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About RAID
RAID for performance
About RAID
RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks) lets your computer use
multiple hard drives more efficiently. Your computer supports RAID 0, RAID 1,
RAID 5, and RAID 10.
RAID 0 lets your computer see multiple hard drives as a single drive. This type
of RAID can increase file access speeds, which is important if you work with
video editing, sound editing, and high-performance games. RAID 0 is also an
affordable way to increase your total file storage capacity.
How it increases performance
The more drives you have in your RAID 0 array, the faster the potential drive
reading performance. All hard drives have limitations on how fast they can read
and write files. If half a file is stored on one RAID 0 drive and the other half on
another RAID 0 drive, each drive only has to read half of the file. So, the entire
file is accessed by the computer up to twice as fast (using a two-drive RAID 0
array). In a three-drive RAID 0 array, if the file is evenly distributed among the
drives, each drive must read only a third of the file, and so on. If the entire file
happens to be stored on only one of the drives, the file is accessed at the same
speed as if it were on a standard hard drive setup. Dividing up files between
multiple hard drives like this is called striping.
How it makes file storage cheaper
Because RAID 0 lets your computer see multiple hard drives as a single drive,
you can install several lower capacity (less expensive) drives and have the same
single-drive storage simplicity and capacity as a larger, more expensive hard
drive.
Drawbacks
Unfortunately, RAID 0 lets multiple drives behave as one in another way. If part
of the array fails (such as a hard drive crashing), the entire array fails. Because
the drives are treated like a single drive, parts of files (including operating
system files) can be spread across several drives, leaving the computer with only
file fragments if one drive fails. Regular and frequent backups are critical.
Another drawback is that RAID 0 treats each hard drive as if it has the storage
capacity of the smallest drive in the array. So if you have three drives (300 GB,
250 GB, and 200 GB) in a RAID 0 array, your computer only recognizes 600 GB
total capacity.
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About RAID www.gateway.com
RAID for security
RAID 1 maintains a complete copy of a file set on each physical hard drive in
the array. Because each hard drive has a full copy of all files, your data and
applications are completely backed up. Maintaining simultaneous, complete
copies of files across multiple hard drives is called mirroring. If a drive fails, the
mirrored drive takes over and acts as the primary drive.
File reading performance (seek time) is increased using the same methods that
RAID 0 uses, although writing speed is the same as if writing to a single hard
drive.
For maximum reliability, you can use a separate hard drive controller for each
drive (called splitting or duplexing).
Drawback
RAID 1 treats the entire array as a single drive with the storage capacity of the
smallest physical drive in the array. So if you have three drives (300 GB, 250 GB,
and 200 GB) in a RAID 1 array, your computer only recognizes a single drive with
200 GB total capacity.
RAID for both: performance and security
RAID 5 uses mirroring across the drives, and striping (at the block level) with
on-the-fly error correction across all drives. Because of this error correction,
small file read/write errors can be quickly and automatically fixed without a
significant drop in system performance. RAID 5 offers good performance and
data redundancy. This array preserves your files if a drive fails.
RAID 10 (also called RAID 1+0 or RAID 1&0) contains sets of RAID 1 mirrors acting
as drives within a RAID 0 striping array. With this setup, all but one drive in the
array can fail, and the RAID would still be providing necessary data to the
computer.
Drawback
A RAID 5 array is treated as one drive with capacity of smallest physical drive.
RAID 10 treats the entire array as a single drive with the storage capacity of the
smallest drive in the array. So if you have four drives (350 GB, 300 GB, 250 GB,
and 200 GB) in a RAID 10 array, your computer only recognizes a single drive
with 200 GB total capacity.
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Preparing your computer for RAID
Setting up RAID on your computer can involve three major steps, depending
on how your computer has been configured.
To prepare your computer for RAID:
1 Install the RAID controller card. See your RAID controller card’s
documentation for installation instructions. If the RAID controller card was
already installed, or if the RAID controller is embedded on the system
board, go to Step 2.
2 Configure the RAID arrays. See your RAID controller documentation, the
Array Manager User Guide, or “Configuring RAID” on page 3.
3 Install the operating system.
Configuring RAID
Preparing your computer for RAID
Enabling RAID
Although your computer is capable of using RAID, the RAID feature it is not yet
enabled.
