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3ware Serial ATA RAID Controller User Guide
3
First-Time RAID Configuration
Using 3BM
If you will install the operating system on and boot from a unit managed
through the new 3ware RAID controller, follow the steps in this chapter to use
the 3ware BIOS Manager (3BM) to configure the unit and install the driver.
If the operating system is already installed on another drive in your system,
you can use the steps below or you can configure units through 3DM or the
CLI.
You can create one or more units on a single controller, depending on the
number of drives that the specific 3ware RAID controller supports and the
number of drives attached. (For more information, see “Determining What
RAID Level to Use” on page 10.)
Basic Steps for Creating a Unit
The process of configuring your RAID units includes these main steps, which
are detailed in the step-by-step example:
•
Launch 3BM (3ware BIOS Manager)
•
Select the drives to be included and indicate that you want to create a unit
•
Select the desired RAID configuration
•
Set other parameters, depending on the type of RAID configuration
•
Confirm the unit configuration
•
Save your changes and finish up
Note:
If the capacity of the unit you create will exceed 2TB and you are using
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Linux 2.4, or FreeBSD 4.x, you will need to enable
auto-carving. Before creating your unit, follow the instructions under “Using Auto-
Carving for Multi LUN Support” on page 91.