Guest xylophone Posted August 4, 2007 Posted August 4, 2007 I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). Many thanks
Guest frodo@theshire.net Posted August 4, 2007 Posted August 4, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? it's associated with the driver for the HD interface; it includes the RAID functionality available w/ that interface. If the drive(s) are not set up for RAID you _MAY_ still need this, as the driver is a part of it. Removing it _MAY_ cause the machine to not boot, so be careful and research it a bit more before shooting yourself in the foot! It may also depend on what "mode" you've choosen for the ICH5/6/7 interface in the BIOS; there's a normal mode and an enhanced mode, the latter being more effcient but requireing a special driver (the normal mode maps it to standard IDE, and the built-in driver will work fine). Proceed cautiously, or just leave it alone. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Guest xylophone Posted August 5, 2007 Posted August 5, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? With respect, this does not answer my question, which was: "Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring?" I am not a techie. I understand most everything else on my PC, but not this. <frodo@theshire.net> wrote in message news:13b963rqntg3ca@corp.supernews.com... > it's associated with the driver for the HD interface; it includes the RAID > functionality available w/ that interface. If the drive(s) are not set up > for RAID you _MAY_ still need this, as the driver is a part of it. > Removing it _MAY_ cause the machine to not boot, so be careful and > research it a bit more before shooting yourself in the foot! It may also > depend on what "mode" you've choosen for the ICH5/6/7 interface in the > BIOS; there's a normal mode and an enhanced mode, the latter being more > effcient but requireing a special driver (the normal mode maps it to > standard IDE, and the built-in driver will work fine). Proceed > cautiously, or just leave it alone. > > "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". >
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted August 5, 2007 Posted August 5, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP SP2 >(by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a reason. >Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? >What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for >techies). Many thanks >
Guest xylophone Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first scenario, with a single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for any > further clarifications once you've digested what you can. > http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm > > -- > Gary S. Terhune > MS-MVP Shell/User > http://www.grystmill.com > > "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message > news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP >>SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a >>reason. Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use >>this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is >>strictly for techies). Many thanks >> > >
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found the article for you using Google. When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping in a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems moribund after another day, consider starting again with more specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be applied to your own needs. -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation of what > RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have lots of digital > photos and videos, and even with my single hard drive at present, RAID > would provide benefits, although I am not sure what these are. Were I > then to upgrade to a second, external hard drive, there would be clear and > major performance and loss of data benefits. > > I would be grateful if you would explain the first scenario, with a single > hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. > > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message > news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for any >> further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >> >> -- >> Gary S. Terhune >> MS-MVP Shell/User >> http://www.grystmill.com >> >> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP >>>SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a >>>reason. Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use >>>this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is >>>strictly for techies). Many thanks >>> >> >> > >
Guest xylophone Posted August 7, 2007 Posted August 7, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Many thanks, Gary. What you say about personal usage I can see makes sense. So I will abandon thoughts of RAID. "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message news:%23PUa3qE2HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found the > article for you using Google. > > When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and you > aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. And by > definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached to a RAID > controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one thing: If the > motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, rebuilding a RAID array is > a lot more difficult than just plopping in a hard drive. I used to use > RAID, but found that the drawbacks greatly outweigh the benefits on a > personal computer. IMO, it's better to use single drive(s) and a decent > backup scheme. > > Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the technology, > I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come along who's > interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems moribund after > another day, consider starting again with more specific questions about > the technology and how it might decently be applied to your own needs. > > -- > Gary S. Terhune > MS-MVP Shell/User > http://www.grystmill.com > > "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message > news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation of >> what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have lots of >> digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard drive at present, >> RAID would provide benefits, although I am not sure what these are. Were >> I then to upgrade to a second, external hard drive, there would be clear >> and major performance and loss of data benefits. >> >> I would be grateful if you would explain the first scenario, with a >> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >> >> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for any >>> further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>> >>> -- >>> Gary S. Terhune >>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>> http://www.grystmill.com >>> >>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP >>>>SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a >>>>reason. Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use >>>>this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is >>>>strictly for techies). Many thanks >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted August 7, 2007 Posted August 7, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Not sure how your hardware is set up, but what you may want with that controller is the JBOD function -- Just a Bunch of Disks -- not really RAID, even if on a RAID controller. -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:ekVGZ1M2HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Many thanks, Gary. > > What you say about personal usage I can see makes sense. So I will > abandon thoughts of RAID. > > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message > news:%23PUa3qE2HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found the >> article for you using Google. >> >> When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and you >> aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. And by >> definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached to a RAID >> controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one thing: If the >> motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, rebuilding a RAID array is >> a lot more difficult than just plopping in a hard drive. I used to use >> RAID, but found that the drawbacks greatly outweigh the benefits on a >> personal computer. IMO, it's better to use single drive(s) and a decent >> backup scheme. >> >> Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the technology, >> I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come along who's >> interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems moribund after >> another day, consider starting again with more specific questions about >> the technology and how it might decently be applied to your own needs. >> >> -- >> Gary S. Terhune >> MS-MVP Shell/User >> http://www.grystmill.com >> >> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation of >>> what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have lots of >>> digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard drive at >>> present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not sure what these >>> are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external hard drive, there >>> would be clear and major performance and loss of data benefits. >>> >>> I would be grateful if you would explain the first scenario, with a >>> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >>> >>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >>> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for any >>>> further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Gary S. Terhune >>>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>>> http://www.grystmill.com >>>> >>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently discontinued) XP >>>>>SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage Manager, presumably for a >>>>>reason. Darn if I can figure out that reason. Why should I wish to use >>>>>this thing? What benefits or advantages would it bring? (the Manual is >>>>>strictly for techies). Many thanks >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Guest Bill Drake Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID array in single-drive mode: 1. There are two modes in which an Intel-chipset motherboard can access its Hard Disks - Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode. 2. Standard Mode (also known as "compatibility mode") is the default. This mode is compatible with the Microsoft Hard Disk Controller Driver (ATAPI.SYS) shipped with Windows 2k and XP. This is the mode in which a default Windows installation can "see" the hard disk - but it has no RAID performance advantages such as NCQ, dedicated I/O, mirroring, striping, RAID or eSata. 3. Enhanced RAID Mode (also known as "go-fast mode") is a special mode that requires two processes to be completed before the mode can be activated... a) Enhanced Mode must be activated and set for RAID capability in the motherboard CMOS setup *BEFORE* Windows is installed b) Dedicated Intel-specific Hard Disk Controller drivers must be installed using a special "F6 install floppy-disk" during the installation of Windows. There is a specific change to the standard Windows installation procedure which must be followed in order to install the special Hard Disk Controller drivers. If this procedure is not followed correctly, you will NOT be able to "see" the hard disk to partition and format during installation. 4. Benefits of Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: a) The chipset allows for a special dedicated I/O Bus - used only by the RAID Controllers - when run in enhanced mode. This means that I/O traffic that would normally clog the PCI channel when the chip is run in compatibility mode runs on the dedicated IDE/SATA I/O Bus instead. b) The performance benefit is especially noticeable if there is lots of AGP or PCI traffic (fancy video card and/or fancy sound card or just lots of PCI cards) in your machine - as the two buses are both DMA busmasters and can concurrently access the processor without causing the other bus to stall. 5. Caveats and "gotchas" when running Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: a) System Utilities that monitor the health of your Hard Disk (such as the System Doctor element of Norton Utilities SystemWorks) may have trouble "seeing" your RAID array and automatically reporting disk health. Ditto for Temperature/Voltage/Fan monitoring software (such as Motherboard Monitor). The above compatibility issues are normally fixed by updating both the software (Eg: SystemWorks and/or Motherboard Monitor) and the hard disk controller drivers. However, in some cases it is *downgrading* the controller drivers that fixes the problem, not upgrading. Don't ask how long it took to figure this out. You don't want to know... :-( b) Do not even consider using a RAID array without a complete, verified and proven backup facility with imaging capability. You must also CONFIRM that the restore process works properly when run from the backup-supplier's bootable restore-CD-ROM. Personally, I think that anyone who runs a computer today without verified and proven image-backup-capability is crazy by definition - but this is even more critical when using RAID in either single-disk or multi-disk mode. The storage recovery utilities that allow recovery of single-disk-drive data using the standard ATAPI.SYS driver do NOT work on data strewn across multiple disks where the disk failure is extensive enough that the RAID array is unable to rebuild itself automatically. You MUST have backup that is completely independent of the array. (Eg: Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage) 6. The appropriate set of RAID Array Drivers for Intel-Chipset boards varies with the model of the Southbridge Chip or I/O Controller Hub installed on your motherboard. There are currently five different chipsets which require consideration: a) ICH5R - This is the original RAID-Array chipset. It is the most cranky of the chipsets as far as finding compatible drivers. This chipset also had extremely erratic and unreliable BIOS support when first released. It is absolutely mandatory that the latest motherboard BIOS update be installed - and the CMOS values be completely erased and replaced with valid data - before this chipset is set to RAID mode and the F6-install-floppy is used. NCQ support can be problematic with this chipset. b) ICH6R - I don't know much about this chipset. c) ICH7R - This is the most widely-compatible RAID-Array chipset. It is the last chipset Intel made that had standard PATA IDE connections as well as SATA support. d) ICH8R - This is the first RAID-Array chipset that Intel made with SATA only support. When first released, it was a compatibility nightmare as far as connecting to SATA DVD-ROM or SATA DVD-RW Drives was concerned. You *must* ensure that you are using the latest motherboard BIOS for this chipset - and that the motherboard is updated as for the ICH5R before Windows