Nvidia MediaShield User Manual

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MediaShield User’s Guide

Version 4.0

NVIDIA Corporation March 24, 2006

NVIDIA Applications MediaShield User’s Guide Version 4.0

Published by NVIDIA Corporation 2701 San Tomas Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95050

Notice

ALL NVIDIA DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, REFERENCE BOARDS, FILES, DRAWINGS, DIAGNOSTICS, LISTS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS (TOGETHER AND SEPARATELY, “MATERIALS”) ARE BEING PROVIDED “AS IS.” NVIDIA MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE MATERIALS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Information furnished is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, NVIDIA Corporation assumes no responsibility for the consequences of use of such information or for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of NVIDIA Corporation. Specifications mentioned in this publication are subject to change without notice. This publication supersedes and replaces all information previously supplied. NVIDIA Corporation products are not authorized for use as critical components in life support devices or systems without express written approval of NVIDIA Corporation.

Tradem arks

NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, MediaShield, 3DFX, 3DFX INTERACTIVE, the 3dfx Logo, STB, STB Systems and Design, the STB Logo, the StarBox Logo, NVIDIA nForce, GeForce, NVIDIA Quadro, NVDVD, NVIDIA Personal Cinema, NVIDIA Soundstorm, Vanta, TNT2, TNT, RIVA, RIVA TNT, VOODOO, VOODOO GRAPHICS, WAVEBAY, Accuview Antialiasing, the Audio & Nth Superscript Design Logo, CineFX, the Communications & Nth Superscript Design Logo, Detonator, Digital Vibrance Control, DualNet, FlowFX, ForceWare, GIGADUDE, Glide, GOFORCE, the Graphics & Nth Superscript Design Logo, Intellisample, M-BUFFER, nfiniteFX, NV, NVChess, nView, NVKeystone, NVOptimizer, NVPinball, NVRotate, NVSensor, NVSync, the Platform & Nth Superscript Design Logo, PowerMizer, Quincunx Antialiasing, Sceneshare, See What You've Been Missing, StreamThru, SuperStability, T-BUFFER, The Way It's Meant to be Played Logo, TwinBank, TwinView and the Video & Nth Superscript Design Logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

Intel, Indeo, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Direct3D, DirectDraw, and DirectX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. OpenGL is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics Inc.

Other company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated.

NVIDIA Applications MediaShield User’s Guide v4.0

Table of Contents

1.About NVIDIA® MediaShield™. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Hardware Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Operating System Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

RAID Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

RAID 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

RAID 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

RAID 0+1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

RAID 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

JBOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Summary of RAID Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

NVIDIA MediaShield Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Additional RAID Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Features and Benefits Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

2.Setting Up Your RAID Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Setting Up a Non-Bootable RAID Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Setting Up the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Installing the NVIDIA MediaShield Software Under Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Using RAID Arrays Under Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Setting Up the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Configuring the NVIDIA RAID BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Installing the RAID Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

3.Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

About the MediaShield RAID Management Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Viewing RAID Array Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Setting Up a Spare RAID Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Assigning a Free Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Assigning a Dedicated Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Removing a Dedicated Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Creating RAID Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Using the MediaShield Create Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Creating a Striped Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Creating a Mirrored Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Creating a Stripe Mirroring Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Creating a Spanning Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Creating a RAID 5 Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Deleting a RAID Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Migrating From One RAID Array to Another. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

General Migrating Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Migrating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Hot Plug Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Hot Plug Array with System Shutdown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Hot Plug Array with System Running . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

4.Initializing, Rebuilding, and Synchronizing RAID Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Initializing a RAID Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Rebuilding a RAID Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Rebuilding Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

More About Rebuilding Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

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NVIDIA Applications MediaShield User’s Guide v4.0

Synchronizing a RAID Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

5.Using Disk Alert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

About Disk Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Disk Alert Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Example of All Good Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Example of a Degraded Array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Example of a Failed Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

6.MediaShield RAID Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Basic RAID Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

RAID ROM Setup Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Rebuilding Arrays Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Dedicated Disk Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Array Migrating Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Windows RAID Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

7.MediaShield Application Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Windows 2000 Limitation with Bootable RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Installing the NVIDIA IDE Driver in Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Using GHOST with NVIDIA RAID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

How to Build a Slipstream XP-SP2 CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

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C HAPTER

BOUT

NVIDIA brings Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology—which is used by the world’s leading businesses—to the common PC desktop. This technology uses multiple drives to either increase total disk space or to offer data protection.

RAID techniques were first published in 1988 by a multivendor consortium—the RAID Advisory Board. RAID techniques were divided into different categories or levels. Originally, RAID levels focused on improving resiliency or data availability. As additional RAID levels were defined, one was introduced for improving performance. For all levels, RAID techniques optimize storage solutions by using multiple disks grouped together and treating them as a single storage resource.

This chapter describes NVIDIA MediaShield in the following sections:

NVIDIA® M

EDIASHIELD

™

• “System Requirements” on page 2.

• “RAID Arrays” on page 4 describes the RAID levels supported by NVIDIA MediaShield.

• “NVIDIA MediaShield Features” on page 10 describes additional features offered by NVIDIA MediaShield.

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C About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

System Requirements

Hardware Support

NVIDIA MediaShield supports the following NVIDIA® nForce™ versions:

• NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI

• NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI

• NVIDIA nForce 570

• NVIDIA nForce 550

• NVIDIA nForce 430

• NVIDIA nForce 410

• NVIDIA nForce4

• NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra

• NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Intel Edition

• NVIDIA nForce4 SLI

• NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition

• NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16

• NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE Intel Edition

• NVIDIA nForce4 Professonal IO-4

• NVIDIA nForce4 Professonal Pro

• NVIDIA nForce4 Professonal Pro SLI

• NVIDIA nForce3 Pro250

• NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb

• NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra

• NVIDIA nForce3 250

• NVIDIA nForce3 150

• NVIDIA nForce2 MCP2S

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Operating System Support

NVIDIA MediaShield supports the following operating systems:

About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

HAPTER 1

•Windows

XP Home Edition

• Windows XP Professional Edition

• Windows 2000 Professional

• Windows Server 2003

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C About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

RAID Arrays

This section describes the following types of RAID arrays that MediaShield supports:

• RAID 0

RAID 0 defines a disk striping scheme that improves the disk read and write times for many applications.

• RAID 1

RAID 1 defines techniques for mirroring data.

• RAID 0+1

RAID 0+1 combines the techniques used in RAID 0 and RAID 1 arrays.

• RAID 5

RAID 5 provides fault tolerance and better utilization of disk capacity.

• JBOD

JBOD provides a method for combining drives of different sizes into one large disk.

Note: Not all nForce platforms provide support for all the RAID levels listed.

1. RAID 5 is supported on select boards only. Please check with your motherboard manufacturer to determine whether RAID 5 is supported for the type and model of your motherboard.

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RAID 0

How RAID 0 Works

About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

In a RAID 0 array, the controller ʺstripesʺ data across multiple drives in the RAID subsystem. RAID 0 breaks up a large file into smaller blocks and then performs disk reads and writes across multiple drives in parallel. The size of each block is determined by the stripe size parameter, which you set during the creation of the RAID 0 set. Performance of applications running with a RAID 0 can vary greatly depending on the stripe size configured when creating the array. The default stripe size is 64K, but 32K or 16K may be more efficient if the application issues many smaller I/O operations. Some amount of trial and error may be appropriate to find the optimum stripe size.

