Promise Technology Version 4.4 user manual Introduction, PAM Components

Chapter 1: Introduction

Promise Array Management (PAM) is a utility application designed specifically for monitoring and managing Promise Technology RAID products, such as the FastTrak SX4000 series and S150 SX4 RAID Controller cards. Promise includes BIOS-based RAID management utilities with each of its products. PAM, however, runs over a local area network and makes possible RAID monitoring and management from any computer on the network and even over Internet. This allows your IT manager to watch your RAIDs and take care of them over the network.

PAM Components

There are three components to PAM. Depending on your installation, all three may be on the same workstation or work separately across your network:

Monitoring Utility ― The Monitoring Utility is a Graphic User Interface (GUI) that reports on the condition of the RAID array. It receives and displays reports on RAID condition and operation through the Message Server. The Monitoring Utility works on any PC with a TCP/IP network connection to your RAID.

When installed on the computer that operates the RAID, the Monitoring Utility also provides a complete set of RAID management tools.

Message Server ― The Message Server is the link connecting a PC with the Monitoring Utility. Normally, the Message Server runs on a network file server. But it can also run on the PC controlling the RAID.

Message Agent ― The Message Agent runs on the PC that controls the RAID, called the “RAID PC”. It directly monitors the RAID and sends messages through the Message Server to all PCs running the Monitoring Utility.

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