MSI Z97 Gaming 9 Manual

							
Appendix B
B-3Intel RAID

Using Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM
The Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM should be integrated with the system BIOS on all motherboards with a supported Intel chipset. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM is the Intel RAID implementation and provides BIOS and DOS disk services. Please use  +  keys to enter the “Intel® RAID for Serial ATA” status screen, which should  appear early in system boot-up, during the POST (Power-On Self Test). Also, you need to enable the RAID function in BIOS to create, delete and reset RAID volumes.
Creating, Deleting and Resetting RAID Volumes:
The Serial ATA RAID volume may be configured using the RAID Configuration utility stored within the Intel RAID Option ROM. During the Power-On Self Test (POST), the following message will appear for a few seconds.
 Important
The “Device Model”, “Serial #” and “Size” in the following example might be different from your system.
RAID VolumesNone defined.
Physical Disks:
Port   Device Model    Serial #   Size Type/Status(Vol ID)
1        XXXXXXXXXXXXX     XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XGB 
Non-RAID Disk
2        XXXXXXXXXXXXX     XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XGB Non-RAID Disk
Press    to enter Configuration Utility..  
After the above message shows, press  and  keys simultaneously to enter the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM.
 Important
The following procedure is only available with a newly-built system or if you are reinstalling your OS. It should not be used to migrate an existing system to RAID.  
						

							
Appendix B
B-4Intel RAID

After pressing the  and  keys simultaneously, the following window will appear:
Create RAID Volume 
Select option 1 “Create RAID Volume” and press  key. The following screen appears. Then in the Name field, specify a RAID Volume name and then press the  or  key to go to the next field.
Use the arrow keys to select the RAID level best suited to your usage model in RAID Level. 
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[                                     ]CREATE VOLUME MENU
[             ]HELP
           Name :
RAID  1 : Mirrors  data  (redundancy) .
[ ↑↓] - Change         [TAB] - Next          [ESC] - Previous Menu         [ENTER] - Select 
      RAID Level :     Disks :     Strip Size :     Capacity :     Sync :
Volume0RAID1(Mirror)Select  DisksN / AXXX.X  GBN / ACreate Volume
MAIN MENU[                     ]
DISK / VOLUME INFORMATION[                                                ]
4.       Recovery Volume  Options5.       Acceleration Options6.       Exit
RAID  Volumes :None  defined.
Physical  Devices :Port  Device  Model                 Serial  #                                                  Size    Type/Status (Vol  ID)1       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk2       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk
[ ↑↓] - Select                            [ESC] - Exit               [ENTER] - Select Menu
1.       Create  RAID  Volume2.       Delete  RAID  Volume3.       Reset Disks to Non-RAID
[                        ]MAIN  MENU   
						

							
Appendix B
B-5Intel RAID

In the Disk field, press  key and use  key to select the disks you want to create for the RAID volume, then click  key to finish selection. This field will become available according to the selected RAID level.
Then select the strip size for the RAID array by using the “upper arrow” or “down arrow” keys to scroll through the available values, and pressing the  key to select and advance to the next field. The available values range from 4KB to 128 KB in power of 2 increments. The strip size should be chosen based on the planned drive usage. Here are some typical values:  RAID0 -128KB / RAID10 - 64KB / RAID5 - 64KB. This field will become available according to the selected RAID level.
Then select the capacity of the volume in the Capacity field. The default value is the maximum volume capacity of the selected disks.
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[                                     ]CREATE VOLUME MENU
[             ]HELP
           Name :
The  default  value  indicates  the  maximum  capacity  using  the  selected disks.  Entering  a  lower  capacity  allows  you  to  create  a  second    volume  on  these  disks.
[ ↑↓] - Change         [TAB] - Next          [ESC] - Previous Menu         [ENTER] - Select 
      RAID Level :     Disks :     Strip Size :     Capacity :     Sync :
Volume0RAID1(Mirror)Select  DisksN / AXXX.X  GBN / ACreate Volume
 Important
Since you want to create two volumes, this default size (maximum) needs to be reduced. Type in a new size for the first volume. As an example: if you want the first volume to span the first half of the two disks, re-type the size to be half of what is shown by default. The second volume, when created, will automatically span the remainder of two hard drives.  
						