HAPTER 1

Figure 1.1

RAID 0 is ideal for applications that require high bandwidth but do not require fault tolerance. RAID 0 has the best performance and capacity of any RAID level, but the lowest availability (no fault tolerance). If one drive fails, the entire array fails because part of the data is missing with no way to recover it other than restoring from a backup.

RAID 0 Array Diagram

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Benefits: Provides increased data throughput, especially for large files.

• Drawbacks: No fault tolerance—all data is lost if any drive in the array fails.

• Uses: Intended for non-critical data requiring high data throughput, or any environment that does not require fault tolerance.

• Drives: Minimum: 1. Maximum: Up to 8, depending on the platform.

• Fault Tolerance: No.

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RAID 1

How RAID 1 Works

In a RAID 1 array, every read and write is carried out in parallel across two disk drives. The mirrored—or backup—copy of the data can reside on the same disk or on a second redundant drive in the array. RAID 1 provides a hot-standby copy of data if the active volume or drive is corrupted or becomes unavailable due to a hardware failure. RAID 1 techniques can be applied for high-availability solutions, or as a form of automatic backup that eliminates tedious manual backups to more expensive and less reliable media.

Figure 1.2

RAID 1 provides complete data redundancy, but at the cost of doubling the required data storage capacity, resulting in 50% capacity utilization. Performance is roughly the same as for a single drive, although in some instances the dual write may be somewhat slower.

RAID 1 Array Diagram

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Benefits: Provides 100% data redundancy. Should one drive fail, the controller switches to the other drive.

• Drawbacks: Requires two drives for the storage space of one drive. Performance is impaired during drive rebuilds.

• Uses: RAID 1 is ideal for small databases or any other application that requires fault tolerance and minimal capacity.

• Drives: Minimum, 2. Maximum, 2.

• Fault Tolerance: Yes

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RAID 0+1

How RAID 0+1 Works

About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

RAID 0 drives can be mirrored using RAID 1 techniques, resulting in a RAID 0+1 solution for improved performance plus resiliency.

HAPTER 1

Figure 1.3

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.

RAID 0+1 Array Diagram

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Benefits: Optimizes for both fault tolerance and performance, allowing for automatic redundancy. May be simultaneously used with other RAID levels in an array, and allows for spare disks.

• Drawbacks: Requires twice the available disk space for data redundancy, the same as RAID level 1.

• Drives: Minimum: 4. Maximum: 6 or 8, depending on the platform.

• Fault Tolerance: Yes

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RAID 5

How RAID 5 Works

RAID 5 stripes both data and parity information across three or more drives. It writes data and parity blocks across all the drives in the array. Fault tolerance is maintained by ensuring that the parity information for any given block of data is placed on a different drive from those used to store the data itself.

Figure 1.4

RAID 5 Array Diagram

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Benefits: An ideal combination of good performance, good fault tolerance, and high capacity and storage efficiency.

• Drawbacks: Individual block data transfer rate same as a single disk. Write performance can be CPU intensive.

• Uses: RAID 5 is recommended for transaction processing and general purpose service.

• Drives: Minimum, 3

• Fault Tolerance: Yes

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JBOD

How JBOD Works

JBOD stands for “Just a Bunch of Disks”. Each drive is accessed as if it were on a standard SCSI host bus adapter. This is useful when a single drive configuration is needed, but it offers no speed improvement or fault tolerance.

About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

HAPTER 1

Figure 1.5

JBOD Array Diagram

Summary of Features and Benefits

• Benefits: JBOD provides the ability to combine odd size drives using all of the capacity of the drives.

• Drawbacks: No additional fault tolerance or performance relative to individual disks.

• Uses: JBOD works best if you have odd sized drives and you want to combine them to make one big drive.

• Fault Tolerance: No

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Summary of RAID Configurations

Table 1.1

RAID Configuration Summary

Array Uses Advantages Drawbacks

RAID 0

RAID 1

RAID 0+1

RAID 5

JBOD

Non-critical data requiring high performance.

Small databases or any other small capacity environment requiring fault tolerance.

Critical data requiring high performance.

Critical data and reasonable level of performance.

Combining odd size drives into one big drive.

High data throughput. No fault tolerance. multiple None

100% data redundancy.

Allows spare disks

Optimized for both 100% data redundancy and performance.

Allows spare disks.

Fault tolerance and better utilization of disk space.

Combines and uses the capacity of odd size drives.

Requires two drives for the storage space of one drive.

Requires two drives for the storage space of one drive—the same as RAID level 1.

Decreased write performance due to parity calculations.

Requires at least three drives.

Decreases performance because of the difficulty in using drives concurrently or to optimize drives for different uses.

NVIDIA MediaShield Features

# Hard Disks

2Yes

4+ Yes

3+ Yes

multiple No

Fault Tolerance

Additional RAID Features

NVIDIA MediaShield offers the following additional features:

• Free Disk and Dedicated Spare Disk

A Free Disk or Dedicated Disk can be automatically used in case one drive of a faulttolerant array fails. NVIDIA MediaShield defines a fault-tolerant array as either RAID 1, RAID 0+1, or RAID 5. A free disk can be used by any available fault-tolerant array, while a dedicated disk can be used only by the array to which it is assigned.

•Bootable RAID

This allows you to install the operating system onto the RAID volume.

• Migrating

Migrating is the ability to convert from one RAID mode to another RAID mode. This allows the user to upgrade their current disk or array for better performance, higher security, and increased capacity. More importantly, this is accomplished without

10 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

having to go through multiple steps. The migrating feature gives the user an upgradeable option to manage storage easily.

• Hot Plug Array

A nice flexibility feature is the ability to move MediaShield RAID arrays from one nForce system to another. Since most nForce systems support SATA hot plug capability, you can add/remove a RAID array even while the system is running. This is done using the Hot Plug Array wizard.

Features and Benefits Summary

Features Benefits

Spare Drive and Dedicated Drive Support

Bootable RAID

About NVIDIA® MediaShield™

• Allows the user to dedicate a "spare" disk as a hot standby in the event of a array failure.

• Offers additional protection in case of a failure in a mirrored array.

• Supports the use of a RAID drive for loading the operating system at power up for optimal performance

HAPTER 1

Migrating

Disk Failure Identification

Hot Plug Array

• Allows the user to upgrade for more performance, security, and capacity.

• Allows the user to change the current state of a disk/ array to another array with a one step process called "migrating", without losing any data during the configuration change.

• Notifies the user when a disk fails and indicates which one to replace

• Allows the user to safely add a drive to the array when needed.

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12 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

ETTING

This chapter provides instructions for:

• Setting Up a Non-Bootable RAID Array

• Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array

UP Y

OUR

RAID C

Setting Up a Non-Bootable RAID Array

C HAPTER

ONFIGURATION

RAID arrays can be created/deleted using both MediaShield RAID BIOS and the MediaShield RAID Manager from Windows. This section only covers basic BIOS setup required for non-bootable array.

• See the section ʺSetting Up a Bootable RAID Array” for instructions on configuring the RAID array in BIOS.

• See “Creating RAID Arrays” on page 43 for instructions on how to create a RAID array for your unused SATA storage devices.

• See “Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility” on page 33 for details on configuring non-bootable RAID from Windows.

Setting Up the BIOS

1 Start your computer, then press Delete to enter the BIOS setup.

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

The BIOS CMOS Setup Utility window appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

Standard CMOS Features

Advanced BIOS Features

Advanced Chipset Features

Integrated Peripherals

Power Management Setup

PnP / PCI Configurations

Esc : Quit F10 : Save & Exit Setup

Figure 2.1

BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Window

Onboard IO, IRQ, DMA Assignment ...

