Intel SRCU31 Arrays, RAID Configuration Parameters Sheet 2, Array Status, Status Description

RAID Features

Table 5-6. RAID Configuration Parameters (Sheet 2 of 2)

Parameter	Description
	Selecting the existing array allows the user to create, or migrate a volume on the
	array. An array is a group of disks containing one or more RAID volumes. The
Select Existing Array	data from each RAID volume on an array is evenly spread across all disks in the
	array. A RAID volume must be created either on an existing array or on a group
	of unused individual disks. If an array already exists and has available capacity,
	then you may elect to create a new volume on the existing array.
	Select the drives you wish to use in this RAID volume. Select either an existing
	array or individual member disks. Select the drives with available capacity that
Select Member Disks	you would like to include in this new RAID volume. Creating a RAID volume on a
	group of unused disks, also, implicitly, creates an array consisting of that group
	of disks.
Volume Caching	Change the caching options for each volume.

5.2.5Arrays

An array is a group of disks containing one or more RAID volumes. A RAID volume must be created either on an existing array or on a group of available individual disks. Creating a RAID volume on a group of available disks (disks that are not yet a part of an array) also implicitly creates an array consisting of that group of disks. If there are pre-existing arrays with available capacity and enough disks for the specified RAID level desired, then the RAID volume will be created in the existing array of the user’s choice. These arrays are listed on the various RAID Storage Console configuration screens, most notably on the View / Actions screens under both RAID Volumes and Logical Arrays sections.

Additional RAID volumes created in a specific array will reside on all the physical disks in the array. Thus each RAID volume on the array will have its data spread evenly across all the disks in the array. RAID volumes of different RAID levels may coexist on the same array. It is not possible to have multiple arrays on the same disk(s). If physical disks of different capacity are grouped together in an array, then the capacity of the smallest disk will become the usable capacity of all the disks in the array. It is, therefore, wasteful of capacity to have disks of different capacity in the same array.

Table 5-7. Array Status

Status	Description
Idle	Array is fully operational and functional.
Volume Initialization	This state occurs when a volume is created on an array. Initialization occurs
	automatically after the creation of a new RAID 5 volume.
Changing	When a RAID volume in an array is undergoing a migration, the array is in the
	changing state.
	Array is undergoing an Online Capacity Expansion, for example, a disk has been
Expanding	added to the array. Upon completion of the expansion, the volume’s state returns
	to normal.

5.2.6RAID Volumes

The logical disk capacity that is organized in a RAID level with one or more physical disks is referred to as a RAID volume. RAID level refers to the level of data performance and protection of a RAID volume. A RAID volume refers to the group of physical disks which are used to hold the

Intel® Server RAID Controller U3-1 User’s Manual Rev 1.0 5-9