• • • • •

This chapter provides information about creating containers in FAST.

Understanding Containers and Multilevel Containers

Figure  shows how containers and multilevel containers are represented in the Container view window.

Figure 1. Containers and multilevel containers represented in Container view

Understanding Legacy Disk Containers

A legacy disk container represents the contents of a disk that was previously connected to a standard SCSI adapter and contains one or more DOS partitions.

Note: Partitions created by Windows NT are treated similar to those created by DOS.

Figure  shows how legacy disk containers are represented in the Container view window.

Figure 2. Legacy disk container represented in Container view

The only storage management operation PERC 2 provides for legacy disk containers is the ability to delete the container.

Prior to deleting the legacy disk container, you can save the data that resides on the container's DOS partitions using any standard copy or backup utility. Once you have backed up all the data from a legacy disk container, you must initialize the disk according to the directions on Initializing Disks before using it as part of a standard container.

Understanding FtDisk Partitions (NT Only)

FtDisk (fault-tolerant disk driver) is a Windows NT driver that performs the following functions:

  • Creates and manages I/O to Windows NT volume, stripe, mirror, and duplex sets
  • Recovers data

FtDisk partitions appear in FAST when you create a logical disk in Disk Administrator that spans two or more containers. For instance, when you create a stripe set in Disk Administrator using three free spaces, you might actually be using three distinct containers.

In the example in Figure , only the first container in the FtDisk stripe set (Disk 5) shows the drive letter and file system type. All other containers associated with the FtDisk stripe set (Disks 6 and 7) have the FtDisk partition icon. (To determine which FtDisk set a container is a member of, you must look in Disk Administrator.)

Figure 3. FtDisk stripe set represented in FAST

Note: FtDisk partitions cannot be managed by the controller management software; they must be managed in Disk Administrator.

Creating Containers

You can create containers automatically using the Container Creation Wizard or manually from the Container menu. Manual mode provides you the maximum control and flexibility in the creation of containers.

Note: Your boot container should always be numbered 0. If you are booting from the controller, the lowest container number is always used as the booting device. If your boot container ever becomes container 1, and subsequently a container 0 is created, you will be unable to boot your system. The BIOS has the ability to designate a container as the boot container. For more information, see the installation guide for your controller.

On a Windows 2000 system, a basic-disk container is usable only if its size is 16 MB or greater; otherwise, the container must be a dynamic-disk container.

Any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.

Displaying the Container Creation Dialog Boxes

This section describes the dialog boxes that appear when creating a container. The following list names the dialog boxes and indicates the order in which they appear when you create a container:

  1. Container Creation Wizard
  2. Create Container1 dialog box
  3. Configure Failover dialog box
Container Creation Wizard

The Container Creation Wizard appears when you select Creation Wizard on the Container menu. See Creating Containers Using the Container Creation Wizard for a detailed description of the Container Creation Wizard.

Create Container Dialog Box

The Create Container dialog box appears (depending on the Use Default Creation Properties setting) when you press the Create button on the Container Creation Wizard or when you choose Create Container on the Container menu. See Setting and Using Default Container Creation Properties for a detailed description of the Create Container dialog box.

Configure Failover Dialog Box

The Configure Failover dialog box appears (depending on the Configure Failover at Creation setting) when you are creating a redundant container and click OK on the Create Container dialog box. See Using the Configure Failover Command for a detailed description of the Configure Failover dialog box.

Manuals

Manuals
Creating Containers: Dell Flexible Array Storage Tool User's Guide Back to Contents Page

Creating Containers: Dell™ Flexible Array Storage Tool User's Guide

Understanding Containers and Multilevel Containers Understanding Legacy Disk Containers Understanding FtDisk Partitions (NT Only) Creating Containers Setting and Using Default Container Creation Properties Using the Create Container Dialog Box
Creating Containers on a NetWare System

When you create a container on a NetWareTM server, you must run the list devices command on the NetWare console and then create the necessary NetWare disk partitions and volumes. For information on how to create partitions and volumes, see the appropriate NetWare documentation. For information on how to display the NetWare console remotely on the Microsoft system running FAST, see .