							
Appendix B
B-6Intel RAID

Then the following screen appears to indicate that the creation is finished.7.
Go to the Create Volume field and press , the following screen appears for you to confirm if you are sure to create the RAID volume. Press  to continue.6.
[                                     ]CREATE VOLUME MENU
[             ]HELP
           Name :
Press  ENTER  to  create  the  specified  volume.
[ ↑↓] - Change        [TAB] - Next          [ESC] - Previous Menu         [ENTER] - Select 
      RAID Level :     Disks :     Strip Size :     Capacity :     Sync :
Volume0RAID1(Mirror)Select  DisksN / AXXX.X  GBN / ACreate VolumeWARNING : ALL DATA ON SELECTED DISKS WILL BE LOST.Are  you  sure  you  want  to  create  this  volume?  (Y / N)  :
DISK / VOLUME INFORMATION[                                                ]
4.       Recovery Volume  Options5.       Acceleration Options6.       Exit
RAID  Volumes :
ID       Name                     Level     Strip                  Size    Status           Bootable
0         Volume0                      RAID1(Mirror)               N / A        XXX.XGB    Normal            Yes
Physical  Devices :Port  Device  Model                 Serial  #                                                  Size    Type/Status (Vol  ID)1       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Member  Disk(0)2       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Member  Disk(0)
[ ↑↓] - Select                            [ESC] - Exit               [ENTER] - Select Menu
1.       Create  RAID  Volume2.       Delete  RAID  Volume3.       Reset Disks to Non-RAID
MAIN MENU[                     ][                        ]MAIN  MENU   
						

							
Appendix B
B-7Intel RAID

Delete RAID Volume 
Here you can delete the RAID volume, but please be noted that all data on RAID drives will be lost. 
 Important
If your system currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume in the Intel RAID Option ROM, your system will become un-bootable.
Select option 2 Delete RAID Volume from the main menu screen and press  key to select a RAID volume for deletion. Then press  key to delete the selected RAID volume. The following screen appears.
[                                     ]DELETE VOLUME MENU
[             ]HELP
Deleting  a  volume  will  reset  the  disks  to  non-RAID.
[ ↑↓] - Select              [ESC] - Previous Menu         [DEL] - Delete  Volume
WARNING : ALL DISK DATA WILL BE DELETED.(This  does  not  apply  to  Recovery  volumes)
Name      Level          Drives         Capacity         Status      BootableVolume0                  RAID1(Mirror)         2                 XXX.XGB       Normal                          Yes
ALL  DATA  IN  THE  VOLUME  WILL  BE  LOST!(This  does  not  apply  to  Recovery  volumes) Are  you  sure  you  want  to  delete  “Volume0”?  (Y / N)  :
DELETE  VOLUME  VERIFICATION[                                                                  ]
Press  key to accept the volume deletion.
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Appendix B
B-8Intel RAID

Reset Disks to Non-RAID 
Select option 3 Reset Disks to Non-RAID and press  to delete the RAID 
volume and remove any RAID structures from the drives. The following screen  
appears:
DISK / VOLUME INFORMATION[                                                ]
4.       Recovery Volume  Options4.       Recovery Volume  Options5.       Exit
RAID  Volumes :None  defined.
Physical  Devices :Port  Device  Model                 Serial  #                                                  Size    Type/Status (Vol  ID)1       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk2       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk
[ ↑↓] - Select                            [ESC] - Exit               [ENTER] - Select Menu
1.       Create  RAID  Volume2.       Delete  RAID  VolumeResetting  RAID  disk  will  remove  its  RAID  structures and  revert  it  to  a  non-RAID  disk.
[                                      ]RESET  RAID  DATA
WARNING : Resetting  a  disk  causes  all  data  on  the  disk  to  be  lost.(This  does  not  apply  to  Recovery  volumes) 
Select  the  disks  that  should  be  reset.
[ ↑↓] - Previous/ Next      [SPACE] - Selects      [ENTER] - Selection Complete
Port   Drive   Model Serial  #   Size   Status
1        XXXX-XXXXXXXX   XXXXXXXXXXXXXX            XXX.XGB   Member Disk
2        XXXX-XXXXXXXX   XXXXXXXXXXXXXX            XXX.XGB   Member Disk
[                        ]MAIN  MENU
Use the  key to select the disks and press  key. A confirmation sentence will appear below, and then press  key to accept the selection.
 Important
You will lose all data on the RAID drives and any internal RAID structures when you perform this operation.
Possible reasons to “Reset Disks to Non-RAID” could include issues such as incompatible RAID configurations or a failed volume or failed disk.
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Appendix B
B-9Intel RAID