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Load Optimized Defaults

Set Supervisor Password

Set User Password

Save & Exit Setup

Exit Without Saving

: Select Item

2 Use the arrow keys to select Integrated Peripherals (see Figure 2.1), then press Enter.

The Integrated Peripherals window appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

Integrated Peripherals

RAID Config OnChip IDE Channel0 Primary Master PIO Primary Slave PIO Primary Master UDMA Primary Slave UDMA OnChip IDE Channel1 Secondary Master PIO Secondary Slave PIO Secondary Master UDMA Secondary Slave UDMA IDE Prefetch Mode Init Display First OnChip USB USB Keyboard Support USB Mouse Support Serial - ATA SATA Spread Spectrum AC97 Audio

[Press Enter]

[Enabled] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Enabled] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Enabled] [PCI Slot] [V1.1 - V2.0] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]

Item Help

Menu Level

:Move Enter:Select +/-/PU/PD:Value F10:Save ESC:Exit F1:General Help F5: Previous Values F6: Fail-Safe Defaults F7: Optimized Defaults

Figure 2.2

Integrated Peripherals Window

3 Use the arrow keys to select the RAID Config (see Figure 2.2), then press Enter.

14 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

The RAID Config window appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

RAID Config

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

RAID Enable

SATA 1 Primary SATA 1 Secondary SATA 2 Primary SATA 2 Secondary SATA 3 Primary SATA 3 Secondary

:Move Enter:Select +/-/PU/PD:Value F10:Save ESC:Exit F1:General Help F5: Previous Values F6: Fail-Safe Defaults F7: Optimized Defaults

Figure 2.3

RAID Config Window

[Enable]

RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Disabled] RAID [Disabled]

Item Help

Menu Level

4 From the RAID Config window, globally enable RAID, then enable the SATA ports

with disks that you want to use for RAID.

If RAID is enabled globally but not enabled on the individual SATA port, disks on that port can only be used for non-RAID applications.

In the example in Figure 2.3, four SATA ports are enabled, so the non-bootable RAID array can include up to four SATA disks. If there is a disk connected to ʺSATA 3 Primary” or “SATA 3 Secondaryʺ, it can not be used for RAID.

5 Press F10 to save the configuration and exit.

The PC reboots.

NVIDIA Corporation 15

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

Installing the NVIDIA MediaShield Software Under Windows

This section describes how to run the setup application and install the RAID software1.

1 Start the nForce Setup program to open the NVIDIA Windows nForce Drivers page.

Figure 2.4

nForce Driver Installation Window

2 Select the modules that you want to install.

Make sure that the “NVIDIA IDE Driver” is selected.

You must install the NVIDIA IDE driver in order to enable NVIDIA MediaShield. If you do not install the NVIDIA IDE driver, NVIDIA MediaShield will not be enabled.

3 Click Next and then follow the instructions.

4 After the installation is completed, be sure to reboot the PC.

5 After the reboot, initialize the newly created array as described in the next section.

1. See the application note “Installing the NVIDIA IDE Driver in Windows 2000” on page 150 for infor- mation on how to install the NVIDIA IDE Driver under Windows 2000.

16 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Using RAID Arrays Under Windows

After rebooting the PC, initialize the newly created array under Windows as follows:

1 Launch Computer Management by clicking Start Æ Settings Æ Control Panel then

open the Administrative Tools folder and double click on Computer Management.

2 Click Disk Management (under the Storage section).

The Initialize and Convert Disk Wizards appears.

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

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Figure 2.5

NVIDIA Corporation 17

Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

3 Click Next.

The Select Disks to Initialize window appears.

Figure 2.6

Select Disks to Initialize Page

The disks listed depend on how many arrays you have configured

4 Click Next.

The Select Disks to Convert window appears.

Figure 2.7

Select Disks to Convert Page

18 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

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5 Check the disk in the list if you want to make the array a dynamic disk, then click Next.

The Completing the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard window appears.

Figure 2.8

Completing the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard Page

NVIDIA Corporation 19

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

6 Click Finish.

The Computer Management window appears.

Figure 2.9

Computer Management Window

The actual disks listed will depend on your system. In Figure 2.9, there is a 111 GB unallocated partition (which is the total combined storage of two 60 GB HD). You must format the unallocated disk space in order to use it.

7 Format the unallocated disk space.

• Right click “Unallocated space”, select “New Partition…” and follow the Wizard

instructions.

• After the drive has been formatted, it is ready for use. See “Using the NVIDIA

MediaShield RAID Management Utility” on page 33 for instructions on how to

create and configure RAID arrays.

20 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array

This section explains how to configure a bootable RAID array.

Setting Up the BIOS

1 Start your computer, then press Delete to enter the BIOS setup.

The BIOS CMOS Setup Utility screen appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

Standard CMOS Features

Advanced BIOS Features

Advanced Chipset Features

Integrated Peripherals

Power Management Setup

PnP / PCI Configurations

Esc : Quit F10 : Save & Exit Setup

Figure 2.10

BIOS CMOS Setup Utility Main Screen

Onboard IO, IRQ, DMA Assignment ...

Load Fail-Safe Defaults

Load Optimized Defaults

Set Supervisor Password

Set User Password

Save & Exit Setup

Exit Without Saving

: Select Item

2 Use the arrow keys to select Integrated Peripherals (see Figure 2.10), then press Enter.

NVIDIA Corporation 21

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

The Integrated Peripherals screen (or a screen similar to it) appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

Integrated Peripherals

:Move Enter:Select +/-/PU/PD:Value F10:Save ESC:Exit F1:General Help F5: Previous Values F6: Fail-Safe Defaults F7: Optimized Defaults

Figure 2.11

Integrated Peripherals Screen

[Press Enter]

[Enabled] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Enabled] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] [Enabled] [PCI Slot] [V1.1 - V2.0] [Disabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]

Item Help

Menu Level

3 Use the arrow keys to select the RAID Config (see Figure 2.11).

4 Press Enter.

22 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

The RAID Config screen appears.

Phoenix - Award BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

RAID Config

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

RAID Enable

SATA 1 Primary SATA 1 Secondary SATA 2 Primary SATA 2 Secondary SATA 3 Primary SATA 3 Secondary

:Move Enter:Select +/-/PU/PD:Value F10:Save ESC:Exit F1:General Help F5: Previous Values F6: Fail-Safe Defaults F7: Optimized Defaults

Figure 2.12

[Enable]

RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Enabled] RAID [Disabled] RAID [Disabled]

RAID Config Screen

Item Help

Menu Level

5 From the RAID Config window, globally enable RAID, then enable the SATA ports

with disks that you want to use for RAID.

If RAID is enabled globally but not enabled on the individual SATA port, disks on that port can only be used for non-RAID applications.

In the example in Figure 2.12, four SATA ports are enabled, so the non-bootable RAID array can include up to four SATA disks. If there is a disk Connected to ʺSATA 3 Primary” or “SATA 3 Secondaryʺ, it cannot be used for RAID.

6 Press F10 to save the configuration and exit.

The PC reboots.

7 Enter the RAID BIOS Setup by pressing F10 when prompted, and proceed to set up the

RAID BIOS as described in the next section.

NVIDIA Corporation 23

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

Configuring the NVIDIA RAID BIOS

The NVIDIA RAID BIOS setup lets you choose the RAID type and which hard drives you want to make part of the array.

