128 MediaShield User’s Guide – Version 4.0
CHAPTER 4
Initializing, Rebuilding, and Synchronizing RAID Arrays
Initializing a RAID Array
Initializing a RAID array erases all the data that is stored on that array, and writes all
zeros to the disks. Initialization of newly configured RAID arrays is recommended to
ensure consistency and reliable performance on any supported fault tolerant array such as
RAID 5, RAID 0, and RAID 0+1.
Use this feature only if you are absolutely sure that you want to wipe out all the data on
that array.
Initialization of a fault tolerant array can only be done when the array is being created. To
initialize an array, perform the following steps:
Note: In this example, a mirror array is initialized.
1From the MediaShield window, right click on any available free disk and select Create
Array as show in Figure 4.1.
Figure 4.1
Create an Array to be Initialized
The Create Array Wizard opens.
2Follow the Wizard to create a Mirror array.
See “Creating a Mirrored Array” on page 51.
3At the Create Array Wizard Welcome screen, click Next.
4At the RAID Array Selection page, make sure that RAID Mode is set to “Mirroring”
and Stripe Size is set to its default value of 64K, then click Next.
5At the Free Disk Selection page, select the two drives that you want to Mirror and click
Next.