Western Digital WD Serial ATA RAID Controller User Manual
WD
SATA RAID Controller Card
User Manual
Information furnished by WD is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by WD for its use nor for
any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or
otherwise under any patent or patent rights of WD. WD reserves the right to change specifications at any time without notice.
© 2005 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Western Digital is a registered trademark; and WD, the WD logo, and EasyBuild are trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies.
2779-001008-A01 Sep 2005
Table of Contents
1 Introduction/Getting Started
5 Disk Array Concepts
About the WD SATA RAID Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Disk Array Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
About RAID Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8 Installing the Serial ATA RAID Controller
10 Creating a Disk Array
Creating a Single SATA Non-RAID Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Creating an Array for Performance (RAID 0) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Creating a Security Array with Two New Drives (RAID 1 recommended) 12
Creating a Security Array with an Existing Data Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Creating a Security Array with Quick Initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
15 Installing Software Drivers
New Windows Server 2003 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Existing Windows Server 2003 Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Confirming Windows 2003 Server Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New Windows XP Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Existing Windows XP Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Confirming Windows XP Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
New Windows 2000 Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Existing Windows 2000 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Confirm Windows 2000 Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
19 EasyBuild Options and Features
Viewing Drive Array Assignments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Deleting An Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Rebuilding a Mirrored Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Reserve Sector Implementation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Gigabyte Boundary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
25 Troubleshooting & Tips
Motherboard Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
System CMOS Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Drive-Related Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Operating System-Related Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Performance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
TABLE OF CONTENTS - i
30 Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Drive Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Installation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Post-Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
34 Appendix A: Regulatory Compliance
FCC Class B Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
CSA Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
CE Compliance For Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
35 Appendix B: Warranty Information
Obtaining Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
1 Year Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
36 Appendix C: WD Service and Support
TABLE OF CONTENTS - ii
1
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Introduction/Getting Started
Thank you for purchasing a WD SATA RAID Controller. This installation manual provides
instructional steps and information to make the installation process of your new WD SATA
Controller as quick and easy as possible.
The WD (WD) SATA (SATA) RAID Controller is a cost-effective, high performance RAID
controller that adds performance and reliability to PC desktops and/or servers using SATA
drives.
The WD SATA RAID Controller has two independent data channels to support a maximum
of two SATA drives per card. The WD SATA RAID Controller supports:
! Striping (RAID 0) - Identical drives can read and write data in parallel to increase
performance.
! Mirroring (RAID 1) - Mirroring increases read performance through load balancing and
elevator sorting while creating a complete backup of your files.
A WD SATA RAID Controller striped array can double the sustained data transfer rate of
SATA drives.
The WD SATA RAID Controller offers fault tolerant, data redundancy for entry-level
network file servers or simply for desktop PC users wanting to continually protect valuable
data on their PC. Each model offers RAID 1 mirroring (for two drives).
Should a drive that is part of a mirrored array fail, the WD SATA RAID Controller uses the
mirrored drive (which contains identical data) to assume all data handling. When a new
replacement drive is later installed, WD SATA RAID Controller rebuilds data to the new
drive from the mirrored drive to restore fault tolerance.
The WD SATA RAID Controller bootable BIOS supports individual drives larger than 137
GB. With FAT32 and NTFS partitioning, the array can be addressed as one large single
volume.
WD Array Management Software
The WD Array Management Software offers local and remote management as well as
monitoring of all WD arrays that exist anywhere on a network. Windows-based GUI provides
e-mail notification of all major events/alarms, memory cache management, logging for
Windows 2000 servers, array maintenance, rebuild, and access to all components in array
(server, controller, data channels, individual drives, and enclosure). For information on using
WD Array Management, refer to the WD Array Management Software User Manual,
available from support.wdc.com.
INTRODUCTION/GETTING STARTED - 1
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Key Features and Benefits
The following information offers an overview of the major features of your new WD SATA
RAID Controller.
Advanced Hardware Design
Features Benefits
Supports 66 MHz PCI bus motherboards
(automatically backward compatible with
33 MHz PCI slots)
Supports:
data striping (RAID 0) and mirroring (RAID 1)
Supports SATA Specification Burst data transfer rates up to 150 MB/sec from SATA drives to
Independent data channels for SATA drives Drives can multiply their data transfer performance when striped
PCI Plug-n-Play, PCI Interrupt sharing and
coexists with motherboard IDE and SCSI
controllers
Supports IDE bus master operation Allows multitasking during disk transfers that increase CPU
Utilizes EasyBuild™ automenu from the WD
SATA controllerplus onboard BIOS
Displays status and error checking messages
during boot
Allows maximum data transfers of up to 266 MB per second (133
MB/s in 33 MHz slot) over the bus to dramatically reduce the time
to save and retrieve large files.
