Configuring a RAID-MARVELL-M.2 storage controller

About the RAID-MARVELL-M.2 storage controller

The RAID-MARVELL-M.2 standard storage controller can be installed onto a riser card to provide limited RAID support for the system, which improves read/write performance and data security.

Features

RAID levels

Table 1 shows the number of drives required by each RAID level and the maximum number of failed drives supported by each RAID level.

Table 1 RAID levels and the numbers of drives for each RAID level

RAID level	Min. drives required	Max. failed drives
RAID 0	2	0
RAID 1	2	1

 

Restrictions and guidelines for RAID configuration

·     As a best practice, install drives that do not contain RAID information.

·     The RAID-MARVELL-M.2 storage controller does not support NVMe M.2 SSDs.

·     For efficient use of storage, use drives that have the same capacity to build RAID 1. If the drives have different capacities, the lowest capacity is used across all drives in the RAID.

Configuring RAID arrays in UEFI mode

This section describes how to configure RAID arrays through a RAID-MARVELL-M.2 storage controller in UEFI mode. For more information about how to access the BIOS setup utility and set the boot mode to UEFI, see the BIOS user guide for the server.

The BIOS screens might vary by BIOS version and the screens used in this section are for illustration only.

Controller configuration tasks at a glance

To configure controller settings in UEFI mode, perform the following tasks:

·     Accessing the storage controller configuration screen

·     Configuring RAID

·     Rebuilding a RAID array

·     Viewing physical drive information

·     Viewing logical drive information

·     Viewing storage controller information

Accessing the storage controller configuration screen

1.     After the server is powered on or restarts, access the BIOS. Press Delete, Esc, or F2 as prompted during server POST to open the BIOS setup screen as shown in Figure 1.

For how to navigate screens and modify settings, see the operation instructions at the lower right corner.

Figure 1 BIOS setup screen

 

2.     Select Advanced > Marvell Boot optimized M.2 Raid controller, and press Enter.

Figure 2 Advanced screen

 

The storage controller configuration screen opens. Tasks can be performed from this screen are shown in Table 2.

Figure 3 Storage controller configuration screen

 

Table 2 Storage controller configuration tasks

Task type	Option	Description
Information query	Physical/Virtual Device Information	Display summary and detailed information about installed physical drives and logical drives.
	Controller Information	Display detailed information about the storage controller.
RAID configuration	Create RAID Configuration	Create RAIDs.
	Delete RAID Configuration	Delete RAIDs.
	Rebuild RAID Configuration	Rebuild RAIDs.
	Erase Physical Disk	Erase physical drives.

 

Configuring RAID 0

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Create RAID Configuration, and press Enter.

Figure 4 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Select two member drives, select Next, and press Enter.

Figure 5 Selecting member drives

 

3.     Configure parameters as needed and set the Would you like to create this virtual disk? field to Yes. In the dialog box that opens, press Enter. Then, select Next and press Enter.

The parameter description is in Table 3.

Figure 6 Configuring RAID information

 

Table 3 Parameter description

Parameter	Description
RAID Level	RAID level. Options include: ·     RAID 0. ·     RAID 1.
Stripe Size	Stripe size. Options include: ·     32K. ·     64K.
Initialization	Initialization methods. Options include: ·     Quick—Default. ·     Back Ground—This option is supported only in RAID 1. ·     None.
Name	Name of the logical drive.

 

Configuring RAID 1

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Create RAID Configuration, and press Enter.

Figure 7 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Select two member drives, select Next, and press Enter.

Figure 8 Selecting member drives

 

3.     Configure parameters as needed and set the Would you like to create this virtual disk? field to Yes. In the dialog box that opens, press Enter. Then, select Next and press Enter.

See the parameter description in Table 3.

Figure 9 Configuring RAID information

 

Deleting a RAID array

This feature deletes damaged RAID arrays or RAID arrays that cannot meet requirements.

To delete a RAID array:

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Delete RAID Configuration, and press Enter.

Figure 10 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Perform the following tasks:

a.     Select a target logical drive.

b.     Set the Are you sure you want to delete the selected Virtual Disk? field to Yes. In the dialog box that opens, press Enter.

c.     Select Next and press Enter.

Figure 11 Deleting a RAID array

 

Rebuilding a RAID array

This feature rebuilds the RAID array for drive replacement when a member drive in RAID 1 failed.

To rebuild a RAID array:

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Rebuild RAID Configuration, and press Enter.

Figure 12 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Select a logical drive to be rebuilt, select Next, and then press Enter.

If no logical drive is displayed, it indicates that no logical drive is available or no logical drive can be rebuilt.

Figure 13 Rebuilding a RAID array

 

3.     Select physical drives for logical drive rebuilding, and set the Would you like to do rebuild with the Physical disk field to Yes. In the dialog box that opens, press Enter. Then, select Next and press Enter.