Entering the RAID BIOS Setup:

1 Wait until you see the RAID software prompting you to press F10.

The RAID prompt appears as part of the system POST and boot process prior to loading of the OS. You have a few seconds to press F10 before the screen disappears.

2 Press F10.

The NVIDIA MediaShield Utility—Define a New Array screen appears (Figure 2.13).

Media Shield Utility

- Define a New Array -

RAID Mode:

Free Disks Loc

1.0.M

1.1.M

Disk Model Name

ST380023AS ST380023AS

Mirroring

[ ] Add

Striping Block:

Array Disks Loc

Disk Model Name

Optimal

[ ] Del

[F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [ ] Select [ENTER] Popup

Figure 2.13

NVIDIA MediaShield Utility

By default, RAID Mode is set to Mirroring and Striping Block is set to Optimal.

24 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Understanding the Define a New Array Window

Use the Define a New Array window to

• Select the RAID Mode

• Set up the Striping Block

• Specify which disks to use for the RAID Array

The SATA ports are called channels and they are associated with adapters. The first digit in the Location field defines the adapter that the port is associated with. The 2nd digit defines the channel. (The ʺMʺ field,which used to specify Master or Slave, is obsolete.)

1.0.M

(Obsolete) Channel

Adapter

Figure 2.14

Loc Column Information

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

In Figure 2.14, 1.0. means the hard drive is attached to Adapter 1, Channel 0.

The location, disk model and capacity fields should allow you to identify disks. It may be useful to try attaching a SATA hard drive to the ports provided with your platform and determine which location IDs are associated with SATA ports on your motherboard.

Using the Define a New Array Screen

If necessary, press the tab key to move from field to field until the appropriate field is highlighted.

• Selecting the RAID Mode

By default, this is set to Mirroring. To change to a different RAID mode, press the down arrow key until the mode that you want appears in the RAID Mode box—either Mirroring, Striping, Spanning, Stripe Mirroring or RAID 5.

Note: Not all RAID levels are supported on all platforms.

• Selecting the Striping Block Size

Striping block size is given in kilobytes, and affects how data is arranged on the disk. It is recommended to leave this value at the default Optimal, which is 64KB, but the values can be between 4 KB and 128 KB (4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 KB)

NVIDIA Corporation 25

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

Assigning the Disks

The disks that you enabled from the RAID Config BIOS setup page appear in the Free Disks block. These are the drives that are available for use as RAID array disks.

To designate a free disk to be used as a RAID array disk,

1 Tab to the Free Disks section.

The first disk in the list is selected

2 Move it from the Free Disks block to the Array Disks block by pressing the right-

arrow key (Æ).

The first disk in the list is moved, and the next disk in the list is selected and ready to be moved.

3 Continue pressing the right-arrow key (Æ) until all the disks that you want to use as

RAID array disks appear in the Array Disks block.

Figure 2.15 illustrates the Define a New Array screen after two disks have been

assigned as RAID1 array disks.

MediaShield Utility

- Define a New Array -

RAID Mode

Free Disks Loc

[F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [ ] Select [ENTER] Popup

Figure 2.15

Mirroring

Striping Block:

Array Disks

Disk Model Name

[ ] Add

Loc

1.0.M

1.1.M

[ ] Del

MediaShield Utility—Array Disks Assigned

Optimal

Disk Model Name

ST380023AS ST380023AS

26 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Completing the RAID BIOS Setup

1 After assigning your RAID array disks, press F7.

The Clear disk array prompt appears.

MediaShield Utility

- Define a New Array -

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

RAID Mode:

Free Disks Loc

Disk Model Name

Mirroring

Striping Block:

Array Disks

Loc

Clear disk data?

[->] Add

[Y] YES [N] NO

1.0.M

1.1.M

Disk Model Name

ST380023AS ST380023AS

Optimal

[ ] Del

[F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [ ] Select [ENTER] Popup

Figure 2.16

Clear Disk Data Prompt

2 Press Y to clear the disk data.

The Array List screen appears, where you can review the RAID arrays that you have set up.

MediaShield Utility

- Array List -

Boot Id Status Vendor Array Model Name

Yes 2 Healthy NVIDIA MIRROR 74.53G

[Ctrl-X] Exit [ ] Select [B] Set Boot [N] New Array [ENTER] Detail

Figure 2.17

NVIDIA Corporation 27

Array List Window

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

3 Use the arrow keys to select the array that you want to set up, then press B to specify

the array as bootable.

4 Press Enter to view and verify details.

The Array Detail screen appears.

RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Width : 1 Striping Block 32K

Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity

1 0 Master 0 ST380023AS 74.56GB 1 1 Master 1 ST380023AS 74.56GB

Array 2 : NVIDIA MIRROR 74.56G

- Array Detail -

[R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [Enter] Return

Figure 2.18

Array Detail Screen

The Array Detail screen shows various information about the array that you selected, such as Striping Block used, RAID Mode, Striping Width, Disk Model Name, and disk capacity.

5 If you want to mark this disk as empty and wipe out all its contents, press C.

6 At the prompt, press Y to wipe out all the data, otherwise press N.

7 Press Enter again to go back to the previous screen and then press F10 to exit the RAID

setup.

28 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Installing the RAID Drivers

Your system may come with a Windows install CD that already includes NVIDIA RAID drivers. If so, then this section is not relevant.

If that is not the case (or you are trying to install a new version of Windows), then you will need an NVIDIA RAID driver F6 install floppy. Check to see if one came with your system. If not, you can create one by downloading the appropriate driver package and following the steps in this section.

1 Create an F6 install floppy by using the ʺ-xʺ option, then copy all files in ʺ…\IDE\

WinXP\sataraidʺ to a floppy disk. (For Windows 2000, substitute ʺWin2Kʺ in the path.)

2 After you complete the RAID BIOS setup, boot from the Windows CD.

The Windows Setup program starts.

3 Press F6 and wait a few moments for the Windows Setup screen to appear.

Windows Setup

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

Setup could not determine the type of one or more mass storage devices installed in your system, or you have chosen to manually specify an adapter. Currently, Setup will load support for the following mass storage device(s):

<none>

* To specify additional SCSI adapters, CD-ROM drives, or special disk controllers for use with Windows, including those for which you have a device support disk from a mass storage device manufacturer, press S.

* If you do not have any device support disks from a mass storage device manufacturer, or do not want to specify additional mass storage devices for use with Windows, press ENTER.

S=Specify Additional Devices ENTER=Continue F3=Exit

Figure 2.19

Windows Setup—Specify Devices

4 Specify the NVIDIA drivers.

a Insert the floppy that has the RAID driver, press S, then press Enter.

NVIDIA Corporation 29

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

The following Windows Setup screen appears:

Windows Setup

You have chosen to configure a SCSI Adapter for use with Windows, using a device support disk provided by an adapter manufacturer.

Select the SCSI Adapter you want from the following list, or press ESC to resutrn to the previous screen.

Enter=Select F3=Exit

Figure 2.20

b Select “NVIDIA RAID CLASS DRIVER (required)” and then press Enter.

c Press S again at the Specify Devices screen, then press Enter.

NVIDIA RAID CLASS DRIVER (required)

NVIDIA NForce Storage Controller (required)

Windows Setup—Select SCSI Adapter

d Select “NVIDIA NForce Storage Controller (required)” and then press Enter.

The following Windows Setup screen appears listing both drivers:.

Windows Setup

Setup will load support for the following mass storage device:

NVIDIA RAID CLASS DRIVER NVIDIA NForce Storage Controller

* If you do not have any device support disks from a mass storage device manufacturer, or do not want to specify additional mass storage devices for use with Windows, press ENTER.