Provides dramatic increase in drive performance and/or fault
tolerant options. Offers performance customization and data
rebuilds from the BIOS menu.
boost overall system performance.
together and each drive uses a separate data channel.
Easy to install; supports two SATA drives while still supporting
four devices on the motherboard ATA controller.
efficiency. The CPU is free to process tasks during IDE data
transfers through the PCI Bus to/from system memory.
Has "Auto Setup" option for quick and easy array builds.
Notifies user of possible errors and allows for recovery of mirrored
drive arrays directly from EasyBuild.
Employs the latest PCI SATA ASIC technology Fully supports SATA specifications with 150 MB/sec timing and
CRC error-checking at high speeds.
Mirroring supports automatic background
rebuilds
Fault tolerance can be restored automatically without rebooting.
INTRODUCTION/GETTING STARTED - 2
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Compatibility
Features Benefits
Compliant with PCI v2.3 Local Bus standard Provides highest level of hardware compatibility.
Compliant with SATA Specification 1.0 Provides full compatibility with first generation SATA hard drives.
Compliant with PCI Bus Master standard. PCI
Bus Master support
Tested compatibility to coexist with
Provides 32-bit I/O, Bus Master, and Ultra ATA performance for
optimal system performance.
Improves system performance of new and existing installations.
motherboards that have integrated IDE
controllers
Features LBA and Extended Interrupt13 drive
translation in controller onboard BIOS
Breaks capacity barriers for support of drives greater than 137 GB
in capacity. Offers flexible storage options for space demanding
applications.
Kit Contents
! WD SATA RAID Controller
! SATA RAID Controller device drivers diskette
! SATA RAID Controller software utility CD
! Quick Install Guide
Operating Systems
WAR NI NG ! Using an operating system not listed below could result in data loss.
The following operating systems are supported:
! Windows
! Windows XP
! Windows 2000
®
2003 Server
System Requirements
Pentium-class system with an available 32-bit PCI expansion slot (2.2- or 2.3-compliant) or
32-bit portion of a 64-bit PCI slot.
INTRODUCTION/GETTING STARTED - 3
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Unpacking and Handling Procedures
WD controllers are precision instruments and should be handled with care during unpacking
and installation. These devices can be damaged by rough handling, shock and vibration, or
electrostatic discharge (ESD). Be aware of the following precautions:
! Do not unpack the controller until you are ready to install it. Your controller is packaged
in an anti-static bag.
! Save the packaging materials and anti-static bag should you need to return your
controller. Your warranty will be void if your returned controller is shipped in anything
other than the original packaging or WD approved materials.
! To avoid ESD problems, ground yourself by touching the metal chassis of the computer
before handling the controller. Articles of clothing generate static electricity. Do not allow
clothing to come in direct contact with the controller.
! Handle the controller by its sides only. Avoid touching the circuit board components.
Register Your WD SATA RAID Controller
Take advantage of WD special offers and product updates by registering your new WD SATA
RAID Controller online at https://www.wdc.com/en/products/registration.
INTRODUCTION/GETTING STARTED - 4
2
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Disk Array Concepts
About the WD SATA RAID Controller
The WD SATA RAID Controller is a high performance SATA RAID controller that features
concurrent data channel operation and onboard BIOS. The channels on the WD SATA
RAID Controller support concurrent operation that allows for overlapped I/O under multitasking operating systems and sharing the workload between multiple drives.
About Adapter BIOS
The WD SATA RAID Controller card contains a BIOS code that extends the standard disk
service routine provided through Int13. The BIOS is bootable for DOS and other operating
systems that rely on the system BIOS for drive operation.
EasyBuild Auto Menu Setup
This setup utility is used to build and manage WD SATA RAID Controller disk arrays. The
utility is menu driven and features the Auto Setup (1) option that uses a simple, interactive
setup process. Once the array is built, all the array members store the configuration
information in the drive's reserved area. See “Creating a Disk Array” on page 10 which
provides descriptions of individual functions.
Reserve Sector
Array configuration data about the drive member and other members in the disk array are
saved on a special location on the hard drives called the reserve sector. If any member of the
array becomes corrupt or lost, the redundant configuration data on the other members can be
used for rebuilds.
Disk array members do not have a memory of their drive positions. This allows drives to be
placed on different WD SATA RAID Controller connectors or cards within the system
without reconfiguring or rebuilding.
DISK ARRAY CONCEPTS - 5
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Disk Array Terms
Disk Array Description
A disk array is formed from a group of two or more hard drives that appear to the system as a
single drive. The advantage of an array is to provide better throughput performance and/or
data fault tolerance.
