Configuring RAID with the Intel utility
Follow these steps to create RAID volumes.
1.
Press
ctrl+I
when prompted, to enter the Intel Rapid Storage Technology utility (RST). Use the arrow keys
and the space bar to navigate and select options.
NOTE:
If only one hard drive is attached, the utility does not open.
2.
Select Create RAID Volume, and then press
enter
.
3.
Type the a name for the RAID volume in the Name field, and then press
tab
.
4.
Select a level in the RAID Level field, and then press
tab
.
5.
If three or more hard drives are installed, complete the following steps:
a.
Press
enter
to display the Select dialog box.
b.
Select individual physical members of the volume.
c.
Press
enter
to exit the Select dialog box and to return to the Create Volume Menu dialog box.
6.
If appropriate, select a size in the Stripe Size field, and then press
tab
.
7.
Enter the desired volume size in the Capacity field, and then press
tab
.
8.
Press
enter
to initiate volume creation.
9.
When the warning message appears, press
Y
to create the volume.
10.
Select 6 > Exit, then press
enter
.
11.
Press
Y
to confirm the exit.
Software RAID solution
This section summarizes software RAID considerations that are specific to the Linux environment, and
provides links to additional configuration resources.
Software RAID considerations
The Linux kernel software RAID driver (called md, for multiple device) offers integrated software RAID without
the need for additional hardware disk controllers or kernel patches. Unlike most hardware RAID solutions,
software RAID can be used with all types of disk technologies, including SATA, SCSI, and solid-state drives.
This software solution requires only minimal setup of the disks themselves.
However, when compared to hardware-based RAID, software RAID has disadvantages in managing the disks,
breaking up data as necessary, and managing parity data. The CPU must assume some extra loading: disk-
intensive workloads result in roughly double the CPU overhead (for example, from 15% to 30%). For most
applications, this overhead is easily handled by excess headroom in the processors. But for some applications
where disk and CPU performance are very well balanced and already near bottleneck levels, this additional
CPU overhead can become troublesome.
Hardware RAID offers advantages because of its large hardware cache and the capability for better
scheduling of operations in parallel. However, software RAID offers more flexibility for disk and disk controller
setup. Additionally, hardware RAID requires that a failed RAID controller must be replaced with an identical
model to avoid data loss, whereas software RAID imposes no such requirements.
Some software RAID schemes offer data protection through mirroring (copying the data to multiple disks in
case one disk fails) or parity data (checksums that allow error detection and limited rebuilding of data in case
90
Appendix B Configuring RAID devices
Summary of Contents for Z240 Small Form Factor
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