28 3ware SATA+SAS RAID Controller Card Software User Guide, Version 10.2
3
Getting Started with Your
3ware RAID Controller
Setting up your 3ware RAID controller involves these main steps:
• Physically Install the RAID Controller and Drives
• Install the Driver and Software
• Configure a RAID Unit
• Set Up Management and Maintenance Features
After you have physically installed the controller and drives, the order in
which you perform these steps depends in part on whether one of the units
you configure will act as your boot drive.
The start-up process is slightly different for Mac OS users than for users of
other operating systems, so this chapter presents these main steps and the
initial settings for policies and background tasks in the following three
sections:
• Getting Started for PC Users
• Getting Started for Mac OS Users
• Initial Settings for Policies and Background Tasks
Tip: When you are first setting up your system, you may want to review
“System Requirements” on page 3.
Getting Started for PC Users
Physically Install the RAID Controller and Drives
To install your controller, follow the instructions in the installation guide that
came with your 3ware controller. If you do not have a hardcopy of the
installation manual, it is available in the “doc” folder on your 3ware CD, or
you can download it from the LSI website at
http://www.lsi.com/channel/ChannelDownloads.