To enable RAID on your computer:
1 Start (or restart) your computer.
2 As soon as your computer turns on and the Gateway logo appears on the
screen, press F2. The BIOS Setup utility opens.
3 Select the Advanced menu, then select Drive Configuration.
4 Change the ATA/IDE Mode to Enhanced.
5 Change the SATA mode to RAID.
6 Press F10, then type Y to exit BIOS saving changes.
Now that RAID is enabled, you can access the RAID setup
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Configuring RAID www.gateway.com
Creating a RAID volume
Because RAID can be configured so many ways, this procedure covers only the
basics.
To configure RAID:
1 Start (or restart) your computer. During startup, the RAID option screen
appears. (Number and specifications of your drives may vary from the
example.)
2 While the RAID option screen is open, press CTRL+i. The Matrix Storage
Manager opens.
3 Highlight 1. Create RAID Volume, then press ENTER. The CREATE VOLUME
MENU opens.
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Configuring RAID
4 Change the following settings:
■ Name—Type a volume name (up to 16 characters) or use the
default name, then press E
■ RAID Level—Press ↑ or ↓ to select the RAID level, then press ENTER.
■ Select Disks—Press ↑ or ↓ to highlight drives, press the spacebar
NTER.
to select (mark with a green triangle) each drive to use in the array,
then press E
■ Strip Size—If you have selected RAID 0, RAID 5, or RAID 10, select
the strip value for the array, then press E
NTER. You must select a minimum of two drives.
NTER. Defaults: 218 KB for
RAID 0 and RAID 10, 64 KB for RAID 5. We recommend accepting
the default strip value.
■ Capacity—Type the volume capacity, or use the default capacity,
then press E
NTER. We recommend using the default value (the
maximum capacity with the drives you selected).
5 Highlight Create Volume, then press ENTER. A warning appears.
6 Type Y. The RAID volume is created and the MAIN MENU opens.
7 Highlight 4. Exit, then press Enter. You exit the Matrix Storage Manager,
and your computer restarts.
Deleting a RAID volume
If your computer boots to RAID (to load
the operating system), deleting the RAID
volume will remove the operating
system, and you will not be able to start
Caution
your computer.
Deleting a RAID volume deletes all files on that volume, including operating
system files.
To delete a RAID volume:
1 Start (or restart) your computer. During startup, the RAID option screen
appears.
2 While the RAID option screen is open, press CTRL+i. The Matrix Storage
Manager opens.
3 Highlight 2. Delete RAID Volume, then press ENTER. The DELETE VOLUME
MENU opens.
4 Press ↑ or ↓ to highlight the RAID volume you want to delete, then press
ELETE. A warning message appears.
D
5 Type Y to confirm volume deletion.
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Resetting drives to non-RAID status
To troubleshoot or recover incompatible RAID configurations, failed RAID
volumes, or failed drives within a RAID volume, you can reset the drives to
non-RAID status until the problems can be resolved.
To reset drives to non-RAID status:
1 Start (or restart) your computer. During startup, the RAID option screen
appears.
2 While the RAID option screen is open, press CTRL+i. The Matrix Storage
Manager opens.
3 Highlight 3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID, then press ENTER. The RESET RAID
DATA menu opens.
4 Press ↑ or ↓ to highlight drives, press the spacebar to select (mark with a
green triangle) each drive you want to reset, then press E
message appears.
5 Type Y to confirm the drive reset.
NTER. A warning
Adding or replacing a RAID drive
Never remove an active drive from an
array until it is placed in a failed state or
prepared for removal. For more
information, see your RAID controller
documentation or the Array Manager
Caution
User Guide.
If your computer supports hot swapping (adding or replacing a drive without
turning off the computer), you can replace a failed RAID drive with a working
drive that is the same size or larger than the other array drives. When you add
or replace a drive in an array, the array begins rebuilding the drive.
To replace a failed RAID drive:
■ Insert the new drive in the same drive slot as the failed drive. Your new
drive acts as a “hot spare” for the array.
Getting help
For more information on RAID concepts, configuration, and maintenance,
search for RAID FAQ information on the Gateway Technical Support Web site
(support.gateway.com
(support.intel.com
) and the Intel Support & Downloads Web site
).
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