5.4.1 Creating a Logical Drive on a New Array

An array must be created before creating a logical drive. Use the On New Array configuration method to step through the process of creating a logical drive on a new array, setting the RAID level, and configuring other settings.

To create a logical drive on an existing array, see Creating a Logical Drive on an Existing Array.

By default, maxView Storage Manager uses all available disk space to maximize the capacity of a new logical drive.

To create a logical drive on a new array:

  1. In the Enterprise View, select a system, then select a controller on that system.
  2. On the ribbon, in the Logical Device group, click Create Logical Device.
  3. When the wizard opens, select On New Array, then click Next.
  4. Select a RAID level for the logical drive, then click Next.
    Note: Not all RAID levels are supported by all controllers. (See the Release Notes for more information.) See Selecting the Best RAID Level for more information about RAID levels.
  5. Select the disk drives you want to include in the logical drive, then click Next. Be sure the drive type is the same for all drives (SAS or SATA, not mixed), and that you select the right number of drives for the RAID level you selected.
    Note:

    For details on SED support operations on a new array while creating a logical device, see Create Logical Device.

  6. (Optional) In the RAID Attributes panel, customize the logical drive settings.

    You can:

    • Enter a name for the logical drive. Names can include any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces.
      Note: Duplicate logical device names are not allowed.
    • Set the size and unit of measure for the logical drive. (By default, a new logical drive uses all available disk space.)
      Note: If the member drive(s) block size is 512 Bytes, the minimum logical drive size is 16 MB. If the member drive(s) block size is 4 KB, the minimum logical drive size is 128 MB.
    • Change the stripe size—the amount of data, in bytes, written per disk in the logical drive. (The default stripe size usually provides the best performance.) The allowed stripe size value depends on the controller's maximum safe stripe size (12MB) and the number of data drive(s) selected.
      (Max Safe Full Stripe Size / StripeSizeMultiplier) =Allowed Stripe Size
      >=10241024, 512, 256, 128, 64, 32, 16
      > =512 and <1024512, 256, 128, 64, 32, 16
      > =256 and <512256, 128, 64, 32, 16
      > =128 and <256128, 64, 32, 16
      > =64 and <128 64, 32, 16
      > =32 and <6432, 16
      > =16 and <3216
      Following are the StripeSizeMultiplier for different RAID levels:
      • RAID 1, 1Triple: StripeSizeMultiplier = 1
      • RAID 0, 5, 6: StripeSizeMultiplier = SelectedDriveCount
      • RAID10: StripeSizeMultiplier = SelectedDriveCount / 2
      • RAID10Triple: StripeSizeMultiplier = SelectedDriveCount / 3
      • RAID 50, 60: StripeSizeMultiplier = SelectedDriveCount / parity_group_count
    • Enable or disable controller caching.
    • Set the initialization method to Default or Build. The initialization method determines how the logical drive is prepared for reading and writing, and how long initialization will take:
      • Default—Initializes parity blocks in the background while the logical drive is available for access by the operating system. A lower RAID level results in faster parity initialization.
      • Build—Overwrites both the data and parity blocks in the foreground. The logical drive remains invisible and unavailable to the operating system until the parity initialization process completes. All parity groups are initialized in parallel, but initialization is faster for single parity groups (RAID 5). RAID level does not affect performance during Build initialization.
      Note: Not all initialization methods are available for all RAID levels.

    • Create an encrypted or plaintext logical drive (for more information, see Working with maxCrypto™ Devices)

  7. Click Next, then review the array and logical drive settings.

    This example shows a RAID 0 logical drive ready to be created on Array A.

  8. Click Finish.

    maxView Storage Manager builds the array and logical drive. Use the Event Log and Task Log to track build progress.

  9. If you have other disk drives or available disk space and want to create additional arrays on the controller, repeat Steps 2–8 .
  10. Repeat Steps 1–9 for each controller in your storage space.
  11. Partition and format your logical drives. See Partitioning and Formatting Your Logical Drives.