S=Specify Additional Devices ENTER=Continue F3=Exit

Figure 2.21

Windows Setup—NVIDIA drivers listed

5 Press Enter to continue with Windows XP Installation.

30 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

HAPTER 2

Be sure to leave the floppy disk inserted in the floppy drive until the blue screen portion of Windows XP installation is completed, then take out the floppy.

6 Follow the instructions on how to install Windows XP.

After Windows XP is completely installed, it is recommended that you install the ForceWare software in order to access the MediaShield RAID Management tool.

Note: Each time you add a new hard drive to a RAID array, the RAID driver will have to

be installed under Windows once for that hard drive. After that, the driver will not have to be installed.

NVIDIA Corporation 31

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C Setting Up Your RAID Configuration

32 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

SING THE

NVIDIA M

EDIASHIELD

ANAGEMENT

About the MediaShield RAID Management Utility

The MediaShield RAID software ships with an application called MediaShield. This chapter describes the MediaShield tasks in the following sections:

C HAPTER

RAID

TILITY

• Viewing RAID Array Configurations

View an array configuration (mirrored, striped, mirrored-striped, JBOD, RAID 5 or any supported combination)

• Setting Up a Spare RAID Disk

• View free and/or dedicated free disks

• Designate a free disk to a particular array

• Creating RAID Arrays

•Deleting a RAID Array

• Migrating From One RAID Array to Another

• Hot Plug Array

NVIDIA Corporation 33

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Viewing RAID Array Configurations

To view your RAID configuration from Windows, launch the MediaShield RAID Management utility by double-clicking MediaShield.

The RAID configuration information appears in the right-side pane, as shown in Figure

3.1.

Figure 3.1

MediaShield RAID Management Utility Window

The following are examples of the information displayed for the various RAID levels. While the details of your own configuration will likely vary from what is shown, the examples serve to illustrate the basic differences between the RAID levels.

Mirrored RAID Array

Figure 3.2 shows an example of a two hard drive mirrored array using identical 34.4 GB1

SATA hard drives (WD360GB), where one drive is configured as Primary and the other drive is configured as Secondary.The total hard disk space used is 34.4 GB.

Figure 3.2

1. 1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes

MediaShield Mirrored Array Information

34 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Striped RAID Array

Figure 3.3 shows an example of a two hard drive striped array using identical 34.48 GB

SATA hard drives (WD360GB), where one drive is configured as Primary and the other drive is configured as Secondary. The total disk space used is 68.95GB.

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

HAPTER 3

Figure 3.3

MediaShield Striped Array Information

Mirrored-Stripe RAID Array

Figure 3.4 shows an example of a four hard drive mirrored-stripe array. The total disk

space used is 68.95 GB.

The total storage space is 68.95 GB because the two upper drives (the drives with the 34.48 GB size) are first striped, and then they are mirrored onto the 69.25 GB drives.

Figure 3.4

MediaShield Stripe Mirroring Array Information

Spanning (JBOD) RAID Array

Figure 3.5 shows an example of a two hard drive spanning array. The total disk space

used is 68.95 GB.

Figure 3.5

NVIDIA Corporation 35

MediaShield Spanning Array Information

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Mirrored RAID Array and Striped RAID Array

Figure 3.6 shows an example of a two hard drive mirrored array as well as a two hard

drive striped array.

Figure 3.6

MediaShield Mirrored Array and Striped Array Information

36 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Setting Up a Spare RAID Disk

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

HAPTER 3

You can designate a hard drive to be used as a spare drive for a RAID 1, RAID 0+1 or RAID 5 array

. The spare drive can take over for a failed disk. MediaShield RAID

supports two types of spare drives:

•Free Disk

A free disk is a disk that is not part of any RAID array, but can be used by any available RAID 1, RAID 0+1, or RAID 5 array that requires a particular disk when one of its disks crashes or becomes unusable. The process is automatic and doesn’t require any user interaction.

For example, if you have a system with four hard disks where one disk is used to boot the OS, two hard drives are set up in a mirrored array, and a fourth hard disk is set up as a free disk, then if one of the mirrored array drives fails, the free disk will be automatically assigned to the mirrored array to be used instead of the failed disk.

• Dedicated Disk

A dedicated free disk is a disk that is assigned to a RAID 1, RAID 0+1, or RAID 5 array and that disk is used by that array only when needed, for example during a system crash where a RAID mirrored drive is broken. The dedicated disk can be used only by the array that it is assigned to and not by any other array, unlike a free disk which can be used by any available RAID 1, RAID 0+1, or RAID 5 array.

Note: You must have at least two RAID arrays to use this feature.

2. Spare disks cannot be used for RAID0 or JBOD arrays.

NVIDIA Corporation 37

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Assigning a Free Disk

To mark a disk as free, or not a part of any array, do the following:

1 Enter the system BIOS setup and make sure that the drive that you want to mark as free

is RAID enabled.

2 Enter the RAID BIOS and make sure that the drive is not part of any array (if one

exists).

3 Boot into Windows and run the MediaShield program.

The drive appears under the Free Disk section.

Figure 3.7 shows an example of the MediaShield display if you have a mirror array and

two free disks.

Figure 3.7

38 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

MediaShield Free Disk Information

Assigning a Dedicated Disk

To mark a disk as dedicated, or reserve it for use by a specific array, you must have at least one free disk and you must also have at least two RAID 1, RAID 0+1, or RAID 5 arrays created. In this example, there are two mirrored arrays and two free disks.

Step 1: Mark the Disk as a Free Disk

1 Enter the system BIOS setup and make sure that the drive that you want to mark as free

is RAID enabled.

2 Boot into Windows and run the MediaShield program.

If the disk is not part of any RAID array, then it will appear under the Free Disk section of the RAID GUI.

Step 2: Dedicate the Free Disk to an Array

While running MediaShield, dedicate a free disk to an array by doing the following:

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

HAPTER 3

1 Right click one of the two Mirrored arrays as shown below

Figure 3.8

Designate Spare Pop-up Menu

NVIDIA Corporation 39

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

2 Select Designate Spare from the menu to launch the Spare Disk Allocation Wizard.

Figure 3.9

Spare Disk Allocation Wizard

3 Click Next.

The Free Disk Selection page appears.

Figure 3.10

40 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Free Disk Selection Page

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

4 From the Free Disk Selection page, select one of the two free disks available.

This would be the disk that will be designated to the mirror array.

Note: In Figure 3.10 there are two disks available.

5 Click Next.

The Completing the NVIDIA Spare Disk Allocation page appears.

HAPTER 3

Figure 3.11

Completing Spare Disk Allocation Wizard Page

6 Click Finish.

NVIDIA Corporation 41

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

As shown in Figure 3.12, the ST380011A drive is now a dedicated free disk in the mirrored array.

Figure 3.12

Designated Spare Disk

If a system crash occurs that causes any of the two WD360GD drives to fail, the ST380011A hard drive will take over and be used in the newly formed mirrored array.

Removing a Dedicated Disk

Once a dedicated disk has been assigned to a particular array, it can be removed at any time. To remove the disk, right click on the dedicated disk and select “Remove Disk...” to remove it. In the previous example, simply right click on the ST380011A drive and select “Remove Disk...”. as shown in the screen shot below:

Figure 3.13

42 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Removing a Dedicated Disk

Creating RAID Arrays

This section covers use of the MediaShield Creation Wizard. This wizard will step through configuration of your available storage.

