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No special OS-specific software required
High reliability and data integrity
- Non-volatile write journaling
- Physical disks not visible to OS or to application software
Low host CPU and PCI bus utilization
Fusion-MPT architecture provides processing power
- Shared memory architecture minimizes external memory requests
- Functionality is contained in device hardware and firmware
5.1.2 Integrated Mirroring Overview
This section provides an overview of the LSI Logic Integrated Mirroring (IM) feature.
5.1.2.1 Introduction
As a result of the shift towards Network Attached Storage (NAS), ISPs need a cost effective, fault-
tolerant solution to protect the operating systems on small form factor, high-density, rack-mountable
servers. The LSI Logic Integrated Mirroring (IM) feature—which includes Integrated Mirroring Enhanced
(IME)— provide data protection for the system boot volume to safeguard critical information such as the
operating system on servers and high performance workstations. The Integrated Mirroring feature gives
customers a robust, high-performance, fault-tolerant solution to their storage needs, at a lower cost than
a dedicated RAID controller.
The Integrated Mirroring feature supports simultaneous mirrored volumes with two disks (IM) or three to
eight disks (IME), to provide fault-tolerant protection for critical data. (If a hot spare disk is used, the
maximum volume size is seven mirrored disks, plus the hot spare disk.) Up to two IM volumes are
supported per SAS controller, with up to ten drives total per controller.
If a disk in an Integrated Mirroring volume fails, the hot swap capability allows the volume to be easily
restored by simply swapping disks. The firmware then automatically re-mirrors the swapped disk.
Additionally, each SAS controller can have one global hot spare disk available to automatically replace a
failed disk in the one or two IM or IME volumes configured on the controller. The hot spare makes the
Integrated Mirroring volume even more fault-tolerant.
Note
You can configure an Integrated Mirroring volume and an Integrated Striping volume on
the same LSI Logic SAS controller
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