4.4 Configuring the ControllerRAIDWatch Manager enables you to modify the configuration of the disk array controller from your manager console. You can set caching optimization parameters of the system, set I/O queue limitations, set drive optimization parameters, set RAID verification options, get information about current system and board status, download firmware or NVRAM data to the controller, set redundant controller options, and modify the RAID system password among other variables.
The following is a complete list of configuration controls and information displays (more information about many of these variables is available in the controller hardware and firmware documentation).
4.4.1 Caching
The data cache can be configured for optimal I/O performance using the following variables:
|
Cache Write Back. (Default controller setting.) Recommended operating mode, provides better performance. |
Cache Write Through. Used primarily if no cache battery backup is installed and there is increased likelihood of a power failure. |
|
IMPORTANT:
Optimization settings should not be changed after logical drives are created. Under some circumstances, changing the optimization setting after logical drives have been created will destroy existing data on those drives.
- Optimization for Random I/O. More common setting. Use this option for environments (e.g., database maintenance) with smaller I/O sizes.
- Optimization for Sequential I/O. Used for large I/O environments such as video recording and editing. Particularly useful where I/O read/write must be in sequential order.
4.4.2 Host-Side
Host-side SCSI Parameters (choose from the range):
- Maximum Queued I/O Count. Allows you to control the maximum size of the I/O queue. Available size selections: Auto, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024.
4.4.3 Drive-Side
Drive Side SCSI Parameters (choose from each range):
- Power-Up SCSI Reset. Choose Enabled or Disabled.
- SCSI Motor Spin-Up. Choose Enabled or Disabled. Enabled causes the controller to spin-up the SCSI drives at a spaced time interval rather than all at once.
- Maximum Tag Count. Available selections: Disable, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128.
- Disk Access Delay Time (Sec.). Available selections: No Delay, 5, 10, 15, 20. . .75.
- SCSI I/O Timeout (Sec.). Available selections: Default(7.0), 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
- Drive Check Period (Sec.). Available selections: Disabled, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30.
- SAF-TE Device Check Period (Sec.). Available selections: Disabled, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5.
- Drive Fail Swap Check Period (Sec.). Available selections: Disabled, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60.
- SMART. Available selections: Disabled, Detect Only, Clone Only, Clone&Replace.
- Detect: detect and report SMART errors
- Clone Only: clone drive data to spare automatically when an error is detected
- Clone&Replace: clone drive data to spare and replace drive with spare when cloning is finished
4.4.4 RAIDDisk Array Parameters (choose from each range):
- LD Rebuild Priority. Available selections: Low, Normal, Improved, High.
- Write Verify On LD Initialization. Choose Enabled or Disabled.
- Write Verify On LD Rebuild. Choose Enabled or Disabled.
- Write Verify On Normal Drives Access. Choose Enabled or Disabled.
4.4.5 ControllerInformation (no configurable parameters, readouts only)
Operation (choose from each range or enter a value):
- System: Total Cache Size, Firmware Version, Bootrecord Version, Serial Number, CPU Type.
- Board: CPU Temp Sensor, Board Temp Sensor, +3.45V Value, +5V Value, +12V Value
- Name: A user-configurable identifier for the controller. Note, the name and password fields combined have a maximum size of 16 characters.
- Password: A user-configurable security setting. Note, the password and name fields combined have a maximum size of 16 characters.
- Download: Choose Download Firmware, Download Firmware/Bootrecord, Download NVRAM, Upload NVRAM, Download BIOS. All of the Download functions will prompt for a file source from the current workstation. Upload NVRAM will prompt for a file destination at the current workstation.
- System:
- Mute Beeper – temporarily mutes the controller beeper if it is currently sounding;
- Reset Controller – resets the controller (similar to a PC reset), allowing configuration changes to take effect.
- Redundant:
- Controller Unique Identifier – This unique ID is used by controller to generate a controller-unique WWPN. WWPN is a Fibre channel port name. If redundant controller configuration is preferred and host interface is Fibre channel. Each controller in redundant controller configuration MUST be assigned with a unique ID from 1 to 65535;
- Redundant Controller Configuration – Enabled or Disabled depending on whether or not the current RAID has controller redundancy;
- Redundant Controller Channel – sets the communication channel for redundant controllers: choose RS-232 or SCSI bus.