There are three ways in which the MediaShield Create Wizard can be launched:

• Using the balloon popup that appears when the system boots:

This balloon indicates that MediaShield has discovered free disks in your system available for configuration. If you click on the bubble, the MediaShield Create Wizard will be launched.

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

HAPTER 3

Note: This balloon will only pop up if you have up to three available disks. If you have

four or more disks available, you must use one of the remaining two methods to start the MediaShield Create Wizard.

• Using the following dialog that appears when launching MediaShield:

If you select Yes, the MediaShield Create Wizard will be launched, and will step you through configuration of your storage.

• You can also select the Create option under System Tasks to launch the MediaShield Create Wizard.

NVIDIA Corporation 43

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Using the MediaShield Create Wizard

The MediaShield Create Wizard walks you through the creation of your available storage resources.

Figure 3.14

MediaShield Wizard Welcome Screen

The welcome screen lists the disks that are available for configuration.

1 Click Next to go to the following screen:

Figure 3.15

MediaShield Wizard–Select a Configuration Screen

Note: You will only see this screen if you have less than 4 free disks in the system. If

there are 4 or more free disks available, you will proceed to directly to custom setup.

44 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

As shown in Figure 3.15, there are three options:

• Protection

• Capacity

• Custom

Protection

Select this option and MediaShield will automatically configure the best RAID option based on the number of drives and with the criteria that if a drive fails you will not lose your data. The total capacity of the volume that will be created is displayed. You can click on more information to see a detailed description of the volume that will be created.

1 Click Next.

The following screen appears:

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

HAPTER 3

The checkbox titled ʺLaunch Windows Disk Manager when finishedʺ will automatically bring up Windows Disk Manager to complete the configuration.

See the chapter titled “Initializing and Using the RAID Array Under Windowsʺ for more information on using Windows Disk Manager.

Click Finish.

Your RAID volume will be configured and ready for use.

NVIDIA Corporation 45

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C Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Capacity

Select this option and MediaShield will automatically configure the best RAID option based on the number of drives and the desire for maximum capacity. This array will NOT be fault-tolerant, so choose this option only if your data is non-critical or is being backed up. The total capacity of the volume that will be created is displayed. You can click on more information to see a detailed description of the volume that will be created.

1 Click Next.

The following screen appears:

The checkbox titled ʺLaunch Windows Disk Manager when finishedʺ will automatically bring up Windows Disk Manager to complete the configuration. See the chapter titled ʺInitializing and Using the RAID Array Under Windowsʺ for more information on using Windows Disk Manager.

2 Click Finish.

Your RAID volume will be configured and ready for use.

Custom

Select this option to perform the RAID array configuration yourself.

Note: Custom is the only option if there are 4 or more free disks in system.

Click Next to see the RAID Array Selection screen. The next sections explain how to custom create various types of RAID arrays.

46 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0

Creating a Striped Array

MediaShield can be used to create a striped array from one disk up to the maximum supported number of disks in the system.

To create a two-disk Striped Array do the following:

1 Make sure the drives that you want to use are RAID-enabled in the system BIOS.

2 Select the Custom option in the MediaShield Create Wizard.

3 :Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

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Figure 3.16

NVIDIA Corporation 47

RAID Array Selection Page

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4 Click the RAID Mode list arrow and select Striping, and leave the “Stripe Size” with its

default value as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.17

RAID Array Selection—Striping

5 Click Next, and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.18

Free Disk Selection Page

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6 Select the two disks that you want to include in the stripe set.

In this example the upper two disks were selected as shown in Figure 3.19.

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Figure 3.19

Free Disk Selection Page—Selecting Disks

To create a striped array with more disks, select additional disks from the list.

7 Click Next and click Next again, then the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.20

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Clearing System Data

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8 To clear all system data from the drives click on Next and the following will appear:

Figure 3.21

Completing the NVIDIA Create Array Wizard

9 Click Finish and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.22

Stripe RAID Array Created

As you can see from the above screen shot a striped array with two SATA disks has been created, while the other two disks are allocated as Free Disks.

To create an array with three or more disks, be sure to add the number of disks that you want to use in the array during creation. To “extend” the size of an existing striped array, use the process described in “Migrating From One RAID Array to Another” on

page 69.

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Creating a Mirrored Array

The MediaShield application can be used to create a Mirrored Array. By definition, a mirrored array consists of two drives. Data is written to both drives, and if one drive fails then data can be recovered from the other drive.

To create a Mirrored Array, do the following:

1 Make sure the drives that you want to use are RAID-enabled in the system BIOS.

2 Select the Custom option in the MediaShield Create Wizard.

3 Click Next and the following screen will appear:

Using the NVIDIA MediaShield RAID Management Utility

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Figure 3.23

Free Disk Selection Page

4 Select the two drives that you want to use in the Mirrored array.

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In this example the upper two disks were selected as shown in Figure 3.24.

Figure 3.24

Free Disk Selection Page—Selecting Disks

5 Click Next and click Next again, then the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.25

Clearing System Data

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6 To clear all system data from the drives click on Next and the following will appear:

Figure 3.26

Completing the NVIDIA Create Array Wizard

7 Click Finish.

Figure 3.27

Mirrored RAID Array Created

A mirrored array has been created, while the other two disks are set to free disks.

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Creating a Stripe Mirroring Array

MediaShield can be used to create a Stripe Mirroring array which requires at least four disks to start such an array.

To create a Stripe Mirror Array do the following:

1 Make sure the drives that you want to use are RAID-enabled in the system BIOS.

2 Select the Custom option in the MediaShield Create Wizard.

3 Click Next and the following screen will appear:

Figure 3.28

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4 Click on “RAID Mode:” and select “Stripe Mirroring” while leaving the Stripe Size set

to its default value as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.29

RAID Array Selection—Stripe Mirroring

5 Click Next and the following screen will appear:

Figure 3.30

Free Disk Selection Page

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6 Select the four drives that you want to use in the Stripe Mirroring array.

In this example all of the drives are selected as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.31

Free Disk Selection Page—Selecting Disks

7 Click Next and click Next again, then the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.32

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8 To clear all system data from the drives click on Next and the following will appear:

Figure 3.33

Completing the NVIDIA Create Array Wizard

9 Click Finish and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.34

RAID Stripe Array Created

A Stripe Mirroring array has been created.

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Creating a Spanning Array

MediaShield can be used to create a Spanning Array which requires at least one disk to start such an array.

To create a Spanning Array do the following:

1 Make sure the drives that you want to use are RAID-enabled in the system BIOS.

2 Select the Custom option in the MediaShield Create Wizard.

3 Click Next and the following screen will appear:

Figure 3.35

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4 Click the RAID Mode list arrow and select “Spanning” while leaving the Stripe Size set

to its default value as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.36

RAID Array Selection Page—Spanning

5 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.37

Free Disk Selection Page

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6 Select the two drives that you want to use in the Spanned array.

In this example the upper two disks were selected as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.38

Free Disk Selection Page—Selecting Disks

7 Click Next and Next again, the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.39

Clearing System Data

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8 To clear all system data from the drives click on Next and the following will appear:

Figure 3.40

Completing the NVIDIA Create Array Wizard

9 Click Finish and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.41

RAID Spanned Array Created

A Spanned Array has been created.

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Creating a RAID 5 Array

MediaShield can be used to create a RAID 5 array using at least 3 disks and up to the maximum supported number of disks in the system.

