The data partitions can be set up using hardware or software RAID. If you intend to use hardware RAID
on the server you will need to set it up prior to accessing the array(s). Hardware RAID is the best choice
for Windows configurations and Linux configurations if you intend to use the RAID card manufacturer’s
RAID management utilities.
Especially in Linux configurations, software RAID typically provides very high performance (often higher
than hardware RAID) and may not require a substantial amount of CPU. It allows flexibility such as RAID
5 across drives located on more than one RAID card that is not possible with hardware RAID.
We recommend becoming familiar with the web sites of the manufacturers of the RAID card(s) installed in
your system so that you can upgrade your RAID card firmware and operating system drivers over time as
feature enhancements and bug fixes are released.
4.1 Configuring Hardware RAID
In SATA drive configurations, the S3118 server typically comes configured for hardware RAID 5 using two
8-port SATA RAID cards (or one 8-port and one 12-port card), with one RAID array per card. In SCSI
drive configurations, the S3118 server will typically come with a single two-channel U320 SCSI RAID
card. For best availability, Rackable Systems recommends allocating one drive per card as a hot spare so
that RAID can automatically rebuild when a drive failure occurs.
Hardware RAID setup procedures vary depending on whether your system is based on 3Ware or Adaptec
branded controller cards.
4.1.1
3Ware-based Hardware RAID (SATA)
For server configurations using 3Ware RAID controller cards, press “alt-3” during the boot-up sequence to
enter the 3Ware configuration screen. With the 9500 series cards, this will give you access to both arrays.
With the 8506 series cards you will need to press “alt-3” again after leaving the first card’s configuration
screen to configure the second array. Follow the instructions to create the RAID partition of your choice
on each controller.
Once the server is fully operational, you will want to install the 3Ware 3DM management software
(available for free download at
http://www.3ware.com
). With 3DM, administrators can be automatically
notified when drives fail and can perform RAID array diagnostics. Command line and Web-based
graphical interfaces are available.
4.1.2
Adaptec-based Hardware RAID (SATA or SCSI)
For server configurations using Adaptec RAID controller cards, press “control-A” during the boot-up
sequence to enter the Adaptec configuration screen. Follow the instructions to create the RAID partition
of your choice on each controller. Once you have your server operational, you will want to install the
Adaptec Storage Manager™ software (available for free download at
http://www.adaptec.com
). This
allows administrators to remotely manage the server via Web- and command line-based management
interfaces.
4.2 Configuring Software RAID
The S3118 server will typically be set up configured for hardware RAID 5. To configure the system for
software RAID, follow the hardware RAID setup instructions above to enter the RAID card manufacturer’s
BIOS screen and then erase any RAID arrays that have been created previously, leaving all drives
exported as single drives (JBOD or “single disk” with 3Ware 9500 cards). Once you have done this on all
RAID cards in the system, you will be able to configure software RAID in the operating system of your
choice.
With software RAID, RAID array management needs to be performed using operating system-level
utilities since the hardware RAID card management utilities don’t have any knowledge of the software
RAID configuration. However, you should still install the RAID card management utilities listed in the
S3118-Manual-1.0.1
June 30, 2005
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