User`s guide

28 WebBIOS Configuration Utility
www. del l .c om | s upp ort .d el l. c om
NOTE: When a ‘delete’
request reaches the
operating system driver,
the driver stops all the
running input/output (I/O)
for other logical drives
and processes the delete
request first. Normal
read/write operation
resumes after the delete
request is completed.
Configuration Constraints
The configuration procedure is affected by the random array deletion
feature. The following is a list of constraints to consider when you configure
arrays and logical drives.
• If you create more than one array, you can choose to create logical
drives from any array by selecting the particular array.
• The array need not be completely consumed to jump to another array.
You can leave space in an array and proceed to configure in another
array.
• The available space appears beside each array for possible RAID levels.
• When you delete a logical drive from an array, in the configuration
screen, the available space shown is the size of the first hole (non-
contiguous segment) in the array.
NOTE: The available
space is shown on the
Array Definition screen,
on page19. In the Arrays
window, on the right side
of the screen, the Array
heading displays the
amount of space available
on the hard drives,
depending on the RAID
level selected.
• Since configuration is allowed in any array in any sequence, the RAID
level option shown in the Logical Drive Definition screen on page20
is not automatic. You have to choose the RAID level for each logical
drive.
• For the same reason as above, spanning is not automatic. You must
choose the arrays across which to span the logical drive. Spanning can
be across any array; they do not need to be contiguous.
• If any two arrays have an equal number of stripes and have holes, those
holes can be spanned by selecting those arrays.
• To delete a logical drive, click the logical drive. The Logical Drive
Properties page displays. You can choose Delete, then press Go.
WebBIOS deletes the logical drive and displays the space of the first
hole beside the array number in the configuration screen.
Delete is not allowed when any of the following operations is in
progress:
– Reconstruction
– Rebuild
– Check consistency
– Background initialization