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Albatron MBFastTrak133 “Lite” User Manual

Promise raid
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Promise RAID
MBFastTrak133
TM
"Lite"
(Only for Chipset 20265/20276 used)

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Summary of Contents for Albatron MBFastTrak133 “Lite”

  • Page 1 Promise RAID MBFastTrak133 “Lite” (Only for Chipset 20265/20276 used)
  • Page 2 Copyright All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the company.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................4 133 L RAID ? ............4 HAT IS THE CONTROLLER ....................5 EATURES AND ENEFITS GETTING STARTED........................ 6 ....................6 NSTALLING RIVES CMOS S ....................8 HECKING ETTINGS ....................8 REATING RRAY USING FASTBUILD™ CONFIGURATION UTILITY .............. 12 133 L BIOS S ..............

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Introduction What is the MBFastTrak133 Lite RAID controller? Promise designed its MBFastTrak133 Lite to provide a cost-effective, high performance RAID solution that adds performance and/or reliability to PC desktops and/or servers using Ultra ATA/133, Ultra ATA/100, Ultra ATA/66. MBFastTrak133 Lite supports striping (RAID 0) or mirroring (RAID 1) for master only. With striping, identical drives can read and write data in parallel to increase performance.

  • Page 5: Keys Features And Benefits

    Keys Features and Benefits The following information offers an overview of the major features of your new Promise MBFastTrak133 Lite. It is divided into two areas: Advanced Hardware Design, and Compatibility. Advanced Hardware Design Features Benefits Provides dramatic increase in drive performance and/or fault tolerant Supports data striping (RAID 0) or mirroring options.

  • Page 6: Getting Started

    Getting Started This section is designed to get you started for installation of your MBFastTrak133 Lite. WARNING: Before installing the driver into an existing system, backup any necessary data. Failure to follow this accepted PC practice could result in data loss. Installing The Hard Drives WARNING: If you wish to include your current bootable drive using the Windows NT 4.x or Windows 2000 operating system as part of a bootable Mirrored (RAID 1) array on your MBFastTrak133 Lite, do...
  • Page 7 NOTE: You must use an 80-wire, 40-pin cable when connecting an Ultra ATA/133 hard drive to the MBFastTrak133 Lite controller.

  • Page 8: Checking Cmos Settings

    Checking CMOS Settings No changes are necessary in the Mainboard CMOS Setup for resources or drive types. Since MBFastTrak133 Lite is a PCI Plug-n-Play (PnP) device, the Interrupt and Port address resources are automatically assigned by the Mainboard’s PCI PnP BIOS. The MBFastTrak133 Lite system resources including port address, interrupt, and BIOS address are automatically determined by the system PnP BIOS.
  • Page 9 Boot your system. If this is the first time you have booted with the MBFastTrak133 Lite and drives installed, the Promise onboard BIOS will display the following screen. MBFastTrak133 Lite (tm) BIOS Version 2.00.0.XX (c) 1995-2000 Promise Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No array defined .
  • Page 10 Creating a Security Array With New Drives NOTE: MBFastTrak133 Lite permit only two drives to be used for a single Mirrored array in Auto Setup. To create an array for data protection using new hard drives, follow these steps: Using the Spacebar, choose “Security” under the Optimize Array for section. Press <Ctrl-Y>...
  • Page 11 Press “Y” for the Create and Duplicate option. The window below will appear asking you to select the Source drive to use. FastBuild will copy all data from the Source drive to the Target drive. Source Disk Channel:ID Drive Model Capacity (MB) Target Disk Channel:ID...

  • Page 12: Using Fastbuild™ Configuration Utility

    Using FastBuild™ Configuration Utility The FastBuild Configuration Utility offers several menu choices to create and manage the drive array on the Promise MBFastTrak133 Lite. For purposes of this manual, it is assumed you have already created an array in the previous chapter and now wish to make a change to the array or view other options.

  • Page 13: Creating Arrays Automatically

    Using the Main Menu This is the first option screen when entering the FastBuild TM Setup. FastBuild (tm) Utility 1.xx (c) 1995-2000 Promise Technology, Inc. [ Main Menu ] Auto Setup ..........[ 1 ] View Drive Assignments......[ 2 ] View Array..........[ 3 ] Delete Array ..........[ 4 ] Rebuild Array ...........[ 5 ] Controller Configuration ......[ 6 ]...

