Creating A Raid 5 Array - Promise Technology SuperTrak SX6000 User Manual

SuperTrak SX6000™ User Manual
NOTE: you cannot change the block size after the array has been created.
Assigning Drives to a RAID 3 Array
Under the "Drive Assignments" section, highlight a drive and with the
Spacebar change the "Assignment" option to "Y" to add the drive to the disk
array. Press [Ctrl-Y] to save the disk array information. The initial "Define
Array Menu" screen will appear after you have pressed [Ctrl-Y]. You will see
the array defined. You may [ESC] to exit and return to the "Main Menu" of
SuperBuild.
Setting the Initialize Function
For RAID 3 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 3 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 5 Array

In the "Define Array Definition Menu" section, use the [Spacebar] to cycle through array
types and select "RAID 5" for "RAID Mode". You must configure such an array using a
minimum of three drives because of parity data generation.
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 one less than the
total number of drives assigned to the array.
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 5 Array
For RAID 5 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 values. To change the block size, use
the [Arrow] keys to highlight the field and the [Spacebar] to cycle through the
available size selections.
NOTE: you cannot change the block size after the array has been created.
Assigning Drives to a RAID 5 Array
Under the "Drive Assignments" section, highlight a drive, and, with the
[Spacebar], change the "Assignment" option to "Y" to add the drive to the disk
array. Press [Ctrl-Y] to save the disk array information. The initial "Define
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Chapter 3