Information in this document is provided in connection with Intel® products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or
otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Except as provided in Intel’s Terms and Conditi ons
of Sale for such products, Intel assumes no liability whatsoever, and Intel disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating
to sale and/or use of Intel products including liability or warranties relating to fitness f or a particul ar purpose, merchantability,
or infringement of any patent, copyright or other intellectual property right. Intel products are not designed, intended or
authorized for use in any medical, life saving, or life sustaining applications or for any other application in which the failure of
the Intel product could create a situation where personal injury or death may occur. Intel may make changes to
specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice.
Intel and i960 are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United Stat es and other countri es.
†
Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
To use this product you should have experience in configuring computer equipment. For example,
you should be able to install and configure the operating system (OS) to recognize peripherals and
you should be able to use software utilities to configure and troubleshoot those installed
components. Be sure that you are familiar with the installation and setup of the OS that you are
installing. For detailed OS installation procedures, consult the documentation that came with
the OS.
Read and adhere to all warnings, cautions, and notices in this guide and the other documents in the
user documentation set supplied with this product. Read and adhere to the computer system safety
installation instructions.
RAID Levels
RAID 0 - Data Striping
Data blocks are split into stripes based on the adjusted stripe size (for example, 128 KB) and the
number of hard disk drives. Each stripe is stored on a separate hard disk drive. Significant
improvement of the data throughput is achieved using this RAID level, especially with sequential
read and write. RAID 0 (Figure 1) includes no redundancy. When one hard disk drive fails, all
data is lost. RAID 0 requires a minimum of two disks.
Figure 1. RAID 0 – Data Striping
13
RAID 1 - Disk Mirroring
All data is stored twice on two identical hard disk drives. When one hard disk drive fails, all data is
immediately available on the other without any impact on performance and data integrity.
With Disk Mirroring (Figure 2) two hard disk drives are mirrored on one I/O channel.
RAID 1 represents an easy and highly efficient solution for data security and system availability. It
is especially suitable for installations that are not too large (the available capacity is only half of the
installed capacity). RAID 1 requires a minimum of two disks.
Figure 2. RAID 1 – Disk Mirroring
14
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
RAID 4 - Data Striping with a Dedicated Parity Drive
RAID 4 (Figure 3) works in the same way as RAID 0. The data is striped across the hard disk
drives and the controller calculates redundancy data (parity information) that is stored on a separate
hard disk drive (P1, P2). Should one hard disk drive fail, all data remains fully available. Missing
data is recalculated from existing data and parity information.
Unlike in RAID 1 only the capacity of one hard disk drive is needed for redundancy. For example,
in a RAID 4 disk array with five hard disk drives, 80% of the installed hard disk drive capacity is
available as user capacity, only 20% is used for redundancy. In systems with many small data
blocks, the parity hard disk drive becomes a throughput bottleneck. With large data blocks,
RAID 4 shows significantly improved performance. RAID 4 requires a minimum of three disks.
Figure 3. RAID 4
Introduction and General Information 15
RAID 5 - Data Striping with Striped Parity
Unlike RAID 4, the parity data in a RAID 5 disk array are striped across all hard disk drives
(Figure 4). The RAID 5 disk array delivers a balanced throughput. Even with small data blocks,
which are very likely in a multi-tasking and multi-user environment, the response time is very
good. RAID 5 offers the same level of security as RAID 4. When one hard disk drive fails, all data
is still fully available. Missing data is recalculated from the existing data and parity information.
RAID 4 and RAID 5 are particularly suitable for systems with medium to large capacity
requirements, due to their efficient ratio of installed and available capacity. RAID 5 requires a
minimum of three disks.
Figure 4. RAID 5
16
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
RAID 10 - Combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0
RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 (Performance) and RAID 1 (Data Security). Unlike RAID 4
and RAID 5, there is no need to calculate parity information. RAID 10 disk arrays offer good
performance and data security (Figure 5). As in RAID 0, optimum performance is achieved in
highly sequential load situations. Identical to RAID 1, 50% of the installed capacity is lost through
redundancy. RAID 10 requires a minimum of four disks.