  • Page 14: Viewing Drive Assignments

    [↑] Up [↓] Down [←, →, Space] Change Option [ESC] Exit [Ctrl-Y] Save Optimize Array For Select whether you want Performance (RAID 0), Security (RAID 1) under the “Optimize Array for” setting. Performance (RAID 0 Striping) Supports the maximum performance. The storage capacity equals the number of drives times the capacity of the smallest drive in the disk array.

  • Page 15: Deleting An Array

    How MBFastTrak133 Lite Saves Array Information All disk array data is saved into the reserved sector on each array member. Promise suggests that users record their disk array information for future reference. Another feature of the MBFastTrak133 Lite disk array system is to recognize drive members even if drives are moved between different MBFastTrak133 Lite card connectors.

  • Page 16: Rebuildinga Mirrored Array

    Rebuilding A Mirrored Array The Rebuild Array <5> Menu option is necessary to recover from an error in a mirrored disk array. You will receive an error message when booting your system from the FastTrak BIOS. NOTE: Drives MUST be replaced if they contain any physical errors. Follow these steps BEFORE using the Rebuild Array menu option: On bootup, the MBFastTrak133 Lite Startup BIOS will display an error message identifying which drive has failed.

  • Page 17: Viewing Controller Settings

    [↑] Up [↓] Down [ESC] Exit [Enter] Select 11. Under [Select Drive for Rebuild], highlight the replacement drive. 12. Press [Enter] and confirm that the data will be copied on to the selected drive. All data on the replacement drive will be written over with mirrored information from the array drive.

  • Page 18: Installing Drivers

    Installing Drivers This section details the MBFastTrak133 Lite driver installation when used with various operating systems. The software includes the driver necessary to identify MBFastTrak133 Lite to the operating system. • For Windows 2000/XP, see below. • For Windows 95/98/Me, see page 19. •...

  • Page 19: Windows 95/98/Me

    Installing Driver in Existing Windows 2000 System WARNING: If you will be moving the boot drive containing the existing Windows 2000 operating system to a mirrored RAID 1 array on the MBFastTrak133 Lite , the MBFastTrak133 Lite driver MUST be loaded to the hard drive while it is still attached to your existing hard drive controller.
  • Page 20 Choose “Specify Location,” and then type “A:\WIN95-98” in the text box. Insert the “MBFastTrak133 Lite Driver” diskette into the A: drive. Press the “Next” button. A message informing you that Windows 98 has found “Win95-98 Promise MBFastTrak133 Lite (tm) Controller” should appear. Press “Next,”...
  • Page 21 Installing Drivers with Existing Windows 95/98/Me The following three sections detail the installation of MBFastTrak133 Lite drivers on a system that has Windows 95/98 already installed. If you’re installing the MBFastTrak133 Lite drivers on a system during a Windows 95/98 installation, see “Installing Drivers During Windows 95/98 Installation”...

  • Page 22: Dos/Windows 3.1X

    DOS/Windows 3.1x For first-time installation, follow the standard procedure of installing DOS on to your hard disk (partition all hard drives with FDISK and format before performing the following procedure): Insert “Disk 1” of your DOS installation diskettes into drive A:. Type “A: SETUP”...
  • Page 23 Choose “Settings” from the “Start” menu. Choose “Control Panel” from the “Settings” menu. Double-click on the “SCSI Adapters” icon, which generates the “SCSI Adapters” dialog box. Choose “Drivers,” and then press “Add.” In the “Install Drivers” dialog box, press “Have Disk…” When the “Install From Disk”...

  • Page 24: Using The Fastcheck™ Monitoring Utility

    Using The FastCheck™ Monitoring Utility You can monitor the operating status of all arrays and drives configured on the MBFastTrak133 Lite using the supplied FastCheck monitoring utility for Windows-based operating systems. FastCheck generates visual and audible messages alerting you of possible problems with the disk array or controller. FastCheck visually identifies the physical location of attached drives on the MBFastTrak133 Lite by IDE channel (1 or 2) and setting (Master/Slave/Cable-Select).

