User`s guide

Document Number: MAN-000SR5-000 Revision 1.40
1 Welcome
Silicon Image’s SATARAID5
TM
product consists of a Serial-ATA controller, RAID controller BIOS, RAID
controller driver, and RAID Management Software. A Silicon Image controller provides the necessary
hardware for SATARAID5. The SiI3114, SiI3124, SiI3132 and SiI3531 controllers support SATARAID5
components.
SATA Gen Host BUS Channels Description
SiI3114 I PCI 4
A single-chip PCI to 4-port Serial ATA (SATA)
Generation I host controller.
SiI3124-1 I
SiI3124-2 II
PCI-X / PCI 4
A single-chip PCI-X to 4-port Serial ATA (SATA)
Generation I or II host controller that takes SATA
performance and features to enterprise levels.
SiI3132 II PCI-Express 2
A single-chip, one-lane PCI-Express to 2-port
Serial ATA (SATA) Generation II host controller.
SiI3531 II PCI-Express 1
A single-chip, one-lane PCI-Express to 1-port
Serial ATA (SATA) Generation II host controller.
The SATARAID5 controller’s BIOS provides boot-up support and a configuration interface. For AMD and
x86 systems, the SATARAID5 BIOS identifies present “Legacy RAID” volumes that may be used to boot-up
an operating system. The RAID controller BIOS also provides a basic, configuration interface that could be
used before an operating system is installed. See
Additional BIOS RAID Main Menu Options for BIOS
configuration instructions and
Legacy Support Menu for steps necessary to create a “Legacy RAID” volume
using the RAID Management Software.
The SATARAID5 Management software allows RAID configuration and monitoring from the operating
system. The Management software supports automatic rebuilds, rebuild task prioritization, and partial hard
disk allocation to a RAID volume.
Silicon Image’s SATARAID5 software enhances your data storage by combining advanced RAID features
typically seen on high-end systems with low-cost and high-capacity Serial ATA drives. By using industry-
standard SATA drives and Silicon Image Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), you can achieve extraordinarily low
costs while remaining assured that your data is protected against hardware failure.
SATARAID5 also supports the latest SATA enhancements, including SATA-II Port Multiplier support, and
up to 3 Gbit/second transfer rates on SATA Gen 2 controllers.
SATARAID5 Management Software User's Guide
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