Installing A Raid Controller Board - NEC EXPRESS5800/120Lf User Manual

Installing a RAID Controller Board

The functions of a disk array controller are described Table 4-1.
Table 4-1. Functions of a Disk Array Controller
Function Description
Level Support RAID levels RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, and RAID0+1.
Allows a hard disk to be replaced while the system is running depending on
Hot plug
RAID level and system configuration.
After the defected hard disk is replaced with a new one, the data saved in the
Auto rebuild
defected hard disk is automatically recovered from the data saved in the
remaining hard disks depending on RAID level.
The addition of a hard disk without system interruption can automatically
Expand capacity
expand the area in which disk arrays are available.
Please note the following when installing and configuring a disk array:
Disk array controller boards are easily affected by static electricity.
!
Handle the disk array controller board only after making body contact
with the metallic frame section of the server chassis in order to discharge
the static electricity from your body. Also, never make contact with
terminals and components on the disk array controller board using your
bare hands.
To change the disk array configuration or the RAID level, the hard disks
!
must be initialized. If important data is saved on the hard disks used to
constitute a disk array, first back up the data on the other hard disks and
then install the boards and configure the disk array.
More than one hard disk is required to configure a disk array.
!
Hard disks used in the disk array configuration should have the same disk
!
revolution rate and capacity.
Up to four disk array controller boards can be installed in your server.
!
Several RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks) levels can be set
!
for the newly installed disk array controller boards. For details of the
available RAID types, data transfer rate, and array configurations refer to
the online documentation on the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER CD-ROM that
comes with your system or the vendor documentation that comes with the
disk array controller.
The available capacity of the hard disks in the disk array configuration
!
will be lower than the capacity of the hard disks in a standard
configuration, but the disk reliability is much improved.
On the Advanced menu of the BIOS utility SETUP under submenu PCI
!
Configuration, set the parameter "Option ROM Scan", to Enable.
Upgrading Your System 4-29