installation. e) ICH9R - This is the current RAID-Array chipset offered from Intel with its latest motherboards. There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed in this post. The above is just the basics. You will need to know the particulars of your motherboard, its Southbridge or I/O Controller Hub details, and the compatibility issues of the particular version of the RAID drivers you contemplate using. I recommend further research in the tech-support newsgroups specific to your particular make and model of motherboard before you even think about implementation. Best I can do for now. <tm> Bill Gary S. Terhune wrote: > Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found > the article for you using Google. > > When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and > you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. > And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached > to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one > thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, > rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping in > a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks > greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's > better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. > > Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the > technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come > along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems > moribund after another day, consider starting again with more > specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be > applied to your own needs. > > "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message > news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation >> of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have >> lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard >> drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not >> sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external >> hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of >> data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first >> scenario, with a >> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >> >> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for >>> any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>> >>> -- >>> Gary S. Terhune >>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>> http://www.grystmill.com >>> >>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>> I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently >>>> discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage >>>> Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that >>>> reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or >>>> advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). Many >>>> thanks
Guest xylophone Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Bill Re enhanced mode, I assume that as this manager came installed on my Dell, it already has the necessary drivers. I am unsure, however, where I should look for these to make sure. "Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message news:e2XWKuW2HHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID > array in single-drive mode: > > 1. There are two modes in which an Intel-chipset motherboard can > access its Hard Disks - Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode. > > 2. Standard Mode (also known as "compatibility mode") is the default. > This mode is compatible with the Microsoft Hard Disk Controller > Driver (ATAPI.SYS) shipped with Windows 2k and XP. This is > the mode in which a default Windows installation can "see" the > hard disk - but it has no RAID performance advantages such as > NCQ, dedicated I/O, mirroring, striping, RAID or eSata. > > 3. Enhanced RAID Mode (also known as "go-fast mode") is a special > mode that requires two processes to be completed before the mode > can be activated... > > a) Enhanced Mode must be activated and set for RAID capability > in the motherboard CMOS setup *BEFORE* Windows is > installed > > b) Dedicated Intel-specific Hard Disk Controller drivers must be > installed using a special "F6 install floppy-disk" during the > installation of Windows. There is a specific change to the > standard Windows installation procedure which must be > followed in order to install the special Hard Disk Controller > drivers. If this procedure is not followed correctly, you will > NOT be able to "see" the hard disk to partition and format > during installation. > > 4. Benefits of Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: > > a) The chipset allows for a special dedicated I/O Bus - used only > by the RAID Controllers - when run in enhanced mode. This > means that I/O traffic that would normally clog the PCI channel > when the chip is run in compatibility mode runs on the dedicated > IDE/SATA I/O Bus instead. > > b) The performance benefit is especially noticeable if there is lots of > AGP or PCI traffic (fancy video card and/or fancy sound card or > just lots of PCI cards) in your machine - as the two buses are > both DMA busmasters and can concurrently access the processor > without causing the other bus to stall. > > 5. Caveats and "gotchas" when running Enhanced SATA RAID mode > are as follows: > > a) System Utilities that monitor the health of your Hard Disk (such > as the System Doctor element of Norton Utilities SystemWorks) > may have trouble "seeing" your RAID array and automatically > reporting disk health. Ditto for Temperature/Voltage/Fan > monitoring software (such as Motherboard Monitor). > > The above compatibility issues are normally fixed by updating both > the software (Eg: SystemWorks and/or Motherboard Monitor) > and the hard disk controller drivers. However, in some cases it > is *downgrading* the controller drivers that fixes the problem, > not upgrading. Don't ask how long it took to figure this out. > You don't want to know... :-( > > b) Do not even consider using a RAID array without a complete, > verified and proven backup facility with imaging capability. You > must also CONFIRM that the restore process works properly > when run from the backup-supplier's bootable restore-CD-ROM. > > Personally, I think that anyone who runs a computer today > without verified and proven image-backup-capability is crazy by > definition - but this is even more critical when using RAID in > either > single-disk or multi-disk mode. The storage recovery utilities > that > allow recovery of single-disk-drive data using the standard > ATAPI.SYS driver do NOT work on data strewn across multiple > disks where the disk failure is extensive enough that the RAID > array is unable to rebuild itself automatically. You MUST have > backup that is completely independent of the array. (Eg: Norton > Ghost or Acronis TrueImage) > > 6. The appropriate set of RAID Array Drivers for Intel-Chipset boards > varies with the model of the Southbridge Chip or I/O Controller Hub > installed on your motherboard. There are currently five different > chipsets which require consideration: > > a) ICH5R - This is the original RAID-Array chipset. It is the most > cranky of the chipsets as far as finding compatible drivers. This > chipset also had extremely erratic and unreliable BIOS support > when first released. It is absolutely mandatory that the latest > motherboard BIOS update be installed - and the CMOS values > be completely erased and replaced with valid data - before this > chipset is set to RAID mode and the F6-install-floppy is used. > NCQ support can be problematic with this chipset. > > b) ICH6R - I don't know much about this chipset. > > c) ICH7R - This is the most widely-compatible RAID-Array chipset. > It is the last chipset Intel made that had standard PATA IDE > connections as well as SATA support. > > d) ICH8R - This is the first RAID-Array chipset that Intel made with > SATA only support. When first released, it was a compatibility > nightmare as far as connecting to SATA DVD-ROM or SATA > DVD-RW Drives was concerned. You *must* ensure that you > are using the latest motherboard BIOS for this chipset - and that > the motherboard is updated as for the ICH5R before Windows > installation. > > e) ICH9R - This is the current RAID-Array chipset offered from > Intel with its latest motherboards. > > > There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed > in this post. The above is just the basics. You will need to know the > particulars of your motherboard, its Southbridge or I/O Controller Hub > details, and the compatibility issues of the particular version of the > RAID > drivers you contemplate using. I recommend further research in the > tech-support newsgroups specific to your particular make and model > of motherboard before you even think about implementation. > > > Best I can do for now. <tm> > > > Bill > > > Gary S. Terhune wrote: >> Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found >> the article for you using Google. >> >> When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and >> you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. >> And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached >> to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one >> thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, >> rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping in >> a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks >> greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's >> better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. >> >> Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the >> technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come >> along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems >> moribund after another day, consider starting again with more >> specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be >> applied to your own needs. >> >> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation >>> of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have >>> lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard >>> drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not >>> sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external >>> hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of >>> data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first >>> scenario, with a >>> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >>> >>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >>> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for >>>> any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Gary S. Terhune >>>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>>> http://www.grystmill.com >>>> >>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>> I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently >>>>> discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage >>>>> Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that >>>>> reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or >>>>> advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). Many >>>>> thanks > > > >
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? The Dell downloads site for that model should have the drivers, probably a specific set intended for copying to a floppy or CD for use during installation. And I would NOT assume that Dell set the machine up using Enhanced Mode. Check BIOS to see if it is enabled. -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message news:eEsMWvZ2HHA.6128@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Bill > > Re enhanced mode, I assume that as this manager came installed on my Dell, > it already has the necessary drivers. I am unsure, however, where I > should look for these to make sure. > > > "Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message > news:e2XWKuW2HHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID >> array in single-drive mode: >> >> 1. There are two modes in which an Intel-chipset motherboard can >> access its Hard Disks - Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode. >> >> 2. Standard Mode (also known as "compatibility mode") is the default. >> This mode is compatible with the Microsoft Hard Disk Controller >> Driver (ATAPI.SYS) shipped with Windows 2k and XP. This is >> the mode in which a default Windows installation can "see" the >> hard disk - but it has no RAID performance advantages such as >> NCQ, dedicated I/O, mirroring, striping, RAID or eSata. >> >> 3. Enhanced RAID Mode (also known as "go-fast mode") is a special >> mode that requires two processes to be completed before the mode >> can be activated... >> >> a) Enhanced Mode must be activated and set for RAID capability >> in the motherboard CMOS setup *BEFORE* Windows is >> installed >> >> b) Dedicated Intel-specific Hard Disk Controller drivers must be >> installed using a special "F6 install floppy-disk" during the >> installation of Windows. There is a specific change to the >> standard Windows installation procedure which must be >> followed in order to install the special Hard Disk Controller >> drivers. If this procedure is not followed correctly, you will >> NOT be able to "see" the hard disk to partition and format >> during installation. >> >> 4. Benefits of Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: >> >> a) The chipset allows for a special dedicated I/O Bus - used only >> by the RAID Controllers - when run in enhanced mode. This >> means that I/O traffic that would normally clog the PCI channel >> when the chip is run in compatibility mode runs on the dedicated >> IDE/SATA I/O Bus instead. >> >> b) The performance benefit is especially noticeable if there is lots >> of >> AGP or PCI traffic (fancy video card and/or fancy sound card or >> just lots of PCI cards) in your machine - as the two buses are >> both DMA busmasters and can concurrently access the processor >> without causing the other bus to stall. >> >> 5. Caveats and "gotchas" when running Enhanced SATA RAID mode >> are as follows: >> >> a) System Utilities that monitor the health of your Hard Disk (such >> as the System Doctor element of Norton Utilities SystemWorks) >> may have trouble "seeing" your RAID array and automatically >> reporting disk health. Ditto for Temperature/Voltage/Fan >> monitoring software (such as Motherboard Monitor). >> >> The above compatibility issues are normally fixed by updating both >> the software (Eg: SystemWorks and/or Motherboard Monitor) >> and the hard disk controller drivers. However, in some cases it >> is *downgrading* the controller drivers that fixes the problem, >> not upgrading. Don't ask how long it took to figure this out. >> You don't want to know... :-( >> >> b) Do not even consider using a RAID array without a complete, >> verified and proven backup facility with imaging capability. You >> must also CONFIRM that the restore process works properly >> when run from the backup-supplier's bootable restore-CD-ROM. >> >> Personally, I think that anyone who runs a computer today >> without verified and proven image-backup-capability is crazy by >> definition - but this is even more critical when using RAID in >> either >> single-disk or multi-disk mode. The storage