C
Using the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
The Adaptec RAID Configuration (ARC) utility is a BIOS-based utility that you can use to create arrays
and manage controllers, disk drives and other devices.
Introduction to the ARC Utility
The ARC utility comprises these tools:
• Logical Device Configuration—For creating and managing arrays, and initializing and rescanning disk
drives (see
Using the ARC Utility to Create and Manage Arrays
on page 83).
• Controller Settings—For modifying your controller and disk drive settings (see
Using the ARC Utility
to Modify Controller Settings
on page 87).
• Disk Utilities—For formatting or verifying disk drives (see
Formatting and Verifying Disk Drives
on
page 89).
Ctrl-A or uEFI/HII?
Your Adaptec RAID controller supports two interfaces to the BIOS-level RAID configuration options of
the ARC utility: Ctrl-A and uEFI/HII. On servers that support the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface,
or uEFI (version 2.10 or higher), the BIOS-level RAID configuration options are presented with a HII
interface, or Human Interaction Infrastructure, rather than the Adaptec Ctrl-A interface described in
this chapter. uEFI/HII provides an architecture-independent mechanism for initializing add-in cards, like
the Adaptec RAID controller, and rendering contents to the screen in a uniform way.
In the HII interface, access to the RAID configuration options is provided through the server's standard
BIOS. How you access the BIOS varies, depending on the manufacturer, but typically it's started by simply
pressing
DEL
. Once you enter setup, navigate to the "PMC maxView Storage Manager" option, typically
on the BIOS' "Advanced" menu, then scan for and select a controller.
From that point on, the HII menus and the Ctrl-A menus for configuring your RAID controller are almost
identical. For example, the top-most menu contains the same three choices: Logical Device Configuration,
Controller Settings, Disk Utilities (described above). Options in the lower-level menus are also similar.
In both interfaces, all the tools are menu-based and instructions for completing tasks appear on-screen.
Menus can be navigated using the arrows, Enter, Esc, and other keys on your keyboard.
This chapter provides instructions for navigating and completing tasks with the Ctrl-A interface. To
complete tasks with the HII interface:
• Refer to the on-screen instructions for keyboard navigation and selection options.
• Refer to the option descriptions in this chapter for details about individual RAID configuration settings
and tasks.
Running the ARC Utility
If your Adaptec controller is connected to a RAID enclosure, power on your enclosure (or enclosures)
before you power on your computer.
Start or restart your computer. When prompted, press Ctrl+A.
During boot up, if your system has insufficient memory this message displays:
“Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility will load after, system initialization. Please wait... Or press <Enter> Key to
attempt loading the utility forcibly [Generally, not recommended]”
Note: The first time you power on your computer after you install a new controller,
the BIOS may display a configuration that doesn’t match your system’s configuration.
This is normal.
82
Proprietary and Confidential to PMC-Sierra, Inc.
Document No.: CDP-00277-02-A Rev. A, Issue:
Serial Attached SCSI RAID Controllers Installation and User's Guide