to next step.

Configuration, then set all the corresponding M.2 PCIE Storage RAID Support
to [Enabled].

Storage Configuration, then set all the corresponding PCIE slots to [Hyper M.2
X16] or [PCIE X4 SSD Card] accordingly.

The Hyper M.2 card is purchased separately.

[Disabled].

Rapid Storage Technology menu.

1-6

Chapter 1: Intel® RAID Configuration

Creating a RAID set

To create a RAID set:

1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select Create RAID Volume and
press <Enter>. The following screen appears:

2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press <Enter>.

3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press <Enter> to select the RAID level to
create, and then press <Enter>.

4. Under Select Disks, press <Enter> and select X for the disks you want to include in
the RAID set.

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5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press <Enter> to select strip size for the RAID
array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press <Enter>. The available strip size
values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values:

- RAID 0: 128 KB

- RAID 10: 64 KB

- RAID 5: 64 KB

We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for
multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing.

6. When the Capacity (MB) item is selected, enter the RAID volume capacity that you
want and press <Enter>. The default value indicates the maximum allowed capacity.

7. When the Create Volume item is selected, press <Enter> to create the RAID volume
and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu.

1-8

Chapter 1: Intel® RAID Configuration

Deleting a RAID set

Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when
you delete a RAID set.

To delete a RAID set:

1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select the RAID volume you want to
delete and press <Enter>. The following screen appears:

2. When the Delete item is selected, press <Enter>, then select Yes to delete the RAID
volume and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, or select No to
cancel.

RAID Configuration Guide

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