HPZ820 & RAID 5 >4 hard drives

[Jator71]

Purchased this to replace an aging Dell T600 (also much lighter) as a home media center.  The Dell could handle 6x 4GB WD Red drives in Raid 5 (20GB space).

After installing everything in the Z820, i Iearned that the Intel Raid uses the SATA ports and although there's 6 ports, only 4 can be used for Raid configuration.  I can use the LSI SAS Raid Controller and get all 6 drives in, but can only use RAID 0 (not an option, no redundancy), Raid 1 or Raid 1E/10.  I went with 1E but have gone from 20 GB space down to 12 GB space.  Is there a way to update the Intel Raid controller to use all 6 drives in RAID 5 or is there a RAID card that I can add into a PCIE spot that could be leveraged (highly doubt that, but asking nonetheless).  And lastly, if I had to go a separate hardware raid card, any recommendations on a Linux friendly card (that doesn't require me recompiling the kernel)?

I don't want to go back to the Dell, this machine is far superior for my needs (USB 3.0, newer CPU support, newer PCIE slots, etc), so any advice would be most appreciated.

[joselso]

LSI 9270-8i is the RAID controller card officially declared suitable for HP Z820 workstation, as stated in Z820 QuickSpecs page 9 in URL:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c04111526.pdf

and also listed in "Identifying RAID Controller’s Workstation Compatibility",  URL:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04474148

This RAID controller supports Windows as well as Linux operating systems, as described in its User Guide: "6Gb/s MegaRAID SAS RAID Controllers", pages 11, 12 in URL:

https://docs.broadcom.com/doc/12353227

[DGroves]

i suggest you take the time to read the z820 user and service manuals 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03270729

https://www.manualshelf.com/manual/hp/hp-z820-workstation/creating-raid-arrays-in-the-efi-shell-whit...

the z820 supports raid 5 on  the onboard LSI ports,  and the intel SCU" sata ports  however this method is for light use scenarios as the LSI/Intel onboard controllers lack cache and a dedicated xor processor as such installing a adaptec ASR-6805T w/super cache (capacitor) module is highly recommended this card can do everything the onboard LSI can do (Raid or JBOD) but also supports many more raid configs and will do raid/JBOD at the same time

the LSI 9xxx cards are Raid only (except for 9240 based chips),........................no JBOD and most require a expensive battery for cache functions

the only real issue is that JBOD is not a true passthrough, you must first write a custom bootblock to the JBOD drive which erases all data on drive, after this is done the drican be used as jbod or added to a raid array

also note that directions below assume you have installed the intel RSTe 4.3/4.6 driver, the Enterprise driver is not the same as the consumer RST driver which lacks support for the C602 chipset

Configuring SATA RAID devices

This section describes how to use the Intel® Rapid Storage Manager option ROM Configuration utility to set up and manage SATA RAID volumes.

The following SATA RAID configurations are supported on this computer:

• Up to the computer-specific maximum number of internal SATA hard disk drives and eSATA drives (if you use an optional eSATA bulkhead cable)
• Intel Rapid Storage Manager (IRSM) for Windows

If only a single HDD is attached, the Intel Rapid Storage Manager option ROM does not execute. Associated messages are not displayed.

The Intel SATA AHCI BIOS executes when you select RAID+AHCI for the SATA emulation mode. This BIOS is only used to support serial-attached drives configured as a RAID array.

This section does not apply to configuring SATA RAID in the Linux environment. For Linux SATA RAID, refer to the Software RAID in Linux Workstations section in the HP Workstations for Linux User Guide.

Attaching SATA HDDs

Attach the required minimum number of SATA hard drives for the desired RAID level:

• RAID 0 – Striped disk array
  • Two drive minimum
  • Improved I/O performance
  • No fault tolerance
• RAID 1 — Mirrored disk array
  • Two drives
  • 100% redundancy
  • Can recover from single drive failure
  • Improved read performance
• RAID 5 — Striped disk array with distributed parity
  • Three or more drives (for workstations that support three or more hard drives)
  • Fault tolerant and provides I/O performance improvement, especially for write-biased applications
  • Single drive failure does not cause data loss (performance is compromised until the failed drive is replaced and the array rebuilt).

Configuring system BIOS

Configure the system BIOS to enable embedded SATA RAID functionality.

1. To enter the system BIOS setup, press F10.
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight the desired language, and then press Enter.
3. Use the arrows to highlight Storage>Storage Options, and then press Enter.
4. Use the up or down arrow key to highlight SATA Emulation.
5. Use the left or right arrow key to select RAID+AHCI.
6. To accept the new setting, press F10.
7. Use the arrows to highlight Advanced>Power-On Options, and then press Enter.
8. Use the up or down arrow key to highlight POST Messages.
9. Use the left or right arrow key to select Enable.
10. To accept the new setting, press F10.
11. Use the arrow keys to highlight Advanced>Device Options, and then press Enter.
12. Use the up or down arrow key to highlight SATA RAID Option ROM Download, and then press Enter.
13. Use the left or right arrow key to select Enable.
14. To accept the new setting, press F10.
15. Use the arrows to highlight File>Save Changes and Exit, and then press Enter.
16. Press F10 when prompted.

Creating RAID volumes (Intel Matrix)

To create RAID volumes, use the Intel Rapid Storage Manager option ROM Configuration utility.

