Intel RAID Controllers - Best Practices white paper

Intel® RAID Controllers Best Practices White Paper
Revision 1.0
iii
Table of Contents
1. Overview ...............................................................................................................................5
2. Installing and Configuring Intel
®
RAID Controllers...........................................................5
2.1 Installing Intel
®
RAID Controllers .............................................................................5
2.2 Configuring a RAID Array ........................................................................................5
2.3 Getting the Latest RAID Software............................................................................5
3. Importance of a Backup Solution .......................................................................................5
4. Tuning Controller Performance ..........................................................................................6
4.1 Tuning Controller Cache Options ............................................................................6
4.2 Hard Disk Cache......................................................................................................7
5. When to Use a RAID Controller Battery .............................................................................8
6. Why Use a UPS?...................................................................................................................8
7. Enterprise-class versus Desktop-class Drives .................................................................9
7.1 Drive Vibration .........................................................................................................9
8. Basic Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................11
8.1 Drive State Definition.............................................................................................11
8.2 Virtual Disk State Description ................................................................................11
8.3 Tips and Tricks ......................................................................................................12
8.3.1 Setup Tips..............................................................................................................12
8.3.2 Debug Tips ............................................................................................................12
9. Summary.............................................................................................................................12