Note: Until you create the necessary partitions and volumes on the NetWare server and refresh the FAST display, the container in Container view will display a question mark instead of the NetWare icon.

Creating Containers Using the Container Creation Wizard

To create a container using the Container Creation Wizard:

  1. Select Creation Wizard from the Container menu. The Container Creation Wizard dialog box appears (Figure ).

    Figure 4. Container Creation Wizard dialog box

Dialog Box Element Function
Disks
List Displays a list of all SCSI disks connected to the active controller:
  • Force in Dest check box. Forces the system to include the selected disk in the new container
  • Disk ID. Displays the Disk ID (Bus:ID:LUN)
  • Largest Free. Displays the largest available freespace on the disk
  • Total Free. Displays the total available freespace on the disk
  • In Dest. Indicates with an X that the disk will be included in the new container
Force channel optimization check box Attempts to use disks on different buses (channels) for optimum performance and redundancy (this option is not available on single-bus controllers)
Initialize button Initializes the selected SCSI disks
Configuration
Type to create pull-down list Specifies the type of container to create
Characteristics
Redundancy Indicates whether the container is redundant (Maximum) or not redundant (None)
Capacity utilization Indicates the container's ability to use space for data storage
Sequential Read Indicates the container's relative performance for sequential reads
Random Read Indicates the container's relative performance for random reads
Sequential Write Indicates the container's relative performance for sequential writes
Random Write Indicates the container's ability to perform random writes
Message area For invalid container configurations, displays a warning, which includes information about why the currently selected configuration is not allowed; also provides information about valid container configurations
Size
Use all of nn maximum option Uses the maximum disk space available for the specified container, where nn is the number displayed after Max: in the Type to create list
User specified size box and units pull-down list Lets you enter the size of the container to create and specify a unit of measure in the units list
Use container creation defaults check box Turns on the Use Container Creation Defaults command from the Container menu
Set defaults button Displays the Default Container Creation Properties dialog box (see Setting and Using Default Container Creation Properties)
Create button If Use Container Creation Defaults is checked in the Container menu, creates the specified container and closes the dialog box. If Use Container Creation Defaults is not checked in the Container menu, displays the appropriate Create Container dialog box. (To create the container, see Using the Create Container Dialog Box)
Cancel button Does not create the specified container and closes the dialog box

  1. Select the type of container you want to create from the Type to create list.

    Note: For all invalid disk configurations, a warning appears in the message area (see Figure , ).

  2. Select from the Disks list the disks that you would like the Container Creation Wizard to consider for use by the new container, or accept the disks specified by FAST. FAST automatically tries to optimize your selections, so look carefully at the In Dest column to see which disks are recommended to be included in the container.
      • A disk that has 10 partitions is never considered for inclusion; any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.
      • Disks that are not selected are never considered for inclusion in the destination container.
      • Selected disks are considered for inclusion in the destination container; however, only those disks with an X in the In Dest column are actually included in the destination container.
      • Disks whose Force in Dest check boxes are checked are forced to be included in the destination container.

        Note: Any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.

  3. For maximum performance of any container type (except a volume set) and for maximum redundancy of a mirror set, RAID-5 set, volume set of mirror sets, or stripe set of mirror sets, select the Force channel optimization check box. This option attempts to place component disks on alternating physical SCSI buses.

    Note: This option is not available on single-bus controllers.

  4. Specify the desired size of the container you are creating by using one of the following methods:
      • Select the Use all of option.
      • Type a number in the User specified size box, and specify a unit of measure. You can type the first letter of the unit in the User specified size box immediately following the size (for example, type 500m for 500 Megabytes), or select a unit from the list adjacent to the User specified size box.
      For information on minimum and maximum container sizes, see the installation guide for your controller.

      Note: On a Windows 2000 system, a basic-disk container is usable only if its size is 16 MB or greater; otherwise, the volume type must be dynamic disk.