recovery utilities >> that >> allow recovery of single-disk-drive data using the standard >> ATAPI.SYS driver do NOT work on data strewn across multiple >> disks where the disk failure is extensive enough that the RAID >> array is unable to rebuild itself automatically. You MUST have >> backup that is completely independent of the array. (Eg: Norton >> Ghost or Acronis TrueImage) >> >> 6. The appropriate set of RAID Array Drivers for Intel-Chipset boards >> varies with the model of the Southbridge Chip or I/O Controller Hub >> installed on your motherboard. There are currently five different >> chipsets which require consideration: >> >> a) ICH5R - This is the original RAID-Array chipset. It is the most >> cranky of the chipsets as far as finding compatible drivers. This >> chipset also had extremely erratic and unreliable BIOS support >> when first released. It is absolutely mandatory that the latest >> motherboard BIOS update be installed - and the CMOS values >> be completely erased and replaced with valid data - before this >> chipset is set to RAID mode and the F6-install-floppy is used. >> NCQ support can be problematic with this chipset. >> >> b) ICH6R - I don't know much about this chipset. >> >> c) ICH7R - This is the most widely-compatible RAID-Array chipset. >> It is the last chipset Intel made that had standard PATA IDE >> connections as well as SATA support. >> >> d) ICH8R - This is the first RAID-Array chipset that Intel made with >> SATA only support. When first released, it was a compatibility >> nightmare as far as connecting to SATA DVD-ROM or SATA >> DVD-RW Drives was concerned. You *must* ensure that you >> are using the latest motherboard BIOS for this chipset - and that >> the motherboard is updated as for the ICH5R before Windows >> installation. >> >> e) ICH9R - This is the current RAID-Array chipset offered from >> Intel with its latest motherboards. >> >> >> There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed >> in this post. The above is just the basics. You will need to know the >> particulars of your motherboard, its Southbridge or I/O Controller Hub >> details, and the compatibility issues of the particular version of the >> RAID >> drivers you contemplate using. I recommend further research in the >> tech-support newsgroups specific to your particular make and model >> of motherboard before you even think about implementation. >> >> >> Best I can do for now. <tm> >> >> >> Bill >> >> >> Gary S. Terhune wrote: >>> Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found >>> the article for you using Google. >>> >>> When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and >>> you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal usage. >>> And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's attached >>> to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell you one >>> thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, >>> rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping in >>> a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks >>> greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's >>> better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. >>> >>> Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the >>> technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come >>> along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems >>> moribund after another day, consider starting again with more >>> specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be >>> applied to your own needs. >>> >>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation >>>> of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have >>>> lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard >>>> drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not >>>> sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external >>>> hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of >>>> data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first >>>> scenario, with a >>>> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >>>> >>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >>>> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for >>>>> any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>>>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Gary S. Terhune >>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>>>> http://www.grystmill.com >>>>> >>>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>> I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently >>>>>> discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage >>>>>> Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that >>>>>> reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or >>>>>> advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). Many >>>>>> thanks >> >> >> >> > >
Guest Bill Drake Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Hi, xylophone. If you have the Matrix Storage Manager already installed, you should see the Intel Drivers installed in Device Manager in parallel with the standard Microsoft Drivers. To confirm the above, open Device Manager and Check under the "SCSI and RAID Controllers" section for the presence of the "Intel XXXXXXR SATA RAID Controller". Open the Properties for this item and check the driver details. If this item is present, you will see a copy of iastor.sys. This is the RAID Driver upon which all the rest of the features of the RAID Controller software is based. If this is present, you are running in Enhanced RAID mode. At that point, you then need to check the version numbers on the drivers and confirm which version you are running. If you have the controller-management software installed (which I think is installed because your previous posts indicate this was your original starting point), then the Controller-management software should also tell you what version you are currently running. From there, go to the appropriate newsgroups and create a post which details what you are running now - and ask for help on what updates/upgrades are appropriate for your current and/or planned configuration. Best I can do for now. <tm> Bill xylophone wrote: > Bill > > Re enhanced mode, I assume that as this manager came installed on my > Dell, it already has the necessary drivers. I am unsure, however, > where I should look for these to make sure. > > > "Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message > news:e2XWKuW2HHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID >> array in single-drive mode: >> >> 1. There are two modes in which an Intel-chipset motherboard can >> access its Hard Disks - Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode. >> >> 2. Standard Mode (also known as "compatibility mode") is the default. >> This mode is compatible with the Microsoft Hard Disk Controller >> Driver (ATAPI.SYS) shipped with Windows 2k and XP. This is >> the mode in which a default Windows installation can "see" the >> hard disk - but it has no RAID performance advantages such as >> NCQ, dedicated I/O, mirroring, striping, RAID or eSata. >> >> 3. Enhanced RAID Mode (also known as "go-fast mode") is a special >> mode that requires two processes to be completed before the mode >> can be activated... >> >> a) Enhanced Mode must be activated and set for RAID capability >> in the motherboard CMOS setup *BEFORE* Windows is >> installed >> >> b) Dedicated Intel-specific Hard Disk Controller drivers must be >> installed using a special "F6 install floppy-disk" during the >> installation of Windows. There is a specific change to the >> standard Windows installation procedure