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Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller Reference Guide
Writer: Rickard Project: Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller Reference Guide Comments: 340862-002
File Name: F-CH05.DOC Last Saved On: 12/7/98 1:22 PM
COMPAQ CONFIDENTIAL - NEED TO KNOW REQUIRED
Chapter 5
Running the Array Configuration
Utility
This chapter provides instructions for using the Compaq Array Configuration
Utility and describes methods to configure your controller quickly and easily.
The Array Configuration Utility is located on the SmartStart and Support
Software CD.
The utility uses a graphic interface to help you configure the Smart Array 3200
Controller. You can use it to configure the Smart Array 3200 Controller
initially, to add additional disk drives to an existing configuration, or to
reconfigure an array controller.
The Array Configuration Utility is compatible with the operating systems
discussed in Chapter 6. It is an offline utility, except in servers running
Windows NT. An online utility for NetWare users is also described in this
chapter.
Write Caching
The physical drives attached to this controller may support a write cache. The
write cache policy of the controller can be enabled or disabled by choosing the
Advanced Features menu item from the Controller menu.
When the write cache is enabled for the controller and the configuration is
saved, write cache is enabled for each hard disk attached to the new controller.
When write cache is enabled for the controller, it automatically turns on the
write cache for each hot-plugged drive.
Not all physical drives have a reliable write cache. When SCSI bus resets or
device resets occur, an unreliable write cache can lose data. The Array
Configuration Utility treats drives with an unreliable write cache as though
those physical drives did not have a write cache.