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E-18 Understanding Drive Arrays
Writer: Rickard Project: Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller Reference Guide Comments: 340862-002
File Name: L-APPE.DOC Last Saved On: 12/7/98 9:30 AM
COMPAQ CONFIDENTIAL - NEED TO KNOW REQUIRED
Bus Master Data Transfers
The Smart Array 3200 Controller is a bus master device that takes control of the
PCI bus during high-speed transfers. This allows the system processor to handle
application processing or other types of tasks. Data transfer occurs at rates of up
to 133 MB/sec for the PCI bus. Bus master high-speed transfers are particularly
important when the supported models are used in conjunction with multiple
expansion boards such as network interface controllers (NICs).
Adding Storage Capacity
Capacity expansion is increasing the size of an array by adding physical drives
and creating additional logical drives. Capacity extension refers to increasing
the size of an array by adding physical drives and increasing an existing logical
drive without adding more logical drives.
The Smart Array 3200 Controller enables the configuration of one or more
separate logical drives into a single drive array. The controller also supports
extending the capacity of an existing logical drive. An existing drive array can
be expanded by adding one or more logical drives to the array or by increasing
the capacity of an existing logical drive. To create the room for the additional
logical drives, more physical drives must be added. See Figure E-10.
Original
Logical
Drive
Added
Physical
Drives
Data from original logical drive redistributed over "Top" of all
physical drives.
New logical drive created over "Bottom" of all physical drives
or added capacity of the original logical drive.
Figure E-10. Beginning capacity expansion by adding more physical drives