  5. To use default container properties, select the Use container creation defaults check box. (See Setting and Using Default Container Creation Properties for more information.)
  6. Click Create.

    Note: If you choose not to use the defaults, you are given the opportunity to interactively set the container's creation properties. See the following table for instructions.

    If... Then... And then...
    Use Container Creation Defaults check box is selected Create Container dialog box does not appear. When the hourglass (or other busy indicator) and icons related to container creation tasks disappear, and the status bar displays For Help, press F1, the container has been created.
    Use Container Creation Defaults is not selected Create Container dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.

  7. Select Container View from the View menu to see the container you created.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating Containers from the Container Menu

This section presents the procedure for creating the following single-level and multilevel containers from the Container menu:

  • Volume set
  • Stripe set (RAID 0)
  • Mirror set (RAID 1)
  • RAID-5 set
  • Volume set of stripe sets
  • Volume set of mirror sets
  • Volume set of RAID-5 sets
  • Stripe set of mirror sets (RAID 0/1)
Creating a Volume Set from the Container Menu

To create a volume set from the Container menu:

  1. Select Disk View from the View menu.
  2. Select one or more freespaces whose sizes add up to the size of the volume set you want to create. (See Selecting Freespace.)
  3. Select Create Volume Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then...
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Stripe Set from the Container Menu

Note: For optimum performance, you should always create stripe sets using two or more disks and alternate freespace selections on different channels, if possible.

To create a stripe set from the Container menu:

  1. Select Disk View from the View menu.
  2. Select one or more freespaces whose sizes add up to the size of the stripe set you want to create. (See Selecting Freespace.)
    To determine the size of the smallest freespace required, divide the size of the stripe set by the number of disks you are using. All freespaces you select must be equal to or larger than the smallest freespace.
    For example, suppose you want to create a 300 MB stripe set across 3 disks. To determine the size of the smallest freespace, divide 300 MB by 3 to get 100 MB. To create the stripe set, you must select 3 freespaces, the smallest of which is 100 MB.

    Note: Any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.

  3. Make all selected freespaces the size of the smallest selected freespace by selecting Make Uniform Size from the Edit menu, or allow FAST to automatically make the selected freespaces the size of the smallest selected freespace when it creates the stripe set.
  4. Select Create Stripe Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then...
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create stripe set dialog box does not appear.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create stripe set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Mirror Set from the Container Menu

Note: You must create mirror sets using two equal-sized freespaces. To achieve optimum performance and redundancy, it is recommended that you select freespace on difference disks, and where possible, on different buses.

To create a mirror set from the Container menu:

  1. Select Disk View from the View menu.
  2. Select one freespace on each of two disks the size of the mirror set you want to create. (See Selecting Freespace.)
  3. Make both selected freespaces the size of the smallest selected freespace by selecting Make Uniform Size from the Edit menu, or allow FAST to automatically make the selected freespaces the size of the smaller selected freespace when it creates the mirror set.

    Note: Any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.

  4. Select Create Mirror Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then...
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create mirror set dialog box does not appear.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create mirror set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Note: Splitting a mirror set is not supported on a Windows 2000 or NetWare system. (See Splitting a Mirror Set.)

Creating a RAID-5 Set from the Container Menu

Note: You must create RAID-5 sets using three or more equal-sized freespaces. To achieve optimum performance and redundancy, it is recommended that you select freespace on different disks, and where possible, on different buses.

To create a RAID-5 set from the Container menu:

  1. Select Disk View from the View menu.
  2. Determine the size of the RAID-5 set you want to create and the number of disks on which you want to create the RAID-5 set. See the installation guide for information on the minimum and maximum size of a RAID-5 set.
  3. According to the following formula, select one freespace on each disk you determined in step 2. (See Selecting Freespace.)
    To determine the size of the smallest freespace required, divide the size of the RAID-5 set by one less than the number of disks. All freespaces you select must be equal to or larger than the smallest freespace.
    For example, suppose you want to create a 200 MB RAID-5 set across three disks. To determine the size of the smallest freespace, divide 200 MB by 2 (3 minus 1) to get 100 MB. To create the RAID-5 set, you must select three freespaces, the smallest of which is 100 MB, on three separate disks. (The parity data is distributed across the three disks.)

