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Win-Raid Forum (Drivers - Firmware - Modding) � Important Drivers (AHCI/RAID, NVMe, USB etc.) � Specific: Intel AHCI/RAID Drivers � complete newbie ... no clue

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#1 | complete newbie ... no clue datum

Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:13 pm

Ok, as per the subject above, I haven't got a clue as to what I'm doing. Let me clarify.

I have a PC using a 500gb SSD as a boot drive and I have several 2tb and 3tb disks. I keep OS only on the SSD and all my data (documents, music, videos, etc...) are on one of the 3tb disks. I want that data in some sort of RAID configuration to protect against data loss due to drive failure.

When I built my pc, I was told that the ASROCKS EXTREME 99 mobo handled RAID. When I enabled RAID through BIOS (UEFI), I was able to create an INTEL RAID 1 (mirror) volume using two of those 3tb drives. When I rebooted, however, my mobo could not find a boot drive. So, I had to revert to AHCI to get my system to boot. I tried calling the folks at ASUS but they keep talking about booting to RAID and I said that is not what I want but that is all the guy wanted to talk about ... RAID for my boot drive. Once I said I wanted to use RAID for data drives only he said ASUS cannot help me with that.

Lo and behold, however, that INTEL RAID array I created is working perfectly in Windows ... I think. From Windows Explorer, the two 3tb drives in question are gone and replaced by that lone 3tb RAID array. So, I have a few questions which may or may not be valid.

1. How can I be sure that drive in Windows Explorer truly is a RAID configuration of the two 3tb drives in question?
2. IRST (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) is showing a warning in my system tray saying "your data may be at risk". When I open the app, however, I don't see any additional information.
3. How will I ever know if a drive fails? Will IRST alert me? Can I simulate a drive failure by unplugging one of the members?
3. How can I create another INTEL RAID array of my 2tb drives?

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#2 | RE: complete newbie ... no clue datum

Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:48 pm

@jaja714:
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!

Usually X99 Chipset mainboards have 2 independent working Intel Storage Controllers, an Intel SATA Controller and an Intel sSATA Controller.
If this is valid for your specific ASRock board as well, I recommend to connect your 500 GB SSD (where the OS and the boot sector is located) with the first Intel sSATA port and set this Controller within the BIOS to "AHCI" mode.
The 2x3TB sized HDDs, which have already been combined to a RAID1 array, should be connected with the first 2 SATA ports. The related Intel SATA Controller has to be set to "RAID" mode.

Zitat
1. How can I be sure that drive in Windows Explorer truly is a RAID configuration of the two 3tb drives in question?

The Windows Explorer sees and shows them as 1 single drive, because you have put both HDDs together to 1 RAID array drive. If you want to see the 2 HDDs, you have either to run the "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" from within the BIOS or the Intel RST Console, which is part from the Intel RST Software.

Zitat
2. IRST (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) is showing a warning in my system tray saying "your data may be at risk". When I open the app, however, I don't see any additional information.

If you want additional informations about the health of your Intel RAID array, you should run the Intel RST Console (requires the installation of a complete Intel RST Drivers & Software Set).

Zitat
3. How will I ever know if a drive fails?

The Intel RST RAID Utility, which is available from within the BIOS, and Intel RST Console will tell you, whether your RAID array is healthy or not. The Intel RST Console is even able to restore the health of a degraded RAID1 array.

Zitat
3. How can I create another INTEL RAID array of my 2tb drives?

You can do it from within the BIOS by running the Intel RST RAID Utility or by running the Intel RST Console. Why do you want to create another RAID array?

As first step I recommend to check, to which SATA or sSATA ports all your Disk Drives (1 SSD and 2 HDDs) are connected and which drivers the related Intel SATA/sSATA Controllers are currently using. You can find the related Controllers within the "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" or "Storage Controllers" sections of the Device Manager.

Regards
Dieter (alias Fernando)

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
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#3 | RE: complete newbie ... no clue datum

Thu Apr 06, 2017 3:36 am

That's a lot of good info. My mobo actually restricts RAID to the SATA controller only, so I will follow your suggestion and plug the SSD boot drive into the sSATA controller and then re-enable BIOS. Wish me luck!

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