Dell PERC S300, (PERC) S100 manual Overview, Introduction

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Overview

Introduction

The Dell PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) S300 provides an integrated software RAID solution for Dell PowerEdge Value Servers. The PERC S300 controllers support SAS and SATA interfaces. Containing two internal connectors with four ports each, the PERC S300 adapter features

eight ports for connecting drives with a maximum burst speed of up to 3 Gbps per port.

The PERC S100 adaper is targeted as a low-cost RAID solution for Dell PowerEdge Value Servers. The PERC S100 adapter solution supports SATA Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Disk (SSD) drives. The PERC S100 adapter requires no additional hardware; it runs from the I/O Controller HUB (ICH) or Platform Controller Hub (PCH) chipset on the platform motherboard.

The PERC S100 adapter and PERC S300 adapter offer the same RAID level support and functionality, including the support of up to eight physical drives.

General Information, Intended Audience, and Prerequisites for Use

This document provides information about:

•The PERC S100 adapter and PERC S300 adapter, including server, operating system, and software support

•Controller configuration and startup procedures

•Controller operating modes

Overview

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Contents User’s Guide February Contents Physical Disk-Related Errors Installing the Perc S300 AdapterComplete the Hardware Installation Installing the Microsoft Windows DriversIndustry Canada Notice Canada Only RAID Technology Understanding Disk ArraysContents Page Safety When Working Inside Your System Safety GeneralProtecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Page Introduction OverviewOverview Supported Platforms Physical disks RequirementsOverview Boot to it Summary of RAID Levels About RAIDDisk Mirroring RAID TerminologyDisk Striping Parity Data Spanned RAID LevelsExample of Distributed Parity RAID Description FeaturesGeneral Features Description Allows hot-swapping Physical disks, in the same virtual disk That supports hot-swapping DisksBackplane with hot-swap capability Features Migration during an OCE Virtual diskSpecifications RAID General Considerations Hardware InstallationBefore You Begin Installing the Perc S300 Adapter Installing a Perc S300 Adapter Connecting the Cables Connect Physical Disks to the Perc S300 Adapter Complete the Hardware InstallationHardware Installation Downloading the Controller Driver Media Installing the DriversInstalling the Microsoft Windows Drivers To Use Pre-Installation Requirements for the Controller DriversOperating System And Device Driver Media Sata Controller to either ATA Mode or Ahci Pre-Installation Procedures For The Controller Drivers Steps DVD, and so on, perform the following For Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 For Microsoft Windows Server For Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Installing the Drivers Installing the Drivers Perc Virtual Disk Management Utility Operations Description RAID Configuration ManagementAccessing the Perc Virtual Disk Management Utility Perc Virtual Disk Management Text Colors Description Initializing Physical Disks Before You Begin Creating Virtual DisksRAID Configuration and Management Deleting Virtual Disks RAID Configuration and Management Swapping Two Virtual Disks Delete a Global Hot Spare Managing Global Hot SparesCreate a Global Hot Spare Viewing Virtual Disk Details Viewing Physical Disk DetailsController Options Controller Options Description How to OperateRescanning Disks Pause if Degraded Continuing to BootRAID Configuration and Management RAID Mode to ATA Mode TroubleshootingSystem Startup Problems Boot Mode, Boot Sequence Bios Bios Screen Corrective Action Lost This warning message appears when multiple virtual disks are Bios not Installed User Disabled INT13 Bios Load From virtual disk creation Virtual Disk-Related Errors A Virtual Disk is in a Failed State On the virtual diskRedundant virtual disk 12. Cannot Create a Global Hot Spare Select View Virtual Disk Details 14. a Dedicated Hot Spare Fails Physical Disk-Related ErrorsTroubleshooting S300 adapter Controller SpecificationsAppendix a Read, Write, and Cache PolicyPerc S300 adapter Controller TasksPhysical Disk Tasks Table A-3. Physical Disk Tasks Physical Disk Task NameAdapter Virtual Disk TasksSupported RAID Levels Table A-4. Virtual Disk Tasks Virtual Disk Task NameVirtual Disk Specifications RAID Technology Understanding Disk Arrays and Virtual Disks Appendix BUnderstanding RAID Levels Appendix B Table B-2. Physical Disk States Definition Disk States Virtual and Physical DisksTable B-3. Virtual Disk States State Definition Failure StatesPhysical Disk States Table B-5. Minimum and Maximum Physical Disk ConfigurationsCreating Virtual Disks Future Expansion Understanding Physical DisksRescanning Physical Disks for Changes in State Dedicated Hot SparesGlobal Hot Spares Regulatory Notices Appendix CFCC, Class a FCC Notice U.S. OnlyFCC, Class B Industry Canada, Class B Industry Canada Notice Canada OnlyCE Notice European Union Industry Canada, Class aAppendix C CE Mark Notice Contacting Dell Appendix DAppendix D Index Index Index 100 101 102 103 Glossary104 105 106 Acronym for nanoseconds, one billionth of a second 107108 109 110