    Note: Any individual disk used in a container can have, at most, 10 partitions.

  4. Make the selected freespaces the size of the smallest selected freespace by selecting Make Uniform Size from the Edit menu, or allow FAST to automatically make the selected freespaces the size of the smallest selected freespace when it creates the RAID-5 set.
  5. Select Create RAID-5 Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then... And then...
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create RAID-5 set dialog box does not appear. the RAID-5 set is created (using the settings specified) using the method you selected in the Default Container Creation Properties dialog box.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create RAID-5 set dialog box appears. Select Scrub or Clear from the Create using list. Verify and/or change all options in the dialog box, and click OK. the RAID-5 set is created using the method you selected.

    A RAID-5 set can be created through the Scrub or Clear commands:
    • Scrub
    When the RAID-5 set is created using the Scrub command, the container is available to users during the container-create process. However, the data is not parity protected until the scrub task2 is completed. If a disk fails during the initial scrub, failover will not occur and the container's data will be lost.
    • Clear
    When the RAID-5 set is created using the Clear (zero) command, the RAID-5 set is cleared to construct parity. Clear is done in parallel on all the containers' partitions, so it is faster than Scrub, which must calculate parity sequentially from the beginning of the container to the end. However, the RAID-5 container is not available to users until the clear task is completed.

    Note: If you specify a file system type to use with the RAID-5 set, creating the container using Clear might take a while to complete. As a result, until the clear task is completed, an hourglass (or other busy indicator) appears and FAST remains unavailable.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Volume Set of Stripe Sets from the Container Menu

To create a volume set of stripe sets from the Container menu:

  1. Follow the procedure in Creating a Stripe Set from the Container Menu to create the number of stripe sets you want to include in the volume set of stripe sets. To save time, set File system to None while creating the stripe sets.
  2. Select Container View from the View menu.
  3. Select the stripe sets you want to include in the volume set of stripe sets.
  4. Select Create Volume Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then... And if... Then...
    a file system exists on any of the selected stripe sets a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue. Caution: When you click Yes, all data on the stripe sets will be lost during the container create process. However, if a stripe set has already been reported to the NetWareTM operating system, you will not be allowed to continue until you have removed the necessary NetWare volumes and partitions. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.
    a file system does not exist on any of the selected stripe sets a warning message does not appear. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.

If you are creating the container on a NetWare system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Volume Set of Mirror Sets from the Container Menu

Note: The underlying containers of a multilevel container can be mirror sets, but the top-level container cannot be a mirror set. For example, you can create a volume or stripe set of mirror sets, but not a mirror set of stripe or volume sets.

To create a volume set of mirror sets from the Container menu:

  1. Follow the procedure in Creating a Mirror Set from the Container Menu to create the number of mirror sets you want to include in the volume set of mirror sets. To save time, set File system to None while creating the mirror sets.
  2. Select Container View from the View menu.
  3. Select the mirror sets you want to include in the volume set of mirror sets.
  4. Select Create Volume Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then... And if... Then...
    a file system exists on any of the selected mirror sets a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue. Caution: When you click Yes, all data on the mirror sets will be lost during the container create process. However, if a mirror set has already been reported to the NetWareTM operating system, you will not be allowed to continue until you have removed the necessary NetWare volumes and partitions. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.
    a file system does not exist on any of the selected mirror sets a warning message does not appear. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.

