Starting The Lsi Configuration Utility Program; Formatting A Hard Disk Drive - IBM System x3650 M3 4255 Service Manual

v Hard disk drive capacities affect how you create arrays. The drives in an array
can have different capacities, but the RAID controller treats them as if they all
have the capacity of the smallest hard disk drive.
v If you use an integrated SAS/SATA controller with RAID capabilities to configure
a RAID 1 (mirrored) array after you have installed the operating system, you will
lose access to any data or applications that were previously stored on the
secondary drive of the mirrored pair.
v If you install a different type of RAID controller, see the documentation that
comes with the controller for information about viewing and changing settings for
attached devices.

Starting the LSI Configuration Utility program

To start the LSI Configuration Utility program, complete the following steps:
1. Turn on the server.
Note: Approximately 3 minutes after the server is connected to ac power, the
power-control button becomes active.
2. When the prompt <F1> Setup is displayed, press F1. If you have set an
administrator password, you must type the administrator password to access the
full Setup utility menu. If you do not type the administrator password, a limited
Setup utility menu is available.
3. Select System Settings → Adapters and UEFI drivers.
4. Select Please refresh this page first and press Enter.
5. Select the device driver that is applicable for the SAS controller in the server.
For example, LSI Logic Fusion MPT SAS Driver.
6. To perform storage-management tasks, see the SAS controller documentation,
which you can download from the Disk controller and RAID software matrix:
a. Go to http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/.
b. Under Product support, click System x.
c. Under Popular links, click Storage Support Matrix.
When you have finished changing settings, press Esc to exit from the program;
select Save to save the settings that you have changed.

Formatting a hard disk drive

Low-level formatting removes all data from the hard disk. If there is data on the disk
that you want to save, back up the hard disk before you perform this procedure.
Note: Before you format a hard disk, make sure that the disk is not part of a
mirrored pair.
To format a drive, complete the following steps:
1. From the list of adapters, select the controller (channel) for the drive that you
want to format and press Enter.
2. Select SAS Topology and press Enter.
3. Select Direct Attach Devices and press Enter.
4. To highlight the drive that you want to format, use the Up Arrow and Down
Arrow keys. To scroll left and right, use the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys or
the End key. Press Alt+D.
5. To start the low-level formatting operation, select Format and press Enter.
Chapter 6. Configuration information and instructions
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