To create a 3 disk RAID 5 Array do the following:

1 Make sure the drives that you want to use are RAID-enabled in the system BIOS.

2 Select the Custom option in the MediaShield Create Wizard.

3 :Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.42

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4 Click the RAID Mode list arrow and select RAID 5, and leave the “Stripe Size” with its

default value as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.43

RAID Array Selection—RAID 5

5 Click Next, and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.44

Free Disk Selection Page

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6 Select the three disks that you want to include in the RAID 5 array.

In this example the upper three disks were selected as shown in Figure 3.19.

Figure 3.45

Free Disk Selection Page—Selecting Disks

To create a RAID 5 array with more disks, select additional disks from the list.

7 Click Next and Next again, the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.46

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8 To clear all system data from the drives click Next.

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Figure 3.47

Completing the NVIDIA Create Array Wizard

9 Click Finish and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.48

RAID 5 Array Created

As you can see from the above screen shot a RAID 5 array with 3 SATA disks has been created, while the other one disk is allocated as a Free Disk. Similarly, to create an array with four or more disks, simply make sure to add the number of disks that you want to use in the array during creation.

You can also “extend” the size of an existing RAID 5 array but that requires that you use migrating— the ability to convert from one RAID array to another as described in

“Migrating From One RAID Array to Another” on page 69

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Deleting a RAID Array

MediaShield can be used to delete an Array.

To delete an Array do the following:

1 Launch the MediaShield application and right click on the RAID array that you want to

delete (assuming that you have a RAID array already created) as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.49

Selecting “Delete Array” from the Pop Up Menu

The above screen shot shows that there is a Mirrored array that will be deleted.

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After the “Delete Array...” has been selected, the following screen shot appear:

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Figure 3.50

Delete Array Wizard—Welcome Page

2 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.51

Completing the NVIDIA Delete Array Wizard Page

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3 Click Finish and the array will be deleted and the following screen shot will appear

showing all the free disks:

Figure 3.52

RAID Array Deleted

A similar process can be applied to delete any array created by MediaShield RAID.

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Migrating From One RAID Array to Another

In a traditional RAID environment, when a user wants to change the current state of a disk or a current array to a new RAID configuration, the process of reconfiguring the new array involves multiple steps. The user must back up the data, delete the array, re-boot the PC, and then reconfigure the new array.

MediaShield RAID allows the end user to change the current state of the disk or array to another with a one-step process called ʺMigratingʺ. This section describes the NVIDIA Migrating process and explains how to use Migrating to convert from one RAID array type to another.

General Migrating Principles

MediaShield RAID includes extensive support for migrating, a process of converting from one RAID mode to another RAID mode.

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General Requirements and Limitations

• The new array capacity must be equal to or greater than the previous array.

For example, it is possible to migrate from a RAID 1 array to a RAID 0 array as long as the RAID 0 array is the same size as (or larger than) the RAID 1 array.

• You cannot migrate

• To or from a JBOD (Spanning) array

• From RAID 1 to RAID 1

• From RAID 0+1 to RAID 1

• From RAID 5 to 1

• Free disks used for migrating must be no smaller than any of the current disks in the array.

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Specific Migrating Requirements

The following table lists the disk requirements for a new RAID array for various migrating combinations.

Table 3.1

From To New Array Disk Requirements

RAID 0 RAID 0

RAID 1 RAID 0

RAID 0+1 RAID 0

RAID 5 RAID 0

i. m = quantity of disks in the new array. n = quantity of disks in the original array.

RAID Array Disk Requirements for Migrating

m > n

Number of disks in the new array must be greater than the original array.

RAID 1

RAID 0+1

RAID 5

RAID 1

RAID 0+1

RAID 5

RAID 1

RAID 0+1

RAID 5

RAID 1

RAID 0+1

RAID 5

m=2, n=1

RAID 1 array must include two disks, converted from a one disk RAID 0 array.

m >= 2 x n

Number of RAID 0+1 disks must be equal to or greater than twice the number of RAID 0 disks.

m >= n + 1

No additional restrictions.

** Not a valid combination **

No additional restrictions.

m >= 3

m >= n/2

Number of RAID 0 disks must be equal to or greater than half the number of RAID 0+1 disks.

** Not a valid combination **

m >= n + 2 ; where m must be an even number of disks.

The new array must include at least two more disks than the original array, and can include any even number of disks beyond that.

m >= (n/2 + 1)

m >= n - 1

** Not a valid combination **

m >= 2 x (n - 1) ; where m is an even number of disks.

m >= n

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Migrating Instructions

This sections includes specific instructions for the following RAID migrating combinations:

• “Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 0—Adding a Disk to a Stripe Set” on page 72

• “Migrating from RAID 0 (with One Disk) to RAID 1 (with Two Disks)” on page 77

• “Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 0+1” on page 81

• “Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0” on page 86

• “Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0+1” on page 90

• “Migrating from RAID 0+1 to RAID 0” on page 95

• “Migrating from RAID 0+1 to RAID 0+1” on page 99

• “Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 5” on page 103

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• “Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 5” on page 108

• “Migrating from RAID 0+1 to RAID 5” on page 112

• “Migrating from RAID 5 to RAID 0” on page 115

• “Migrating from RAID 5 to RAID 0+1” on page 118

• “Migrating from RAID 5 to RAID 5” on page 121

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Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 0—Adding a Disk to a Stripe Set

The following example shows you how to expand a RAID 0 array with two disks to include an additional disk.

1 Go to the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows, launch the MediaShield application, then follow the steps outlined in

“Creating a Striped Array” on page 47 to create a two disk stripe array.

When that is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

Figure 3.53

RAID Array Created

Now that a two disk stripe array has been created, you can use the MediaShield convert feature to migrate the array from a two-disk RAID 0 into a three-disk RAID 0 array.

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3 Right click on the newly created striped array (or existing striped array) and a select

“Convert Array...” as shown from the following screen shot:

Figure 3.54

Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

4 After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.55

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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5 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.56

RAID Mode Selection Page

6 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.57

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7 Select the disk (or disks) that you want to add to the existing striped array.

In this example, we are adding one disk (which is the upper disk) to the existing twodisk striped array. So, select the first disk and click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.58

Completing the NVIDIA Convert Array Wizard Screen

8 Click Finish then click on the newly created three disk striped array and the following

screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.59

New RAID Array

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The Migrating Process

As you can see from the screen shot above, a three disk stripe array has been created and the migrating process has begun. A pop up window similar to the following will appear:

followed by the following pop up window:

It will take some time before the entire process is completed. The time it takes to convert an array is dependent on several factors such as the speed of the CPU, the size and type of hard drive being used, the operating system, etc.

More About This Example

When creating a stripe array using hard drives of different sizes, the stripe array uses the stripe size of the smallest drive. For example, if you try to create a 3-disk stripe array that consists of a 10 GB, 20 GB and 40 GB hard drive, the resulting 3-disk stripe array will have a capacity of 30 GB (since 10 GB x 3 = 30 GB).

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Migrating from RAID 0 (with One Disk) to RAID 1 (with Two Disks)

The following example shows you how to convert a RAID 0 array with one disk to a RAID 1 array (with two disks)

1 Go to the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows, launch the MediaShield application, then follow the steps outlined in

“Creating a Striped Array” on page 47 with the exception that you need to select one

disk instead of two disks.

