CacheCade Virtual Disk Management

The Virtual Disk Management screen is the first screen that is displayed when you access a RAID controller from the main menu screen on the BIOS Configuration Utility.

The following are CacheCade-related actions you can perform through the virtual disk management menu:

Create CacheCade virtual disk

Assign CacheCade virtual disk name

Delete virtual disk

Creating CacheCade Virtual Disks

NOTE: Only SSDs can be used to create CacheCade virtual disks.

NOTE: Combining SAS and SATA SSDs within a CacheCade virtual disk is not supported.

NOTE: To avoid inefficient use of space, it is recommended that CacheCade volumes are created with drives of the same size. Larger disk sizes are truncated to the size of the smallest contributing disk, similar to RAID 0.

To create a CacheCade virtual disk:

1.During host system bootup, press <Ctrl> <R> when the BIOS screen is displayed.

The Virtual Disk Management screen is displayed. If there are more than one controller, the main menu screen is displayed.

2.Select a controller, and press <Enter>.

The Virtual Disk Management screen is displayed for the selected controller.

3.Use the arrow keys to highlight Controller #.

4.Press <F2>.

The list of available actions is displayed.

5.Select Create CacheCade Virtual Disk and press <Enter>.

The Create CacheCade Virtual Disk screen is displayed. The cursor is on the first SSD listed in the Select SSD section.

6.Select the desired SSD(s). As each new SSD is selected, the CacheCade Virtual Disk Size changes to reflect the new size.

NOTE: You cannot specify the size of the virtual disk.

7.Press <Tab> to move the cursor to the CacheCade Virtual Disk Name field. Enter a name if required.

8.After you specify the virtual disk name, select OK to save the selection or select Cancel to cancel the selection.

After the CacheCade virtual disk is created successfully, it is listed in the Virtual Disk Management screen under the CacheCade disk group, and is labeled as a CacheCade virtual disk. The virtual disk has an optimal state and its RAID level is RAID 0.

NOTE: You can only delete or rename a CacheCade virtual disk. Background initialization, fast initialization, full initialization, and consistency check operations are not applicable to CacheCade virtual disks.

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Dell H710P, H310, H810 manual CacheCade Virtual Disk Management, Creating CacheCade Virtual Disks

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.