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Mylex RAID EzAssist User Reference Manual

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RAID EzAssist™ v1.00
Configuration Utility
User Reference Guide
P/N: 775029-00

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  • Page 1 RAID EzAssist™ v1.00 Configuration Utility User Reference Guide P/N: 775029-00...
  • Page 3 RAID EzAssist™ v1.00 Configuration Utility User Reference Guide Part Number 775029-00 © Copyright 1999 Mylex Corporation. All Rights Reserved. All contents of this manual are copyrighted by Mylex Corporation. The information contained herein is the exclusive property of Mylex Corporation and shall not be copied, transferred, photocopied, translated on paper, film, electronic media, or computer-readable form;...
  • Page 4 Greetings This manual describes the RAID EzAssist v1.00 Configuration Utility. Requests for technical information about this and other Mylex Corporation products should be made to your Mylex authorized reseller or Mylex marketing representative. Please Notice Mylex is a registered trademark of Mylex Corporation. Global Array Manager, Workstation Array Manager, RAID Assist, RAID EzAssist, and DAC960 are trademarks of Mylex Corporation.
  • Page 5 About This Manual This installation guide covers the use of the RAID EzAssist v1.00 Configuration Utility. With RAID EzAssist, you can: • Configure controllers and disk arrays, and define logical drives • Monitor and maintain your controllers and arrays • Perform advanced tasks, such as flashing new firmware code and setting clustering Conventions Throughout the manual, the following conventions are used:...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Contents Chapter 1 First-Time Configuration Welcome! ..................1-1 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? ....1-2 How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers? ......1-36 Chapter 2 Drive Configuration How Do I Start RAID EzAssist? ............2-1 How Do I Begin to Configure a Mylex Controller? ......
  • Page 8 How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data Onto a Logical Drive? ... 4-29 How Do I Cancel a Background Task That’s Running on a Logical Drive? ............4-34 How Do I View Physical Drive Status and Information? ....4-39 How Do I Change Physical Drive Read and Write Cache Settings? 4-43 How Do I View the Physical Drive Defect List? .......

  • Page 9: First-Time Configuration

    Chapter 1 First-Time Configuration Welcome! Welcome to RAID EzAssist™, Mylex Corporation’s user friendly configuration and maintenance utility for RAID controllers. This chapter will help you get started step by step doing your first Mylex RAID Controller configuration. Before you are ready to configure a controller, be sure that you have already done the following according to the instructions in your controller’s quick installation or hardware installation guide: •...

  • Page 10: How Do I Configure A Mylex Controller For The First Time

    How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Power On Your System. Regardless of whether an operating system is installed on your computer system, you can run RAID EzAssist from the Mylex controller’s BIOS at system boot time.
  • Page 11 First-Time Configuration Get Started. RAID EzAssist always starts by scanning for Mylex controllers and target drives (Figure 1-1). Figure 1-1. RAID EzAssist Scans for Controllers and Drives Allow scanning to complete. Since this is a first-time configuration, you’ll see a Notice (Figure 1-2). Figure 1-2.
  • Page 12 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? “Would you like to configure a RAID drive now?” The answer depends on whether you want to change any of the default parameters and settings for this Mylex RAID Controller. If you are a new or inexperienced user, the default settings will probably suit your needs just fine.
  • Page 13 First-Time Configuration Table 1-1. Selecting a Configuration Method Configuration Who Should Use It What It Does Method Automatic -Novice users with Automatically creates ONE array out of little or no RAID all available disk drives on the experience. controller. If disk drives are different capacities, larger disk drives are -Users who wish to set initialized down to the capacity of the...
  • Page 14 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? You choose your configuration method from the Configure RAID Drive screen (Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3. Choose a Configuration Method If you want to do an Automatic configuration, press Enter with Automatic selected.
  • Page 15 First-Time Configuration Option 1: Do an Automatic Configuration. The RAID Configuration Summary screen is displayed showing the recommended configuration for your system (Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4. RAID Configuration Summary Screen Table 1-2. RAID Configuration Summary Fields Field Description Fault Tolerance For 1 disk drive = No For 2 or more disk drives = Yes Spare...
  • Page 16 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? If there are more than five drives in the array, you’ll see a small down-arrow next to the disk drive display field. (Optional): If there is a down-arrow next to the disk drive display field, press PgDn to see the additional disk drives in the array.
  • Page 17 First-Time Configuration Table 1-3. RAID Configuration Details Fields Field Description RAID Level For 1 disk drive = JBOD For 2 disk drives = RAID 1 For 3 or more disk drives = RAID 5 Stripe Block Size For 1 disk drive = n/a For 2 or more disk drives = 16 KB Cache Line Size Equal to the Stripe Block Size...
  • Page 18 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Figure 1-6. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. Next you’ll see a Configuration Status screen (Figure 1-7). Your automatic configuration has been completed.
  • Page 19 First-Time Configuration Your next step will be to install the appropriate Mylex Disk Array Controller driver for the operating system you’ll be using on the computer in which the Mylex RAID Controller is installed. • If you have not installed your operating system software yet, and the Mylex controller is your system’s primary controller, you will need to install the operating system and the Mylex driver concurrently.
  • Page 20 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Option 2: Do an Assisted Configuration. The sequence of screens displayed during an Assisted Configuration depends on several factors, such as the number of unconfigured drives on the controller and your responses at each step of the Assisted Configuration process.
  • Page 21 First-Time Configuration (striping) configuration may be more appropriate. If you want your array to be fault tolerant, press Enter with Yes selected. If you prefer a RAID 0 striping or a JBOD configuration and fault tolerance is not a consideration, use the arrow key to select No, then press Enter.
  • Page 22 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Figure 1-9. Do You Want a Spare Drive? A spare drive (hot spare or standby drive) offers an additional level of fault tolerance for existing fault tolerant arrays. If a drive in the array fails, the presence of a spare drive allows the failed drive’s data to be rebuilt onto the spare.
  • Page 23 First-Time Configuration • Fault Tolerance = YES, AND • Number of Available Drives on Controller > 2 Note If you have only two available drives on this controller, you’ll get a RAID 1 (mirroring) configuration, which optimizes for performance. You will, therefore, NOT see the Optimization Priority choice screen.
  • Page 24 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? RAID 5, but since the striped set is mirrored, available capacity is only half of the total capacity in the drive set. If you want to optimize your array for capacity, press Enter with Capacity selected.
  • Page 25 First-Time Configuration Figure 1-12. Logical Drive Count Each logical drive that you create under Assisted Configuration will have identical capacity and settings (RAID level, caching, etc.). If you wish to set logical drive capacities or settings individually, you must use Custom Configuration.
  • Page 26 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Capacity Usage The Capacity Usage screen is always displayed in Assisted Configuration. You may use all or a part of the total available capacity to set up the specified number of logical drives with the optimization you’ve selected previously.
  • Page 27 First-Time Configuration If you want to use the maximum available capacity for these logical drives, press Enter with Ok selected. If you want to reserve some capacity for future use: Press the up arrow key to select the capacity usage field. Type in a number representing the gigabytes (GB) to be used in the current configuration.
  • Page 28 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? If there are more than five drives in the array, you’ll see a small down-arrow next to the disk drive display field. (Optional): If there is a down-arrow next to the disk drive display field, press PgDn to see the additional disk drives in the array.
  • Page 29 First-Time Configuration To apply the configuration, use the arrow key if necessary to select Apply, then press Enter, To cancel the configuration, use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter. When you apply the new configuration, RAID EzAssist writes configuration information to the Mylex controller.
  • Page 30 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Next you’ll see a Configuration Status screen (Figure 1-17). Your assisted configuration has been completed. Figure 1-17. Configuration Complete - Reboot or Main Menu Your next step will be to install the appropriate Mylex Disk Array Controller driver for the operating system you’ll be using on the computer in which the Mylex RAID Controller is installed.
  • Page 31 First-Time Configuration Refer to the Disk Array Controller Software Kit Installation Guide and User Manual or your Mylex controller’s quick installation guide for further instructions. Option 3: Do a Custom Configuration. Custom Configuration gives you full control over the configuration of your disk drives.
  • Page 32 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Figure 1-18. Custom Configuration Main Menu We are setting up a first-time configuration, so we’ll use the menu’s first option: Configure a New Disk Array. Press Enter with the Configure a New Disk Array option selected.
  • Page 33 First-Time Configuration Figure 1-19. Disk Array Configuration Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • PgDn and PgUp show you all the available drives if there is a small down-arrow beside the Unused Drives field. • Inside Unused Drives, arrow keys select a drive, Enter accepts the highlighted drive and adds it to the Disk Array box to the right.
  • Page 34 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? The answer depends on the RAID levels you want to be able to choose for the logical drives you’ll set up in that array. See Table 1-4. Table 1-4. Required Numbers of Drives By RAID Level Desired RAID Level Number of Drives to Select JBOD (Single Drive)
  • Page 35 First-Time Configuration If you’re not satisfied with your drive selections, use the arrow key to select Clear, then Press Enter. Press Tab to return to Unused Drives. Your selections will be erased and you can try again as described above. To save the array you’ve set up, press Enter with Save Array selected.
  • Page 36 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? If you plan on only one array, or if you’d prefer to define logical drives before building any additional arrays, you should move on to define logical drives at this time. To build additional disk arrays, use the arrow key if necessary to select No, then press Enter.
  • Page 37 First-Time Configuration option is visible, use the arrow key to move to another field. • For Physical Capacity or Logical Capacity definition fields, type a numeric decimal value representing the desired capacity in GB. You may choose one or the other field to adjust. •...
  • Page 38 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? Next, we’ll select the write caching strategy for our logical drive. If you are unfamiliar with the terms “Write Through” and “Write Back” caching, please refer to the Glossary for a detailed definition. In a nutshell, Write Back caching speeds write performance but risks loss of data in the cache buffer should power fail.
  • Page 39 First-Time Configuration Next, we set a size for this logical drive based on the maximum available capacity. You can set logical drive size in terms of either physical capacity or logical capacity. Logical capacity takes into account overhead for fault tolerance, spare drives, etc.
  • Page 40 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? The logical drive is added to the display box, and focus returns to the logical drive definition field line (Figure 1-25). Figure 1-25. Logical Drive Has Been Added To define additional logical drives, use the arrow key if necessary to return to the RAID Level definition field.
  • Page 41 First-Time Configuration Apply the Configuration to the Controller. In order for the disk arrays and logical drives you set up to become a valid, registered configuration, you must Apply the configuration to the controller. To apply the configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch focus to the buttons, use the arrow key to select Apply, then press Enter, To cancel the configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch...
  • Page 42 How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time? When the process is complete, RAID EzAssist brings you to the main menu (Figure 1-27). Figure 1-27. Configuration Complete - Go to Main Menu Your next step will be to install the appropriate Mylex Disk Array Controller driver for the operating system you’ll be using on the computer in which the Mylex RAID Controller is installed.
  • Page 43 First-Time Configuration Figure 1-28. Do You Wish to Exit RAID EzAssist? Use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter to exit RAID EzAssist. The system reboots. Begin operating system installation if necessary, or allow your installed operating system to boot. Refer to the Disk Array Controller Software Kit Installation Guide and User Manual or your Mylex controller’s quick installation guide for further instructions.

