• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Setting up raid

slightlyhuman

slightlyhuman

Lifer
I just got an asus a7v 266-E, Im guessing there are drivers for the promise raid controller to download somewhere? Can someone point me to that direction inoder to download the proper files I need for my new mobo(I buoght it used) . Another thing is I have 2 7200rpm 20 GB HD's, I wanna set them up to make one 40 gb HD, isnt that raid 0? Anyways , I have 2 cdroms also... So do I use one or two IDE cables to connect the HDs to the raid plug-in's? Also How do I connect my CD drives after the HDs are plugged in the raid plug-in's. I was thinking of this: Connect both my HDs to one 80mm conductor cable(they both do better with this cable, dont know why but I bought it anyways.) But both the HDs on the asme IDE cable and plug into raid primary, then plug my CD drives into primary on my regular IDE ports, and still have the CD drives on the asme cable. I just need to know how you people have your raid setup that have 2 drives combined as one.

THX , I know you people can help me like you always have.

LMK
 
[*]jumper both hdd's as master or single
[*]each hdd gets its own ide cable and ide raid port on the mobo
[*]put each cdrom on it's own cable and hook one up to ide0, then ide1
[*]A7V266-E promise raid driver is here
 
Yah, do as John said, but let me elaborate some:

1) 20GB x 2 = 40GB is a RAID 0 configuration. If one drive in the array fails, all data will be lost. You might see some performance increases and of course, you don't lose any overral storage capacity.

2) You should have 4 IDE headers on your board, 2 RAID channels, and 2 standard IDE channels. Again, as John said, place each drive you want in the RAID 0 Array on a seperate RAID header and the 2 optical drives on their own channels. The HDD's should use 80 conductor cables, you are fine with 40 conductor cables for your IDE optical drives (although 80 conductor is backwards compatible). If you don't want to buy/have enough cables, I would place the two optical drives on the same channel.

3) RAID mfgs. recommend placing different drives on different channels if there is a channel available to maximize throughput and avoid any conflicts on the same channel. Most people that have a RAID 0 set-up give each drive on the array a dedicated channel. I've seen a report or two here that says it makes no difference, but peace of mind would be worth the $5-$10 spent on an extra IDE cable (I have dozens, but thats from all the boards/cards/HDDs). Having the optical drives on their own channel avoids potential issues when burning from one drive directly to the other.

4) About configuring the RAID array initially. If it isn't enabled already, there is an option in the BIOS or a jumper on the mobo that will enable your onboard RAID controller. Its a good idea to disable this when you're not using it. If you plan to boot off an existing HDD (non-RAID), you can just enter the RAID config when it prompts you during boot-up and set your array type (RAID 0, 1, 0+1, JBOD etc.) as well as the stripe size. If you want to boot off your RAID array and load windows to it, you will need to put the promise drivers on a disc. During windows installation, it will ask you if you want to install 3rd party SCSI drivers, hit F6 and it will prompt you for the disk. Then you should be able to install Windows directly to the RAID array.

Chiz
 
Originally posted by: derrickperry
what if i wanted to do the other raid array, 1? like mirror each other, hwo do i go abou doing that?
Click to expand...

Same way, just choose RAID 1 when setting up your Array in the RAID controller's BIOS. It should lay it out in plain terms like

Create ARRAY:

1) RAID 0 - Striping
2) RAID 1 - Mirroring

Then choose the disks you want on the array and you should be ready to go.

Chiz
 
ok another question, do i ened to have win ME on both hd's with all the drivers for everything on both or what? and do I set one to slave and one to master or both to master.... or what, wait, did I already ask this question? please LMK and thx
 
Originally posted by: derrickperry
ok another question, do i ened to have win ME on both hd's with all the drivers for everything on both or what? and do I set one to slave and one to master or both to master.... or what, wait, did I already ask this question? please LMK and thx
Click to expand...

Are you looking to dual-boot or is ME going to be your only OS? When you create the RAID array using the RAID controller, it is essentially recognized as 1 drive afterwards by Windows. So no, you would not need to install everything twice. The difference is, with RAID 1, you'll essentially have a copy of the same information on both HDD's but you don't do any of this manually, the RAID controller and the software drivers do. RAID 0 you would essentially have half the piece of the puzzle for a full data set on each drive.

Double-check your manual about the setting of the drives, but I think they should both be set to master (from 3 raid cards, thats' been my experience).

Chiz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top