  • Page 25: Closing Fastcheck

    Closing FastCheck Once FastCheck is opened (either automatically on startup or manually), the monitoring utility remains running in the background even if the user “closes” the FastCheck window. To completely shut down FastCheck, perform the following steps. Right-click the FastCheck icon on the Taskbar. Select Exit from the pop-up window.
  • Page 26 Viewing Array Information By left-clicking on the Array #, the right pane shows the following information categories for that array: RAID mode: (Striping, Mirroring) Mapping: (similar to physical drive specifications) describing # of cylinders, heads, and sectors of the array’s “virtual” drive as seen by the system Size: Storage capacity of the array Status: (Functional, Critical, Offline)
  • Page 27 S.M.A.R.T. Status: Indicates whether attached hard drive implements Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology to predict drive failure Size: Indicates capacity of individual drive Location: Shows physical location of drive. Indicates on which IDE channel (1 or 2), and whether drive is Master or Slave on cable.

  • Page 28: Synchronizing An Array

    Synchronizing An Array Synchronization is a periodic maintenance procedure for Mirroring arrays to maintain data consistency on all mirrored drives. In operation, array synchronization compares data on the mirrored drives for any differences. If there are differences detected, data from the primary drive(s) is automatically copied to the secondary drive(s). This assures that all mirrored drives will contain the exact information.

  • Page 29: Rebuilding An Array

    A progress bar will appear at the bottom of the FastCheck Monitoring window showing synchronization in progress and the percentage that has been completed. Rebuilding An Array This command effectively copies or overwrites data from an existing data drive in the array on to a blank drive. The operation will be typically used when a failed drive has been replaced with a new drive as part of a mirrored array.

  • Page 30: Using Controller Window

    Rebuild Wizard Step 2 confirms the Target or “Rebuild” disk by Array # and drive ID. Click Finish button to initiate physical Rebuild, Back button to review Step 2, or Cancel button to Stop. A final confirmation window appears as below: Click “Yes”...
  • Page 31 Viewing Controller Information By left-clicking on the FastTrak controller icon, the right pane shows the following information categories for that array: IRQ: Identifies interrupt request assigned to PCI slot Bus Master Base: Shows base address in hex numbering for board’s bus master Input/Output function ROM Base Address: Shows base address in hex numbering for FastTrak’s Flash ROM chip Driver Version: Identifies which version of the Promise MBFastTrak133 Lite driver you have installed.
  • Page 32 Viewing Drive Information Left-clicking on a given Drive icon or ID in the left pane, will show similar information categories as the Array Window Drive Information in the right pane. Status (also shown under the Array Window) can be Functional, Critical, or Offline. The meanings are shown below. Functional: Means the drive is working normally Critical: A problem has been detected in the drive and the drive taken offline as part of a mirroring array.

  • Page 33: Using Options Window

    S.M.A.R.T. Status: Indicates whether attached hard drive implements Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology to predict drive failure Size: Indicates capacity of individual drive Location: Shows physical location of drive. Indicates on which IDE channel (1 or 2), and whether drive is Master or Slave on cable.
  • Page 34 Enable audible prompt checkbox turns on/off an audible alarm of an event (typically a drive failure, or completion of rebuild or synchronization). Popup message box checkbox turns on/off the appearance of an event message box that would typically indicates a drive failure, or completion of rebuild or synchronization.
  • Page 35 Scheduling Array Synchronization This section of the Options Window allows a user to schedule when and how often MBFastTrak133 Lite will perform synchronization maintenance of a mirrored array. Disable checkbox is checked (the default) to turn off automated scheduling of synchronization. When unchecked, the Scheduling section will be highlighted (see above).
  • Page 36 Setting Rebuild Options Disable Hot Spare/Auto Rebuild checkbox turns off the use of automatic rebuilding of a mirrored array. The default is unchecked (or enable Auto Rebuild). Rebuild Rate assigns the amount of importance that MBFastTrak133 Lite gives to mirroring data from one drive to another in the background.
  • Page 37 Setting Screen Preferences This section controls how the FastCheck utility screen is displayed and sets the security password to protect the administrative settings. Start Minimized checkbox allows user to have FastCheck appear on the toolbar only on startup. Click on the icon to see the FastCheck utility screen.
  • Page 38 Changing Password Input the original password you first created to gain access to FastCheck. Click on Options tab, then click on the Change button in the Password section. The Set Password screen will appear (see figure in step 3 above). Type the password you want to use.

  • Page 39: Understanding Disk Array Concepts

    Understanding Disk Array Concepts About MBFastTrak133 Lite Disk Array Adapter MBFastTrak133 Lite is a high performance Ultra ATA RAID controller that features parallel data channel operation and an onboard BIOS. The two channels on the MBFastTrak133 Lite support parallel operation that allows for overlapped I/O under multi-tasking operating systems and sharing the workload between multiple drives.