  • Page 44: How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers

    How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers? How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers? Power On Your System. Regardless of whether an operating system is installed on your computer system, you can run RAID EzAssist from the Mylex controller’s BIOS at system boot time.
  • Page 45 First-Time Configuration Get Started. RAID EzAssist always starts by scanning for Mylex controllers and target drives (Figure 1-29). Figure 1-29. RAID EzAssist Scans for Controllers and Drives Allow scanning to complete. Since this is a first-time configuration, you’ll see a Notice (Figure 1-30). Figure 1-30.
  • Page 46 How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers? “Would you like to configure a RAID drive now?” The answer depends in part on whether you want to change any of the default parameters and settings for this Mylex RAID Controller. If you are a new or inexperienced user, the default settings will probably suit your needs just fine.
  • Page 47 First-Time Configuration Figure 1-31. Select a Controller This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available controllers. • Enter selects the highlighted controller. Use the arrow keys to select a controller from the list, then press Enter (Figure 1-31).
  • Page 48 How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers? Figure 1-32. Select “Configure a RAID Drive” From the main menu, press Enter with Configure a RAID Drive selected (Figure 1-32). At this time, please continue from the “Choose a Configuration Method” step in “How Do I Configure a Mylex Controller for the First Time?” 1-40 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...

  • Page 49: Drive Configuration

    Chapter 2 Drive Configuration This chapter will provide a detailed description of how to configure disk drives using RAID EzAssist. Chapter 1 focused on first-time configuration of drives. Chapter 2 will cover some of the same topics, but will launch into more advanced configuration issues.
  • Page 50 How Do I Start RAID EzAssist? Note If the second line reads “BIOS is disabled,” you must press <Alt-M> to enter the BIOS Options menu and enable the BIOS. If you don’t, you won’t be able to run RAID EzAssist from this controller’s BIOS. Next you’ll see: Press <Alt-R>...

  • Page 51: How Do I Begin To Configure A Mylex Controller

    Drive Configuration Figure 2-1. RAID EzAssist Scans for Controllers and Drives Allow scanning to complete. How Do I Begin to Configure a Mylex Controller? What happens after RAID EzAssist starts up depends on the answers to the following questions: 1. Are there multiple Mylex controllers installed? If so, see “How Do I Configure Multiple Mylex Controllers?”...
  • Page 52 How Do I Begin to Configure a Mylex Controller? Figure 2-2. Do You Want to Configure the Unconfigured Drive(s)? To configure the unconfigured drives, press Enter with Yes selected, If you want to do something besides drive configuration, use the arrow key to select No, then press Enter. 4.

  • Page 53: How Do I Choose A Configuration Method

    Drive Configuration Figure 2-3. RAID EzAssist Main Menu Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration, to Chapter 4 if you’ll be doing a monitoring or maintenance activity, or to Chapter 5 if you want to use any advanced options. Note If you really do intend to perform drive configuration and all drives are already configured, you can either...
  • Page 54 How Do I Choose a Configuration Method? Table 2-1. Selecting a Configuration Method Configuration Who Should Use It What It Does Method Automatic -Novice users with Automatically creates ONE array out of little or no RAID all available disk drives on the experience.
  • Page 55 Drive Configuration You choose your configuration method from the Configure RAID Drive screen (Figure 2-4). Figure 2-4. Choose a Configuration Method If you want to do an Automatic configuration, press Enter with Automatic selected. Now see “How Do I Do an Automatic Configuration?” on page 2-8 for details.

  • Page 56: How Do I Do An Automatic Configuration

    How Do I Do an Automatic Configuration? How Do I Do an Automatic Configuration? The RAID Configuration Summary screen is displayed (Figure 2-5). Figure 2-5. RAID Configuration Summary Screen Table 2-2. RAID Configuration Summary Fields Field Description Fault Tolerance For 1 disk drive = No For 2 or more disk drives = Yes Spare For 1-3 disk drives = No...
  • Page 57 Drive Configuration If there are more than five drives in the array, you’ll see a small down-arrow next to the disk drive display field. (Optional): If there is a down-arrow next to the disk drive display field, press PgDn to see the additional disk drives in the array.
  • Page 58 How Do I Do an Automatic Configuration? Table 2-3. RAID Configuration Details Fields Field Description RAID Level For 1 disk drive = JBOD For 2 disk drives = RAID 1 For 3 or more disk drives = RAID 5 Stripe Block Size For 1 disk drive = n/a For 2 or more disk drives = 16 KB Cache Line Size...
  • Page 59 Drive Configuration Figure 2-7. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. Next you’ll see a Configuration Status screen (Figure 2-8). Your automatic configuration has been completed. Figure 2-8. Configuration Complete - Reboot or Main Menu Manual No.
  • Page 60 How Do I Do an Automatic Configuration? To exit RAID EzAssist, press Enter with the Reboot button selected, To continue using RAID EzAssist, use the arrow key to select Main Menu, then press Enter. When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity.

  • Page 61: How Do I Do An Assisted Configuration

    Drive Configuration How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? The sequence of screens displayed during an Assisted Configuration depends on several factors, such as the number of unconfigured drives on the controller and your responses at each step of the Assisted Configuration process.
  • Page 62 How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? (striping) configuration may be more appropriate. If you want your array to be fault tolerant, press Enter with Yes selected. If you prefer a RAID 0 striping or a JBOD configuration and fault tolerance is not a consideration, use the arrow key to select No, then press Enter.
  • Page 63 Drive Configuration Figure 2-10. Do You Want a Spare Drive? A spare drive (hot spare or standby drive) offers an additional level of fault tolerance for existing fault tolerant arrays. If a drive in the array fails, the presence of a spare drive allows the failed drive’s data to be rebuilt onto the spare.
  • Page 64 How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? Optimization Priority The Optimization Priority screen is displayed under the following conditions: • Fault Tolerance = YES, AND • Number of Available Drives on Controller > 2 Note If you have only two available drives on this controller, you’ll get a RAID 1 (mirroring) configuration, which optimizes for performance.
  • Page 65 Drive Configuration Performance, you’ll be requesting a RAID 0+1 (striping with mirroring) configuration. Both give you the safety of fault tolerance. RAID 5 provides the best combination of settings for most applications and has overhead of only one drive’s capacity. RAID 0+1 has a write performance advantage over RAID 5, but since the striped set is mirrored, available capacity is only half of the total capacity in the drive set.
  • Page 66 How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? Logical Drive Count The Logical Drive Count screen is always displayed in Assisted Configuration. You may divide the available drive space into multiple logical drives, or retain the default of one (1) logical drive. The Logical Drive Count screen is displayed (Figure 2-13).
  • Page 67 Drive Configuration Capacity Usage The Capacity Usage screen is always displayed in Assisted Configuration. You may use all or a part of the total available capacity to set up the specified number of logical drives with the optimization you’ve selected previously. The Capacity Usage screen is displayed (Figure 2-14).
  • Page 68 How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? Press the down arrow key to select Ok. Press Enter with Ok selected. Apply the Configuration to the Controller. The RAID Configuration Summary screen is displayed (Figure 2-15). Figure 2-15. RAID Configuration Summary Screen If there are more than five drives in the array, you’ll see a small down-arrow next to the disk drive display field.
  • Page 69 Drive Configuration Figure 2-16. RAID Configuration Details Screen Note After viewing configuration details, press Enter to select OK and return to the RAID Configuration Summary screen. To apply the configuration, use the arrow key if necessary to select Apply, then press Enter, To cancel the configuration, use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter.
  • Page 70 How Do I Do an Assisted Configuration? Figure 2-17. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. Next you’ll see a Configuration Status screen (Figure 2-18). Your assisted configuration has been completed. Figure 2-18.
  • Page 71 Drive Configuration To exit RAID EzAssist, press Enter with the Reboot button selected, To continue using RAID EzAssist, use the arrow key to select Main Menu, then press Enter. When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity.