which must be >> followed in order to install the special Hard Disk Controller >> drivers. If this procedure is not followed correctly, you >> will NOT be able to "see" the hard disk to partition and >> format during installation. >> >> 4. Benefits of Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: >> >> a) The chipset allows for a special dedicated I/O Bus - used only >> by the RAID Controllers - when run in enhanced mode. This >> means that I/O traffic that would normally clog the PCI >> channel when the chip is run in compatibility mode runs on >> the dedicated IDE/SATA I/O Bus instead. >> >> b) The performance benefit is especially noticeable if there is >> lots of AGP or PCI traffic (fancy video card and/or fancy >> sound card or just lots of PCI cards) in your machine - as >> the two buses are both DMA busmasters and can concurrently >> access the processor without causing the other bus to stall. >> >> 5. Caveats and "gotchas" when running Enhanced SATA RAID mode >> are as follows: >> >> a) System Utilities that monitor the health of your Hard Disk >> (such as the System Doctor element of Norton Utilities >> SystemWorks) may have trouble "seeing" your RAID array and >> automatically reporting disk health. Ditto for >> Temperature/Voltage/Fan monitoring software (such as >> Motherboard Monitor). The above compatibility issues are normally fixed >> by updating >> both the software (Eg: SystemWorks and/or Motherboard Monitor) >> and the hard disk controller drivers. However, in some cases >> it is *downgrading* the controller drivers that fixes the >> problem, not upgrading. Don't ask how long it took to figure >> this out. You don't want to know... :-( >> >> b) Do not even consider using a RAID array without a complete, >> verified and proven backup facility with imaging capability. You >> must also CONFIRM that the restore process works properly >> when run from the backup-supplier's bootable restore-CD-ROM. >> >> Personally, I think that anyone who runs a computer today >> without verified and proven image-backup-capability is crazy >> by definition - but this is even more critical when using >> RAID in either >> single-disk or multi-disk mode. The storage recovery >> utilities that >> allow recovery of single-disk-drive data using the standard >> ATAPI.SYS driver do NOT work on data strewn across multiple >> disks where the disk failure is extensive enough that the RAID >> array is unable to rebuild itself automatically. You MUST >> have backup that is completely independent of the array. (Eg: >> Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage) >> >> 6. The appropriate set of RAID Array Drivers for Intel-Chipset boards >> varies with the model of the Southbridge Chip or I/O Controller >> Hub installed on your motherboard. There are currently five >> different chipsets which require consideration: >> >> a) ICH5R - This is the original RAID-Array chipset. It is the >> most cranky of the chipsets as far as finding compatible >> drivers. This chipset also had extremely erratic and >> unreliable BIOS support when first released. It is >> absolutely mandatory that the latest motherboard BIOS update >> be installed - and the CMOS values be completely erased and >> replaced with valid data - before this chipset is set to RAID >> mode and the F6-install-floppy is used. NCQ support can be >> problematic with this chipset. b) ICH6R - I don't know much about this >> chipset. >> >> c) ICH7R - This is the most widely-compatible RAID-Array chipset. >> It is the last chipset Intel made that had standard PATA IDE >> connections as well as SATA support. >> >> d) ICH8R - This is the first RAID-Array chipset that Intel made >> with SATA only support. When first released, it was a >> compatibility nightmare as far as connecting to SATA DVD-ROM >> or SATA DVD-RW Drives was concerned. You *must* ensure that >> you are using the latest motherboard BIOS for this chipset - >> and that the motherboard is updated as for the ICH5R before >> Windows installation. >> >> e) ICH9R - This is the current RAID-Array chipset offered from >> Intel with its latest motherboards. >> >> >> There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed >> in this post. The above is just the basics. You will need to know >> the particulars of your motherboard, its Southbridge or I/O >> Controller Hub details, and the compatibility issues of the >> particular version of the RAID >> drivers you contemplate using. I recommend further research in the >> tech-support newsgroups specific to your particular make and model >> of motherboard before you even think about implementation. >> >> >> Best I can do for now. <tm> >> >> >> Bill >> >> >> Gary S. Terhune wrote: >>> Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found >>> the article for you using Google. >>> >>> When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and >>> you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal >>> usage. And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's >>> attached to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell >>> you one thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, >>> rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping >>> in a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks >>> greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's >>> better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. >>> >>> Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the >>> technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come >>> along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems >>> moribund after another day, consider starting again with more >>> specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be >>> applied to your own needs. >>> >>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation >>>> of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have >>>> lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard >>>> drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not >>>> sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external >>>> hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of >>>> data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first >>>> scenario, with a >>>> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >>>> >>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >>>> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for >>>>> any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>>>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Gary S. Terhune >>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>>>> http://www.grystmill.com >>>>> >>>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>> I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently >>>>>> discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage >>>>>> Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that >>>>>> reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or >>>>>> advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). >>>>>> Many thanks
Guest frodo@theshire.net Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Yo Bill, that was a great write up on the ICHx chipset! I knew a lot of that info before, kinda sort-of, but your write-up made it very very clear - thanks for the info!! I am archiving it away for future reference. FWIW, my ICH5 setup has been working just great for years, in enhanced mode w/ RAID 0 (don't shudder now!). Setup was straight forward following the instruction included w/ the motherboard (ABIT). And you're right, finding an imaging program that can save AND RESTORE is critical.