Better performance is accomplished by sharing the workload among multiple physical drives.
Fault tolerance is achieved through data redundancy operation where if one (or more) drive
fails or has a sector failure, a mirrored copy of the data can be found on another drive(s).
For optimal results, select identical SATA drives to install in disk arrays. The drives' matched
performance allows the array to function better as a single drive.
Disk Array Member
The individual hard drives in an array are called members. Each member of a specific disk
array has coded in its reserved sector configuration information that identifies the drive as a
member. All disk members in a formed disk array are recognized as a single physical drive to
the system.
Disk Array Types
For most installations, the EasyBuild setup Auto Setup (1) option will configure your system.
There are two disk array types (RAID 0 and 1) in two categories that can be installed on the
WD SATA RAID Controller. Striping is in the Performance category while Mirroring is in
the Fault Tolerance category.
Disk arrays within the Performance and Fault Tolerance categories conform to the
Redundant Array of Independent Disks technology, or RAID. The RAID levels supported are
0 and 1.
RAID Level Performance Fault Tolerance Capacity No. of Drives
RAID 0 (Striping) Highest No No. Drives x
Smallest Size
RAID 1 (Mirroring) Normal Yes Smallest Size Drive 2
1 to 2
DISK ARRAY CONCEPTS - 6
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
About RAID Levels
Striping (RAID 0)
Reads and writes sectors of data interleaved between multiple drives. When any disk member
fails, it affects the entire array. Performance is better than a single drive since the workload is
balanced between the array members.
This array type is for high performance systems. Identical drives are recommended for
performance as well as data storage efficiency. The disk array data capacity is equal to the
number of drive members times the smallest member capacity. For example, one 100 GB and
three 120 GB drives will form a 400 GB (4 x 100 GB) disk array.
Stripe Size - A value can be set from 16 KB to 128 KB sector size. The size can directly affect
performance. In the EasyBuild BIOS, the default is 64 KB.
Data
1
3
5
7
2
4
6
8
Stripe
Disk Drives
Mirroring (RAID 1)
Writes duplicate data on to a pair of drives while reads are performed in parallel. RAID 1 is
fault tolerant because each drive of a mirrored pair is installed on separate IDE channels. If
one of the mirrored drives suffers a mechanical failure (for example, spindle failure) or does
not respond, the remaining drive will continue to function. This is called Fault Tolerance. If
one drive has a physical sector error, the mirrored drive will continue to function.
Data Mirror
1
2
3
4
Disk Drives
On the next reboot, the EasyBuild utility will display an error in the array and recommend
replacing the failed drive. Users should replace the failed drive as soon as possible. Due to
redundancy, the drive capacity of the array is half the total drive capacity. For example, two
100 GB drives that have a combined capacity of 200 GB would have 100 GB of usable
storage. With drives of different capacities, there may be unused capacity on the larger drive.
1
2
3
4
DISK ARRAY CONCEPTS - 7
3
WD SERIAL ATA RAID CONTROLLER
USER MANUAL
Installing the SATA RAID Controller
IMPORTANT: This WD SATA RAID Controller supports the following installation
configurations: single drive non-RAID, RAID 1, and RAID 0. When installing a single
SATA hard drive, follow the non-RAID installation instructions in section 2 below. The
single drive install is not supported in RAID because this setup requires the simultaneous
formatting of two drives.
Back Up Your Data
Before performing any hardware installation, protect your data by backing up your existing
hard drive before installing your new WD hard drive. Most operating systems include a
backup utility. Refer to your operating system or utilities documentation for procedures.
Physical Installation
If you wish to include your current bootable SATA drive as part of a bootable Mirrored
(RAID 1) array on your WD SATA RAID Controller, you MUST install the Windows 2000,
2003 Server, or XP driver software FIRST onto this drive while it is still attached to your
existing hard drive controller (see “Installing Software Drivers” on page 15).
Each WD SATA RAID Controller supports up to two SATA hard drives. For optimal
performance, install two identical SATA drives of the same model and capacity. The drives'
matched performance allows the array to function better as a single drive. If you are striping
(RAID 0) for performance, use up to two new drives. If mirroring (RAID 1) for protection,
you can use two new drives OR use an existing drive and a new drive (the new drive must be
the same size or larger than the existing drive).
1. Power off the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Remove the system cover (refer to your system manual for instructions).
3. Remove the inside slot cover of an available 32-bit PCI slot (or 32-bit portion of a 64-bit
PCI slot) on the motherboard.
4. Install the WD SATA RAID Controller into the open slot. Secure the bracket to the
system's frame (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Installing the WD SATA RAID Controller
INSTALLING THE SATA RAID CONTROLLER - 8
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