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Setup 8400 for RAID
Hi all.
I have a new Dimension 8400 and just installed twin (2) SATA drives, which I would like to store data on the SATA drives using mirrored RAID-1 . I have an IDE drive that is the boot drive and hosts the operating system (Win XP Pro SP2).
I have enabled all drives from F2 setup, and are recognized. I can boot into OS, and I can see the blank. I have the RAID setting at auto-select (or some such setting). I tried to force the RAID option here, but it looked like it also wanted to place the IDE drive in the RAID "population" and that would not work, as I only want the SATA drives in the RAID array.
I am not sure how I setup RAID. I have not formatted the SATA drives yet. I would like to have the native (motherboard-based) hardware RAID and not use software, if I can.
Can someone point me to where I find a hardware setup ?
Actually it is fairly simple. Do not have a 8400 but XPS gen 2 which I setup RAID after purchasing.
- Install the Sata drive. I assume it matches the other one or is bigger. Any SATA port should work 1 - 3. Assume orginal drive is SATA port 0
- On Boot up go into Intel Application Accelerator (Located in Control Panel)
- Select The RAID migration option. Select SATA port 0 as the drive to migrate.
- Select RAID option 1 (May have to give the Array a name not important on name)
- Start Migration. May take a hour or so depending on size.
- A reboot.
- A reboot. At leas in my case.
Next boot up your done.
- Install the Sata drive. I assume it matches the other one or is bigger. Any SATA port should work 1 - 3. Assume orginal drive is SATA port 0
- "Sounds like you are using Intel software for RAID. Is there an option for the motherboard to run the RAID array (hardware), or is this Intel Accellerator hardware based ?"Your a little confused! Thats OK ...Intel "software" and (hardware) R the same thing. Your BIOS which I'm assume you consider (hardware) is almost the same program as Intel application accelerator "intel software for RAID." The only difference between the two is you will lose all of your data if you setup your RAID configuration through the BIOS(hardware.) The latest version of intel's application accelerator is availible at intels website. Your BIOS uses an older version of Intel's application accelerator(I'm not sure what version it is and I'm not going to restart my computer to find out either.) because Dell hasn't released a new BIOS update" its not compatible with the new chipset controller driver." It doesn't matter if they do because the "intel software for RAID" is the same thing.) if you go to intel's website you can download either the old or new (software) version for your computer. You can view my previous posts if you need a link. You should check dells support website to make sure you have the latest BIOS(hardware) update too! I recomend the (software) method. You will not lose any data, there is no difference in performance and I found it easier. I surfed the web while IAA copied/setup the Raid configuration and then restarted when if finished which completed the processes.Note if you configure Raid through the BIOS you need to get the correct chipset driver version of intel's application accelerator. If your bios uses the older version of IAA then you will have to use the old chipset driver. Durring the window installation.4.7.0.6815 is the latest version.
- As per the Dell manual, I changed the BIOS to RAID on my 8400 after installing a second Maxtor 160GB SATA drive on port 2. Then I used the Intel Application Accelerator utility to migrate to RAID 1. It took an hour or so and after a reboot, it was configured as RAID 1. This doesn't have any impact on the existing IDE devices like the DVD drives nor did it have any adverse impact on performance, if anything the system is somewhat faster.
e-Johnny
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Posted February 4th, 2005 18:00