Figure 5. RAID 10
Introduction and General Information 17
Chaining
The Intel® RAID Controller SRCU31 firmware supports Drive Chaining (also referred to as Disk
Spanning). Drive Chaining is the process of linking several individual drives to form a large single
drive. Chaining is only available after having selected two or more drives in the Storage Console
(StorCon) or Storage Console Plus (StorCon+). Chaining is an inexpensive method to obtain a
large logical unit from many smaller hard disk drives.
WARNING
Using logical drives of the type chain as components of array drives is not recommended.
WARNING
Disk Chaining does not offer any form of data protection.
Configuring a Chaining Set Using StorCon
1. Select “Create New Host Drive.”
2. Select two or more drives.
3. Select “Chaining.”
Configuring a Chaining Set Using StorCon+
1. Click the “New host drive” icon.
2. Select “Configuration,” “Host Drive,” and “Create New.” A new host drive window appears.
3. Select a drive(s) using <Shift> and arrow keys. Chaining is grayed out before selecting two
drives and is available after selecting two drives.
4. Select “Chaining” and press <Enter>.
The System will configure the chain set that is now a logical drive.
18
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
Levels of Drive Hierarchy Within the Intel® RAID
Controller SRCU31 Firmware
The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 firmware is based on four fundamental levels of hierarchy.
Each level has its own drives (components). The basic rule is to build up a drive on a given level of
hierarchy. The drives of the next lower level of hierarchy are used as components.
Level 1
Physical drives are hard disk drives and removable hard disk drives. Some Magneto Optical (MO)
drives are located on the lowest level. Physical drives are the basic components of all “drive constructions.” However, before they can be used by the firmware, these hard disk drives must be
“prepared” through a procedure called initialization. During this initialization each hard disk drive
receives information, which allows an unequivocal identification even if the SCSI ID or the
controller is changed. For reasons of data coherency, this information is extremely important for
any drive construction consisting of more than one physical drive.
Level 2
On the next higher level are the logical drives. Logical drives are introduced to obtain full
independence of the physical coordinates of a physical device. This is necessary to easily change
the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 and the channels, IDs, without loosing the data and the
information on a specific disk array.
Level 3
On this level of hierarchy, the firmware forms the array drives. Depending on the firmware
installed an array drive can be:
• Single Disks: one disk or a JBOD (just a bunch of drives)
• Chaining sets (concatenation of several hard disk drives)
• RAID 0 array drives
• RAID 1 array drives, RAID 1 array drives plus a hot fix drive
• RAID 4 array drives, RAID 4 array drives plus a hot fix drive
• RAID 5 array drives, RAID 5 array drives plus a hot fix drive
• RAID 10 array drives, RAID 10 array drives plus a hot fix drive
Introduction and General Information 19
Level 4
On level 4, the firmware forms the host drives. Only these drives can be accessed by the host
operating system of the computer. The firmware automatically transforms each newly installed
logical drive and array drive into a host drive. This host drive is then assigned a host drive number
which is identical to its logical drive or array drive number.
The firmware is capable of running several kinds of host drives at the same time. For example, in
Windows
drive D is a single hard disk drive. On this level the user may split an existing array drive into
several host drives.
After a capacity expansion of a given array drive the added capacity appears as a new host drive on
this level. It can be either used as a separate host drive, or merged with the first host drive of the
array drive. Within StorCon, each level of hierarchy has its own menu:
Level 1 - Configure Physical Devices
Level 2 - Configure Logical Drives
Level 3 - Configure Array Drives
†
2000, drive C is a RAID 5 type host drive (consisting of five SCSI hard disk drives) and
Level 4 - Configure Host Drives
Generally, each installation procedure passes through these four menus, starting with level 1.