  • Page 72: How Do I Do A Custom Configuration

    How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? Custom Configuration gives you full control over the configuration of your disk drives. With Custom Configuration, you can: • Select individual disk drives to add to the configuration •...
  • Page 73 Drive Configuration Figure 2-19. Custom Configuration Menu The first option on the menu, “Configure a New Disk Array,” is used to build new disk arrays, then optionally define logical drives from them. If you want to add capacity to an existing disk array, see “How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array?”...
  • Page 74 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? Build Disk Arrays. The first step in Custom Configuration is to build at least one disk array. This is accomplished from the Disk Array Configuration screen (Figure 2-20). Figure 2-20. Disk Array Configuration Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: •...
  • Page 75 Drive Configuration “How many drives should I select for an array?” The answer depends on the RAID levels you want to be able to choose for the logical drives you’ll set up in that array. See Table 2-4. Table 2-4. Required Numbers of Drives By RAID Level Desired RAID Level Number of Drives to Select JBOD (Single Drive)
  • Page 76 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? If you’re not satisfied with your drive selections, use the arrow key to select Clear, then Press Enter. Press Tab to return to Unused Drives. Your selections will be erased and you can try again as described above. To save the array you’ve set up, press Enter with Save Array selected.
  • Page 77 Drive Configuration If you plan on only one array, or if you’d prefer to define logical drives before building any additional arrays, you should move on to define logical drives at this time. To build additional disk arrays, use the arrow key if necessary to select No, then press Enter.
  • Page 78 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? option is visible, use the arrow key to move to another field. • For Physical Capacity or Logical Capacity definition fields, type a numeric decimal value representing the desired capacity in GB. You may choose one or the other field to adjust.
  • Page 79 Drive Configuration If you are unfamiliar with the terms “Write Through” and “Write Back” caching, please refer to the Glossary for a detailed definition. In a nutshell, Write Back caching speeds write performance but risks loss of data in the cache buffer should power fail. Use Write Back only if you have a battery backup unit (BBU) or uninterruptable power supply (UPS) installed to preserve data in the cache.
  • Page 80 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? If the Stripe Size(KB) definition field is changeable (is displayed in cyan color), use the right arrow key to select the Stripe Size(KB) definition field, then... Press the + or - key to find your desired stripe size, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired stripe size, then press Enter.
  • Page 81 Drive Configuration Figure 2-25. Ready to Add the Logical Drive The logical drive is added to the display box, and focus returns to the logical drive definition field line if capacity remains for additional logical drives (Figure 2-26). Figure 2-26. Logical Drive Has Been Added Manual No.
  • Page 82 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? To define additional logical drives, use the arrow key if necessary to return to the RAID Level definition field. Repeat the steps described in “Define Logical Drives.” As long as you haven’t applied the configuration to the controller, you can delete the logical drives you’ve set up and define new ones.
  • Page 83 Drive Configuration Figure 2-27. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. When the process is complete, RAID EzAssist brings you to the main menu (Figure 2-28). Figure 2-28. Configuration Complete - Go to Main Menu Manual No.
  • Page 84 How Do I Do a Custom Configuration? When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. • Refer to Chapter 4 if you’ll be doing a monitoring or maintenance activity or adding drives (requiring a rescan for devices).

  • Page 85: How Do I Add Capacity To An Existing Disk Array

    Drive Configuration How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? RAID EzAssist gives you the option of adding capacity to existing disk arrays. This process is referred to as Mylex Online RAID Expansion™ (MORE™). The process allows you to increase the useable space in an array without having to: (1) back up data, (2) reconfigure the array to a larger number of drives, and (3) restore existing data to the new array.
  • Page 86 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? On the Configure RAID Drive screen, use the arrow key to select Custom, then press Enter (Figure 2-30). Figure 2-30. Configure RAID Drive - Custom The Custom Configuration menu is displayed (Figure 2-31). Figure 2-31.
  • Page 87 Drive Configuration Custom Configuration menu, then press Enter. Note If any one of the conditions described below is true, the Add Capacity to Existing Disk Array function will not be possible: All available drives on the controller are already configured (often resulting from a previous Automatic Configuration) The selected “array”...
  • Page 88 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? Figure 2-32. Disk Array Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available disk arrays. • Enter selects the highlighted disk array. Use the arrow keys to select the disk array you want to expand, then press Enter.
  • Page 89 Drive Configuration Figure 2-33. Disk Array Configuration Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • PgDn and PgUp show you all the available or selected drives if there is a small down/up-arrow beside the Unused Drives or Disk Array fields. •...
  • Page 90 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? (Optional): If there is a small down-arrow or up-arrow to the right of the Disk Array field, use PgDn or PgUp to view the additional drives in the disk array. Use the arrow keys to select a disk drive in the Unused Drives field, then press Enter to accept the drive into the disk array.
  • Page 91 Drive Configuration To save the expanded array configuration you’ve set up, press Enter with Save Array selected. A Notice is displayed at this point as shown in Figure 2-35. Figure 2-35. Define Logical Drives or Return to Add Capacity Set-Up You should define your additional logical drives for the expanded array at this time unless you may wish first to expand other existing disk arrays.
  • Page 92 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? Figure 2-36. Logical Drive Definition Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the logical drive definition fields. • For RAID Level, Write Cache, and Stripe Size(KB) definition fields, the Spacebar brings up a list of valid options.
  • Page 93 Drive Configuration Let’s start by selecting a RAID level for our logical drive. With the RAID Level definition field selected... Press the + or - key to find your desired RAID level, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired RAID level, then press Enter Next, we’ll select the write caching strategy for our logical drive.
  • Page 94 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? If you are unfamiliar with the term “Stripe Size” please refer to the Glossary for a detailed definition. Note If this is the first logical drive on this controller, the stripe size you select for the first logical drive will be fixed for all subsequent logical drives in all arrays on the controller.
  • Page 95 Drive Configuration If you wish to change any settings, use the arrow key to select the desired definition field and change its value as described earlier. To add the logical drive, press the Tab key to switch focus to the Add Drive button, then press Enter with Add Drive selected The logical drive is added to the display box, and focus returns to the logical drive definition field line if capacity remains for additional logical drives.
  • Page 96 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? Figure 2-37. Expanded Array Configuration With Logical Drives To apply the new expanded configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch focus to the buttons, use the arrow key to select Apply, then press Enter, To cancel the expanded configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch focus to the buttons, use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter.
  • Page 97 Drive Configuration Figure 2-38. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. When the process is complete, RAID EzAssist brings you to the main menu (Figure 2-39). Figure 2-39. Configuration Complete - Go to Main Menu Manual No.
  • Page 98 How Do I Add Capacity to an Existing Disk Array? When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. • Refer to Chapter 4 if you’ll be doing a monitoring or maintenance activity or adding drives (requiring a rescan for devices).

  • Page 99: How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives

    Drive Configuration How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives? From the main menu, press Enter with Configure RAID Drive selected (Figure 2-40). Figure 2-40. Main Menu - Configure RAID Drive On the Configure RAID Drive screen, use the arrow key to select Custom, then press Enter (Figure 2-41).
  • Page 100 How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives? The Custom Configuration menu is displayed (Figure 2-42). Figure 2-42. Custom Configuration Menu If you want to define logical drives from existing disk arrays, use the arrow key to select Define Logical Drive(s) on the Custom Configuration menu, then press Enter.
  • Page 101 Drive Configuration Figure 2-43. Logical Drive Definition Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the logical drive definition fields. • For RAID Level, Write Cache, and Stripe Size(KB) definition fields, the Spacebar brings up a list of valid options. Arrow keys move among the options and Enter selects an option.
  • Page 102 How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives? With the RAID Level definition field selected... Press the + or - key to find your desired RAID level, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired RAID level, then press Enter. Next, we’ll select the write caching strategy for our logical drive.
  • Page 103 Drive Configuration Note If this is the first logical drive on this controller, the stripe size you select for the first logical drive will be fixed for all subsequent logical drives in all arrays on the controller. Available stripe sizes are 8, 16, 32, and If the Stripe Size(KB) definition field is changeable (is displayed in cyan color), use the right arrow key to select the Stripe Size(KB) definition field, then...
  • Page 104 How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives? earlier. To add the logical drive, press the Tab key to switch focus to the Add Drive button, then press Enter with Add Drive selected. The logical drive is added to the display box, and focus returns to the logical drive definition field line if capacity remains for additional logical drives.
  • Page 105 Drive Configuration press Enter. When you apply the new configuration, RAID EzAssist writes configuration information to the Mylex controller. This takes a few moments, so a message is displayed (Figure 2-44). Figure 2-44. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller.
  • Page 106 How Do I Define Additional Logical Drives? Figure 2-45. Configuration Complete - Go to Main Menu When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. •...