If no physical drive is displayed, it indicates that no physical drive is available.

Figure 14 Selecting physical drives

 

Viewing physical drive information

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Physical/Virtual Disk Information, and press Enter.

Figure 15 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Select Physical Disk Info and press Enter.

Figure 16 Accessing physical drive information

 

3.     Select the target physical drive and press Enter.

Figure 17 Selecting a physical drive

 

The physical drive details screen opens. Parameters are as described in Table 4.

Figure 18 Physical drive details screen

 

Table 4 Parameter description

Parameter	Description
PD ID	Physical drive slot. Options include: ·     0—Physical drive slot marked Bay 1. ·     1—Physical drive slot marked Bay 2.
Type	Physical drive type.
Status	Physical drive status.
Model Name	Physical drive model.
Serial Number	Physical drive serial number.
FW Version	Physical drive firmware version.
Size	Physical drive capacity.

 

Viewing logical drive information

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Physical /Virtual Device Information, and press Enter. Select Virtual Disk Info and press Enter.

Figure 19 Accessing logical drive information

 

2.     Select a target logical drive and press Enter.

Figure 20 Selecting a logical drive

 

The logical drive details screen opens. Parameters are as described in Table 5.

Figure 21 Logical drive details screen

 

Table 5 Parameter description

Parameter	Description
VD ID	Logical drive number. Options include 0 and 1.
NAME	Logical drive name.
Status	Logical drive status. Options include: ·     Functional. ·     Degrade. ·     Offline. ·     Rebuilding.
Stripe Size	Stripe size of each physical drive.
RAID Mode	RAID level.
BGA Type	Background task type. Options include: ·     Initialization—RAID initialization in progress. ·     Rebuild—RAID rebuilding in progress. ·     MediaPatrol—Media patrol for logical drives in progress. ·     None.
Size	Logical drive capacity.
BGA Status	Background task status. Options include: ·     None. ·     RUNNING—Task progress in percentage.
Members	Displays member drives by ID.

 

Viewing storage controller information

Access the storage controller configuration screen, select Controller Information, and press Enter.

Figure 22 Storage controller configuration screen

 

The storage controller information screen opens.

Figure 23 Storage controller information

 

Configuring RAID arrays in legacy mode

This section describes how to configure RAID arrays through a RAID-MARVELL-M.2 storage controller in legacy mode. For more information about how to access the BIOS setup utility and set the boot mode to legacy, see the BIOS user guide for the server.

The BIOS screens might vary by BIOS version and the screens used in this section are for illustration only.

Controller configuration tasks at a glance

To configure controller settings in legacy mode, perform the following tasks:

·     Accessing the storage controller configuration screen.

·     Configuring RAID  

·     Viewing physical drive information

·     Viewing logical drive information

Accessing the storage controller configuration screen

1.     During server POST as shown in Figure 24, press Ctrl+M.

For how to navigate screens and modify settings, see the operation instructions at the bottom of the screen.

Figure 24 Pressing Ctrl+M

 

The storage controller configuration screen opens as shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25 Storage controller configuration screen

 

Configuring RAID 0

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select HBA 0: Marvell 0, press Enter, and select Configuration Wizard.

Figure 26 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Press Space to select two member drives and press Enter.

Figure 27 Selecting member drives

 

3.     Configure parameters as needed and click Next. In the dialog box that opens, click Y.

The parameter description is in Table 6.

Figure 28 Configuring RAID information

 

Figure 29 Finishing configuring a RAID array

 

Table 6 Parameter description

Parameter	Description
RAID Level	RAID level. Options include: ·     RAID 0. ·     RAID 1.
Stripe Size	Stripe size. Options include: ·     32K. ·     64K.
Name	Name of the logical drive.

 

Configuring RAID 1

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select HBA 0: Marvell 0, press Enter, and select Configuration Wizard.

Figure 30 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     Press Space to select two member drives and press Enter.

Figure 31 Selecting member drives

 

3.     Configure parameters as needed and click Next. In the dialog box that opens, click Y.

See Table 6 for the parameter description.

Figure 32 Configuring RAID information

 

Figure 33 Finishing configuring a RAID array

 

Deleting a RAID array

This feature deletes damaged RAID arrays or RAID arrays that cannot meet requirements.

To delete a RAID array:

1.     Access the storage controller configuration screen, select the target logical drive, press Enter, and select Delete.

Figure 34 Storage controller configuration screen

 

2.     In all the dialog boxes that open, press Y or click Yes.

Figure 35 Deleting a RAID array

 

Figure 36 Deleting MBR

 

Viewing physical drive information

Access the storage controller configuration screen, select the target physical drive, and view the related information.

Figure 37 Viewing physical drive information

 

Viewing logical drive information

Access the storage controller configuration screen, select the target logical drive, and view related information.

Figure 38 Viewing logical drive information

 

Configuring RAID arrays in the operating system

This section introduces how to configure RAID arrays in the operating system by using a RAID controller tool.