Installation includes the initializing the physical drives, configuring the logical drives, configuring
the array drives (for example, RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, and 10) and configuring the host drives.
Transparency of Host Drives
The structure of the host drives installed with StorCon (see Chapter 7, Storage Console) is not
known to the operating system. For example, the operating system does not recognize that a given
host drive consists of a number of hard disk drives forming a disk array.
To the operating system this host drive simply appears as one single hard disk drive with the
capacity of the disk array. This complete transparency represents the easiest way to operate disk
arrays under the operating system. Neither operating system nor the PCI computer need to be
involved in the administration of these complex disk array configurations.
20
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
Using CD-ROMs, DATs, Tapes, etc.
A SCSI device that is not a SCSI hard disk drive or a removable hard disk drive, or that does not
behave like one, is called a Non-Direct Access Device. Such a device is not configured with
StorCon and does not become a logical drive or host drive. SCSI devices of this kind are either
operated through the Advanced SCSI programming Interface (ASPI) (MS-DOS
NetWare
NOTE
✏
Hard disks and removable hard disks are called Direct Access Devices. However, there are some
Non-Direct Access Devices, for example, certain MO drive that can be operated just like removable
hard disks if they have been appropriately configured (for example, by changing their jumper
settings).
†
or OS/2†), or are directly accessed from the operating system (UNIX†, Windows NT†).
†
, Windows, Novell
Introduction and General Information 21
22
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
2 Getting Started
What is the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 Firmware?
We refer to firmware as the operating system that controls the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 with
all its functions and capabilities. The firmware exclusively runs on the Intel RAID Controller
SRCU31 and is stored in the Flash-RAM on the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 PCB. The
controlling function is entirely independent of the PCI computer and the host operating system, and
does not drain computing power or time from the PCI computer. According to the system
requirements needed, the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 is available with three firmware variants.
The firmware is either already installed on the controller upon delivery, or can be added as an
upgrade.
Unlike pure software solutions, for example, for Windows NT, the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31
is a pure hardware RAID solution. All Intel RAID Controllers are equipped with hardware that is
well suited for disk arrays. The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 firmware uses this hardware with
efficiency and therefore allows you to configure disk arrays that do not load the host computer
(whereas all software-based RAID solutions more or less reduce the overall performance of the host
computer).
The basic concept of the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 firmware is strictly modular, and
consequently, in its functioning it appears to the user as a unit construction system.
Standard Firmware
In addition to simple controlling functions regarding SCSI hard disk drives or removable hard disk
drives, this version of firmware supports disk chaining and array drive configuration (data striping
(RAID 0) and disk mirroring or duplexing (RAID 1)).
WARNING
Disk chaining does not offer any form of data protection.
23
RAID Hardware Installation and Setup
Minimum Hardware Requirements
• Computer with CD-ROM drive (not attached to the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31).
Computer must be on the supported hardware list (for example, Intel
a supported list refer to:
• SCSI hard disk drive(s) (the minimum required to meet the desired RAID level)
Install a High Profile Backplate to the Intel RAID Controller
SRCU31
1. Remove both backplate screws on the backplate edge of the controller.
2. Remove the attached backplate.
®
server board STL2). For
3. Position the backplate and attach with two screws.
Installing and Removing the SDRAM
Installing the SDRAM
1. With clips A1 and A2 in the open position (position 2), insert the DIMM into the DIMM
connector (the DIMM and connector are keyed to ensure proper insertion).
CAUTION
Align the DIMM carefully so as not to damage the conductor pads on the DIMM and in the
connector. Apply firm pressure but do not force.
2. With the thumbs positioned on each end of the DIMM and two fingers on the DIMM
connector, press the thumb and fingers firmly together until the DIMM clips snap into the close
position (position 1).
Removing the SDRAM
1. With the thumbs on the DIMM clips, swing the clips from the close position to the open
position.