  • Page 107: How Do I Assign Additional Spare Drives

    Drive Configuration How Do I Assign Additional Spare Drives? From the main menu, press Enter with Configure RAID Drive selected (Figure 2-46). Figure 2-46. Main Menu - Configure RAID Drive On the Configure RAID Drive screen, use the arrow key to select Custom, then press Enter (Figure 2-47).
  • Page 108 How Do I Assign Additional Spare Drives? The Custom Configuration menu is displayed (Figure 2-48). Figure 2-48. Custom Configuration Menu If you want to assign any currently unconfigured drives as additional spare drives , use the arrow key to select Assign Spare Drive(s) on the Custom Configuration menu, then press Enter.
  • Page 109 Drive Configuration Figure 2-49. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the defined physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select a physical drive with current status “Unconfigured,”...
  • Page 110 How Do I Assign Additional Spare Drives? Figure 2-50. Designate Drive as Spare Confirmation To apply the configuration, use the arrow key to select Yes if necessary, then press Enter. To cancel the configuration change, use the arrow key to select No if necessary, then press Enter.
  • Page 111 Drive Configuration Figure 2-51. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. When the process is complete, RAID EzAssist brings you back to the main menu (Figure 2-52), or to select a controller if there are multiple controllers. Figure 2-52.
  • Page 112 How Do I Assign Additional Spare Drives? To assign additional spare drives, repeat the procedure described in this section. When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. •...

  • Page 113: How Do I Unassign Existing Spare Drives

    Drive Configuration How Do I Unassign Existing Spare Drives? From the main menu, press Enter with Configure RAID Drive selected (Figure 2-53). Figure 2-53. Main Menu - Configure RAID Drive On the Configure RAID Drive screen, use the arrow key to select Custom, then press Enter (Figure 2-54).
  • Page 114 How Do I Unassign Existing Spare Drives? The Custom Configuration menu is displayed (Figure 2-55). Figure 2-55. Custom Configuration Menu If you want to unassign any existing spare drives to return them to unconfigured status, use the arrow key to select Assign Spare Drive(s) on the Custom Configuration menu, then press Enter.
  • Page 115 Drive Configuration Figure 2-56. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the defined physical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted physical drive. Use the arrow keys to select a physical drive with current status “Spare,”...
  • Page 116 How Do I Unassign Existing Spare Drives? Figure 2-57. Designate Drive as Unused Confirmation To apply the configuration, use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter, To cancel the configuration change, press Enter with No selected. When you apply the new configuration, RAID EzAssist writes configuration information to the Mylex controller.
  • Page 117 Drive Configuration Figure 2-58. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. When the process is complete, RAID EzAssist brings you back to the main menu (Figure 2-59), or to select a controller if there are multiple controllers. Figure 2-59.
  • Page 118 How Do I Unassign Existing Spare Drives? To unassign other spare drives, repeat the procedure described in this section. When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. •...

  • Page 119: How Do I Make Use Of The Spanning Feature

    Drive Configuration How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? “Spanning” is the concept of linking similar disk arrays so that logical drives can make use of the extended capacity across the disk arrays. When to Use Spanning Spanning is generally useful in the following types of situations: 1.
  • Page 120 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? which to define logical drives. Therefore, the largest logical drive I can define would make use of the full 18.0 GB in both arrays. Note In the examples above, keep in mind that actual available “logical”...
  • Page 121 Drive Configuration 3. For spanning, capacity of the drives in a disk array does not need to be the same, but each disk array must have the same number of physical drives and be defined consecutively. To avoid downsizing of drives, build each disk array with drives of the same capacity whenever possible.
  • Page 122 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? Enable (or Disable) Spanning. If the main menu is displayed, press Enter with Configure RAID Drive selected (Figure 2-60). Figure 2-60. Main Menu - Configure RAID Drive On the Configure RAID Drive screen, use the arrow key to select Custom, then press Enter (Figure 2-61).
  • Page 123 Drive Configuration The Custom Configuration menu is displayed (Figure 2-62). Figure 2-62. Custom Configuration Menu If you want to see whether spanning is turned on, OR if you want to enable (or disable) the spanning feature, use the arrow key to select Spanning on the Custom Configuration menu, then press Enter.
  • Page 124 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? Figure 2-63. Enable Spanning? If you want to enable spanning, use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter, If you don’t want to enable spanning, press Enter with No selected.
  • Page 125 Drive Configuration Figure 2-64. Disable Spanning? If you want to disable spanning, press Enter with Yes selected, If you don’t want to disable spanning, use the arrow key to select No, then press Enter. Manual No. 775029 2-77...
  • Page 126 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? Build Disk Arrays. From the Custom Configuration menu, use the arrow key to select Configure a New Disk Array, then press Enter (Figure 2-65). Figure 2-65. Select Configure a New Disk Array The first step is to build at least two disk arrays with equal numbers of drives.
  • Page 127 Drive Configuration Figure 2-66. Disk Array Configuration Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • PgDn and PgUp show you all the available or selected drives if there is a small down/up-arrow beside the Unused Drives or Disk Array fields. •...
  • Page 128 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? The answer depends on the RAID levels you want to be able to choose for the logical drives you’ll set up in that array. See Table 2-7. Table 2-7. Required Numbers of Drives By RAID Level Desired RAID Level Number of Drives to Select RAID 00 (Spanned Striping)
  • Page 129 Drive Configuration If you’re not satisfied with your drive selections, use the arrow key to select Clear, then Press Enter. Press Tab to return to Unused Drives. Your selections will be erased and you can try again as described above. To save the array you’ve set up, press Enter with Save Array selected.
  • Page 130 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? Define Logical Drives. Logical drives for the spanned array(s) you just set up are defined from the Logical Drive Definition screen (Figure 2-69). Just under the screen title, you’ll see the names of the arrays that are spanned and ready for logical drives (such as “Array 0, 1”).
  • Page 131 Drive Configuration activates the highlighted button. Arrow keys rotate selections through Add Drive, Apply, Cancel, Clear All, and Delete Last. Let’s start by selecting a RAID level for our logical drive. With the RAID Level definition field selected... Press the + or - key to find your desired RAID level, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired RAID level, then press Enter.
  • Page 132 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? Note The stripe size you select for the first logical drive will be fixed for all subsequent logical drives in all arrays on the controller. Available stripe sizes are 8, 16, 32, and 64. Use the right arrow key to select the Stripe Size(KB) definition field, then...
  • Page 133 Drive Configuration If you wish to change any settings, use the arrow key to select the desired definition field and change its value as described earlier. To add the logical drive, press the Tab key to switch focus to the Add Drive button, then press Enter with Add Drive selected. The logical drive is added to the display box, and focus returns to the logical drive definition field line if capacity remains for additional logical drives.
  • Page 134 How Do I Make Use of the Spanning Feature? To apply the configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch focus to the buttons, use the arrow key to select Apply, then press Enter, To cancel the configuration, press Tab if necessary to switch focus to the buttons, use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter.
  • Page 135 Drive Configuration Figure 2-71. Configuration Complete - Go to Main Menu When the main menu appears: • Look in this chapter if you’ll be doing an additional configuration activity. • Refer to Chapter 3 if you’ll be doing controller configuration. •...

  • Page 136: How Do I Exit Raid Ezassist

    How Do I Exit RAID EzAssist? How Do I Exit RAID EzAssist? To exit RAID EzAssist from the main menu, press the Esc key, To exit RAID EzAssist when you’re not at the main menu, press the Esc key until you reach the main menu, then press Esc one more time.

  • Page 137: Controller Configuration

    Chapter 3 Controller Configuration You can use RAID EzAssist to view a controller’s current configuration settings. Additionally, you can change certain settings on your controller. Each Mylex Disk Array Controller is shipped from the factory with default settings which have been found to work well in a majority of applications and environments.

  • Page 138: How Do I View Controller Configuration Information

    How Do I View Controller Configuration Information? If you wish to view and/or modify any Global Properties for the selected Mylex controller, see the section called “How Do I Change Global Properties for a Controller?” on page 3-4. If you wish to view and/or modify any SCSI Transfer Properties for the selected Mylex controller, see the section called “How Do I Change SCSI Transfer Properties for a Controller?”...
  • Page 139 Controller Configuration Figure 3-2. Controller Configuration Screen Examine the Controller Configuration Details. Table 3-2 shows the information displayed on the Controller Configuration screen. This information is read only. Manual No. 775029...

  • Page 140: How Do I Change Global Properties For A Controller

    How Do I Change Global Properties for a Controller? Table 3-2. Controller Configuration Details Field Description Vendor Identifies the manufacturer of the controlller: Mylex. Model Identifies which Mylex controller you have. For example, DAC1164P = eXtremeRAID. Firmware Version Identifies the current version and turn number of the firmware installed on the controller.
  • Page 141 Controller Configuration Figure 3-3. Properties Menu Overlays Controller Configuration Screen Enter the Global Properties Screen. When the Properties menu is displayed, press Enter with Global selected. The Global Properties screen is displayed (Figure 3-4). Figure 3-4. Global Properties Screen Manual No. 775029...
  • Page 142 How Do I Change Global Properties for a Controller? This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the global property fields. • The Spacebar brings up a list of valid options. Arrow keys move among the options and Enter selects an option. •...
  • Page 143 Controller Configuration View/Modify StorageWorks(tm) Fault Management. Default = Disabled The StorageWorks Fault Management (TM) option monitors and reports drive failures, background activity completion status, enclosure events, etc. Enable this function only when Digital StorageWorks Fault Management equipment (disk cabinet) is installed. In all other cases this option should remain disabled.
  • Page 144 How Do I Change Global Properties for a Controller? Use the arrow key to select the Background Process Rate (%) field, then... Press the + or - key to select the desired numeric value for background processes, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired value, then press Enter.