Guest xylophone Posted August 8, 2007 Posted August 8, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Bill, Have checked all that you say and what is installed on my PC complies. So it appears I have advanced RAID software installed. This takes me to a Intel Matrix Storage Console from where I can create a RAID volume. I had Ghost but could not understand it so I now have True Image, but on my PC at my other house, so that will have to wait. I assume I should install an external hard drive for the backup? If I do so, which I agree I should anyway, will the Storage Console install RAID on the external drive or both drives? I am trying to visualise what happens. "Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message news:eQ7lCEd2HHA.6072@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > Hi, xylophone. If you have the Matrix Storage Manager > already installed, you should see the Intel Drivers installed > in Device Manager in parallel with the standard Microsoft > Drivers. > > To confirm the above, open Device Manager and Check > under the "SCSI and RAID Controllers" section for the > presence of the "Intel XXXXXXR SATA RAID Controller". > > Open the Properties for this item and check the driver details. > If this item is present, you will see a copy of iastor.sys. > This is the RAID Driver upon which all the rest of the > features of the RAID Controller software is based. If > this is present, you are running in Enhanced RAID mode. > > > At that point, you then need to check the version numbers > on the drivers and confirm which version you are running. > > If you have the controller-management software installed > (which I think is installed because your previous posts > indicate this was your original starting point), then the > Controller-management software should also tell you what > version you are currently running. > > > From there, go to the appropriate newsgroups and create > a post which details what you are running now - and ask > for help on what updates/upgrades are appropriate for > your current and/or planned configuration. > > > > Best I can do for now. <tm> > > > Bill > > > xylophone wrote: >> Bill >> >> Re enhanced mode, I assume that as this manager came installed on my >> Dell, it already has the necessary drivers. I am unsure, however, >> where I should look for these to make sure. >> >> >> "Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message >> news:e2XWKuW2HHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>> Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID >>> array in single-drive mode: >>> >>> 1. There are two modes in which an Intel-chipset motherboard can >>> access its Hard Disks - Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode. >>> >>> 2. Standard Mode (also known as "compatibility mode") is the default. >>> This mode is compatible with the Microsoft Hard Disk Controller >>> Driver (ATAPI.SYS) shipped with Windows 2k and XP. This is >>> the mode in which a default Windows installation can "see" the >>> hard disk - but it has no RAID performance advantages such as >>> NCQ, dedicated I/O, mirroring, striping, RAID or eSata. >>> >>> 3. Enhanced RAID Mode (also known as "go-fast mode") is a special >>> mode that requires two processes to be completed before the mode >>> can be activated... >>> >>> a) Enhanced Mode must be activated and set for RAID capability >>> in the motherboard CMOS setup *BEFORE* Windows is >>> installed >>> >>> b) Dedicated Intel-specific Hard Disk Controller drivers must be >>> installed using a special "F6 install floppy-disk" during the >>> installation of Windows. There is a specific change to the >>> standard Windows installation procedure which must be >>> followed in order to install the special Hard Disk Controller >>> drivers. If this procedure is not followed correctly, you >>> will NOT be able to "see" the hard disk to partition and >>> format during installation. >>> >>> 4. Benefits of Enhanced SATA RAID mode are as follows: >>> >>> a) The chipset allows for a special dedicated I/O Bus - used only >>> by the RAID Controllers - when run in enhanced mode. This >>> means that I/O traffic that would normally clog the PCI >>> channel when the chip is run in compatibility mode runs on >>> the dedicated IDE/SATA I/O Bus instead. >>> >>> b) The performance benefit is especially noticeable if there is >>> lots of AGP or PCI traffic (fancy video card and/or fancy >>> sound card or just lots of PCI cards) in your machine - as >>> the two buses are both DMA busmasters and can concurrently >>> access the processor without causing the other bus to stall. >>> >>> 5. Caveats and "gotchas" when running Enhanced SATA RAID mode >>> are as follows: >>> >>> a) System Utilities that monitor the health of your Hard Disk >>> (such as the System Doctor element of Norton Utilities >>> SystemWorks) may have trouble "seeing" your RAID array and >>> automatically reporting disk health. Ditto for >>> Temperature/Voltage/Fan monitoring software (such as >>> Motherboard Monitor). The above compatibility issues are normally fixed >>> by updating >>> both the software (Eg: SystemWorks and/or Motherboard Monitor) >>> and the hard disk controller drivers. However, in some cases >>> it is *downgrading* the controller drivers that fixes the >>> problem, not upgrading. Don't ask how long it took to figure >>> this out. You don't want to know... :-( >>> >>> b) Do not even consider using a RAID array without a complete, >>> verified and proven backup facility with imaging capability. You >>> must also CONFIRM that the restore process works properly >>> when run from the backup-supplier's bootable restore-CD-ROM. >>> >>> Personally, I think that anyone who runs a computer today >>> without verified and proven image-backup-capability is crazy >>> by definition - but this is even more critical when using >>> RAID in either >>> single-disk or multi-disk mode. The storage recovery >>> utilities that >>> allow recovery of single-disk-drive data using the standard >>> ATAPI.SYS driver do NOT work on data strewn across multiple >>> disks where the disk failure is extensive enough that the RAID >>> array is unable to rebuild itself automatically. You MUST >>> have backup that is completely independent of the array. (Eg: >>> Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage) >>> >>> 6. The appropriate set of RAID Array Drivers for Intel-Chipset boards >>> varies with the model of the Southbridge Chip or I/O Controller >>> Hub installed on your motherboard. There are currently five >>> different chipsets which require consideration: >>> >>> a) ICH5R - This is the original RAID-Array chipset. It is the >>> most cranky of the chipsets as far as finding compatible >>> drivers. This chipset also had extremely erratic and >>> unreliable BIOS support when first released. It is >>> absolutely mandatory that the latest motherboard BIOS update >>> be installed - and the CMOS values be completely erased and >>> replaced with valid data - before this chipset is set to RAID >>> mode and the F6-install-floppy is used. NCQ support can be >>> problematic with this chipset. b) ICH6R - I don't know much about this >>> chipset. >>> >>> c) ICH7R - This is the most widely-compatible RAID-Array chipset. >>> It is the last chipset Intel made that had standard