Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 8.x User's Manual January 2009 Revision 1.
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Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 6 1.1 1.2 2 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features .............................................................. 9 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 3 Overview ..............................................................................................22 F6 Installation Method ............................................................................22 5.2.
7.1 7.2 7.3 8 Overview ..............................................................................................32 System Requirements ............................................................................32 RAID-Ready System Setup Steps .............................................................32 RAID Migration .................................................................................................33 8.1 8.2 8.3 9 Overview .........................................................
Revision History Document Number Revision Number N/A 1.0 Description Aligns with 8.x release Revision Date January 2009 • Clarified RAID-Ready requirements § ver7.
Introduction 1 Introduction The purpose of this document is to enable a user to properly set up and configure a system using Intel® Matrix Storage Manager. It provides steps for set up and configuration, as well as a brief overview on Intel® Matrix Storage Manager features. Note: The information in this document is only relevant on systems with a supported Intel chipset that include a supported Intel chipset, with a supported operating system.
Introduction Term Description Migration The process of converting a system's data storage configuration from a non-RAID configuration (pass-thru) to a RAID configuration. Hot Plug The unannounced removal and insertion of a Serial ATA hard drive while the system is powered on. NCQ Native Command Queuing: a command protocol in Serial ATA that allows multiple commands to be outstanding within a hard drive at the same time. The commands are dynamically reordered to increase hard drive performance.
Introduction Term 1.2 Description RAID Level Migration The process of converting a system's data storage configuration from one RAID level to another. RAID Volume A fixed amount of space across a RAID array that appears as a single physical hard drive to the operating system. Each RAID volume is created with a specific RAID level to provide data redundancy or to enhance data storage performance. Recovery Drive The hard drive that is the designated target drive in a recovery volume.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features 2 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features 2.1 Feature Overview The Intel® Matrix Storage Manager software package provides high-performance Serial ATA and Serial ATA RAID capabilities for supported operating systems. The key features of the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager are as follows: 2.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features Table 1. RAID 0 Overview 2.3 Hard Drives Required: 2-6 Advantage: Highest transfer rates Faulttolerance: None – if one disk fails all data will be lost Application: Typically used in desktops and workstations for maximum performance for temporary data and high I/O rate. 2-drive RAID 0 available in specific mobile configurations.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features Table 3. RAID 5 Overview 2.5 Hard Drives Required: 3-6 Advantage: Higher percentage of usable capacity and high read performance as well as fault-tolerance. Faulttolerance: Excellent - parity information allows data to be rebuilt after replacing a failed hard drive with a new drive. Application: Storage of large amounts of critical data. Not available in mobile configurations.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features Figure 1. Matrix RAID 2.7 RAID Migration The RAID migration feature enables a properly configured PC, known as a RAID-Ready system, to be converted into a high-performance RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 10 configuration by adding one or more Serial ATA hard drives to the system and invoking the RAID migration process from within Windows.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features The following RAID level migrations are supported: Note: All migrations may not be available as each migration is supported on specific platform configurations. • 2-drive RAID 0 to 3,4,5 or 6-drive RAID 5 • 3-drive RAID 0 to 4,5 or 6-drive RAID 5 • 4-drive RAID 0 to 5 or 6-drive RAID 5 • 2-drive RAID 1 to 3,4,5 or 6-drive RAID 5 • 4-drive RAID 10 to 4,5 or 6-drive RAID 5 RAID level migrations do not require re-installation of the operating system.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Features 2.10 Advanced Host Controller Interface Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and Native Hot Plug. 2.10.1 Native Command Queuing Native Command Queuing (NCQ) is a feature supported by AHCI that allows Serial ATA hard drives to accept more than one command at a time.
