HP 6 Port SATA RAID Controller - Manual (Page 5)

Configuring an array 5
Configuring an array
Two utilities are provided to enable you to configure arrays on the controller:
• The menu-based RAID Configuration Utility, located on the controller BIOS, enables you to configure an
array even before the driver or operating system is installed. However, this utility can be opened and used
only while the system is rebooting, before any installed operating system is loaded. Also, you cannot
change the properties of an existing array using this tool.
The rest of this guide describes how to use this tool.
• The GUI-based HP Storage Manager is provided on the HP website as an executable file that you install
after you have installed the driver and operating system. This utility enables you to create new arrays and
change the properties of an existing array. You can use this utility at any convenient time after the system
has booted and the operating system has loaded.
For detailed information about using this tool, refer to the separate HP Storage Manager User Guide
provided with the utility.
Using the RAID Configuration Utility
The RAID Configuration Utility is loaded on the controller ROM. To run the utility, press the Ctrl+A keys or the F8
key (depending on the version of the ROM) when prompted by the following message during system startup:
Press <Ctrl><A> for Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
or
Press <F8> for HP Embedded SATA Setup
To select an option from any of the menus within the RAID Configuration Utility, browse with the arrow keys, and
then press the Enter key. In some cases, selecting an option displays another menu. To return to the previous
menu at any time, press the Esc key.
The main option on the RAID Configuration Utility menu is the array configuration utility, which enables you to:
• Create an array
• Manage an array
• Add or delete a hotspare
• Configure a drive
• Rebuild an array
• Verify drives
The procedures for performing each of these tasks are described in the following sections.
Creating an array
Before creating an array, be sure that the drives to be used for the array are installed in your system and have
been configured (on page 8). If the utility displays a drive in gray, the drive does not have any usable space,
and it cannot be used to create an array.
CAUTION: Before adding a drive to an array, back up any data on the drive. Otherwise, the data will be lost.
To create an array:
1. Power down the computer, and then restart it.
2. When the appropriate prompt appears during POST, press the Ctrl+A keys or the F8 key to access the RAID
Configuration Utility.
3. From the menu, select Array Configuration Utility.
4. From the array configuration utility menu, select Create Array.
5. Highlight a drive to be used in the new array, and then press the Insert key.
6. Repeat the previous step to select a second drive. (To deselect a drive, highlight the drive and press the
Delete key.)
7. Press the Enter key when both drives for the new array are selected.