Installing a RAID controller tool

Install a RAID controller tool in the operating system to help you build RAID arrays, update firmware, and view physical drive information.

Install a RAID controller tool in the operating system and then assign permissions of using the tool to the current user.

Syntax

chmod 777 mvcli

Examples

[root@localhost Marvell]# chmod 777 mvcli

Accessing the RAID controller configuration CLI

Syntax

./mvcli

Examples

[root@localhost Marvell]# ./mvcli

SG driver version 3.5.36.

CLI Version: 4.1.99.42   RaidAPI Version: 5.0.24.1001

Welcome to RAID Command Line Interface.

Viewing the RAID controller information

Syntax

info -o hba

Examples

> info -o hba

 

Adapter ID:                          0

Product:                             1b4b-9230

Sub Product:                         1b4b-9230

Chip revision:                       A1

Max PCIe speed:                      5Gb/s

Current PCIe speed:                  5Gb/s

Max PCIe link:                       2

Current PCIe link:                   2

Rom version:                         0.0.99.1000

Package version:                     9.0.99.2000

BIOS version:                        1.0.0.1031

Firmware version:                    2.3.99.1009

Boot loader version:                 2.1.00.1009

# of ports:                          3

Buzzer:                              Not supported

Supported port type:                 SATA

Supported RAID mode:                 RAID0 RAID1 JBOD

Maximum disk in one VD:              2

PM:                                  Not supported

Expander:                            Not supported

Maximum supported disk:              2

Maximum supported VD:                1

Max total blocks:                    128

Features:                            rebuild,media patrol

Advanced features:                   event sense code,multi VD,spc 4,image health,timer,ata pass through,oem data

Advanced features 2:                 scsi pass through,flash

Max buffer size:                     3

Stripe size supported:               32K 64K

Image health:                        Healthy

Autoload image health:               Healthy

Boot loader image health:            Healthy

Firmware image health:               Healthy

Boot ROM image health:               Healthy

HBA info image health:               Healthy

Viewing physical drive information

Syntax

info -o pd

Examples

> info -o pd

 

Physical Disk Information

----------------------------

Adapter:             0

PD ID:               0

Type:                SATA PD

Linked at:           HBA port 0

Size:                937692504 K

Write cache:         not supported

SMART:               supported (on)

NCQ:                 supported (on)

48 bits LBA:         supported

supported speed:     1.5 3 6 Gb/s

Current speed:       6 Gb/s

model:               Micron_5400_MTFDDAV960TGA

Serial:              22483D3C49A3

Firmware version:     D4MU002

Locate LED status:   Not Support

Running OS:          no

SSD Type:            SSD

block ids:           0

associated VDs:      0

PD valid size:       0 K

 

 

Adapter:             0

PD ID:               1

Type:                SATA PD

Linked at:           HBA port 1

Size:                937692504 K

Write cache:         not supported

SMART:               supported (on)

NCQ:                 supported (on)

48 bits LBA:         supported

supported speed:     1.5 3 6 Gb/s

Current speed:       6 Gb/s

model:               Micron_5300_MTFDDAV960TDS

Serial:              2022289E9051

Firmware version:     D3MU001

Locate LED status:   Not Support

Running OS:          no

SSD Type:            SSD

block ids:           4

associated VDs:      0

PD valid size:       0 K

 

Total # of PD:       2

Viewing logical drive information

Syntax

info -o vd

Examples

> info -o vd

 

Virtual Disk Information

-------------------------

id:                  0

name:                Raid1

status:              functional

Stripe size:         64

RAID mode:           RAID1

Cache mode:          Not Support

size:                915651 M

BGA status:          not running

Block ids:           0 4

# of PDs:            2

PD RAID setup:       0 1

Running OS:          no

 

Total # of VD:       1

Creating a RAID array

Syntax

create -o vd -r raid level -d pd id, pd id -n name -b stripe size

Parameters

Argument	Description	Supported values
raid level	RAID level.	·     0. ·     1.
pd	Physical drive ID.	·     0. ·     1.
name	RAID name.	N/A
stripe size	Stripe size.	·     32. ·     64.

 

Examples

> create -o vd -r 1 -d 0,1 -n "Raid1" -b 64

Deleting a logical drive

Syntax

delete -o vd -i vd id

Parameters

Argument	Description	Supported values
vd id	Logical drive ID.	N/A

 

Examples

> delete -o vd -i 0

Are you sure you want to delete this virtual disk? (y or n)

y

Delete VD 0 successfully.

Troubleshooting issues

For more information about fault information collection, fault diagnosis and location, and fault troubleshooting of the storage controller, see H3C Servers Storage Controller User Guide.

Storage controller compatibility

For more information about the compatibility between the storage controller and the server, use the tool at http://www.h3c.com/en/home/qr/default.htm?id=66.