User's Manual

While the virtual disk displays a Resynching state, the Pause Check Consistency and Cancel Check Consistency tasks is available. Executing either of these
tasks on the virtual disk while it is in Resynching state causes the virtual disk to be in a Failed Redundancy state.
Format and Initialize; Slow and Fast Initialize
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Does my controller support this feature? See Supported Features.
The Format or Initialize task erases the files and removes the file systems on virtual disks while keeping the virtual disk configuration intact. Formatting or
initializing a virtual disk destroys all data on the virtual disk. If the boot partition resides on the virtual disk, it is destroyed by the format operation.
Some controllers have BIOS settings for a fast initialize or a slow initialize. In this case, the Initialize task performs the type of initialization (fast or slow) that
is specified in the BIOS.
Other controllers have a Fast Initialize and Slow Initialize task available on the controller task drop-down menu. For more information, see Considerations
for Fast Initialize and Considerations for Slow Initialize.
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Considerations for Format
The format task applies to the CERC SATA1.5/6ch controllers. After the format is initiated, it cannot be cancelled.
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Considerations for Initialize
The initialize task applies to the PERC 4/SC, 4/DC, 4e/DC, 4/Di, 4e/Si, and 4e/Di controllers.
These controllers also have a Cancel Initialize and Background Initialization feature. For more information, see Format and Initialize; Slow and Fast Initialize
and Background Initialization on PERC 4/SC, 4/DC, 4e/DC, 4/Di, 4e/Si, and 4e/Di Controllers.
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Considerations for Fast Initialize
Use the Fast Initialize task to initialize all physical disks included in the virtual disk. The Fast Initialize task updates the metadata on the physical disks so
that all disk space is available for future write operations. The initialize can be completed quickly because existing information on the physical disks is not
erased, although future write operations overwrite any information that remains on the physical disks.
In comparison with the Slow Initialize task, the Fast Initialize task has the following advantages:
l The Fast Initialize task takes less time to complete.
l The Fast Initialize task does not write zeroes to the disk blocks on the physical disks. Because the Fast Initialize task does not perform a write
operation, it causes less degradation to the disk than does the Slow Initialize task.
If you have had trouble with a physical disk or suspect that it has bad disk blocks, you may want to perform a Slow Initialize task, as this task remaps bad
blocks and writes zeroes to all disk blocks.
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Considerations for Slow Initialize
Use the Slow Initialize task to initialize all physical disks included in the virtual disk. The Slow Initialize task updates the metadata on the physical disks and
erases all existing data and file systems.
In comparison with the Fast Initialize task, you may want to use the Slow Initialize task if you have had trouble with a physical disk or suspect that it has
bad disk blocks. The Slow Initialize task remaps bad blocks and writes zeroes to all disk blocks.
The Slow Initialize task initializes one physical disk at a time. Each physical disk displays the Clear state while being initialized. During the time that the
physical disk is in the Clear state, the Cancel Clear physical disk task is available. Performing a Cancel Clear task on the physical disk causes the Slow
Initialize task to be cancelled for the entire virtual disk and all member physical disks. For more information, see Clear Physical Disk and Cancel Clear.
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Formatting or Initializing a Disk
To format or initialize a disk:
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1. Review the virtual disk that is destroyed by the Format or Initialize and make sure that vital data is not lost. Click Blink at the bottom of the screen to
blink the physical disks included in the virtual disk.
NOTE: On a system running Linux operating systems, you cannot format a virtual disk that contains a mounted volume.
NOTE: A fast initialization on the PERC 4/SC, 4/DC, 4e/DC, 4/Di, 4e/Si, and 4e/Di controllers may occur so quickly that the virtual disk's State does not
display Initializing. Use the controller BIOS to change the initialization settings.
NOTE: Doing a Fast Initialize causes existing data to be inaccessible. This task should be considered data destructive.