When that is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

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Figure 3.60

RAID Array Created

3 Click click on Striping and select “Convert Array...” as shown in the following screen

shot:

Figure 3.61

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Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

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After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.62

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

4 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.63

RAID Mode Selection Page

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5 For the “New RAID Mode:” entry select Mirror as shown in the following screen shot:

Figure 3.64

RAID Mode Selection Page—Selecting Mirroring

6 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.65

Free Disk Selection Page

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7 Select one of the disks and click Next, then Finish.

Figure 3.66

New RAID Array

The Migrating Process

As soon as the new two disk mirror array has been created, a pop up window similar to the following will appear:

followed by the following pop up window:

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Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 0+1

The following example shows you how to convert from a RAID 0 array with two disks to a four disk RAID 0+1 array.

1 Go to the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows, launch the MediaShield application, then follow the steps outlined in

“Creating a Striped Array” on page 47 to create a two-disk striped array.

When that is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

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Figure 3.67

RAID Array Created

Now that a two-disk striped array has been created, you can use the MediaShield convert feature to migrate the array from a two-disk RAID 0 into a four-disk RAID 0+1 array.

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3 Right click on the newly created striped array (or existing striped array) and a select

“Convert Array...” as shown from the following screen shot:

Figure 3.68

Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.69

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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4 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

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Figure 3.70

RAID Mode Selection Page

5 Change the “New RAID Mode:” to Stripe Mirroring as shown in the following screen

shot:

Figure 3.71

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RAID Mode Selection Page—Selecting Stripe Mirroring

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6 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.72

Free Disk Selection Page

7 Select the two disks that you want to add to the new stripe mirror array.

In this example, we are adding two disks (which are both of the upper disks) to the existing two-disk mirrored array. So, select both disks and click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.73

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Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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8 Click Finish, then click the newly created four-disk stripe mirror array and the

following screen shot will appear:

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Figure 3.74

New RAID Array

The Migrating Process

As soon as the new four-disk stripe mirror array has been created, a pop up window similar to the following will appear:

followed by the following pop up window:

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Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0

The following example shows you how to convert from a RAID 1 array with two disks to a RAID 0 array with two disks.

1 Goto the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows and launch the MediaShield application then follow the steps

outlined in “Creating a Mirrored Array” on page 51 to create a two-disk mirror array.

When that is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

Figure 3.75

RAID Array Created

Now that a two disk mirrored array has been created, you can use the MediaShield convert feature to migrate the array from a two-disk RAID 1 into a two-disk RAID 0 array.

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3 Right click on Mirroring and select “Convert Array...” as shown in the following screen

shot:

Figure 3.76

Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

4 After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.77

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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5 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.78

RAID Mode Selection Page

6 Click on Stripe Mirroring and select Striping, then click Next and the following screen

shot will appear:

Figure 3.79

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7 Click Next, then click Finish to complete the process.

• If you want to convert the existing two-disk mirrored array into a three-disk (or

more) striped array, then you need to select the number of disk(s) that you want to add to the newly created striped array and click Next.

• In this example, there is no need to select any additional disks since we are simply

converting the existing two-disk mirrored array into a two-disk striped array.

8 Click on Striping and the following screen shot will appear:

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Figure 3.80

New RAID Array

The Migrating Process

As soon as the new array has been created, a pop up window similar to the following will appear:

followed by the following pop up window:

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Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0+1

The following example shows you how to convert from a RAID 1 array with two disks to a RAID 0+1 array with four disks.

1 Goto the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows, launch the MediaShield application, then follow the steps outlined in

“Creating a Mirrored Array” on page 51 to create a two-disk mirrored array. When that

is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

Figure 3.81

RAID Array Created

Now that a two-disk mirrored array has been created, you can use the MediaShield convert feature to migrate the array from a two-disk RAID 1 into a four-disk RAID 0+1 array.

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3 Right click on Mirroring and select “Convert Array...” as shown in the following screen

shot:

Figure 3.82

Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

4 After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.83

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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5 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.84

RAID Mode Selection Page

6 From the “New RAID Mode:” entry select “Stripe Mirroring” as shown in the

following screen shot:

Figure 3.85

RAID Mode Selection Page—Selecting Stripe Mirroring

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7 Click Next and the following screen shot will appear:

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Figure 3.86

Free Disk Selection Page

8 Select both of the disks and click Next, then click Finish.

9 Click on Strip Mirror and the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.87

New RAID Array

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The Migrating Process

As soon as the new four-disk stripe mirror array has been created, a pop up window similar to the following will appear:

followed by the following pop up window:

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Migrating from RAID 0+1 to RAID 0

The following example shows you how to convert from a RAID 0+1 array with four disks to a RAID 0 array with four disks.

1 Go to the system BIOS and make sure that the drives that you want to use are RAID

enabled.

2 Boot to Windows, launch the MediaShield application, then follow the steps outlined in

“Creating a Stripe Mirroring Array” on page 54 to create a four-disk mirrored stripe

array. When that is done, you should see a screen shot similar to the following:

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Figure 3.88

RAID Array Created

Now that a four-disk mirrored stripe array has been created, you can use the MediaShield convert feature to migrate the array from a four-disk RAID 0+1 into a four-disk RAID 0 array.

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3 Right click on Stripe Mirroring and select “Convert Array...” as shown in the following

screen shot:

Figure 3.89

Selecting “Convert Array” from the Pop Up Menu

4 After selecting “Convert Array...” the following screen shot will appear:

Figure 3.90

Convert Array Wizard—Welcome Screen

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Nvidia MediaShield User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

MediaShield User’s Guide

System Requirements

Hardware Support

Operating System Support

RAID Arrays

RAID 0

How RAID 0 Works

Summary of Features and Benefits

RAID 1

How RAID 1 Works

Summary of Features and Benefits

RAID 0+1

How RAID 0+1 Works

Summary of Features and Benefits

RAID 5

How RAID 5 Works

Summary of Features and Benefits

JBOD

How JBOD Works

Summary of Features and Benefits

Summary of RAID Configurations

NVIDIA MediaShield Features

Additional RAID Features

Features and Benefits Summary

Setting Up a Non-Bootable RAID Array

Setting Up the BIOS

Installing the NVIDIA MediaShield Software Under Windows

Using RAID Arrays Under Windows

Setting Up a Bootable RAID Array

Setting Up the BIOS

Configuring the NVIDIA RAID BIOS

Entering the RAID BIOS Setup:

Understanding the Define a New Array Window

Using the Define a New Array Screen

Completing the RAID BIOS Setup

Installing the RAID Drivers

About the MediaShield RAID Management Utility

Viewing RAID Array Configurations

Mirrored RAID Array

Striped RAID Array

Mirrored-Stripe RAID Array

Spanning (JBOD) RAID Array

Mirrored RAID Array and Striped RAID Array

Setting Up a Spare RAID Disk

Assigning a Free Disk

Assigning a Dedicated Disk

Step 1: Mark the Disk as a Free Disk

Step 2: Dedicate the Free Disk to an Array

Removing a Dedicated Disk

Creating RAID Arrays

Using the MediaShield Create Wizard

Protection

Capacity

Custom

Creating a Striped Array

Creating a Mirrored Array

Creating a Stripe Mirroring Array

Creating a Spanning Array

Creating a RAID 5 Array

Deleting a RAID Array

Migrating From One RAID Array to Another

General Migrating Principles

General Requirements and Limitations

Specific Migrating Requirements

Migrating Instructions

Migrating from RAID 0 (with One Disk) to RAID 1 (with Two Disks)

Migrating from RAID 0 to RAID 0+1

Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0

Migrating from RAID 1 to RAID 0+1

Migrating from RAID 0+1 to RAID 0