User`s guide

Chapter 1: About This Guide ● 13
What You Need to Know Before You Begin
You should be familiar with computer hardware, data storage,
Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology, and the
input/output (I/O) technology—Small Computer System Interface
(SCSI), SAS, or Serial ATA (SATA)—used by your controller. (For an
introduction to SAS, see page 70.)
You should also be familiar with Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and
Storage Area Network (SAN) concepts and technology.
Note: Because this Guide covers multiple Adaptec RAID products,
some of the features and functions described may not be available for
your controller. For more information, see About Your RAID Controller
on page 18.
Terminology Used in this Guide
Because you can use your Adaptec RAID controller to manage data
storage in a variety of configurations from DAS to SAN, the generic
term “storage space” is used to refer to controller(s) and disk drives
being managed with Adaptec Storage Manager
TM
or the other utilities
described in this Guide.
Many of the terms and concepts referred to in this Guide are known to
computer users by multiple names. This Guide uses these terms:
● Controller (also known as adapter, board, or card)
● Disk drive (also known as hard disk, hard drive, or hard disk drive)
● Array (also known as a container or logical drive)
Note: The Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide refers to arrays as
logical drives. Why? Your RAID controller creates arrays, which your
operating system (and Adaptec Storage Manager) recognizes as
logical drives.