Dell OptiPlex 755 - Manual (Page 20)

RAID Level 1 Configuration
RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is
also duplicated, or mirrored, on the second drive in the configuration.
If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from
the surviving drive.
Configuring Your Computer for RAID
You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the Intel RAID Option ROM utility and can be performed without an
operating system present on the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix Storage Console, and is performed
after the operating system and the Intel Matrix Storage Console have been installed. Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode
before you begin.
Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode
1. Enter system setup (see System Setup ).
2. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Drives, and press <Enter>.
3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight SATA Operation, and press <Enter>.
4. Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight RAID On, press <Enter>, and then press <Esc>.
5. Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and press <Enter> to exit system setup and resume the boot process.
Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel RAID Option ROM Utility
Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration
1. Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode ).
2. Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Create RAID Volume, and press <Enter>.
4. Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default, and press <Enter>.
NOTE: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.
NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see System Setup Options .
NOTE: Although any size of drives may be used to create a RAID configuration when using the Intel RAID Option ROM utility, ideally the drives should be
of equal size. In a RAID level 0 configuration, the size of the configuration will be the size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the
configuration (two). In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration will be the smaller of the two drives used.
NOTICE: You lose any data on your hard drives when you create a RAID configuration using the following procedure. Back up data that you want to
keep before continuing.
NOTE: Use the following procedure only if you are reinstalling your operating system. Do not use the following procedure to migrate an existing storage
configuration to RAID level 0 configuration.