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DualServ Pro - Server Guide
7
2 Fault-Tolerant Options
2.1 RAID Configuration
If your RM server contains a RAID controller, the drives in the system will have been configured into a
RAID array in the factory.
You may wish to reconfigure the RAID array to suit your particular needs. A configuration tool may be
invoked at the RAID controller sign-on during POST. This can be done by pressing <Esc> during
POST (when the RM symbol is visible) then <Ctrl-G> when prompted to open the Web BIOS
configuration utility. You are referred to the LSI documentation for instructions on using these tools.
These can be found on the RM Server CD supplied with the server.
2.2 MegaRAID Storage Manager
With LSI RAID controllers, a comprehensive set of manuals (PDF format), drivers and software are
supplied on the RM Server CD. The MegaRAID package, containing the MegaRAID Storage
Manager application, is used to view and manage the logical drives controlled by LSI Logic RAID
cards. MegaRAID can be used to run regular consistency checks on a RAID array, which is essential
for maintaining data redundancy and protecting against possible data corruption, as well as warning of
a potential disk failure.
The MegaRAID can be used to activate patrol read on the raided hard drives. Patrol read runs
continuously in the background whilst the server is switched on. Should it encounter a serious error it
will instigate a full consistency check of the hard disks.
Factory-installed instances of MegaRAID already have the patrol read function initialised. Manual
installations of MegaRAID will require you to set this up yourself. In addition, you can manually run a
consistency check. In order to set up or modify the consistency checks, or manually run one, see the
procedure below.
Factory-installed instances of MegaRAID are already set up to carry out regular checks at the correct
intervals. Manual installations of MegaRAID will require you to set this up yourself. In addition, you can
manually run a consistency check. In order to set up or modify the consistency checks, or manually
run one, see the procedure below.
RM recommends the following regimes for carrying out consistency checks, which depend on the total
size of all the hard disks in a RAID array.
• <500GB - Once every 4 weeks.
• >500GB and <1000GB - Once every 6 weeks.
• >1000GB - Once every 12 weeks.
Note: The consistency check improves the fault tolerance of your system and its regular use is
highly recommended.
The results of a consistency check are posted on the application event log and it is good practice to
monitor the log at regular intervals for warnings about disk errors or failures. The source for any log
entries related to MegaRAID is given as MegaServ.Log.
The MegaRAID Storage Manager application can be used in two modes: Read-Only and Full Access.
The advanced features of MegaRAID Storage Manager can only be accessed in Full Access mode,
which is password protected.
Warning: Full Access mode allows for the reconfiguration of your RAID array, potentially
leading to the loss of some or all of your data. RM recommends using the Read-Only mode
under normal circumstances and cannot take responsibility for the loss of any data as a result
of using any of the advanced features in Full Access mode.