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Dell Storage Technology Foundations Online Training Course
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RAID
Overview
Single RAID Levels
Combined RAID Levels
Selecting a Level

PERC
Overview
PCI Based PERC
Integrated PERC

Clustering
High Availability

Review
Section Review
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PERC

PERC 3/DCLite/DC/QC

The PERC BIOS is similar in function to a computer's BIOS. All PERC 3 functions can be manipulated in its BIOS. Logical drives or virtual disks can also be configured in the BIOS. As the card is initialized, the following message will be displayed.

This image illustrates the messaged displayed as the PERC is initialized

NOTE Note: The sever may appear to be stalled as the PERC is initializing, but it is scanning all channels. Each device it finds will be initialized.

The keystroke CTRL+M is used to enter the PERC BIOS for the PCI PERC cards. The BIOS screen may not immediately appear after pressing CTRL+M; the PERC must fully initialize before the BIOS screen will be displayed.

This image displays the Management Menu of the PERC BIOS

Management Menu
The PERC 3/DCL/DC/QC Management Menu contains the configurable PERC options. The bottom of the screen shows navigation instructions or an explanation on how to configure a certain task.
Configure
The Configure submenu allows you to configure logical drives. Logical drives serve the same purpose as virtual disks. A logical drive must be configured in order for the operating system to recognize any hard disks. Without a logical drive created, the operating system will fail to recognize a hard disk and the installation will fail.   This image displays the Configuration submenu of the Management menu

PERC Configure Menu
  Option   Description
 

  Easy Configuration   Select this method to perform a basic logical drive configuration where every physical array you define is automatically associated with exactly one logical drive.

  New Configuration   Select this method to discard the existing configuration information and to configure new arrays and logical drives. In addition to providing the basic logical drive configuration functions, New Configuration allows you to associate logical drives with multiple arrays (spanning).

  View/Add Configuration   Select this method to examine the existing configuration and/or to specify additional arrays and logical drives. View/Add Configuration provides the same functions available in New Configuration.

  Clear Configuration   Select this option to erase the current configuration information from the PERC controller non-volatile memory.

  Specify Boot Logical Drive   Select this option to designate what logical drive to boot from.


Initialize
The Initialize option has no submenus. Choose this option from the main menu to initialize one or more logical drives. This action typically follows the configuration of a new logical drive.

WARNING! WARNING! INITIALIZING A LOGICAL DRIVE DESTROYS ALL DATA ON THE LOGICAL DRIVE.


Objects
The Objects option from the main menu allows access the controllers, logical drives, physical drives, and SCSI channels individually.

You can also change settings for each object.

  This image shows the Objects submenu of the Management menu

PERC Options Menu
  Option   Description
 

  Adapter   Choose Adapter from the Objects menu to select a controller (if the server has more than one) and to modify parameters.

  Logical Drive   Select this option to view logical drive information.

  Physical Drive   Select this option to view physical drive information.

  SCSI Channel   Choose this option from the main menu to select a SCSI channel on the currently selected controller. Termination and SCSI transfer modes can be managed here.

  Battery Information   Choose this option from main menu to view the battery backup information.

  Reset Battery Charge Counter   This option resets the battery charge counter.


Format
This option allows you to low-level format physical disks that are not part of a logical drive.

WARNING! WARNING! INITIALIZING A LOGICAL DRIVE DESTROYS ALL DATA ON THE LOGICAL DRIVE.

Since most SCSI disk drives are low-level formatted at the factory, this step is usually not necessary. You must format a disk only if:

  • The disk drive was not low-level formatted at the factory, or
  • An excessive number of media errors have been detected on the disk drive.

Rebuild
Choose the Rebuild option on the main menu to rebuild one or more failed disks.


Check Consistency
Choose this option to verify the redundancy data in logical drives that use RAID levels 1, 5, 10 and 50.


Select Adapter
If multiple adapters are installed, choose this option to manage another PERC adapter.

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