  • Page 145: How Do I Change Scsi Transfer Properties For A Controller

    Controller Configuration How Do I Change SCSI Transfer Properties for a Controller? Enter the Properties Menu. To view and possibly change SCSI Transfer properties of the controller, you enter the Properties menu from the Controller Configuration screen. Press Enter with Properties selected on the Controller Configuration screen.
  • Page 146 How Do I Change SCSI Transfer Properties for a Controller? Figure 3-6. SCSI Transfer Properties Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the SCSI transfer property fields. • The Spacebar brings up a list of valid options. Arrow keys move among the options and Enter selects an option.
  • Page 147 Controller Configuration View/Modify Bus Speed. Default = 20MHz The SCSI Transfer Bus Speed (MHz) function sets the maximum transfer rate for each drive channel. The default setting is 20MHz. This setting produces 20 MB/sec transfers for Fast SCSI and 40 MB/sec transfers for Wide and Ultra SCSI.
  • Page 148 How Do I Change SCSI Transfer Properties for a Controller? Use the arrow keys to select the Tag Queueing field for the desired channel, then... Press the + or - key to set the value to Yes or No as desired, Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired setting, then press Enter.

  • Page 149: How Do I Change Startup Properties For A Controller

    Controller Configuration How Do I Change Startup Properties for a Controller? Enter the Properties Menu. To view and possibly change Startup properties of the controller, you enter the Properties menu from the Controller Configuration screen. Press Enter with Properties selected on the Controller Configuration screen.
  • Page 150 How Do I Change Startup Properties for a Controller? Figure 3-8. Startup Properties Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the startup property fields. • For the Disk Spin Up field, the Spacebar brings up a list of valid options.
  • Page 151 Controller Configuration View/Modify the Disk Spin Up Setting. Default = By Controller The Disk Spin Up setting controls how the SCSI drives in the array are started (spun-up). There are three different Spin-up modes that may be selected by the user. By Controller.
  • Page 152 How Do I Change Startup Properties for a Controller? View/Modify the Initial Delay Setting. Default = 6 After the controller completes its initialization process, the initial delay value defines the number of seconds before the first disk interrogation request is issued to the array. Delay values range from 0 to 30 in six second increments.
  • Page 153 Chapter 4 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities In this chapter you’ll learn how to work with: • Disk arrays • Logical drives • Physical devices RAID EzAssist allows you to monitor characteristics and status, change certain properties of logical and physical drives, and perform some useful and sometimes necessary administration and maintenance activities.
  • Page 154 Here is a list of the tasks that you can accomplish: DISK ARRAY TASKS: • View a list of the physical drives that make up the selected disk array, capacity and status of the drives, and the amount of unused space in the disk array.

  • Page 155: Monitoring And Maintenance Activities

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities • View either the primary drive defect list, or a list of “grown” defects which may have emerged more recently. This information can help you anticipate a drive that may eventually need replacement. • View a count of parity errors, soft errors, hard errors, and miscellaneous errors, then reset the counts to 0.

  • Page 156: How Do I View Disk Array Status And Information

    How Do I View Disk Array Status and Information? How Do I View Disk Array Status and Information? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-2). Figure 4-2.
  • Page 157 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-3. Disk Array Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available disk arrays. • Enter selects the highlighted disk array. Use the arrow keys to select the disk array you want to monitor, then press Enter.
  • Page 158 How Do I View Disk Array Status and Information? Figure 4-4. Disk Array Configuration Screen (Optional): If a small down-arrow is displayed beside the physical drive field, press PgDn to view additional drives in the disk array. Press PgUp to move up the list. Press Enter with Ok selected to close the Disk Array Configuration screen.

  • Page 159: How Do I View Logical Drive Status And Information

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I View Logical Drive Status and Information? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-5). Figure 4-5. Administration Menu - Logical Drive Use the arrow key to select Logical Drive, then press Enter.
  • Page 160 How Do I View Logical Drive Status and Information? Figure 4-6. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive you want to monitor, then press Enter.
  • Page 161 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-7. Logical Drive Menu - View or Modify Drive Configuration Press Enter with View or Modify Drive Configuration selected. The Logical Drive Configuration screen for the selected logical drive is displayed (Figure 4-8). This screen shows the following information: •...
  • Page 162 How Do I View Logical Drive Status and Information? Figure 4-8. Logical Drive Configuration Screen (Optional): If a small down-arrow is displayed beside the physical drive field, press PgDn to view additional drives used in this logical drive. Press PgUp to move up the list. Press Enter with Ok selected to close the Logical Drive Configuration screen.

  • Page 163: How Do I Change Logical Drive Read And Write Cache Settings

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Change Logical Drive Read and Write Cache Settings? If you are unfamiliar with the terms “Read Cache,” “Read Ahead,” “Write Cache,” “Write Through,” or “Write Back” caching, please refer to the Glossary for a detailed definition. In a nutshell, Read Ahead caching speeds read performance in situations where large blocks of sequential data need to be read.
  • Page 164 How Do I Change Logical Drive Read and Write Cache Settings? Once you’ve set the Read Cache and Write Cache as desired, Press Enter with Ok selected to accept the changes, Use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter to leave the cache settings unchanged.

  • Page 165: How Do I View The Logical Drive Bad Data Table

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I View the Logical Drive Bad Data Table? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-10). Figure 4-10. Administration Menu - Logical Drive Use the arrow key to select Logical Drive, then press Enter.
  • Page 166 How Do I View the Logical Drive Bad Data Table? Figure 4-11. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive whose bad data table you want to view, then press Enter.
  • Page 167 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-12. Logical Drive Menu - View Bad Data Table Use the arrow key to select View Bad Data Table, then press Enter. The Bad Data Table screen for the selected logical drive is displayed (Figure 4-13).
  • Page 168 How Do I View the Logical Drive Bad Data Table? Figure 4-13. Bad Data Table Press Enter with Ok selected when you have finished viewing the bad data table for this logical drive. 4-16 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...

  • Page 169: How Do I Visually Locate The Physical Drives That Comprise The Logical Drive

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Visually Locate the Physical Drives That Comprise the Logical Drive? RAID EzAssist has an option that allows you to see exactly which physical drives were used to define the selected logical drive. Using Locate Drive, you can cause the LEDs to blink on all online physical drives that comprise the logical drive.
  • Page 170 How Do I Visually Locate the Physical Drives That Comprise the Logical Drive? Figure 4-15. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive whose physical drives you want to locate visually, then press Enter.
  • Page 171 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-16. Logical Drive Menu - Locate Drive Use the arrow key to select Locate Drive, then press Enter. A Notice is displayed for the selected logical drive (Figure 4-17). At the same time, all the physical drives that comprise the logical drive will show blinking LEDs to help you see which physical devices have been used for this logical drive.
  • Page 172 How Do I Visually Locate the Physical Drives That Comprise the Logical Drive? Figure 4-17. Locate Physical Drives Notice Press Enter with Ok selected after you’ve visually located the physical drives. When the Notice screen disappears, the LEDs should stop blinking. 4-20 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...

  • Page 173: How Do I Run A Consistency Check On The Logical Drive

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Run a Consistency Check on the Logical Drive? From time to time it’s wise to check the parity on your fault tolerant logical drives for consistency, and to restore consistency if necessary. You do this by using the Check Consistency option.
  • Page 174 How Do I Run a Consistency Check on the Logical Drive? Figure 4-19. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive on which to run the consistency check, then press Enter.
  • Page 175 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-20. Logical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Logical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-21). Figure 4-21. Logical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Check Consistency Manual No.
  • Page 176 How Do I Run a Consistency Check on the Logical Drive? Run a Consistency Check. Press Enter with Check Consistency selected. The Check Consistency screen is displayed (Figure 4-22): Figure 4-22. Check Consistency - Repair Inconsistent Data? You can check consistency with or without data repair. If you check consistency with data repair, errors will be fixed as they are found.

  • Page 177: How Do I Initialize A Logical Drive

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Initialize a Logical Drive? With the Immediate RAID Availability feature built into Mylex products, logical drives are initialized in the background just after they are configured. The logical drives can be used right away without the need to wait for a lengthy drive initialization process to complete.
  • Page 178 How Do I Initialize a Logical Drive? Figure 4-24. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive to initialize, then press Enter.
  • Page 179 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-25. Logical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Logical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-26). Figure 4-26. Logical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Initialize Drive Manual No.
  • Page 180 How Do I Initialize a Logical Drive? Initialize the Logical Drive. Use the arrow key to select Initialize Drive, then press Enter. The Initialize Drive warning screen is displayed (Figure 4-27): Figure 4-27. Initialize Drive? Initialization will erase all data on the logical drive. To cancel your request to initialize the logical drive, press Enter with No selected, To initialize the logical drive, use the arrow key to select Yes,...

  • Page 181: How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data Onto A Logical Drive

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data Onto a Logical Drive? One of the most important features of RAID technology is fault tolerance (data redundancy). It’s the redundancy built into your RAID 1 (10), RAID 3 (30), RAID 5 (50), and RAID 0+1 (0+1+0) logical drive data that allows for a physical disk drive failure without the loss of that data.
  • Page 182 How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data Onto a Logical Drive? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-28). Figure 4-28. Administration Menu - Logical Drive Use the arrow key to select Logical Drive, then press Enter.
  • Page 183 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-29. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive with Critical status, then press Enter.
  • Page 184 How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data Onto a Logical Drive? Figure 4-30. Logical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Logical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-31). Figure 4-31. Logical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Rebuild Redundancy Data 4-32 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...
  • Page 185 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Rebuild Redundancy Data on the Logical Drive. Use the arrow key to select Rebuild Redundancy Data, then press Enter. The Rebuild Redundancy Data warning screen is displayed (Figure 4-32): Figure 4-32. Rebuild Redundancy Data? Rebuild redundancy will regenerate the data that was on the failed or offline drive.