If you are creating the container on a NetWareTM system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Volume Set of RAID-5 Sets from the Container Menu

To create a volume set of RAID-5 sets from the Container menu:

  1. Follow the procedure in Creating a RAID-5 Set from the Container Menu to create the number of RAID-5 sets you want to include in the volume set of RAID-5 sets. To save time, set File system to None while creating the RAID-5 sets. You can also use existing RAID-5 sets.
  2. Select Container View from the View menu.
  3. Select the RAID-5 sets you want to include in the volume set of RAID-5 sets.
  4. Select Create Volume Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then... And if... Then...
    a file system exists on any of the selected RAID-5 sets a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue. Caution: When you click Yes, all data on the RAID-5 sets will be lost during the container create process. However, if a RAID-5 set has already been reported to the NetWareTM operating system, you will not be allowed to continue until you have removed the necessary NetWare volumes and partitions. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.
    a file system does not exist on any of the selected RAID-5 sets a warning message does not appear. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create volume set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create volume set dialog box does not appear.

If you are creating the container on a NetWare system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Creating a Stripe Set of Mirror Sets (RAID 0/1) from the Container Menu

Note: The underlying containers of a multilevel container can be mirror sets, but the top-level container can never be a mirror set. For example, you can create a volume or stripe set of mirror sets, but not a mirror set of stripe or volume sets.

To create a stripe set of mirror sets (RAID 0/1 set) from the Container menu:

  1. Follow the procedure in Creating a Mirror Set from the Container Menu to create the number of equal-sized mirror sets you want to include in the stripe set of mirror sets. To save time, set File system to None.
  2. Select Container View from the View menu.
  3. Select the mirror sets you want to include in the multilevel container.

    Note: If you use 48 disks to create a stripe set of mirror sets, you cannot put any additional containers on these same disks.

  4. Select Create Stripe Set from the Container menu.

    If... Then... And if... Then...
    a file system exists on any of the selected mirror sets a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue. Caution: When you click Yes, all data on the mirror sets will be lost during the container create process. However, if a mirror set has already been reported to the NetWareTM operating system, you will not be allowed to continue until you have removed the necessary NetWare volumes and partitions. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create stripe set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create stripe set dialog box does not appear.
    a file system does not exist on any of the selected mirror sets a warning message does not appear. Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not checked the Create stripe set dialog box appears. Verify and/or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
    Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is checked the Create stripe set dialog box does not appear.

If you are creating the container on a NetWare system, see Creating Containers on a NetWare System.

Setting and Using Default Container Creation Properties

FAST allows you to set default properties that are used every time you create a container. FAST retains these settings, from session to session, until you change them.

Note: Is is possible to set default properties that will inappropriately restrict container creation. For example, if you choose FAT as the default file system type, and try to create a container greater than 4 GB or a dynamic-disk container (on a Windows 2000 system), FAST displays an error message. When problems occur during container creation, check the settings of the default container creation properties for conflicts.

To set default container creation properties:

  1. Select Set Default Creation Properties from the Container menu.
    The Default Container Creation Properties dialog box appears (Figure ), showing the General tab by default.

    Figure 5. Default Container Creation Properties dialog box
    (General tab)

Dialog Box Element Function
Container icon Indicates that these properties apply to all newly created containers.
File system properties
File system pull-down list Specifies the default file system type, including None. Note: FAT is not applicable to containers greater than 4 GB. FAT32 is not applicable to containers greater than 32 GB.
Drive letter pull-down list Specifies the default drive letter or Next to use the next available drive letter.
File system label box Not available as a default property.
Allocation unit size pull-down list Specifies an allocation unit for FAT or NTFS. The default is recommended; this lets the format utility select the best allocation unit for the size of the file system being created.
Enable compression check box Sets the root directory of the fie system to be compressed. This is set only during container creation.
Quick format check box Specifies a quick format of the container without running the verify step.
Container properties
Container label Specifies the container label.
Read only check box Not available as a default property.
Chunk size pull-down list Specifies the default chunk size, that is, the amount of data that is written to one partition before the I/O data stream switches to the next partition in the following container types: stripe set, RAID-5 set, stripe set of mirror sets.
Create RAID-5 using pull-down list Specifies that RAID-5 sets are to be created using the Scrub command or the Clear command; see Creating a RAID-5 Set from the Container Menu for more information.
OK button Accepts changes and closes the dialog box.
Cancel button Ignores changes and closes the dialog box.
Apply button Accepts changes.