Recovery Volume Options 
Select option 4 Recovery Volume Options and press  to change recovery volume mode. The following screen appears:
[                                              ]RECOVERY VOLUME OPTIONS
[             ]HELP
Enable  Only  Recovery  Disk - enables  recovery  disk  if  available  and disables  master  disk.Enable  Only  Master  Disk - enables  master  disk  if  available  anddisables  recovery  disk.Actions  will  result  in  change  from  Continuous  Update  mode  to  On-Request.
[ ↑↓] - select                   [ESC] - Previous Menu                      [ENTER] - Select 
1.       Enable  Only  Recovery  Disk2.       Enable  Only  Master  Disk
Recovery mode will change from Continuous Update to On-Request after you enable “Only Recovery Disk” or “Only Master Disk”.
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Appendix B
B-10Intel RAID

Degraded RAID Array
A RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 volume is reported as degraded when one of its hard drive members fails or is temporarily disconnected, and data mirroring is lost. As a result, the system can only utilize the remaining functional hard drive member. To re-establish data mirroring and restore data redundancy, refer to the procedure below that corresponds to the current situation.
Missing Hard Drive Member
Make sure the system is powered off. 
Reconnect the hard drive. 
Reboot the system to Windows; the rebuild will occur automatically.
Failed Hard Drive Member 
Make sure the system is powered off. 
Replace the failed hard drive with a new one that is of equal or greater capacity. 
Reboot the system to Intel RAID Option ROM by press  and  keys simultaneously during the Power-On Self Test (POST).
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Select the port of the destination disk for rebuilding, and then press ENTER.4.
RAID VolumesID      Name                Level                     Strip     Size                Status            Bootable0        Volume0           RAID 1(Mirror)       N/A      XXX.XGB       Degraded        Yes
Physical Disks:
Port   Device Model    Serial #   Size Type/Status(Vol ID)
1        XXXXXXXXXXXXX     XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XGB 
Member  Disk (0)
2        XXXXXXXXXXXXX     XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX.XGB Member  Disk (0)
Press    to enter Configuration Utility..  
DISK / VOLUME INFORMATION[                                                ]
4.       Recovery Volume  Options4.       Recovery Volume  Options5.       Exit
RAID  Volumes :None  defined.
Physical  Devices :Port  Device  Model                 Serial  #                                                  Size    Type/Status (Vol  ID)1       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk2       XXXX-XXXXXXXX          XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    XXX.XGB    Non-RAID  Disk
[ ↑↓] - Select                          [ESC] - Exit                        [ENTER] - Select Menu
1.       Create  RAID  Volume2.       Delete  RAID  Volume“Degraded” volume and disk available for rebuilding detected. Selectinga disk initiates a rebuild. Rebuild completes in the  operating system.
[                                                             ]DEGRADED VOLUME DETECTED
Select the port of the destination disk for rebuilding (ESC to exit): 
[ ↑↓] - Previous/ Next      [ENTER] - Select      [ESC] - Exit
Port   Drive   Model  Serial  #   Size   
1        XXXX-XXXXXXXX   XXXXXXXXXXXXXX            XXX.XGB  
[                        ]MAIN  MENU  
						

							
Appendix B
B-11Intel RAID

Exit Intel RAID Option ROM, and then reboot to Windows system.
When prompted to rebuild the RAID volume, click ‘Yes’.
The Intel Rapid Storage Technology application will be launched. Right-click the new hard drive and select ‘Rebuild to this Disk’. The ‘Rebuild Wizard’ will be launched which will guide you through the process of rebuilding to the new hard drive.
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Appendix B
B-12Intel RAID

System Acceleration (optional)
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology use a SSD as a cache. Which can store frequently used data without having to use a slow virtual disk or depend on RAM. The SSD cache  with the advantages of high-speed read/write and non-volatile memory to accelerate the system performance.
 Important
Check your SSD manufacturer's website, upgrade firmware in order to support Intel® 
Rapid Storage Technology.
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology can only work with RAID mode. Even though there is only one hard drive, you must set the SATA Mode to RAID in BIOS. The OS must be installed in the RAID ready disk in order to use the SSD caching.
Follow these steps to enable system acceleration. If Windows has been installed in RAID mode, skip to the step 5.
Reboot and enter the BIOS steup.
Set the SATA Mode to RAID in BIOS.
Install Windows operating system.
Insert the MSI Driver DVD into the DVD-ROM drive.
Install Intel RAID driver
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Powered off.
Connect the SSD.
Reboot the system to Windows.
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