User`s manual

3-1
Chapter 3
RAID Modes, Firmware and Drivers
To change RAID modes from the AOC-USAS2-L8i/L8e add-on card’s default IT Mode,
you need to flash your system’s BIOS with a Firmware download and install drivers for
the RAID mode to your operating system.
3-1 RAID Modes
There are two RAID modes that are supported by the AOC-USAS2-L8i/L8e add-on
card:
• IT Mode (Initiator and Target Mode): This is the default mode for the
AOC-USAS2-L8e add-on card. The maximum support for this mode is up to 122
hard disk drives under expander topology. This mode does not support RAID.
This mode requires an IT mode firmware flash to the BIOS and an IT mode driver
installation to the OS.
• IR Mode (Integrated RAID Mode): In Integrated Raid™ mode the integrated ARM
chip on the AOC-USAS2-L8i add-on card creates Integrated Mirroring™ (IM, RAID
1), Integrated Mirroring Enhanced (IME, RAID 1E) and Integrated Striping (IS, RAID
0) through the chipset’s BIOS and the system’s OS. The maximum support for this
IR mode is up to 63 hard disk drives under an expander topology.
See Chapter 4: "Integrated Mirroring and Integrated Mirroring Enhanced" on
page 4-1 and Chapter 5: "Integrated Striping" on page 5-1 for details on Integrated
Mirroring Enhanced or Integrated Striping.
This RAID mode requires an IR mode firmware flash to the BIOS and an IT mode
driver installation to the OS.
3-2 Getting Firmware Downloads
Firmware for RAID modes can only be obtained through contacting SuperMicro
Technical Support for instructions and assistance to obtain firmware downloads.
Each of the RAID modes requires a different firmware download. Make sure the
firmware download corresponds to the RAID mode (IT or IR) that you wish to use before
installing it.
3-3 Downloading RAID Mode Drivers
To obtain drivers go to the SuperMicro FTP site and down the appropriate driver for the
operating system you are using.
The drivers can be found at the following FTP site:
ftp://ftp.supermicro.com/driver/SAS/LSI/2008/