Smart Array E500 User Guide

ManualsBrandsHP ManualsSoftwareMicrosoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems

Configuring an array

In this section

Utilities available for configuring an array................................................................................................. 12

Using ORCA.......................................................................................................................................... 12

Using ACU or ACU-CLI ........................................................................................................................... 13

Utilities available for configuring an array

Two utilities are available for configuring an array on an HP Smart Array controller in an HP Integrity

server: ORCA and ACU.

• ORCA is a simple utility that is used mainly to configure the first logical drive in a new server before

the operating system is loaded.

• ACU is an advanced utility that enables you to perform many complex configuration tasks.

For more information about the features of these utilities and for instructions for using the utilities, see the

Configuring Arrays on HP Smart Array Controllers Reference Guide. This guide is available on the

Documentation CD that is provided in the controller kit.

Whichever utility you use, remember the following factors when you build an array:

• All drives in an array must be of the same type (for example, all SAS or all SATA).

• For the most efficient use of drive space, all drives within an array should have approximately the

same capacity. Each configuration utility treats every physical drive in an array as if it has the same

capacity as the smallest drive in the array. Any excess capacity of a particular drive cannot be used

in the array and so is unavailable for data storage.

• The more physical drives that an array has, the greater the probability that the array will experience

a drive failure during any given period. To guard against the data loss that occurs when a drive

fails, configure all logical drives in an array with a suitable fault-tolerance (RAID) method.

Using ORCA

1. Power up the server. POST runs, and any array controllers that are in the server are initialized one at

a time. During each controller initialization process, POST halts for several seconds while an ORCA

prompt message appears.

2. At the ORCA prompt:

o If you are connected using a headless console, press the Esc+8 key combination.

o Otherwise, press the F8 key.

Configuring an array 12