Appendix C: Intel HostRAID Setup Guidelines
C-1
Appendix C
Intel HostRAID Setup Guidelines
After all the hardware has been installed, you must fi rst confi gure the Intel ICH9R
SATA RAID* Settings before you install the Windows Operating System and other
software drivers.
Important Notes to the User:
Note: If you do not wish to confi gure onboard SATA RAID functions, please go
directly to Section C-2 and Appendix E for the Operating System & Other Software
Installation.
C-1 Introduction to Serial ATA and Parallel ATA
To confi gure the SATA RAID functions, you must fi rst use the Intel ICH9R SATA
RAID Utility program to confi gure the RAID Level that you desire before installing
the Windows XP/2000/2003 operating system and other software drivers. (The
necessary drivers are all included on the Supermicro CD that came packaged with
your motherboard.) Note: the current version of the ICH9R SATA RAID Utility
can only support Windows XP/2000/2003 Operating Systems.
Serial ATA (SATA)
Serial ATA (SATA) is a physical storage interface that uses a single cable with
a minimum of four wires to create a point-to-point connection between devices.
It is a serial link, which supports transfer rates up to 3Gbps. Because the serial
cables used in SATA are thinner than the traditional cables used in Parallel ATA
(PATA), SATA systems have better airfl ow and can be installed in smaller chassis
than Parallel ATA. In addition, the cables used in PATA are limited to a length of
40cm, while Serial ATA cables can be up to one meter in length. Overall, SATA
provides better functionality than PATA.
Introduction to the Intel ICH9R Serial RAID Setup
Located in the South Bridge of the Intel 3210 Chipset, the I/O Controller Hub
(ICH9R) provides the I/O subsystem with access to the rest of the system. It
supports six Serial ATA (SATA) ports. The ICH9R supports the following SATA
device confi gurations: Legacy mode and Native mode.
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