Adaptec 44300 Computer Drive User Manual


 
Chapter 1: About This Guide 11
What You Need to Know Before You Begin
You should be familiar with computer hardware, data storage, Redundant Array of
Independent Disks (RAID) technology, and the input/output (I/O) technology—SAS—used
by your HostRAID controller. (For an introduction to SAS, see page 52.)
You should also be familiar with Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Storage Area Network
(SAN) concepts and technology.
Terminology Used in this Guide
Because you can use your HostRAID controller to manage data storage in a variety of
configurations from DAS to SAN, the generic term “storage space” is used to refer to
controller(s) and disk drives being managed with Adaptec Storage Manager
TM
or the other
utilities described in this Guide.
Many of the terms and concepts referred to in this Guide are known to computer users by
multiple names. This Guide uses these terms:
Controller (also known as adapter, board, or card)
Disk drive (also known as hard disk, hard drive, or hard disk drive)
Array (also known as a container or logical drive)
Note:
The Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide refers to arrays as logical drives. Why?
Your HostRAID controller creates arrays, which your operating system (and Adaptec Storage
Manager) recognizes as logical drives.
How to Find More Information
You can find more information about your HostRAID controller and the software and utilities
included with it by referring to these documents:
Readme.txt—Includes updated product information and known issues; located on the
HostRAID Installation CD.
Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide—Describes how to install and use the Adaptec
Storage Manager software (see page 41); located on the Adaptec Storage Manager
Installation CD.
Adaptec Storage Manager online Help—Describes how to use the Adaptec Storage Manager
software; accessible from the main window of Adaptec Storage Manager.
Command Line Utility for Internal RAID Storage User’s Guide—Describes how to use the
Adaptec HostRAID Controller Configuration (HRCONF) command line utility to
perform basic array and configuration management functions; located on the Adaptec
Storage Manager Installation CD.