Configuring Your Computer for RAID

At some point you may want to configure your computer for RAID if you did not select a RAID configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see "Cards" on page 193.

To configure a RAID hard drive volume, use the Intel RAID Option ROM utility before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. You must set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before starting any of the RAID configuration procedures in this document.

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

NOTE: This procedure is only possible if you ordered your computer with a RAID configuration.

1Enter the system setup program (see "System Setup" on page 89).

2Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Drives, and press <Enter>.

3Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight SATA Operation, and press <Enter>.

4Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight RAID Autodetect /AHCI or RAID Autodetect/ ATA, according to your preferences; press <Enter>, and then press <Esc>.

For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 89.

5Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and press <Enter> to exit system setup and resume the boot process.

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

NOTE: This procedure is only possible if you ordered your computer with a RAID configuration.

If you already have one hard drive with the operating system installed on it, and you want to add a second hard drive and reconfigure both drives into a RAID volume without losing the existing operating system and any data, you need to use the migrating option for a RAID level 0 configuration (see

Advanced Features

53

Page 53
Image 53
Dell NX046 manual Configuring Your Computer for RAID, Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode