Dell XPS 710 - Manual (Page 75)

Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full storage capacities of the drives. For example, two 120-GB hard drives combine to
provide 240 GB of hard drive space on which to store data.
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. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy
advantages.
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 Hard Drives for RAID
Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. For an explanation of RAID levels
and their requirements, see
About Your RAID Configuration . For information on how to install a hard drive, see Installing a Hard Drive .
You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. The first method uses the Nvidia MediaShield ROM utility and is performed before you
install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses Nvidia MediaShield and is performed after you have installed the operating system
and Nvidia RAID drivers.
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 Entering System Setup ).
2. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight Drives, then press <Enter>.
3. Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the applicable SATA drive, then press <Enter>.
4. Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight RAID On, and then press <Enter>. Repeat the process, as needed, for each SATA hard drive.
5. Press <Esc>, press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight Save/Exit, and then press <Enter> to exit system setup and resume the boot process.
NOTE: In a RAID level 0 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive multiplied by the number of drives in the
configuration.
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 .