Contents
Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST), is a storage technology that improves storage performance and reliability. This blog will guide you on How to Configure Intel RST.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST), until 2010 called Matrix RAID, is a proprietary Intel chip used in many desktop PCs and laptops. Using RST, you can create disk arrays, which provide improved performance and/or data redundancy. This wikiHow will show you how to configure RST on your computer.
Supported Hardware
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) supportsSystem on a Chip (SoC), Mobile, Desktop, and server platforms. This enables faster data access with reduced power consumption. Supported hardware includes:
-Mobile SoCs with 4th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors
-7th Generation and later Intel® Core™ Processors
-Intel® Xeon® E3 and E5 v4/v5 Processors
-6th Generation and later Intel® Core™ Processors with two or more drives
-6th Generation and later Intel® Core™ Processors in desktops with an Intel® 200 or 300 Series Chipset and two or more drives
System Requirements
In order for Intel Rapid Storage Technology to work properly, your system must meet the following minimum requirements:
-A supported Intel chipset
-A supported Intel processor
-2 GB of system memory
-15 GB of free hard drive space
-One or more SATA or SCSI hard drives
Installation
Before beginning the installation process, it is recommended that you create a system restore point or backup your computer. This will ensure that you can revert any changes made in case something goes wrong.
1) Download the latest version of Intel Rapid Storage Technology from the Intel website.
2) Once the download is complete, run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the program.
3) Once installation is complete, launch the program and click “Yes” when prompted to restart your computer.
4) Upon reboot, open Intel Rapid Storage Technology and click on the “Configuration” tab.
5) In the “RAID Mode” section, select the desired RAID mode (RAID 0, RAID 1, or RAID 5). For more information on each RAID mode, see below.
6) If you are using a SATA hard drive, check the “Enable write caching on this device” box. This will improve performance but may lower data reliability in case of a power outage. If you are using an SSD, do not enable write caching as it may shorten the lifespan of your drive.
7) Click “Apply” to save your changes and then “Exit” to close the program.
Configuration
Intel Rapid Storage Technology provides protection, performance and expandability for desktop and mobile platforms. By using an Intel chipset with integrated RAID technology, you can create multiple storage arrays within your PC or laptop. You can then use the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface to configure your storage arrays.
Creating a RAID Array
There are two ways to create a RAID array with Intel Rapid Storage Technology: through the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface or through the storage console in the BIOS Setup program.
Creating a RAID Array Through the Intel Rapid Storage Technology User Interface
The recommended way to create a RAID array is through the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface. This method is simpler and provides more options for configuring your RAID array.
To create a RAID array through the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface:
1. Launch the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface.
2. Click Create RAID Volume… in the left pane.
3. Select the disk drives that you want to include in the RAID array, then click Next.
4. Select the desired RAID level and click Next.
5. Specify the desired capacity for the RAID array, then click Next.
6. Review your selections, then click Finish to create the RAID array.
Creating a RAID Array Through the BIOS Setup Program
You can also create a RAID array through the storage console in the BIOS Setup program. This method is more complex, but it may be necessary if you are using older drives that are not compatible with the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface or if you want to use features that are not available in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology user interface
Managing Your RAID Array
Delivering high performance, flexibility and security, Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) helps you manage your RAID array. By using the Intel RST user interface, you can configure and monitor RAID on your Intel Desktop Board.
Monitoring Your Array
You can configure monitoring options for your Intel Rapid Storage Technology array in the Oracle ILOM web interface. To do this, use the following steps:
1. Go to the Array Configuration tab.
2. Click the Monitoring Options button.
3. In the Monitoring Options window, select the check boxes for the events that you want to monitor, and clear the check boxes for the events that you do not want to monitor.
4. Click OK to close the Monitoring Options window and return to the Array Configuration tab.
Updating Your Array
from the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Menu, select “Update Your Array.” This will take you to the update window. Make sure that you have downloaded the latest firmware and RAID driver for your system from the Intel website before continuing. In the “Firmware Version” field, select the version of firmware that you have downloaded. In the “Driver Version” field, select the version of the RAID driver that you have downloaded. Click “Update.”
Advanced Features
Advanced Features
The Intel Rapid Storage Technology program provides an extensive set of options for managing and configuring RAID arrays. This section provides an overview of some of the most important features.
stripes: When data is written to a striped volume, it is first divided into stripe units. Each stripe unit is then written to a different physical disk drive in the array, allowing the data to be spread across multiple drives. This can improve performance, since multiple drives can be accessed simultaneously.
mirroring: Mirroring copies data from one drive to another, creating an identical copy on each drive. If one drive fails, the mirror can be used to recover the data.
parity: Parity protects data by storing information that can be used to reconstruct data if a drive fails. When data is written to a parity-protected volume, it is first divided into stripe units. A parity unit is then calculated and written to a different physical disk drive in the array, along with the associated stripe unit. If a drive fails, the parity information can be used to reconstruct the missing data.
