User Guide

Glossary-14
Version 1.0 Copyright © 2001-2003 by LSI Logic Corporation. All rights reserved.
SMB Server Message Block protocol, a method for client applications in a
computer to read and write to files on, and to request services from
server programs in, a computer network. A client application can read,
create, and update files on the remote server. It can also communicate
with any server program that is set up to receive an SMB client request.
SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol, the protocol governing network
management: for monitoring network devices and their functions.
Software Driver Set of utilities and instructions for controllers to work in a specific
operating system environment.
Spanning A process that provides the ability to configure multiple drive packs or
parts of multiple drive packs. In effect, spanning allows the volume used
for data processing to be larger than a single drive. Spanning increases
I/O speeds, however, the probability of drive failure increases as more
drives are added to a drive pack. Spanned drive packs use striping for
data processing. See also Striping and Drive Groups, Drive Packs.
Storage Area
Network (SAN)
A high-speed, open-standard scalable network of storage devices and
servers providing accelerated data access.
Stripe Order The order in which SCSI disk drives appear within a drive group. This
order must be maintained, and is critical to the controller’s ability to
“rebuild” failed drives.
Stripe Size The size, in kilobytes (1024 bytes) of a single I/O operation. A stripe of
data (data residing in actual physical disk sectors, which are logically
ordered first to last) is divided over all disks in the drive group.
Stripe Width The number of striped SCSI drives within a drive group.
Striping The storing of a sequential block of incoming data across multiple SCSI
drives in a group. For example, if there are 3 SCSI drives in a group, the
data will be separated into blocks. Block 1 of the data will be stored on
SCSI drive 1, block 2 on SCSI drive 2, block 3 on SCSI drive 3, block 4
on SCSI drive 1, block 5 on SCSI drive 2, and so on. This storage
method increases the disk system throughput by ensuring a balanced
load among all drives.
Sustained Data
Transfer Rate
A rate of data transfer defined for continuous operation at a maximum
speed level.