  • Page 40: Disk Array Terms

    Disk Array Terms Disk Array Description A “disk array” is formed from a group of 2 or more disk drives which appear to the system as a single drive. The advantage of an array is to provide better throughput performance and/or data fault tolerance. Better performance is accomplished by sharing the workload in parallel among multiple physical drives.

  • Page 41: About Raid Levels

    About RAID Levels Striping (RAID 0) Reads and writes sectors of data interleaved between multiple drives. When any disk member fails, it affects the entire array. Performance is better than a single drive since the workload is balanced between the array members. This array type is for high performance systems.
  • Page 42 Mirroring (RAID 1) Writes duplicate data on to a pair of drives while reads are performed in parallel. ATA RAID 1 is fault tolerant because each drive of a mirrored pair is installed on separate IDE channels. If one of the mirrored drives suffers a mechanical failure (e.g.

  • Page 43: Troubleshooting & Tips

    Troubleshooting & Tips This section is used to assist with troubleshooting conflicts and MBFastTrak133 Lite installation problems. The section is divided into the following categories: Motherboard Issues, System CMOS Issues, Drive Errors, Operating System Errors, and Audio/Video Editing Tips. Motherboard Issues Freeing additional IRQ resources Since the RAID Function controller supports PCI Interrupt sharing, it is possible to use IRQs already assigned to another PCI card.

  • Page 44: Drive-Related Errors

    Drive-Related Errors Critical Array Status Error Reported during Boot If a critical status error message appears on the FastTrak133 BIOS startup screen for a mirrored array (see below), there is a drive in the array which has failed or is not responding. MBFastTrak133 Lite will identify the failed drive by channel number and Master/Slave designation (if 2 drives exist on the same cable).
  • Page 45 To remove the Reserve Sector, follow these steps: When the MBFastTrak133 Lite BIOS comes up, press Crtl-F to enter the FastBuild™. Press 2 to "View Drive Assignments". Using the arrow keys, highlight the drive where you wish to remove the reserve sector. Press ALT-F1.
  • Page 46 Skip the Error Block : MBFastTrak133 Lite will log the event error and continue the rebuild process. Use this setting if you want to detect the presence of errors, but do not want to fix these errors at the time. You may then decide what to do about the error(s) detected.

  • Page 47: Operating System-Related Errors

    Operating System-Related Errors Different drive lettering under Windows NT This may happen when using a SCSI card in addition to the Promise chip. Windows NT does not necessarily load the driver for the boot device controller first. This results in a drive that in MS-DOS is the C: drive being the D:, or E:, etc. in Windows NT.
  • Page 48 Performance Tips Here are some tips that may optimize performance in a RAID 0 striped array. If you are using an audio/video editing card, we also recommend to review your card’s documentation for additional information. Use MBFastTrak133 Lite as D: or other non-bootable drive in a Striped Array For A/V editing, keep the original system boot drive on the standard IDE controller as C: drive.

  • Page 50: Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions This section lists frequently asked questions involving pre-installation, drive issues, installation, and post-installation. Pre-Installation (Speed, Device Types, Capacity, Cabling) Q: What kind of hard drives can I use for a MBFastTrak133 Lite array? You can use any Ultra DMA IDE hard drive(s) to create arrays on the MBFastTrak133 Lite. You should use matching drives for multiple-drive arrays to maximize capacity usage as well as performance.

  • Page 51: Drive Issues

    Q: How does the MBFastTrak133 Lite RAID controller provide storage and/or data protection with their arrays? MBFastTrak133 Lite implements two different types of RAID levels as follows: RAID 0 (stripe) For capacity -- The MBFastTrak133 Lite array will be as big as the smallest HDD in the array times however many HDDs are in the array.

  • Page 52: Installation Issues

    Q: Do I have to install disk management software on my array in order to access the full storage capacity of drives? No! Disk management software would only complicate things. The array should be fully addressable by your O/S as it is.
  • Page 53 Q: Why can’t I see the drives on the MBFastTrak133 Lite under FDISK? The MBFastTrak133 Lite controller is dedicated to RAID array management and does not provide any means of addressing individual hard drives through the Int 13h interface used by FDISK. In order to access drives on the MBFastTrak133 Lite from MSDOS at all, you must first create a RAID array.

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