  • Page 186: How Do I Cancel A Background Task That's Running On A Logical Drive

    How Do I Cancel a Background Task That’s Running on a Logical Drive? How Do I Cancel a Background Task That’s Running on a Logical Drive? One of the following tasks may be running in the background: • Consistency Check •...
  • Page 187 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-33). Figure 4-33. Administration Menu - Logical Drive Use the arrow key to select Logical Drive, then press Enter. Select a Logical Drive.
  • Page 188 How Do I Cancel a Background Task That’s Running on a Logical Drive? Figure 4-34. Logical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available logical drives. • Enter selects the highlighted logical drive. Use the arrow keys to select the logical drive whose status indicates that a background task is running, then press Enter.
  • Page 189 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-35. Logical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Logical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-36). Figure 4-36. Logical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Cancel Background Task Manual No.
  • Page 190 How Do I Cancel a Background Task That’s Running on a Logical Drive? Cancel the Background Task Running on the Logical Drive. Use the arrow key to select Cancel Background Task, then press Enter. The Cancel Background Task warning screen is displayed (Figure 4-37): Figure 4-37.

  • Page 191: How Do I View Physical Drive Status And Information

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I View Physical Drive Status and Information? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-38). Figure 4-38. Administration Menu - Physical Device Use the arrow key to select Physical Device, then press Enter.
  • Page 192 How Do I View Physical Drive Status and Information? Figure 4-39. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical drive you want to monitor, then press Enter.
  • Page 193 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-40. Physical Drive Menu - View or Modify Drive Configuration Press Enter with View or Modify Drive Configuration selected. The Device Configuration screen for the selected physical device is displayed (Figure 4-41). This screen shows the following information: •...
  • Page 194 How Do I View Physical Drive Status and Information? Figure 4-41. Device Configuration Screen Press Enter with Ok selected to close the Device Configuration screen. If you want to change the Read Cache and/or Write Cache physical drive settings, please continue to the next section. 4-42 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...

  • Page 195: How Do I Change Physical Drive Read And Write Cache Settings

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Change Physical Drive Read and Write Cache Settings? If you are unfamiliar with the terms “Read Cache,” “Read Ahead,” “Write Cache,” “Write Through,” or “Write Back” caching, please refer to the Glossary for a detailed definition. In a nutshell, Read Ahead caching speeds read performance in situations where large blocks of sequential data need to be read.
  • Page 196 How Do I Change Physical Drive Read and Write Cache Settings? Press Enter with Ok selected to accept the changes, Use the arrow key to select Cancel, then press Enter to leave the cache settings unchanged. If you made any changes and selected Ok, the following Notice is displayed (Figure 4-42).

  • Page 197: How Do I View The Physical Drive Defect List

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I View the Physical Drive Defect List? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-43). Figure 4-43. Administration Menu - Physical Device Use the arrow key to select Physical Device, then press Enter.
  • Page 198 How Do I View the Physical Drive Defect List? Figure 4-44. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical drive whose defect list you want to view, then press Enter.
  • Page 199 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-45. Physical Drive Menu - View Defect List Use the arrow key to select View Defect List, then press Enter. The Defect List menu is displayed (Figure 4-46). From this menu you can choose to view the Primary defect list (defects registered during drive formatting and initialization), or the Grown defect list (defects registered during regular use of the physical drive).
  • Page 200 How Do I View the Physical Drive Defect List? Figure 4-46. Defect List Menu - Primary To view the Primary defect list, press Enter with Primary selected. The Primary Defect List screen for the selected physical drive is displayed, or a message that no defect list was found. Press Enter with Ok selected when you have finished.
  • Page 201 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-47. Defect List Menu - Grown To view the Grown defect list, use the arrow key to select Grown, then press Enter. The Grown Defect List screen for the selected physical drive is displayed, or a message that no defect list was found.

  • Page 202: How Do I View And Reset Physical Drive Error Counts

    How Do I View and Reset Physical Drive Error Counts? How Do I View and Reset Physical Drive Error Counts? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-48). Figure 4-48.
  • Page 203 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-49. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical drive whose error counts you want to view and reset, then press Enter.
  • Page 204 How Do I View and Reset Physical Drive Error Counts? Figure 4-50. Physical Drive Menu - View Error Counts Use the arrow key to select View Error Counts, then press Enter. The Error Counts screen for the selected physical device is displayed (Figure 4-51).
  • Page 205 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-51. Error Counts Screen Reset Physical Drive Error Counts. After viewing and noting the error counts, you should reset the counts to zero (0) to grow a fresh list for future observation. Press Enter with Reset Counts selected to reset all error counts and close the Error Counts screen.

  • Page 206: How Do I Designate A Physical Drive As A Spare, Or Reset A Spare Drive As Unused

    How Do I Designate a Physical Drive as a Spare, or Reset a Spare Drive as Unused? How Do I Designate a Physical Drive as a Spare, or Reset a Spare Drive as Unused? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter.
  • Page 207 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-53. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Option 1: Assign the Physical Device as a Spare. Use the arrow keys to select an unconfigured physical drive to assign as a spare, then press Enter.
  • Page 208 How Do I Designate a Physical Drive as a Spare, or Reset a Spare Drive as Unused? Figure 4-54. Physical Drive Menu - Designate Drive as Spare/Unused On the Physical Drive menu, use the arrow key to select Designate Drive as Spare/Unused, then press Enter. Apply the Configuration to the Controller.
  • Page 209 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-55. Designate Drive as Spare Confirmation To apply the configuration, use the arrow key to select Yes if necessary, then press Enter. To cancel the configuration change, use the arrow key to select No if necessary, then press Enter. When you apply the new configuration, RAID EzAssist writes configuration information to the Mylex controller.
  • Page 210 How Do I Designate a Physical Drive as a Spare, or Reset a Spare Drive as Unused? Figure 4-56. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. Option 2: Return a Spare Drive to Unconfigured (Unused) Status.
  • Page 211 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities In the Physical Drive Selection screen (as in Figure 4-57,for example) use the arrow keys to select a spare drive to return to unconfigured (unused) status, then press Enter. The Physical Drive menu is displayed (Figure 4-58). Figure 4-58.
  • Page 212 How Do I Designate a Physical Drive as a Spare, or Reset a Spare Drive as Unused? Figure 4-59. Designate Drive as Unused Confirmation To apply the configuration, use the arrow key to select Yes if necessary, then press Enter. To cancel the configuration change, use the arrow key to select No if necessary, then press Enter.
  • Page 213 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-60. Writing RAID Configuration. Please Wait... Wait for the configuration information to be written to the controller. Manual No. 775029 4-61...

  • Page 214: How Do I Visually Locate A Physical Device

    How Do I Visually Locate a Physical Device? How Do I Visually Locate a Physical Device? RAID EzAssist has an option that allows you to see exactly where a particular physical device is located in your hardware setup. Using Locate Device, you can cause a selected physical device’s LED to blink.
  • Page 215 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-62. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical device you want to locate visually, then press Enter.
  • Page 216 How Do I Visually Locate a Physical Device? Figure 4-63. Physical Drive Menu - Locate Device Use the arrow key to select Locate Device, then press Enter. A Notice is displayed for the selected physical device (Figure 4-64). At the same time, the physical device will show a blinking LED to help you see its location in your hardware setup.
  • Page 217 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-64. Locate Physical Device Notice Press Enter with Ok selected after you’ve visually located the physical device. When the Notice screen disappears, the LED should stop blinking. Manual No. 775029 4-65...

  • Page 218: How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data On A Physical Drive

    How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data on a Physical Drive? How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data on a Physical Drive? One of the most important features of RAID technology is fault tolerance (data redundancy). It’s the redundancy built into your RAID 1 (10), RAID 3 (30), RAID 5 (50), and RAID 0+1 (0+1+0) logical drive data that allows for a physical disk drive failure without the loss of that data.
  • Page 219 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-65). Figure 4-65. Administration Menu - Physical Device Use the arrow key to select Physical Device, then press Enter. Select a Physical Device.
  • Page 220 How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data on a Physical Drive? Figure 4-66. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical device with Offline status, then press Enter.
  • Page 221 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-67. Physical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Physical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-68). Figure 4-68. Physical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Rebuild Redundancy Data Manual No.
  • Page 222 How Do I Rebuild Redundancy Data on a Physical Drive? Rebuild Redundancy Data on the Physical Drive. Press Enter with Rebuild Redundancy Data selected. The Rebuild Redundancy Data warning screen is displayed (Figure 4-69): Figure 4-69. Rebuild Redundancy Data? Rebuild redundancy will regenerate the data that was on the offline drive. Caution Rebuilding redundancy on a physical drive will also set the entire logical drive of which this physical drive...

  • Page 223: How Do I Format A Physical Drive

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Format a Physical Drive? RAID EzAssist gives you the option of low-level formatting physical devices. This may be necessary if you obtain new drives that have not been formatted previously, or if you wish to reuse an older drive and completely erase its previous data.
  • Page 224 How Do I Format a Physical Drive? Figure 4-71. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Use the arrow keys to select the physical drive you want to format, then press Enter.
  • Page 225 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-72. Physical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter. The Physical Drive Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 4-73). Figure 4-73. Physical Drive Advanced Options Menu - Format Drive Manual No.
  • Page 226 How Do I Format a Physical Drive? Format the Physical Drive. WARNING There is no additional confirmation for formatting. Once you select the Format Drive option and press Enter, formatting begins immediately on the selected physical drive! Use the arrow key to select Format Drive, then press Enter. Formatting takes place in the background.