  1. Click the Cache Settings tab.

    Figure 6. Default Container Creation dialog box
    (Cache Settings Tab)

    Note: For controllers that do not support write caching, a container's write cache will never be enabled regardless of the Write cache setting.

    Dialog Box Element Function
    Read Cache
        • Enable
    		Enables the read cache by default
        • Disable
    		Disables the read cache by default
    Write Cache
        • Enable when protected
    		Enables write cache by default only when a working battery is found on the controller
        • Enable always
    		Enables the write cache by default
        • Disable
    		Disables the write cache by default
    OK button Accepts changes and closes the dialog box
    Cancel button Ignores changes and closes the dialog box

  2. Verify the settings on both tabs in the dialog box, and click OK.

When you set or change any of the default container creation properties, FAST activates Use Default Creation Properties on the Container menu.

When Use Default Creation Properties is activated, and you create a container, the Create Container dialog box does not appear. Instead, FAST creates the container using the default container creation properties.

Using the Create Container Dialog Box

The Create Container dialog box (where Container is the type of container to create) appears when you click the Create button in the Container Creation Wizard, or select Create Container from the Container menu, and Use Default Creation Properties on the Container menu is not activated.

To use a Create Container dialog box:

  1. Be sure Use Default Creation Properties from the Container menu is not enabled.
  2. Click Create in the Container Creation Wizard, or select Create Container from the Container menu.
    The Create Container dialog box appears. The example shown in Figure  is a Create RAID-5 set properties dialog box. Although the other dialog boxes appear in the same format, all settings might not be available.

    Figure 7. Create RAID-5 set dialog box (General tab)

    Note: On a Windows 2000 system, a basic-disk container is usable only if its size is 16 MB or greater; otherwise, the volume type must be dynamic disk.

Dialog Box Element Function
File system properties
File system pull-down list Specifies the type of file system to use with the container. Note: FAT is not available for containers greater than 4 GB. FAT32 is not available for containers greater than 32 GB.
Drive letter pull-down list Assigns a drive letter for the container or None for no drive letter.
File system label text box Assigns the name of the disk drive (as displayed in Windows Explorer); 32 characters maximum.
Allocation unit size pull-down list Specifies an allocation unit for FAT or NTFS. The default is recommended; this lets the format utility select the best allocation unit for the size of the file system being created.
Enable compression check box Sets the root directory of the fie system to be compressed. This is set only during container creation.
Quick format Specifies a quick format of the container without running the verify step.
Container properties
Container label text box Displays the label of the container.
Read only check box Creates a read-only container.
Chunk size pull-down list Sets the chunk size for the following types of containers: stripe set, RAID-5 set, stripe set of mirror sets.
Create using pull-down list Creates a RAID-5 container using the scrub or clear task (see Creating a RAID-5 Set from the Container Menu for more information about Scrub and Clear).
OK button Accepts changes, closes the dialog box, and creates the container.
Cancel button Closes the dialog box and does not create the container.

  1. Click the Cache Settings tab (Figure ), which shows he state in which the read and write cache will be created.

Figure 8. Create RAID-5 set dialog box (Cache Settings tab)

Dialog Box Element Function
Read Cache
      • Enable
Enables the read cache
      • Disable
Disables the read cache
Write Cache
      • Enable when protected
Enables write cache when a working battery is found on this container
      • Enable always
Enables write cache for this container under all circumstances
      • Disable
Disables the write cache
OK button Accepts changes, closes the dialog box, and creates the RAID-5 set
Cancel button Closes the dialog box and does not create the container

  1. Verify or change the options in the dialog box, and click OK.
1 The word Container, in italics, represents the type of container (for example, RAID-5 set).
2 A task is an operation that occurs only on the controller, asynchronous to all other operations. For example, scrub container and clear container are tasks done on the controller.

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