2. Grasp the corners of the DIMM with both hands and firmly pull from the DIMM connector.
Install the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 in the Intel® Server
Board
The RAID firmware has already been programmed into the memory. Prior to installing the Intel
RAID Controller SRCU31 into the computer, an approved memory module must be installed in the
controller. For a list of approved memory modules refer to:
SHOCK HAZARDS may be present inside the unit in which this card is being installed.
Disconnect all power cords to the unit before removal of any covers. Follow the warnings noted
in the computer’s user or service manual before installing this board. ONLY after all the covers
are reinstalled should you reattach the power cords and power up the unit for the software
installation and use.
NOTE
✏
Take precautions to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage before handling the Intel RAID
Controller SRCU31.
Install the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 into an available PCI slot. Refer to the board
documentation for details.
1. Shut down and power-off the computer system.
2. Disconnect power cord(s) and remove the system cover.
3. Insert the Intel RAID controller into an available PCI slot.
4. Connect one end of the SCSI cable to the internal (68-pin) or external (VHDCI) SCSI
connector located on the SRCU31 Controller. Connect the other end of the SCSI cable to the
SCSI drives or drive enclosure.
5. Replace the system cover and reconnect power cord(s).
Attach SCSI Cables
1. Connect one end of the SCSI cable to the internal or external SCSI connector located on the
Intel RAID Controller SRCU31.
2. Connect the other end of the SCSI cable to the SCSI drives or drive enclosure.
Programming the FLASH Memory
The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 normally comes ready to be immediately installed into the
computer server board. However, you may need to reprogram the RAID Firmware that’s located in
the flash memory of the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31. Refer to Chapter 7, Firmware Update, for
a normal reprogram of the firmware.
In case the firmware should become corrupted and will not initialize, you will need to recover the
firmware in the flash memory using the Flash Recovery Utility as described in the following
procedure. Firmware updates and the Flash Recovery Utility are available for download from the
Intel support web site at:
A formatted floppy disk is required for either the firmware update or the Flash Recovery Utility. In
the case of the Flash Recovery Utility, a bootable floppy disk will be created.
Getting Started 25
Recover the Firmware in the FLASH Memory
1. Set the Intel RAID Controller’s IOP to Reset (FLASH Recovery) mode:
WARNING
Shock hazards may be present inside the unit in which this card is being installed. Disconnect
all power cords to the unit before removal of any covers. Follow the warnings noted in the
computer’s user or service manual before installing this board. ONLY after all the covers are
reinstalled should you reattach the power cords and power up the unit for the software
installation and use.
a. Take all precautions to prevent ESD damage before handling the Intel RAID Controller
SRCU31.
b. Power off all system components and disconnect their power cords.
c. Remove the cover from the system to gain access to the PCI slots.
d. Disconnect the SCSI drives from the adapter card.
e. Remove the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 from the system.
f. On jumper block J7A1 move the jumper from position 2-3 to position 1-2 (see Figure 6).
Re-install the adapter in the PCI slot in which it was previously installed.
g. Replace the cover and reconnect all power cords.
Figure 6. Jumper Positions for FLASH Update and Recovery
2. Flash the firmware.
Using the bootable floppy disk with the Flash Recovery Utility from the support web site:
a. Insert the floppy disk into the floppy drive.
b. Power up the system.
NOTE
✏
Make sure that the BIOS boot order is set to boot first from the floppy drive. As necessary, refer to
the motherboard documentation.
c. The Flash Recovery Utility will automatically start up.
26
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
NOTE
✏
When the message Press Ctrl-C to interrupt Firmware Update process appears, this indicates that
the user can interrupt the firmware update process. If the firmware update process is interrupted
the user can then type fru -o to overwrite the existing firmware with a new image and serial
number. This process is used to resolve serial number conflicts in array roaming or merging.
d. The Flash Recovery Utility will pause at the Flash Recovery Utility screen. Press <Enter>
to continue.
e. The Flash Recovery Utility will pause to ensure that the adapter has been place in the Reset
mode (see step 1 above). If the adapter is in Reset mode, press <Y> to continue, otherwise
press <N>, shut down the system, and perform step 1 above.
