Dell Precision 390 - Manual (Page 14)

RAID Level 10
RAID level 10 uses a data-staging storage technique known as "data parity." When data is written to the primary drive, the data is then duplicated on four
other drives. As opposed to a RAID level 1 setup which writes to one other volume that acts as a data mirror, a RAID level 10 configuration writes data to each
drive in increments which places data from each segment across multiple drives. A RAID level 10 configuration has higher data access rates but requires more
storage space than a RAID level 0 or RAID level 1 configuration.
If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the other surviving drives. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the
data from the surviving drives. Also, because data is duplicated on the primary and additional drives, four 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a
maximum of 240-GB on which to store data.
Configuring Your Computer for RAID
At some point you may want to configure your computer for RAID if you did not select a RAID configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have
at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see
Drives .
You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the Intel RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install
the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix Storage Console, and this method is
performed after you have installed the operating system and the Intel Matrix Storage Console. Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-
enabled mode before starting any of the RAID configuration procedures in this document.
Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode
1. Enter system setup (see Entering 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.
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 (two) of drives in
the configuration. In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration will be the smaller of the two drives used.
NOTICE: You will 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.