VIA JMicron Installation Guide
VIA / JMicron RAID Installation Guide
1. Introduction to VIA / JMicron RAID Installation Guide ………………………………………………………………………. 3
2. VIA RAID Installation Guide ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
2.1 VIA BIOS RAID Installation Guide …………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
2.1.1 Introduction of RAID ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
2.1.2 RAID Configuration Precautions ………………………………………………………………………………… 4
2.1.3 BIOS Configuration Utility ………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
2.1.3.1 Enter BIOS Configuration Utility ………………………………………………………………………….. 5
2.1.3.2 Create Disk Array ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
2.1.3.3 Delete Disk Array ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
2.1.3.4 Select Boot Array ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
2.2 VIA Windows RAID Installation Guide ………………………………………………………………………………… 8
2.2.1 Create RAID Array ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
2.2.2 Delete Disk Array ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…… 11
2.2.3 Check All Disks ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
2.2.4 Verify Mirror Disk ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
2.2.5 Synchronize Mirror Disk ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
2.2.6 Disk Error Detection ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14
2.2.7 Duplicate Critical RAID 1 Array ………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
2.2.8 Rebuild Broken RAID 1 array ……………………………………………………………………………………. 15
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3. JMicron RAID Installation Guide ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
3.1 JMicron BIOS RAID Installation Guide ………………………………………………………………………………… 17
3.1.1 BIOS Configuration Utility …………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
3.1.1.1 Enter BIOS Configuration Utility ……………………. ……………………………………………….. 17
3.1.1.2 Create RAID Disk Drive ……………………………………………………………………………….. 18
3.1.1.3 Delete RAID Disk Drive ……………………………………………………………………………….. 21
3.1.1.4 Revert HDDs to non-RAID ………………………………………………………………………….… 21
3.1.1.5 Solve Mirror Conflict …………………………………………………………………………………… 22
3.1.1.6 Rebuild Mirror Drive ……………………………………………………………………………………. 22
3.2 JMicron Windows RAID Installation Guide …………………………………………………………………………….. 23
3.2.1 Creating RAID ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
3.2.2 Creating RAID from Existing Disk ………………………………………………………………………………… 25
3.2.3 Deleting RAID ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
3.2.4 Rebuilding RAID …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
3.2.5 Auto-Resynching RAID ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
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1. Introduction to VIA / JMicron RAID Installation Guide
This motherboard is equipped with 2 SATA connectors supported by VIA VT8237A south bridge chipset, which support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1,
JBOD) functions, and 2 SATAII connectors supported by JMicron JMB363 chipset, which support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD) functions. To
create RAID with two HDDs, please insert the two HDDs simultaneously to either VIA SATA connectors (black) or JMicron SATAII connectors
(red). If you insert two HDDs to VIA SATA connectors and plan to configure RAID functions, please refer to VIA RAID installation guide part,
including VIA BIOS/Windows RAID installation guide. If you insert two HDDs to JMicron SATAII connectors and plan to configure RAID functions,
please refer to JMicron RAID installation guide part, including JMicron BIOS/Windows RAID installation guide.
To configure RAID functions on this motherboard correctly, please read this installation guide and follow the installation procedures carefully. You
may refer to the motherboard layout below for SATA (black) and SATAII (red) connectors’ location before configuring RAID functions.
Please note that if you insert one HDD to SATA connector and the other HDD to SATAII connector, you are not allowed to create RAID.
2. VIA RAID Installation Guide
If you insert two HDDs to VIA SATA connectors and plan to configure RAID functions, please refer to VIA RAID installation guide part, including
VIA BIOS RAID installation guide and VIA Windows RAID installation guide.
2.1 VIA BIOS RAID Installation Guide
You are allowed to configure RAID functions under BIOS environment.
2.1.1 Introduction of RAID
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VIA VT8237A south bridge chipset integrates RAID controller supporting RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD functions with two independent SATA
channels. This section will introduce the basic knowledge of RAID.
RAID
The term “RAID” stands for “Redundant Array of Independent Disks”, which is a method combining two or more hard disk drives into one logical
unit. For optimal performance, please install identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a RAID set.
RAID 0 (Data Striping)
RAID 0 is called data striping that optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write data in parallel, interleaved stacks. It will improve data
access and storage since it will double the data transfer rate of a single disk alone while the two hard disks perform the same work as a single
drive but at a sustained data transfer rate.
WARNING!
Although RAID 0 function can improve the access performance, it does not provide any fault tolerance. Hot-Plug any HDDs of the RAID 0 Disk will cause data
damage or data loss.
RAID 1 (Data Mirroring)
RAID 1 is called data mirroring that copies and maintains an identical image of data from one drive to a second drive. It provides data
protection and increases fault tolerance to the entire system since the disk array management software will direct all applications to the
surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of the data in the other drive if one drive fails.
JBOD (Spanning)
A spanning disk array is equal to the sum of all drives. Spanning stores data onto a drive until it is full then proceeds to store files onto the next
drive in the array. When any member disk fails, it will affect the entire array. JBOD is not really a RAID, and it does not support fault tolerance.