RAID BIOS Configuration 3 RAID BIOS Configuration 3.1 Overview To install the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager, the system BIOS must include the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM. The Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM is tied to the controller hub. Version 7.0 of the option ROM supports platforms based on the Intel® 82801HEM I/O controller hub. 3.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 4 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 4.1 Overview The Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM is a PnP option ROM that provides a pre-operating system user interface for RAID configurations. It also provides BIOS and DOS disk services (Int13h). 4.2 User Interface To enter the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM user interface, press the and keys simultaneously when prompted during the Power-On Self Test (POST). Example: Refer to Figure 2.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM number is located in the top right corner with the following format: vX.Y.W.XXXX, where X and Y are the major and minor version numbers. 4.4 RAID Volume Creation Use the following steps to create a RAID volume using the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager user interface: Note: The following procedure should only be used with a newly-built system or if you are reinstalling your operating system.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 3. Type in a volume name and press the key, or press the key to accept the default name. 4. Select the RAID level by using the < > or < > keys to scroll through the available values, then press the key. 18 ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 5. Press the key to select the physical disks. A dialog similar to the following will appear: 6. Select the appropriate number of hard drives by using the < > or < > keys to scroll through the list of available hard drives. .Press the key to select a drive. When you have finished selecting hard drives, press the key. ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 7. Unless you have selected RAID 1, select the strip size by using the < > or < > keys to scroll through the available values, then press the key. 8. Select the volume capacity and press the key. Note: The default value indicates the maximum volume capacity using the selected disks. If less than the maximum volume capacity is chosen, creation of a second volume is needed to utilize the remaining space (i.e. a matrix RAID configuration). 20 ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM 9. At the Create Volume prompt, press the key to create the volume. The following prompt will appear: 10. Press the key to confirm volume creation. 11. To exit the option ROM user interface, select option 5. Exit and press the key. 12. Press the key again to confirm exit. Note: To change any of the information before the volume creation has been confirmed, you must exit the Create Volume process and restart it.
Loading Driver During OS Installation 5 Loading Driver During OS Installation 5.1 Overview Unless using Microsoft Windows Vista*, the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager driver must be loaded during operating system installation using the F6 installation method. This is required in order to install an operating system onto a hard drive or RAID volume when in RAID mode or onto a hard drive when in AHCI mode.
Loading Driver During OS Installation 3. Copy the IAAHCI.CAT, IAACHI.INF, IASTOR.CAT, IASTOR.INF, IASTOR.SYS, and TXTSETUP.OEM. files to the root directory of a floppy diskette. Note: If the system has a 32-bit processor, copy the files found in the Drivers folder; if the system has a 64-bit processor, copy the files found in the Drivers64 folder. 5.2.3 F6 Installation Steps To install the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager driver using the F6 installation method, complete the following steps: 1.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 6 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 6.1 Overview After installing an operating system onto a RAID volume or on a Serial ATA hard drive when in RAID or AHCI mode, the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager can be loaded from within Windows. This installs the user interface (i.e. Intel® Matrix Storage Console), the tray icon service, and the monitor service onto the system, allowing you to monitor the health of your RAID volume and/or hard drives.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 1. Run the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager executable. 2. Click Next to continue. ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 3. Carefully review the warning and click Next to continue. 26 ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 4. Click Yes to accept the license agreement terms. ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 5. Review the readme if needed and click Next to continue. 28 ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 6. Click Finish to complete installation and reboot the system. 6.4 How to Confirm Software Installation Refer to Figure 3 to confirm that Intel® Matrix Storage Manager has been installed. ver7.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation Figure 3. Start Menu Item If installation was done by have-disk, F6, or an unattended installation method, you can confirm that the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager has been loaded by completing the following steps: Note: The following instructions assume Classic mode in Windows* XP Professional. 1. Click on the Start button and then the Control Panel entry. 2. Double-click the System icon. Note: If using Microsoft Windows Vista, first select Classic View. 3.
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager Installation 6.5 Version Identification There are two ways to determine which version of the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager is installed: 1. Use the Intel® Matrix Storage Console 2. Locate the RAID driver (iaStor.sys) file and view the file properties 6.5.1 Version Identification Using Intel® Matrix Storage Console 1. To access the Intel® Matrix Storage Console, refer to Figure 3. 2. Under the View menu, select System Report. 3.
RAID-Ready Setup 7 RAID-Ready Setup 7.1 Overview A "RAID Ready" system is a specific system configuration that allows a user to perform a RAID migration at a later date. For more information on RAID migrations, see RAID Migration. 7.2 System Requirements In order for a system to be considered “RAID Ready”, it must meet all of the following requirements: 7.
RAID Migration 8 RAID Migration 8.1 Overview The following sections explain how to migrate from a RAID-Ready system to a RAID system. 8.2 RAID Migration Steps: RAID-Ready to 2-drive RAID 0/1 Use the following steps to convert a RAID-Ready system into a system with a 2-drive RAID 0 or 1 volume: Note: The steps listed in this section assume that the system is a properly configured RAIDReady system. For more information on how to configure a RAID-Ready system, see RAID-Ready System Setup Steps.
RAID Migration 4. Select Yes to confirm volume creation. In the following example, RAID 1 was selected. Refer to Figure 6, Figure 7, and Figure 8 for examples of volume creation progress indicators. 5. When the migration is complete, reboot the system if needed. 6.
