MSI K9NGM3 Series Manual page 98

Morphing 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.
NVIDIA RAID allows the end user to change the current state of the disk or array to
another with a one-step process called .Morphing.. This section describes the NVIDIA
Morphing process and explains how to use Morphing to convert from one RAID array
type to another.
General M orphing Principles
NVIDIA RAID includes extensive support for morphing, a process of converting from
one RAID mode to another RAID mode.
General Requirements and Limitations
• The new array capacity must be equal to or greater than the previous array.
For example, it is possible to morph 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 can't morph
- 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
Specific M orphing Requirements
The following table lists the disk requirements for a new RAID array for various
morphing combinations.
From To
RAID 0
RAID 1
RAID 0
RAID 0+1
RAID5
RAID 0
RAID 1
RAID 1
RAID 0+1
RAID 5
New Array Disk Requirements
m > n
Number of disks in the new array must be greater than the original array.
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
nVidia RAID
B-17