Intel SRCU32 - RAID Controller, User Manual

Page: 156 / 182

156 Intel RAID Controller SRCU32 User’s Guide
Let us assume that one of the hard drives of a RAID 5 array drive fails. The array drive is without
redundancy. TWR begins. Any superfluous prolongation of the TWR (because you have to get a
replacement hard drive, or because you did not realize the failure immediately since you didn’t hear
the Intel RAID Controller SRCU32’s alarm signal, or because no one checked the file server)
increases the risk of data loss should a second hard drive fail. Therefore, new redundancy should
be created as soon as possible and in an entirely automated manner. Integrate a hot fix drive as an
immediately available and auto-replacing hard drive to keep the TWR as short as possible. Only a
hot fix drive can ensure optimal array drive security and constant data availability. Of course a hot
fix drive is not mandatory. If you control the array drive at regular intervals and immediately
replace a defective hard drive (by shutting down the system or using a hot fix), you can minimize
the risk of data loss.
Remove a Hot Fix Drive
Click the right mouse button on the array drive icon.
This option opens a box showing available hot fix terms_hot_fix drives. Select the hot fix drive
you want to remove from the array drive and then confirm the selection. You can remove any pool
hot fix drives or a private hot fix drive from the selected array drive.
Hot Fix Pool Access
Click the right mouse button on the array drive icon.
Enable or disable the access of an array drive to the pool hot fix terms_hot_fix of hot fix drives. If
the access is enabled this means that if a member of an array drive fails, a drive can be taken from
the hot fix pool and built automatically into the array drive. To be able to activate this feature,
there must be suitable logical drives in the hot fix pool. You can add drives to the hot fix pool
using the function Add Hot Fix Drive, logical_add_hotfix. By doing so, the hot fix pool access for
this specific array drive is activated automatically. For all other arrays drive you must activate the
access manually.
Add a RAID 1 Component (Mirror a Drive)
Click the right mouse button on the logical drive icon.
This function allows you to add to a logical drive which is a member of an array drive, another
logical drive as a mirror drive (RAID 1).
Example : You have configured an array drive with 4 logical drives. One logical drive has failed
and the array drive went into the fail state. Another failure would cause data loss. Unfortunately,
you find another logical drive that is likely to fail (for example, you hear a strange noise from it, or
it’s grown defect counter explodes). If you initiate a hot plug it is likely that the critical logical
drive will also fail. To avoid that problem, mirror a new good logical drive to the critical one.
When the copying is finished, remove the critical logical drive and carry out a hot plug procedure.