Promise Technology TX4000 user manual Keys Features and Benefits, Features Benefits

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Keys Features and Benefits

The following information offers an overview of the major features of your new

Promise FastTrak TX4000 card...

Advanced Hardware Design

Features

Benefits

 

 

Supports 66MHz PCI bus

Allows maximum data transfers of up to

motherboards (automatically

266MB per second (133 MB/s in 33 MHz

backward compatible with

slot) over the bus to dramatically reduce the

33MHz PCI slots)

time to save and retrieve large files.

 

 

Supports data striping (RAID

Provides dramatic increase in drive

0), mirroring (RAID 1), and

performance and/or fault tolerant options.

striping/mirroring combination

Offers performance customization and data

(RAID 0+1)

rebuilds from the BIOS menu.

 

 

Supports

Burst data transfer rates up to 133MB/sec

Ultra DMA 6/5/4

from Ultra ATA/133 drives to boost overall

DMA 2/1/0

system performance.

 

 

 

Drives can multiply their data transfer

Independent data channels

performance when striped together and

 

each drive uses a separate data channel.

 

 

PCI Plug-n-Play, PCI Interrupt

Easy to install; support four ATA drives on

sharing and coexists with

the FastTrak TX4000 while still supporting 4

motherboard IDE controllers

devices on motherboard ATA controller.

 

 

Supports concurrent IDE

Drive workload is distributed in parallel

channel operation

between members of the array.

 

 

 

Allows multitasking during disk transfers

Supports IDE bus master

that increase CPU efficiency. The CPU is

free to process tasks during IDE data

operation

transfers through the PCI Bus to/from

 

 

system memory.

 

 

Utilizes FastBuild automenu

Offers pre-set application specific settings

that can be optimized for Desktop, Server,

from the FastTrak TX4000

or A/V Editing. Has Auto Setup option for

onboard BIOS

quick and easy array builds.

 

 

 

Displays status and error

Notifies user of possible errors and allows

checking messages during

for recovery of mirrored drive arrays directly

boot up

from FastBuild.

 

 

Employs the latest Promise PCI

Fully supports Ultra ATA/133 specifications

with 133 MB/sec timing and CRC error-

Ultra ATA/133 ASIC technology

checking at high speeds.

 

 

 

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Contents Fasttrak TX4000 Trademarks CopyrightImportant Data Protection Information 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 Security Optimize Array forDefining Typical Application Usage PerformanceCreating 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 Orders Arrays Creating a Hot Spare Drive for Mirrored ArraysHow FastTrak TX4000 Saves Array Information 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 About FastTrak TX4000 About Adapter BiosFastBuild Auto Menu Setup Disk Array ConceptsDisk Array Member RAID Level Performance Fault Capacity No. Tolerance DrivesDisk Array Terms Disk Array DescriptionStriping RAID About RAID LevelsData Mirror Disk Drives Mirroring RAIDStriping / Mirror RAID 0+1 Failed Array Event Drives Status Why? About Dual Data RedundancySystem locks up during boot up or when Windows starts Troubleshooting & TipsMotherboard Issues Configuring PCI IRQ resourcesUsing an Onboard IDE Card with FastTrak TX4000 System Cmos IssuesMiscellaneous problems such as Intermittent data problemsSystem Cmos displays C or D drive failure during Startup Drive-Related ErrorsCritical Array Status Error Reported during Boot Drive cannot be formed into an arrayUnable to partition or format array Cannot Rebuild Mirrored RAID 1 Array Different drive lettering under Windows NT Operating System-Related IssuesPromise Windows driver does not appear in Device Manager Troubleshooting & Tips Performance Tips Re-Configure PCI Latency SettingOptimize Array for Performance Change Setting of PCI Bus Utilization Page Can I use Atapi devices on the FastTrak TX4000 controller? Appendix a Frequently Asked QuestionsPre-Installation Will Acpi work with HDDs on the FastTrak TX4000?RAID 0+1 Mirror Drive IssuesRAID 0 Stripe RAID 1 MirrorHow do I partition/format my FastTrak TX4000 RAID array? Post-Installation Installation IssuesAppendix B Technical Support Technical Support ServicesUSA Tech Support Center Pacific Rim Sales Office European Tech SupportChina Office Disclaimer of other warranties Limited WarrantyYour Responsibility Returning Product for Repair