SRCS14L Intel (CPU), SRCS14L Datasheet - Page 17

• Manufacturer Part Number: SRCS14L
• Manufacturer: Intel (CPU)

Specifications of SRCS14L

• Lead Free Status / RoHS Status: Supplier Unconfirmed

RAID Functionality and Features
4.1
4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3
Technical Product Specification
Hierarchy
A fundamental purpose of a RAID system is to present a usable (with some level of redundancy)
data storage medium (or drive) to a host operating system. In accomplishing this, the Intel RAID
firmware is based on a four level hierarchal model. Each level has its own drives associated with it.
The basic rule is to build drives on a given level in the hierarchy; the drives of the next lower level
are used as components. So, in order to create a data drive (host drive/RAID volume) and present it
to the host operating system, the RAID firmware typically follows these steps:
Level 1: Physical Drives
Physical drives are located on the lowest level of the hierarchy. This includes hard disk drives,
removable hard disks, and some Magneto Optical drives. They are the basic components of all
drive constructions. However, before they can be used by the firmware, these hard drives must be
prepared by a process called initialization. During initialization each hard disk has configuration
information written to its physical medium in non-user accessible redundant areas. This
information allows a univocal identification even if the disk-ID or the controller is changed. For
reasons of data coherency, this information is extremely important for any drive construction
consisting of two or more physical drives.
Level 2: Logical Drives
Logical drives are constructed to obtain full independence of the physical coordinates of a
physical device. This is important because it allows one to rearrange the disk-IDs and channel
location of the physical drives of a disk array without compromising the integrity of the RAID
array disk. It also is what allows you to interchange disk arrays between compatible controllers.
You can create a logical drive manually by using one or more available physical drives. A logical
drive created manually in this way is presented directly to the host OS as a Host drive
drives in Level
Level 3: Array Drives
Array drives are located at this level in the hierarchy. Array drives always consist of logical drives
and consist of the following drive types:
1. One or more physical drives are selected and initialized
2. A logical drive is created for each physical device
3. The logical drives are grouped and an array drive is created
4. The RAID firmware designates the array drive as a host drive and presents it to the host OS
•
•
RAID 0 drives
RAID 1 drives
4). However, it is not associated with any array drive
Intel® Integrated RAID Controller SRCS14L
(see array drives in Level
(see host
4
3).
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