NOTE
✏
If the firmware requires updating, it will continue and prompt for reboot when complete (note that
this update can take up to 3 minutes to complete). If the firmware has been previously updated, the
Flash Recovery Utility will notify the user that the StorCon is to be used for future. The user is then
notified to reboot the system.
3. Reset the jumper to Run mode.
a. Power off all system components and disconnect power cords.
b. Remove the system cover.
c. Remove the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 from your system.
d. On jumper block J7A1, move jumper from position 1-2 to position 2-3. Reinstall the Intel
RAID Controller SRCU31 in the PCI slot in which it was previously installed. Reattach
the SCSI drives to the adapter card.
e. Replace the cover, reconnect all power cords, and power up the system.
f. Boot the system. (Your firmware has now been successfully restored).
SCSI Termination
Termination
This is a commonly overlooked requirement when connecting SCSI devices together. When these
devices are connected together, the resulting set of devices is typically referred to as a SCSI bus.
SCSI devices such as hard disk drives and tape drives must be terminated if they are the last
physical devices at either end of the SCSI bus (if nothing else is actively terminating the end of the
bus such as a terminator or backplane). If a device is inserted into the middle of the SCSI bus, then
it (the device itself) should not be terminated. Only terminate each end of the bus.
The SRCU31 is a self terminating adapter. This means that the end of the SCSI cable that is
connected to the SRCU31 will be terminated automatically. The other end of the SCSI cable will
not be automatically terminated. Ensure that the other end is properly terminated. Refer to one of
the methods below to terminate the other end of the SCSI bus.
Getting Started 27
Install a SCSI terminator at the end of the SCSI bus or terminate the last device on the bus by doing
one of the following:
• Change a switch setting on the device’s switch block (typically on external storage cabinets).
• Insert or remove the terminator resistors from the terminator sockets (typically on hard disks).
• Insert a jumper on the device to enable automatic termination.
• Install a terminator cap (for external SCSI devices).
• Install a physical terminator onto the end of the SCSI connector.
Choosing a Configuration
How Many Hard Disk Drives Should Be Integrated Into the Disk Array?
The number of physical drives the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 can run determines the
maximum number of physical drives in a disk array. The minimum number of hard disk drives
required for any array depends of the RAID level you wish to realize. The desired usable disk
space of the disk array as well as the issues discussed in the following sections (What Level of
Redundancy is Needed and Are Hot Fix Drives Needed) have a direct impact on the number of
physical hard disk drives needed for an array.
Table 1. RAID Level, Array Type, and Hard Disk Drive Requirements
RAID Level
RAID 0 Data Striping 2
RAID 1 Disk Mirroring 2
RAID 4 Data Striping with Parity Drive 3
RAID 5 Data Striping with Striped Parity 3
RAID 10 Data Striping and Mirroring 4
Disk Array Type
Minimum Number of
Hard Disk Drives Required
What Level of Redundancy is Needed?
RAID 0 (data striping) provides no redundancy but has high data throughput. With RAID 1
(disk mirroring) the data is 100% redundant because it is mirrored on other SCSI hard disk drives.
RAID 1 provides the highest level of redundancy, but is also the most expensive solution. A
combination of RAID levels 0 and 1 is RAID 10. Two RAID 0 stripe sets are mirrored. If one
drive fails, the data is available on the mirrored drive.
With RAID 4 (data striping with a dedicated parity drive) and RAID 5 (data striping with parity
striped across all RAID disks), parity information is calculated from the data with a simple
mathematical operation (eXclusive OR, XOR), and stored either on one dedicated drive (RAID 4)
or to all drives (RAID 5). Should one drive fail, the data of the defective drive can be reconstructed
using the remaining user data and the previously calculated parity data. RAID levels 4, 5 and 10
can tolerate the failure of one drive just as RAID 1, however RAID 4, RAID 5, or RAID 10 are less
expensive because of their efficient ratio of available to installed capacity.
