Formatting Drives - Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 3 User Manual

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Del l Manager

Formatting Drives

You can format the physical drives using:
• Batch Formatting The Format option in the Dell Manager
Management Menu lets you format up to eight disk drives
simultaneously.
• Individual Formatting. Choose the Format option from the
Objects—> Physical Drive options menu for an individual disk drive.
Batch Formatting
Choose Format on the Management Menu.
1
A device selection window displays the devices connected to the
current controller.
Press the arrow keys to select the drives to be formatted.
2
The indicators for selected drives flash.
When you have selected the physical drives, press <F10>.
3
Select Yes to the confirmation prompt to begin formatting.
4
The indicators for the selected drives change to FRMT[number],
where number reflects the drive selection order. Formatting can take
some time, depending on the number of drives you have selected and
the drive capacities.
When formatting is complete, press any key to continue.
5
Press <Esc> to display the Management Menu.
6
Individual Formatting
Select Objects—> Physical Drive on the Management Menu.
1
A device selection window displays the devices connected to the
current controller.
Press the arrow keys to select the physical drive to be formatted and
2
press <Enter>.
The physical drive action menu displays.
Choose the Format option from the physical drive action menu and
3
respond to the confirmation prompt.
Formatting can take some time, depending on the drive capacity.