2.1. 2 RAID Configurations Precautions
Please use two new drives if you are creating a RAID 0 (striping) array for performance. It is recommended to use two SATA drives of the same
size. If you use two drives of different sizes, the smaller capacity hard disk will be the base storage size for each drive. For example, if one hard
disk has an 80GB storage capacity and the other hard disk has 60GB, the maximum storage capacity for the 80GB-drive becomes 60GB, and the
total storage capacity for this RAID 0 set is 120GB.
1. You may use two new drives, or use an existing drive and a new drive to
create a RAID 1 (mirroring) array for data protection (the new drive must be of the same size or larger than the existing drive). If you use two
drives of different sizes, the smaller capacity hard disk will be the base storage size. For example, if one hard disk has an 80GB storage
capacity and the other hard disk has 60GB, the maximum storage capacity for the RAID 1 set is 60GB.
2. Please verify the status of your hard disks before you set up your new RAID array.
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2.1.3 BIOS Configuration Utility
2.1.3.1 Enter BIOS Configuration Utility
After the system powers on, the following information will appear on the screen. Press ‘Tab’ key to enter BIOS configuration utility.
The main interface of BIOS configuration utility is as below:
2.1.3.2 Create Disk Array
1. Within the main interface, use the up and down arrow key to highlight the Create Array command and press <Enter> to call out the list of
creation steps.
2. Highlight the Array Mode and press <Enter>, then a list of array modes will appear. Just highlight the target array mode that you want to
create, and press <Enter> to confirm the selection.
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3. There are two methods to create a disk array. One method is “Auto Setup”, and another is “Select Disk Drives”. Select “Auto Setup” to
allow BIOS to select the disk drives and create array automatically. Select “Select Disk Drives” to let user select the array drives
manually. When using Select Disk Drives method, the channel column will be activated. Just highlight the target drives that you want to
use and press <Enter> to select them respectively. When all drives have been selected, press <Esc> to go back to the creation steps
menu.
Create RAID 0
If RAID 0 array is selected in step 2, user can also select a block size for the array. Use the arrow key to highlight the “Block Size” and press
<Enter>. Then the list of available block size will popup. The block size can be selected from 4K to 64K Bytes.
Use the arrow key to highlight the Start Create Process and press <Enter>, then a warning message will appear. Press Y to finish the creation, or
press N to cancel the creation. Please note that the content of the hard drive will be destroyed after array creation.
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Create RAID 1
The data on disk drives will be destroyed if user uses “Auto Setup” to create RAID 1. But you can reserve the data on source drive if you use
“Select Disk Drives” to select the source and the mirror drive.
Press “y” to copy data of source to mirror drive. There is a limitation when using this feature. The capacity of mirror drive must be greater or equal
to the source drive; otherwise the RAID 1 can’t be created and a error message will appear: “Error: mirror’s size is smaller than source!!! Press
ESC return”. If user does not want to duplicate data, the data on the source and the mirror drive will be destroyed.
Create JBOD
The data on disk drives will be destroyed if user uses “Auto Setup” to create a JBOD. However, you can reserve the data on the first disk drive of
a JBOD array if you use “Select Disk Drives” to select disk drives
The data on the first disk drive will be reserved and the other disk drives in JBOD will be expanded behind the first disk drive and become free
space. Expand Span (JBOD) Array function is not available if VT8237A only supports 2 SATA ports.
2.1.3.3 Delete Disk Array
User can delete a specific RAID that has been created. Following are the steps to delete a created disk array.
1. Use arrow key to highlight Delete Array item in main menu interface, and
press <Enter>. The channel column will be activated.
2. Use arrow key to highlight the target disk drive and press <Enter>. A
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warning message will appear. Press Y to delete a specific array or press N to cancel.
Delete a disk array will destroy all the data on the disk array except RAID 1. When a RAID 1 is deleted, the data on these two hard disk drives will
be reserved and become two normal disks.
2.1.3.4 Select Boot Array
User can select a disk array as boot device if user wants to boot operating system from an array. Boot disk array may not be selected if user does
not boot the Operating System from the disk array. Use the arrow key to highlight the “Select Boot Disk” item then press <Enter>. The channel
column will be activated. Just use arrow key to highlight the target disk array then press <Enter>. If you select a disk array that has a boot mark
and press <Enter>, then its boot setting will be canceled.
2.2 VIA Windows RAID Installation Guide
You are allowed to configure RAID functions under Windows environment. The “RAID Software” is a Windows-based software utility with
graphical user interface and provides user an easy-operation tool to configure and manage disk drives or disk arrays connected to VT8237 SATA
controller.
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After GUI software is installed, it will automatically start every time when your Windows OS is started. An icon
tray of the tool bar to indicate that GUI software is currently running.
Just double click on the small icon to call out the main interface of the software.
will appear in the system
2.2.1 Create Disk Array
1. You may click on one of the three buttons to create different types of disk array– RAID 1, Span, and RAID 0. Then a
“Select Array Creating Method” will be prompted.
Auto:
The software will configure the available hard disk drives to be a disk array. User can modify the hard disk drives later. It is strongly recommended
to use this method.
Custom:
Disk array is arranged by user.
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