Intel RAID Controllers - Best Practices white paper

Intel® RAID Controllers Best Practices White Paper

Revision 1.0

1. Overview

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology has been commonly implemented in

server usage models as an option to provide additional data protection. RAID solutions are now

also found in other computer environments such as desktops, workstations, and external

storage devices which support a large number of hard drives.

Intel is committed to providing customers with stable, high-performance, and high-reliability

RAID products. This white paper is intended to describe the best practices that should be used

when deploying Intel

Server RAID solutions. The focus of this document is to review the

implementation, configuration, and troubleshooting of RAID solutions for Intel

server products.

2. Installing and Configuring Intel

RAID Controllers

2.1 Installing Intel

RAID Controllers

Please refer to the Intel

RAID Controller Configuration Guide for information about selecting

the appropriate RAID controllers and accessories for your RAID solution. For more information

on how to install RAID controllers into the server solution refer to the Intel

RAID Controller

Hardware User Guide. These guides are available at the Intel Support Web site:

http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/

2.2 Configuring a RAID Array

Data redundancy and system performance can be enhanced by correctly installing the RAID

controller and by choosing the right RAID level. The RAID level and the system usage model

should match. Other configuration options include matching the virtual drive stripe size to the

application. The default RAID controller configuration options are set to protect data, but they

are not optimized for performance. Please refer to the Intel

RAID Software User Guide for

information on how to setup RAID array solutions using Intel

RAID Controllers, and the RAID

Controller Performance Tuning Guide at http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/

for addition detail regarding these configuration options.

2.3 Getting the Latest RAID Software

The most current RAID drivers, firmware, and management software for Intel

RAID Controllers

can be downloaded from the Intel Support Web site:

http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/

3. Importance of a Backup Solution

Do not rely on a RAID subsystem as a single disaster protection plan; always keep an

independent verified backup of your data in a separate physical location.