Creating A Raid 3 Array - Promise Technology SuperTrak SX6000 User Manual

SuperTrak SX6000™ User Manual
mirrored drives within the array. In a 4-drive RAID 0+1 or 6 drive array, you
can set the stripe size for the two pairs of striped drives.
Save the information with [Ctrl-Y]. SuperBuild automatically creates the RAID
0+1 array and returns you to the "Define Array Menu" where the array will be
shown.
NOTE: If you choose to use 4 drives, an additional unassigned drive can be
your "hot" spare drive in case of drive failure (see Page 25).
Changing the Stripe Block Size
For RAID 0+1 arrays, SuperTrak SX6000 will allow you to change the stripe
block size. The default is 64K. However, certain application environments
may perform optimally with different. To change the block size, use the
[Arrow] keys to highlight the field and the [Spacebar] to cycle through the
available size selections (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64K).
Setting the Initialize Function
For RAID 0+1 arrays, SuperTrak SX6000 will allow you to toggle the
"Initialize" "ON" or "OFF". The default is "ON". To toggle "Initialize", use the
[Arrow] keys to highlight the field and the [Spacebar] to toggle between "ON"
and "OFF".
Setting the Gigabyte Boundary
For RAID 0+1 arrays, SuperTrak SX6000 will allow you to toggle the
"Gigabyte Boundary" "ON" or "OFF". The default is "ON". To toggle "Gigabyte
Boundary", use the [Arrow] keys to highlight the field and the [Spacebar] to
toggle between "ON" and "OFF".

Creating a RAID 3 Array

In the "Define Array Definition Menu", use the [Spacebar] to cycle through array types
and select "RAID 3" for RAID Level. You must configure such an array using a minimum
of three drives since additional parity information must be calculated and stored on a
dedicated parity drive.
You will be joining either two (if 3 drives are assigned), three (if 4 drives are assigned),
four (if 5 drives are assigned), or five (if 6 drives are assigned) of the drives together
and splitting (or striping) data among them. Each member of such an array will no
longer be readable as an independent drive if removed from the array. The capacity of
the array will equal the capacity of the smallest drive multiplied by the total number of
drives assigned to the array minus one.
NOTE: If you choose to use less than 6 drives, an additional unassigned drive can be
your "hot" spare drive in case of drive failure (see Page 25).
Changing Stripe Block Size for RAID 3 Array
For RAID 3 arrays, SuperTrak SX6000 will allow you to change the stripe
block size. The default is 64K. However, certain application environments
may perform optimally with different. To change the block size, use the
[Arrow] keys to highlight the field and the [Spacebar] to cycle through the
available size selections (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64K).
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Chapter 3