PATA IDE >>> connections as well as SATA support. >>> >>> d) ICH8R - This is the first RAID-Array chipset that Intel made >>> with SATA only support. When first released, it was a >>> compatibility nightmare as far as connecting to SATA DVD-ROM >>> or SATA DVD-RW Drives was concerned. You *must* ensure that >>> you are using the latest motherboard BIOS for this chipset - >>> and that the motherboard is updated as for the ICH5R before >>> Windows installation. >>> >>> e) ICH9R - This is the current RAID-Array chipset offered from >>> Intel with its latest motherboards. >>> >>> >>> There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed >>> in this post. The above is just the basics. You will need to know >>> the particulars of your motherboard, its Southbridge or I/O >>> Controller Hub details, and the compatibility issues of the >>> particular version of the RAID >>> drivers you contemplate using. I recommend further research in the >>> tech-support newsgroups specific to your particular make and model >>> of motherboard before you even think about implementation. >>> >>> >>> Best I can do for now. <tm> >>> >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> Gary S. Terhune wrote: >>>> Sorry, I haven't read up on the technology, personally. I just found >>>> the article for you using Google. >>>> >>>> When it comes to RAID, the benefits are speed and/or redundancy and >>>> you aren't likely to notice much difference in normal personal >>>> usage. And by definition, a single drive isn't RAID, even if it's >>>> attached to a RAID controller. From personal experience, I can tell >>>> you one thing: If the motherboard goes bad and needs reconstruction, >>>> rebuilding a RAID array is a lot more difficult than just plopping >>>> in a hard drive. I used to use RAID, but found that the drawbacks >>>> greatly outweigh the benefits on a personal computer. IMO, it's >>>> better to use single drive(s) and a decent backup scheme. >>>> >>>> Anyway, if you want to get into a detailed discussion of the >>>> technology, I'm not the one to do it. Perhaps someone else will come >>>> along who's interested in the discussion, or if this thread seems >>>> moribund after another day, consider starting again with more >>>> specific questions about the technology and how it might decently be >>>> applied to your own needs. >>>> >>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>> news:eCRj4hA2HHA.3760@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>> Thanks, Gary. This is the most consumer friendly best explanation >>>>> of what RAID is about I have yet seen. It appears that as I have >>>>> lots of digital photos and videos, and even with my single hard >>>>> drive at present, RAID would provide benefits, although I am not >>>>> sure what these are. Were I then to upgrade to a second, external >>>>> hard drive, there would be clear and major performance and loss of >>>>> data benefits. I would be grateful if you would explain the first >>>>> scenario, with a >>>>> single hard drive, a little further, to make those benefits clear. >>>>> >>>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message >>>>> news:%23389Mz31HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>> Here's the write-up. Respectfully suggest you read it and ask for >>>>>> any further clarifications once you've digested what you can. >>>>>> http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/matrixstorage_sb.htm >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Gary S. Terhune >>>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User >>>>>> http://www.grystmill.com >>>>>> >>>>>> "xylophone" <m-rharrison@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message >>>>>> news:%23fe1Van1HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>>> I have just set up a new Dell Dimension E520 (recently >>>>>>> discontinued) XP SP2 (by choice). It comes with this Storage >>>>>>> Manager, presumably for a reason. Darn if I can figure out that >>>>>>> reason. Why should I wish to use this thing? What benefits or >>>>>>> advantages would it bring? (the Manual is strictly for techies). >>>>>>> Many thanks > > >
Guest Bill Drake Posted August 9, 2007 Posted August 9, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? Hi, Frodo. I was part of the original group of people who debugged the Abit IC7-G implementation of the ICH5R on the very first BIOS versions using the Intel RAID BIOS insert. There was lots of hair-pulling and massive confusion in those early days. At first, it was very difficult to figure out whether a problem was caused by user error, driver installation error, CMOS configuration error, BIOS bug, or driver bug. It was only after Intel implemented their RAID BIOS insert to allow for BIOS-based RAID configuration (similar to the HPT controller RAID BIOS used on earlier PATA controllers) that things finally started to straighten-out-and-fly-right. Then came the compatibility issues with mismatched BIOS and driver revisions, the "intermittently missing" HDD firmware bugs with some hard disk manufacturers (notably Maxtor), and the backwards-compatibility bugs when using newer ICH6R drivers with older ICH5R hardware. Quite the saga. Nowadays, as you mentioned, this stuff is pretty reliable. I have many clients happily running ICH5R machines in SATA RAID mode with both single and multiple drives. With properly updated BIOS and the proper set of RAID drivers installed, these machines have been completely stable. The defining issues are to *ensure* the HDD controller and disk subsystem is stable before committing data to the array - and the religious use of verified backups to protect data from loss should the array fail for any reason. Best I can do for now. <tm> Bill frodo@theshire.net wrote: > Yo Bill, that was a great write up on the ICHx chipset! I knew > a lot of that info before, kinda sort-of, but your write-up made > it very very clear - thanks for the info!! I am archiving it away > for future reference. > > FWIW, my ICH5 setup has been working just great for years, > in enhanced mode w/ RAID 0 (don't shudder now!). Setup > was straight forward following the instruction included w/ the > motherboard (ABIT). And you're right, finding an imaging > program that can save AND RESTORE is critical.
Guest cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user) Posted August 12, 2007 Posted August 12, 2007 Re: Intel® Matrix Storage Manager 7.0 - why should I want this thing? On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 20:23:36 -0700, "Bill Drake" wrote: >Here are the *theoretical* benefits of using an INTEL-chipset RAID >array in single-drive mode: <great info snipped> >There is more to the use of the Matrix Storage Manager than detailed >in this post. The above is just the basics. I think I'll skip the whole mess; looks too brittle to be worth the benefit. I don't want to dangle off "special" drivers, lose compatibility with CDR-booted maintenance tools and data recovery, etc. much less have to rely on drivers on diskettes at install time. But you can bet I saved your post for future reference ;-) >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - - Our senses are our UI to reality >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
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