28
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
Table 2. RAID Level, Hard Disk Drives, and Usable Storage Capacity
RAID Level
RAID 0 2 GB 3 GB 4 GB 5 GB
RAID 1 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB
RAID 4 NA 2 GB 3 GB 4 GB
RAID 5 NA 2 GB 3 GB 4 GB
RAID 10 NA NA 2 GB NA
* Each hard disk drive is assumed to have 1 GB capacity.
Available
Capacity with
2 Hard Disk
Drives*
Available
Capacity with
3 Hard Disk
Drives*
Available
Capacity with
4 Hard Disk
Drives*
Available
Capacity with
5 Hard Disk
Drives*
Are Hot Fix Drives Needed?
Assume that one of the hard disk drives of the RAID 5 disk array fails (Hot Fix drives are available
with RAID 1, 4, 5, and 10 arrays). The disk array is without redundancy. Time Without
Redundancy (TWR) starts to run. Any unnecessary prolongation of the TWR (the time required to
get a replacement drive, or because you did not immediately recognize the failure) increases the
risk of data loss that will occur should a second drive fail. Therefore, redundancy should be
restored as soon as possible and in an automated manner. Integrating a Hot Fix drive (also referred
to as hot spare) as an immediately available and auto-replacing drive is the most effective way to
keep the TWR as short as possible. Only a Hot Fix drive can ensure optimal disk array security and
constant data availability.
Using a Hot Fix drive is not compulsory. If you control the disk array at regular intervals and
immediately replace a defective drive (by shutting down the system or hot-plugging), you can
operate the system without a Hot Fix drive.
Intel RAID Controller Hardware Features
This section provides a summary of the key features, configuration options, and support interface
technology supported by the Intel RAID Controller SRCU31.
Architecture Features (HW)
Table 3. Hardware Architecture
Component Features
CPU Intel® i960® RN I/O Processor, 100 MHz, RISC 32-bit core. This
controller features hardware XOR support for high speed RAID 5
parity calculations.
Cache Downstream Write Through, Full and Sequential
Write-Back - Selectable per volume.
Firmware ROM Type, Flash EEPROM, 2 Mb x 8 (flashable).
PCI Transfer Rate: 264 MB/sec.
Array Interface to Host Interface to Host PCI 2.2.
PCI Signaling Capable of being used in a 5 or 3.3 volt slot.
Voltage Requirements +12v, +5v, and 3.3v (all +/- 5%)
Environmental Specifications
Table 6. Environmental Specifications
Environmental Stress Test Required Conditions
Operating Temperature 0 °C to +55 °C
Non-Operating Temperature -40 °C to +70 °C
Humidity 90% relative humidity
Form Factor Length: 6.75 inches
Height: 4 inches
Hard Disk Drive Connectivity (SCSI Specifics)
This section provides information on supported SCSI technology and form factors.
Supported Hard Disk Drive Technology
The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 supports up to 15 different SCSI devices (single hard disk
drives, drive enclosures, controllers, CD-ROM’s, tapes, etc). In certain configurations, this number
is reduced.
Example:
Up to 14 SCSI devices if a SAF-TE processor occupies one of the SCSI ID’s.
NOTE
✏
If both SE and LVD devices are attached to the same channel/bus, the entire bus must operate at
the single-ended mode speed of the slower device. See Table 7 for the maximum cable length
distances that apply to each mode.
The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 is an Ultra160 implementation and is backward compatible
with older SCSI specifications. See Table 7 for the SCSI standards supported.
Single-Ended (SE) Support
The Intel RAID Controller SRCU31 supports single-ended drives which operate at up to 40MB/sec
depending upon the speed of the drives attached.
30
Intel RAID SRCU31 Users Guide
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