  • Page 227: How Do I Change Physical Drive Status

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Change Physical Drive Status? Certain status changes in physical devices are allowed in RAID EzAssist. See Table 4-1 below: Table 4-1. Allowable Physical Drive Status Changes Current Drive Status ...Can Be Changed To... Unconfigured Spare Spare...
  • Page 228 How Do I Change Physical Drive Status? Use the arrow key to select Perform Administration on... on the main menu, then press Enter. The Administration menu is displayed (Figure 4-75). Figure 4-75. Administration Menu - Physical Device Use the arrow key to select Physical Device, then press Enter. Select a Physical Device.
  • Page 229 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities Figure 4-76. Physical Drive Selection Screen This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • Arrow keys move among the available physical devices. • Enter selects the highlighted physical device. Option 1: If you want to assign a spare drive, use the arrow keys to select a physical drive with status “Unconfigured,”...
  • Page 230 How Do I Change Physical Drive Status? Enter the Physical Drive Advanced Options Menu. The Physical Drive menu is displayed (Figure 4-77). Figure 4-77. Physical Drive Menu - Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options, then press Enter.
  • Page 231 Monitoring and Maintenance Activities The name of the third option on the Physical Drive Advanced Options menu depends on the CURRENT STATUS of the physical drive you selected. Table 4-2. Change Status Advanced Option Status of Selected Physical Drive Menu Option Name Unconfigured Make Drive Spare Spare...
  • Page 232 How Do I Change Physical Drive Status? Figure 4-79. Example of Status Change Warning/Notice Press Enter with Yes selected to accept the physical drive status change you’ve requested. Setting an unconfigured drive to spare or a spare drive back to unconfigured (unused) is a configuration change.

  • Page 233: How Do I Rescan A Controller For New Devices

    Monitoring and Maintenance Activities How Do I Rescan a Controller for New Devices? Here are some situations in which you might add physical devices to or remove physical devices from your hardware setup: • You’ve purchased additional disk drives and wish to add them to one or more controllers.
  • Page 234 How Do I Rescan a Controller for New Devices? Figure 4-80. Rescan for New Devices Use the arrow key to select Rescan for New Devices, then press Enter. RAID EzAssist will rescan the selected controller (Figure 4-81). Figure 4-81. Rescanning in Progress 4-82 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...

  • Page 235: Advanced Options

    Chapter 5 Advanced Options In this chapter you’ll learn how to use RAID EzAssist Advanced Options for some advanced-level tasks that you may be required to perform from time to time. Caution Some Advanced Options can have sweeping effects on configuration and controller performance. It is important that these options be used only by an experienced system administrator.
  • Page 236 All functions described in this chapter are carried out using the Advanced Options choice on the main menu (Figure 5-1). Figure 5-1. Advanced Options Use the arrow key to select Advanced Options on the main menu, then press Enter. The Advanced Options menu is displayed (Figure 5-2). Figure 5-2.

  • Page 237: How Do I Update Controller Firmware Or The Raid Ezassist Utility

    Advanced Options How Do I Update Controller Firmware or the RAID EzAssist Utility? From time to time Mylex makes available updated firmware or BIOS code with new features or fixes for your controller. RAID EzAssist offers a straightforward way to update (“flash”) the new code to your controller. In addition, you can even use RAID EzAssist to update itself! The same Update Flash Code function can be used to update the BIOS version of RAID EzAssist on your controller.
  • Page 238 How Do I Update Controller Firmware or the RAID EzAssist Utility? Figure 5-3. Update Flash Code Type the name of the image file (and drive letter if necessary), and press the Tab key. Insert the diskette into the floppy diskette drive and press Enter with Ok selected to continue.
  • Page 239 Advanced Options Figure 5-4. Flash Code Update Choose Controllers to Update. The image file is read from the diskette, then the contents of the image file are displayed in the gray field at the top of the screen. This screen uses the following navigation strategy: •...
  • Page 240 How Do I Update Controller Firmware or the RAID EzAssist Utility? Update the Selected Controller(s). After you’ve selected all controllers to update, press the Tab key to select Ok, then press Enter. The Flash Code Update warning is displayed (Figure 5-5). Figure 5-5.
  • Page 241 Advanced Options Figure 5-6. Flash Process Status RAID EzAssist loads the image file information to the controller and stores it. You will still need to allow the controller to be programmed. Wait for the flash image storage to conclude. A Flash Code Update notice is displayed (Figure 5-7). Manual No.
  • Page 242 How Do I Update Controller Firmware or the RAID EzAssist Utility? Figure 5-7. Flash Code Update Notice If you want to flash additional image files to the controller, press Enter with No selected and return to the “Choose an Image File for the Update” step, To program the controller now, use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter.

  • Page 243: How Do I Back Up My Configuration

    Advanced Options How Do I Back Up My Configuration? If you want to create a file that maintains the specifications of your current configuration, you can use the Backup Configuration option to do so. The configuration information can be saved to a floppy diskette so that it can be restored later if necessary.
  • Page 244 How Do I Back Up My Configuration? Back Up the Configuration to a File. Type a name of your own choosing to identify a file in which the configuration will be saved, type a drive letter if necessary, and press the Tab key. Insert the diskette into the floppy diskette drive and press Enter with Ok selected to continue.

  • Page 245: How Do I Restore A Previously-Saved Configuration To A Controller

    Advanced Options How Do I Restore a Previously-Saved Configuration to a Controller? If you want to restore a configuration saved earlier, you can use the Restore Configuration option to do so. The configuration information will be read from the floppy diskette on which it was saved and then will be written back to the controller.
  • Page 246 How Do I Restore a Previously-Saved Configuration to a Controller? Figure 5-9. Restore Configuration Restore the Configuration to the Controller. Type the name of the file which contains the configuration, type a drive letter if necessary, and press the Tab key. Insert the diskette into the floppy diskette drive and press Enter with Ok selected to continue.

  • Page 247: How Do I Print My Configuration In Readable Form

    Advanced Options How Do I Print My Configuration in Readable Form? If you want to create a file that maintains the specifications of your current configuration in a readable form, you can use the Print Configuration option to do so. The configuration information can be saved to a floppy diskette so that it can be read later if necessary through a text editor.
  • Page 248 How Do I Print My Configuration in Readable Form? Print the Configuration to a File. Type a name of your own choosing to identify a file in which the configuration will be saved in readable format, type a drive letter if necessary, and press the Tab key. Insert the diskette into the floppy diskette drive and press Enter with Ok selected to continue.

  • Page 249: How Do I Clear (Erase) My Current Configuration

    Advanced Options How Do I Clear (Erase) My Current Configuration? RAID EzAssist allows you to clear the current configuration. Clearing the configuration will result in loss of any data that is already on the drives. All disk array drive assignments are deleted, and all drives are returned to Unconfigured status.
  • Page 250 How Do I Clear (Erase) My Current Configuration? Figure 5-11. Clear Configuration Warning Clear the Configuration. To clear the existing configuration from this controller, use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter, To cancel your request to clear the configuration, press Enter with No selected.

  • Page 251: How Do I Enable (Or Disable) Pci Controller Clustering

    Advanced Options How Do I Enable (or Disable) PCI Controller Clustering? Under Windows NT 4.0, clustering allows redundancy among controllers. If a controller fails, another controller can take over the disk drives and disk arrays that were formerly handled by the failed controller. This mechanism imparts a “fault tolerance”...
  • Page 252 How Do I Enable (or Disable) PCI Controller Clustering? If you want to enable clustering, use the arrow key to select Yes, then press Enter, If you don’t want to enable clustering, press Enter with No selected. However, if clustering is currently enabled when you select the Clustering option on the Advanced Options menu, the Clustering Control notice shown in Figure 5-13 will be displayed: Figure 5-13.

