Integrated Smart Array Controller - Compaq DL590 - HP ProLiant - 1 GB RAM Technology Brief

TC020702TB
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ECHNOLOGY RIEF
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Integrated Smart Array Controller

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The ProLiant DL590/64 server is equipped with an integrated Smart Array controller (Figure 13).
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The integrated controller, also known as RAID on a chip, or ROC, is an embedded hardware-based
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RAID solution that enhances system reliability and improves host processor utilization. It is ideal
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for data center servers where internal storage is optimized for OSs and swap space.
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Figure 13: The ProLiant DL590/64 server includes an integrated Smart Array controller.
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RAID implementation enhances data integrity and recovery through data striping and parity
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generation for the data rebuild process. The integrated array controller improves host process
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utilization by performing all RAID functions, thus freeing the host processor for other tasks. The
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controller is fully integrated and embedded on the motherboard of the ProLiant DL590/64 server,
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which improves I/O efficiency and frees a PCI slot for another controller. The integrated
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controller can also queue tasks and data, thereby increasing performance.
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. . The integrated controller consists of a processor, memory controller and hardware exclusive-OR
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(XOR) engine, SCSI chip, PCI bridge, and an internal bus structure embedded on a single
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. . substrate. The controller has fewer parts than typical array controllers, since all of the components
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and connections are combined into one integrated circuit. With fewer parts, reliability is improved
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and mean time between failures is increased.
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The integrated array controller includes a 16-MB read-only memory, with an 8-MB read-ahead
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cache. This memory configuration is optimal for OS and boot support. Since the memory is read
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only, data loss is not an issue and battery backup is not required.
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Configuration Utilities
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The Option ROM Configuration for Arrays Utility is firmware that comes with the integrated
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controller in the ProLiant DL590/64 server. This firmware allows users to set up a simple
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configuration during the power-on self-test (POST). The support includes the ability to create up
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to four logical drives, delete existing logical drives, view the current configuration, and assign an
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online spare as part of the logical drive creation process.
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(cont.)