Adaptec SAS/SATA/SCSI RAID Controllers Network Card User Manual


 
Chapter 9: Managing Your Storage Space 57
About the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
The Adaptec RAID Configuration (ARC) utility is a BIOS-based utility that you can use to
create and manage controllers, disk drives and other devices, and arrays. The ARC utility
comprises these tools:
Array Configuration Utility (ACU)—For creating and managing arrays, and initializing
and rescanning disk drives. (ACU for DOS is also available. See page 86.)
A -Select utility—SerialSelect, SATASelect®, or SCSISelect®, for modifying your controller
and disk drive settings.
Disk Utilities—For formatting or verifying disk drives.
TheARC utility is included in your controller’s BIOS. For more information, see Using the
Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility on page 78.
Note:
The ARC utility is primarily intended for preoperating system installation configuration.
About the Adaptec Flash Utility
The Adaptec Flash Utility (AFU) is a text-based DOS utility that you can use to update, save, or
verify your RAID controller’s firmware BIOS and Non-Volatile Random Access Memory
(NVRAM).
Caution:
Although the AFU contains safeguards to prevent you from accidentally damaging
your RAID controller’s flash contents, it is still important to use the AFU carefully and
correctly to avoid rendering your RAID controller inoperable.
Adaptec recommends that only advanced users familiar with working in DOS use the AFU.
Which Utility Should I Use?
To create a bootable array, Adaptec recommends that you use the BIOS-based ACU (See
Using the
Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
on page 78).
For all subsequent storage management tasks, Adaptec recommends that you install and use
Adaptec Storage Manager (see page 56). As a full-featured software application with a graphical
user interface, it is the easiest to use and offers the widest range of management functions.
Note:
Currently, Adaptec Storage Manager is not supported on FreeBSD. To create and
manage arrays, use the
ARC utility. See
Using the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
on page
78 for more information.
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