Promise Technology TX4000 user manual About RAID Levels, Striping RAID

Page 53

Chapter 5: Disk Array Concepts

About RAID Levels

Striping (RAID 0)

Reads and writes sectors of data interleaved between multiple drives. When any disk member fails, it affects the entire array. Performance is better than a single drive since the workload is balanced between the array members.

This array type is for high performance systems. Identical drives are recommended for performance as well as data storage efficiency. The disk array data capacity is equal to the number of drive members times the smallest member capacity. For example, one 100 GB and three 120 GB drives will form a 400 GB (4 x 100 GB) disk array.

Stripe Size – A value can be set from 16KB to 256KB sector size. The size can directly affect performance. In the FastBuild BIOS, the default is 64KB.

Data

Stripe

12

34

56

78

Disk Drives

49

Image 53
Contents Fasttrak TX4000 Important Data Protection Information CopyrightTrademarks Contents Page Introduction What is the FastTrak TX4000 RAID Card?Promise Array Management Utility PAM Features Benefits Keys Features and BenefitsCompatibility Quick Start Insert the FastTrak TX4000 card into an open PCI slot Installing the FastTrak TX4000 CardInstalling the Hard Drives IDE Creating Your Disk Array Creating an Array for Performance Creating a Security Array with New Drives Creating a Security Array with an Existing Data Drive QUANTUMCR8.4A Page Viewing FastTrak TX4000 Bios Screen Using FastBuild Configuration UtilityUsing the Main Menu Navigating the FastBuild Setup MenuCreating Arrays Automatically Defining Typical Application Usage Optimize Array forPerformance SecurityCreating Multiple Disk Arrays Using a Hot Spare DriveViewing Drive Assignments Manually Creating an Array Selecting Stripe Block Selecting Array TypeAssigning Drives to Array Gigabyte BoundaryCreating a Mirrored Array Using New Drives Adding Fault Tolerance to an Existing Drive Source Disk Channel Drive ID Drive Model Capacity MB Making a FastTrak TX4000 Disk Array Bootable How FastTrak TX4000 Saves Array Information Creating a Hot Spare Drive for Mirrored ArraysHow FastTrak TX4000 Orders Arrays Deleting an Array QUANTUMCR8.4A Rebuilding a Mirrored Array QUANTUMCR8.4A Procedure Number Installing Software DriversNew Windows Server 2003 Installation Confirming Windows Server 2003 Driver Installation Existing Windows Server 2003 InstallationNew Windows XP Installation Confirming Windows XP Driver Installation Existing Windows XP InstallationNew Windows 2000 Installation Existing Windows Confirming Windows 2000 Driver InstallationNew Windows ME Installation Confirming Driver Installation in Windows ME Existing Windows ME InstallationNew Windows NT4.x Installation Removing the Driver from Windows NT4.x Existing Windows NT4.x InstallationNew Windows 98 Installation Confirming Driver Installation in Windows Existing Windows 98 InstallationPage FastBuild Auto Menu Setup About Adapter BiosDisk Array Concepts About FastTrak TX4000Disk Array Terms RAID Level Performance Fault Capacity No. Tolerance DrivesDisk Array Description Disk Array MemberStriping RAID About RAID LevelsData Mirror Disk Drives Mirroring RAIDStriping / Mirror RAID 0+1 Failed Array Event Drives Status Why? About Dual Data RedundancyMotherboard Issues Troubleshooting & TipsConfiguring PCI IRQ resources System locks up during boot up or when Windows startsMiscellaneous problems such as System Cmos IssuesIntermittent data problems Using an Onboard IDE Card with FastTrak TX4000Critical Array Status Error Reported during Boot Drive-Related ErrorsDrive cannot be formed into an array System Cmos displays C or D drive failure during StartupUnable to partition or format array Cannot Rebuild Mirrored RAID 1 Array Promise Windows driver does not appear in Device Manager Operating System-Related IssuesDifferent drive lettering under Windows NT Troubleshooting & Tips Optimize Array for Performance Re-Configure PCI Latency SettingPerformance Tips Change Setting of PCI Bus Utilization Page Pre-Installation Appendix a Frequently Asked QuestionsWill Acpi work with HDDs on the FastTrak TX4000? Can I use Atapi devices on the FastTrak TX4000 controller?RAID 0 Stripe Drive IssuesRAID 1 Mirror RAID 0+1 MirrorHow do I partition/format my FastTrak TX4000 RAID array? Post-Installation Installation IssuesUSA Tech Support Center Technical Support ServicesAppendix B Technical Support China Office European Tech SupportPacific Rim Sales Office Disclaimer of other warranties Limited WarrantyYour Responsibility Returning Product for Repair