Appendix C: Intel HostRAID Setup Guidelines

Appendix C

Intel HostRAID Setup Guidelines

After all the hardware has been installed, you must fi rst confi gure Intel's ESB2 SATA RAID* before you install the Windows Operating System and other software drivers.

Important Notes to the User:

*Note 1: If you do not wish to confi gure onboard SATA RAID functions, please go directly to Section C-3, Appendix D and Appendix E for OS and other software

installation instructions.

*Note 2: This chapter describes RAID Confi guration Instructions for the Intel ESB2 RAID Controller designed for the Windows OS.

C-1 Introduction to Serial ATA and Parallel ATA

To confi gure the SATA RAID functions, you must fi rst use the Intel ESB2 SATA RAID Utility program to confi gure the RAID Level that you desire before installing the Windows XP/2000/2003 operating system and other software drivers. (The necessary drivers are all included on the Supermicro CD that came packaged with your motherboard.) Note that the current version of the ESB2 SATA RAID Utility can only support Windows XP/2000/2003 Operating Systems.

Serial ATA (SATA)

Serial ATA (SATA) is a physical storage interface that uses a single cable with a minimum of four wires to create a point-to-point connection between devices. It is a serial link, which supports transfer rates up to 3.0 Gbps. Because the serial cables used in SATA are thinner than the traditional cables used in Parallel ATA (PATA), SATA systems have better airfl ow and can be installed in smaller chassis than Parallel ATA. In addition, the cables used in PATA are limited to a length of 40cm, while Serial ATA cables can be up to one meter in length. Overall, SATA provides better functionality than PATA.

Introduction to the Intel ESB2 Serial RAID

Located in the South Bridge of the 5000P/5000X chipset, the I/O Controller Hub (ESB2) provides the I/O subsystem with access to the rest of the system. It supports an 1-channel UltraATA/100 Bus Master IDE controller (PATA) and six Serial ATA (SATA) ports. The ESB2 supports the following PATA and SATA device confi gura- tions: Legacy mode and Native mode.

C-1

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SUPER MICRO Computer X7DBT, XDGT Introduction to Serial ATA and Parallel ATA, Important Notes to the User, Serial ATA Sata

X7DBT, X7DBT-INF, XDGT, X7DGT-INF specifications

Super Micro Computer, a leader in high-performance computing solutions, offers a diverse range of server motherboards tailored for various business needs. Among these, the Supermicro X7DGT-INF, X7DGT, X7DBT-INF, and X7DBT stand out for their robust architectures and advanced features.

The Supermicro X7DGT-INF motherboard is designed for dual processor systems utilizing Intel's Xeon processors. It supports up to 64GB of DDR2 memory, providing significant flexibility for memory-intensive applications. The X7DGT-INF features six SATA ports, enabling efficient data storage solutions with RAID configurations. Additionally, it offers integrated IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) functionality, which allows remote management of the motherboard, enhancing system uptime and reliability.

The X7DGT shares many features with the INF model but enhances connectivity options with PCI Express slots, making it ideal for virtualization and embedded applications. This dual-CPU motherboard allows for up to 128GB of memory, catering to businesses that require high computational power and substantial memory bandwidth, particularly for tasks such as data analysis and enterprise resource planning.

Meanwhile, the Supermicro X7DBT-INF is notable for its dual-broadband capabilities, which facilitate high throughput for networking tasks. Like its siblings, it supports Intel Xeon processors and DDR2 memory but goes a step further with onboard dual Gigabit Ethernet and a dedicated IPMI controller. Its design emphasizes optimal thermal management, ensuring that power-hungry applications remain stable under heavy workloads.

The X7DBT also supports dual processors and provides a robust memory architecture. It is engineered for high-performance computing environments. Featuring multiple PCI Express slots, this motherboard is ideal for applications such as cluster computing and high-frequency trading where low latency and high-speed networking are essential.

Overall, the Supermicro X7DGT-INF, X7DGT, X7DBT-INF, and X7DBT motherboards epitomize reliability and performance. Their compatibility with Intel’s Xeon processors, extensive memory options, and advanced connectivity features make them superb choices for enterprise-level applications, data centers, and research institutions that demand uncompromising performance and efficiency in their computing solutions.