RAID Migration Figure 7. User Interface Status Figure 8. Progress Dialog 8.3 RAID Migration Steps: RAID-Ready to 3 or 4drive RAID 0/5 Use the following steps to convert a RAID-Ready system into a system with a 3 or 4drive RAID 0/5 volume: Note: The steps listed in this section assume that the system is a properly configured RAIDReady system. For more information on how to configure a RAID-Ready system, see RAID-Ready System Setup Steps. ver7.
RAID Migration Warning: This operation will delete all existing data from the additional hard drive or drives and the data cannot be recovered. It is critical to backup all important data on the additional drives before proceeding. The data on the source hard drive, however, will be preserved. Warning: It is very important to note which disk is the source drive (the one containing all of the information to be migrated).
RAID Migration 7. Select a RAID level. 8. Select a strip size. 9. Click Next to continue. 10. Select a source hard drive source. Note: The source hard drive can be selected by double-clicking on the hard drive, or by single-clicking on the hard drive and then selecting the right arrow key. The data on this hard drive will be preserved and ver7.
RAID Migration migrated to the new RAID volume. 11. Click Next to continue. 12. Select the member hard drives. Note: The member hard drives can be selected by double-clicking on the hard drive, or by single-clicking on the hard drive and then 38 ver7.
RAID Migration selecting the right arrow key. Warning: The data on the member hard drives will be deleted. Back up all important data before continuing. 13. Click Next to continue. 14. Use the field or the slider bar to specify the amount of available array space that will be used by the volume. Note: Any remaining space can be used to create a ver7.
RAID Migration second volume. 40 ver7.
RAID Migration 15. Click Finish to begin the migration process. 16. Once the migration is complete, reboot if needed. 17. If applicable, use a third party application or the Microsoft* Windows* operating system tools to create and format a new data partition in any unused space or use a third party application to extend the partition to utilize any remaining space. ver7.
Volume Creation 9 Volume Creation RAID and recovery volumes can be created using the Intel® Matrix Storage Console. Note: RAID volume creation is only available as an option if you are have two or more SATA hard drives in addition to another bootable device. If you wish to create a RAID volume using your boot device, you will need to perform a RAID migration. See RAID Migration for instructions on how to perform a migration. 9.
Volume Creation 4. Select Next. ver7.
Volume Creation 5. Enter a name for the RAID volume. 44 ver7.
Volume Creation 6. Select a RAID level. ver7.
Volume Creation 7. Select a strip size. 8. Select Next to continue. 46 ver7.
Volume Creation 9. Select the hard drives that will be used to create the RAID volume. 10. When you are finished selecting hard drives, select Next to continue. ver7.
Volume Creation 11. Enter a size for the RAID volume. 12. Select Next to continue. 48 ver7.
Volume Creation 13. Select Finish to create the RAID volume. 9.2 Recovery Volume Creation A recovery volume can be created using either Basic mode or Advanced mode in the Intel® Matrix Storage Console. 9.2.1 Recovery Volume Creation in Basic Mode Warning: Creating a recovery volume will permanently delete any existing data on the drive selected as the recovery drive. Back up all important data before beginning these steps.
Volume Creation 2. Select Protect data using Intel® Rapid Recover Technology. 3. Select Yes to confirm volume creation. 9.2.2 Recovery Volume Creation in Advanced Mode Warning: Creating a recovery volume will permanently delete any existing data on the drive selected as the recovery drive. Back up all important data before beginning these steps. To create a recovery volume in Basic mode, use the following steps: 1. Open the Intel® Matrix Storage Console.
Volume Creation 3. 3. Select Create Recovery Volume in the Actions menu. 4. Select Next to continue. 5. Modify the recovery volume name if you wish. ver7.
Volume Creation 6. Select a hard drive to be used as the master hard drive for the recovery volume. 52 ver7.
Volume Creation 7. Select a hard drive to be used as the recovery hard drive for the recovery volume. ver7.
Volume Creation 8. Select an update policy. 54 ver7.
Volume Creation 9. Select Finish to begin recovery volume creation. ver7.
Volume Creation Appendix A Error Messages A.1 Incompatible Hardware Issue: The following error message appears during installation: Solution: This issue can be resolved by installing the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager on a system with a supported Intel chipset, or by ensuring that AHCI or RAID is enabled in the system BIOS. A.
Volume Creation Solution: Follow the steps listed in the error message to resolve the problem. A.4 Hard Drive Has System Files Issue: The following error message appears after selecting a hard drive as a member hard drive during the Create RAID Volume process: Solution: Select a new hard drive. A.
Volume Creation Solution: Reduce the size of the partition by a few MBs and see if that resolves the issue. 58 ver7.
