4

Driver Installation

The Dell PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) H310, H710, H710P, and H810 cards require software drivers to operate with the supported operating systems.

This chapter contains the procedures for installing the drivers for the PERC H310, H710, H710P, and H810 cards.

NOTE: For more information on VMware ESX drivers, see the VMware ESX documentation at dell.com/support/ manuals.

NOTE: To check operating system compatibility, see dell.com/support/manuals.

The two methods for installing a driver discussed in this chapter are:

Installing a driver

Use this method if you are performing a new installation of the operating system and want to

during operating

include the drivers.

system

 

installation

 

Updating existing

Use this method if the operating system and the PERC H310, H710, H710P, and H810 family of

drivers

controllers are already installed and you want to update to the latest drivers.

Pre-Installation Requirements For Windows Driver Installation

Before you install the operating system:

Read the Microsoft Getting Started document that shipped with your operating system.

Ensure that your system has the latest BIOS, firmware, and driver updates. If required, download the latest BIOS, firmware, and driver updates fromdell.com/support.

Create a device driver media (diskette, USB drive, CD, or DVD).

Creating The Device Driver Media For Windows Driver Installation

Use one of the following two methods to create the device driver media:

Downloading drivers from the Dell systems service and diagnostic tools media for Windows

Downloading drivers from the Dell support website for Windows

Downloading Drivers From The Dell Systems Service And Diagnostic Tools Media For Windows

To download drivers from the Dell Systems Service and Diagnostic Tools media:

1.Insert the Dell Systems Service and Diagnostics Tools media in a system. The Welcome to Dell Service and Diagnostic Utilities screen is displayed.

2.Select your system model and operating system (Microsoft Windows Server 2008).

3.Click Continue.

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Dell H810, H710P, H310 manual Driver Installation, Installing a driver, Click Continue

H310, H710, H710P, H810 specifications

Dell offers a range of storage controller technologies, notably the H810, H710, H710P, and H310, which cater to different enterprise needs. These controllers are designed to support various storage configurations, enhancing overall system performance and reliability.

The Dell H810 is a high-performance PCIe 3.0 RAID controller that supports up to eight internal drives and is particularly suited for demanding workloads. It features advanced RAID levels including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, providing flexibility for various data protection strategies. The H810 also supports up to 32TB of storage capacity, making it suitable for environments that require substantial data management capabilities.

The H710 is another powerful RAID controller, widely recognized for its balance of performance and cost-efficiency. It features 1GB of cache memory, which aids in accelerating read and write operations. The H710 supports the same RAID levels as the H810 and allows for up to 512MB of non-volatile memory. This ensures data integrity even in the event of a power failure, making it reliable for critical applications.

The H710P is an enhanced version of the H710, with a significant upgrade in its cache capabilities. It offers 2GB of battery-backed cache memory, further enhancing data processing speeds and improving responsiveness. The H710P is ideal for intensive workloads and virtualization, where rapid access to data is essential. This controller also includes features such as RAID storage pooling, intelligent data tiering, and support for multiple virtual disks.

Finally, the H310 is a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized businesses or those with less demanding storage requirements. It offers similar RAID support as the higher-end controllers but operates with a simpler architecture. The H310 features 512MB of cache, providing sufficient performance for regular workloads without the additional complexities of more advanced controllers.

In summary, Dell's H810, H710, H710P, and H310 storage controllers each serve distinct purposes, providing various features, technologies, and performance characteristics tailored to different business needs. From high-capacity storage solutions to user-friendly setups, Dell’s offerings ensure that organizations can efficiently manage their data storage requirements.