  • Page 253: How Do I Reassign A Host Id For Pci Controller Clustering

    Advanced Options How Do I Reassign a Host ID For PCI Controller Clustering? If you want to reassign a controller’s Host ID to another ID for use with clustering (controllers are normally set at ID 7 by default) , use the HostID Change option on the Advanced Options menu.
  • Page 254 How Do I Reassign a Host ID For PCI Controller Clustering? Figure 5-14. HostID Change This screen uses the following navigation strategy: • In the HostID field, the Spacebar brings up a list of valid options. Arrow keys move among the options and Enter selects an option. •...
  • Page 255 Advanced Options Press Spacebar to display a box of available choices, use the arrow key to select your desired ID setting, then press Enter. Once you’ve selected the alternate ID setting, press Tab, then press Enter with Ok selected. If you need to reassign Host IDs for other controllers, repeat the entire procedure from the beginning with a different controller selected.
  • Page 256 How Do I Reassign a Host ID For PCI Controller Clustering? 5-22 RAID EzAssist User’s Manual...
  • Page 257 Glossary AcceleRAID™ The AcceleRAID family features high performance, cost effective Ultra SCSI/Ultra2 SCSI LVD to PCI RAID controllers and adapters for high-end desktops, workstations, and entry level and mid range servers. AcceleRAID controllers support PCI-based motherboards with embedded SCSI chips and systems that have a PCI expansion slot designated for add-in RAID controllers.
  • Page 258 Asynchronous data transfer Data transfer not synchronized to a set timing interval. Asynchronous devices must wait for a signal from the receiving device after each byte. AutoSwap The functional substitution of a replacement unit in a disk system for a defective one, where the substitution is performed by the disk system itself while it continues to perform its normal function without human intervention (compare with Hot Swap).
  • Page 259 Glossary motherboard so that the BIOS will always be available and not be affected by failure of a disk. Sometimes the BIOS is recorded on a flash memory chip. BIOS Configuration Utility BIOS-Based Configuration Utility; utility program sequences that are used, upon powerup, for configuring various hardware elements in a system.
  • Page 260 Cache Flush Refers to an operation where all unwritten blocks in a Write-Back Cache are written to the target disk. This operation is necessary before powering down the system. Cache Line Size The cache line size is defined as the size, in kilobytes (1024 bytes) of a single I/O operation.
  • Page 261 Glossary Clustering The concept of grouping controllers or servers so that they may be able to back each other up if one controller or server fails, taking over disk arrays assigned previously to the failed controller or server. CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, a chip that packs many components into a very small semiconductor.
  • Page 262 logical drive is considered “critical” because any failure of another of its SCSI drives may result in a loss of data. Note: I/O operation can only be performed with system drives that are online or critical. DAC960 Series A family of RAID controllers from Mylex Corporation. The DAC960 series includes both internal PCI-based RAID controllers and external RAID controllers.
  • Page 263 Glossary Disk A non-volatile, randomly addressable, re-writable data storage device, including rotating magnetic and optical disks as well as solid-state disks or other electronic storage elements. Disk Array A collection of disks from one or more accessible disk systems combined with an array management software.
  • Page 264 problem has been resolved, no error is reported to the system. When a disk reports a media error during a write, the controller issues a “reassign” command to the disk, and writes the data out to a new location on the disk. Disk System A storage system capable of supporting only disks.
  • Page 265 Glossary Extended Data Output, a type of random access memory (RAM) chip designed to improve the time to read from memory on faster microprocessors such as the Intel Pentium. EEPROM Electrically Erasable PROM EISA Extended Industry Standard Architecture. A bus standard for PCs extending the ISA architecture to 32 bits and allowing more than one CPU to share the bus.
  • Page 266 eXtremeRAID The eXtremeRAID controller is the newest member of the Mylex PCI RAID family of products. The eXtremeRAID offers uncompromising fault tolerance, data availability, superior configuration and management flexibility. The eXtremeRAID incorporates the latest performance technology by using the fastest processor on a PCI based RAID solution, a 233 MHz RISC processor, up to three 80MB/sec Ultra2 SCSI channels, and a 64-bit PCI interface to provide eXtreme performance for servers.
  • Page 267 Glossary Fault tolerance (failure tolerance) The ability of a system to continue to perform its function even when one of its components has failed. For a system to be fault tolerant requires redundancy in disk drives, power supplies, adapters, controllers and cabling. Mylex RAID controllers offer high levels of fault tolerance.
  • Page 268 Gigabit 1,000,000,000 (10 ) bits Gigabyte 1, 000,000,000 (10 ) bytes Graphical User Interface A software interface that interacts with the user through color graphics and a mouse. See Graphical User Interface Hard Disk Drive The main data storage unit of a computer. See Hard Disk Drive Hardware Driver Module, a driver set required for SCSI adapters for use in an I...
  • Page 269 Glossary Host I/O Bus An I/O bus used to connect a host computer to storage systems or storage devices Hot Plug The operation of adding or removing a device from a bus while transactions involving other devices are occurring over the bus. Hot Replacement of Disks (Hot Swap) The substitution of a replacement unit in a storage system for a defective unit, executed while the system is performing its normal function and...
  • Page 270 Input/output, the transmission of information between an external source and the computer. I/O bottleneck Any resource in the I/O path whose performance limits the performance of a storage or I/O system I/O Bus Any path used for the transfer of data and control information between I/O adapters and storage controllers or storage devices.
  • Page 271 Glossary Internet A worldwide system of computer, originally conceived by the U.S. government to construct a network that would continue to function even if a large portion of it were destroyed, for example, in the event of war. The Internet is now a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility accessible to tens of millions of users worldwide.
  • Page 272 Local Area Network, a network of interconnected workstations sharing the resources of a single processor or server, typically within the area of a small office building. Latency 1. The time between the making of an I/O request and completion of the request’s execution.
  • Page 273 Glossary Megabit A million bits, used as a common unit of measure relative to time in seconds as an expression of a transmission technology's bandwidth or information flow capacity. Megabits per second (Mbps) is a frequent measure of bandwidth on a transmission medium. Megabyte (Mbyte) 1,000,000 (10 ) bytes...
  • Page 274 Network File System, a client/server application that lets a computer user view and optionally store and update files on a remote computer as though they were on the user's own computer. Network Operating System NVRAM Non-Volatile Random Access Memory, a memory unit equipped with a battery so that the data stays intact even after the main power had been switched off.
  • Page 275 Glossary Partitioning The presentation of the full usable storage capacity of a disk or array of disks to an operating environment in the form of several virtual disks whose aggregate capacity approximates that of the underlying disk or array. Printed Circuit Board Peripheral Component Interconnect - This is a high-performance, backplane interface, expansion slot architecture that is found on PCs, Macintoshes, and UNIX workstations.
  • Page 276 PROM Read-only memory that can, with provided instructions, be reprogrammed by a user. Protocol The special set of rules for communicating that the end points in a telecommunication connection use when they send signals back and forth. Queue A line of things, commands, or data waiting to be handled, usually in sequential order starting at the beginning or top of the line or sequence.

  • Page 277: Raid Levels

    Glossary RAID Controller See RAID Adapter RAID Levels Mylex disk array controllers support four RAID Advisory Board-approved (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 3, RAID 5) and two special RAID levels (RAID 0+1, and JBOD). Level 0 Block “striping” across multiple drives is provided, yielding higher performance than is possible with individual drives.
  • Page 278 Level 10 Combines RAID 0 striping and RAID 1 mirroring spanned across multiple drive groups (super drive group). This level provides redundancy through mirroring. Level 30 Data is “striped” across multiple drive groups (super drive group). Maintains parity information which can be used for data recovery. Level 50 Data is “striped”...
  • Page 279 Glossary Recovery The process of reconstructing data from a failed disk using data from other drives. Redundancy The inclusion of extra components of a given type in a system (beyond those required by the system to carry our its functions.) Replacement Table A replacement table contains information regarding which SCSI devices have been replaced by others through standby replacement.
  • Page 280 Rotated XOR Redundancy This term (also known as “parity”) refers to a method of providing complete data redundancy while requiring only a fraction of the storage capacity of mirroring. In a system configured under RAID 3 or RAID 5 (which require at least three SCSI drives), all data and parity blocks are divided between the drives in such a way that if any single drive is removed (or fails), the data on it can be reconstructed using the data on the remaining drives.
  • Page 281 Glossary enclosures, making it easier for a LAN administrator to obtain base-level fault-tolerant alert notification and status information. All Mylex RAID controllers feature SAF-TE. SCA – Single Connector Attachment A 80 pin disk drive/enclosure backplane connector standard designed to support device hot swap. SCA drives connect to a SCSI backplane that also provides power and SCSI ID selection.
  • Page 282 Ready: A SCSI disk drive is in a “ready” state if it is powered on and is available to be configured during the current session but remains unconfigured. Online: A SCSI disk drive is in an “online” state if is powered on, has been defined as a member of a drive group;...
  • Page 283 Glossary Sequential I/O A type of read and write operation where entire blocks of data are accessed one after another in sequence, as opposed to randomly. Server A computer program that provides services to other computer programs in the same or other computers. The computer that a server program runs in is also frequently referred to as a server.
  • Page 284 update files on the remote server. It can also communicate with any server program that is set up to receive an SMB client request. SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol, the protocol governing network management and the monitoring of network devices and their functions. Software Driver Set of utilities and instructions for controllers to work in a specific operating system environment.
  • Page 285 Glossary Stripe Width The number of striped SCSI drives within a drive group. Striping Refers to the storing of a sequential block of incoming data across multiple SCSI drives in a group. For example, if there are 3 SCSI drives in a group, the data will be separated into blocks and block 1 of the data will be stored on SCSI drive 1, block 2 on SCSI drive 2, block 3 on SCSI drive 3, block 4 on SCSI drive 1, block 5 on SCSI drive 2 and so on.
  • Page 286 TCP-IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a communications protocol in intranets and in extranets. When set up with direct access to the Internet, a computer is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer that you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of TCP/IP.
  • Page 287 Glossary Ultra SCSI (Fast 20 SCSI) A high performance SCSI protocol that has a bus speed of 20 MegaBytes per second in the Narrow SCSI configuration and 40 MB in the Wide SCSI (Fast 20 Wide SCSI) configuration. Ultra Wide SCSI 16-bit wide Ultra SCSI (IS devices), double the speed of narrow SCSI.
  • Page 288 cause loss of data. However, a write through cache results in a slightly lower performance. Write-Back Cache Refers to a caching strategy whereby write operations result in a completion signal being sent to the host operating system as soon as the cache (not the disk drive) receives the data to be written.
  • Page 290 Corporate Offices 34551 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont, CA 94555-3607, USA Tel: 510.796.6100 Sales Fax: 510.745.8016 www.mylex.com European Sales P.O. Box 513, Great Missenden, Bucks HP 16 OPG, United Kingdom Tel: 44.1344.302200 Fax: 44.1344.301100 www.mylex.com...

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