1. To enter the Intel Rapid Storage Manager option ROM Configuration utility, press Ctrl+I when prompted.
2. If required, refer the computer Maintenance and Service Guide to make available enough physical drives to create the RAID volume.
3. Use the up or down arrow key to highlight 1. Create RAID Volume, and then press Enter.
4. Type the desired RAID volume name in the Name: field, and then press Tab.
5. Use the up or down arrow key to select the RAID level in the RAID Level: field, and then press Tab.
6. If three or more hard drives are installed (for workstations that support three or more hard drives):
   1. Press Enter to display the Select dialog.
   2. Use the up and down arrow keys and Space to mark individual physical as members of the volume.
   3. Press Enter to exit the Select dialog and return to the Create Volume Menu dialog.
7. If appropriate, use the up or down arrow key to select the Stripe Size in the Stripe Size: field, and then press Tab.
8. Enter the desired volume size in the Capacity: field, and then press Tab.
9. Press Enter to initiate volume creation.
10. When prompted, press Y to acknowledge the warning message and create the volume.
11. Use the up or down arrow key to highlight 5. Exit, and then press Enter.
12. Press Y when prompted to confirm the exit.

Configuring SAS RAID devices (LSI RAID)

Supported configurations

The following RAID configurations are supported on this workstation:

NOTE: 

This section does not apply to configuring SAS RAID in the Linux environment. For Linux SAS RAID information, including supported configurations, refer to Installing and Configuring SAS Hardware RAID on HP Linux Workstations at http://www.hp.com/support/xw8600_manuals.

• Up to the workstation-specific maximum number of internal SAS hard disk drives
• LSI MegaRAID Storage Manager (MSM) for Windows

The following RAID configurations are supported on this workstation:

• RAID 0 – Striped disk array (IS)
  • Two drive minimum
  • Improved I/O performance
  • No fault tolerance
• RAID 1 — Mirrored disk array (IM)
  • Two drives
  • 100% redundancy
  • Can recover from single drive failure
  • Improved read performance
• RAID 1E (IME)
  • Three drives minimum
  • Can be an odd number of drives
  • Can always recover from a single drive failure and, in some cases, can recover from two drive failures

SAS RAID 0 configuration (LSI RAID)

Use the following procedure to configure an Integrated Striped (IS) volume with the BIOS-based configuration utility. The procedure assumes that the system has the required disk and disk controllers.

1. Start the LSI Corporation Configuration Utility. During BIOS start up, you are prompted to Press Ctrl-C to start LSI Corp. Configuration Utility.
2. On the Main menu of the BIOS-based configuration utility, use the arrow keys to select an adapter.
3. Press Enter to go to the Adapter Properties screen.
4. On the Adapter Properties screen, use the arrow keys to select RAID Properties, and press Enter to go to the New Array Type screen.
5. In the Select New Array Type screen, use the arrow keys to select Create IS Volume. Press Enter to go to the Create New Array screen.
6. In the Create New Array screen, use the arrow keys to select the first disk for the IS volume. Then use the arrow keys to move to the RAID Disk column for this disk, and press Space and + or - to select Yes as the value for this column.
   If partitions are defined on the selected disk, a message appears warning you that data on the disk will be lost when the striped volume is created.
7. Press M to migrate, or D to delete the data on the drive.
8. To select additional drives for the striped volume, up to the workstation-specific maximum number, repeat the previous steps.
9. When all drives are selected, press C to create the array once. Use the arrow keys to move to Save changes then exit this menu and press Enter.
10. When the new array is created, the Adapter Properties screen appears. Press Esc twice and select Exit.

SAS RAID 1 configuration (LSI RAID)

Use the following procedure to configure an Integrated Mirroring (IM) volume with the BIOS-based configuration utility. The procedure assumes that the system has the required drives and drive controllers.

1. Start the LSI Corporation Configuration Utility. During BIOS start up, you are prompted to Press Ctrl-C to start LSI Corp. Configuration Utility.
2. On the Main menu of the BIOS-based configuration utility, use the arrow keys to select an adapter.
3. Press Enter to go to the Adapter Properties screen.
4. On the Adapter Properties screen, use the arrow keys to select RAID Properties, and press Enter to go to the New Array Type screen.
5. In the Select New Array Type screen, use the arrow keys to select Create IM Volume. Press Enter.
6. To configure a two-disk mirrored volume with an optional hot spare disk:
   1. In the Create New Array screen, use the arrow keys to select the primary disk for the IM volume (the disk with the data you want to mirror.)
   2. Use the arrow keys to move to the RAID Disk column for this disk and press Space to select Yes as the value.
      If partitions are defined on the selected disk, a message appears warning you that data on the disk will be lost when the mirrored volume is created.
   3. Press M to migrate or D to delete the data on the drive.
   4. The value in the Array Disk column changes to Primary.
      Use the arrow keys to select the secondary (mirrored) disk for the IM volume, and then select Yes as the value for the Array Disk column.
      If partitions are defined on this disk, a message warns that data on the disk will be lost when the mirrored volume is created.
   5. Press Delete to confirm erasing data from the disk, or press any other key to deselect the disk.
7. When all drives are selected, press C to create the array once. Use the arrow keys to move to Save changes then exit this menu and press Enter.
8. When the new array is created, the Adapter Properties screen appears. Press Esc twice and select Exit.

SAS RAID 1E configuration (LSI RAID)

Use the following procedure to configure an Integrated Mirroring Extended (IME) volume with the BIOS-based configuration utility. The procedure assumes that the system has the required disk and disk controllers.

1. Start the LSI Corporation Configuration Utility. During BIOS start up, you are prompted to Press Ctrl-C to start LSI Corp. Configuration Utility.
2. On the Main menu of the BIOS-based configuration utility, use the arrow keys to select an adapter.
3. Press Enter to go to the Adapter Properties screen.
4. On the Adapter Properties screen, use the arrow keys to select RAID Properties, and press Enter to go to the New Array Type screen.
5. In the Select New Array Type screen, use the arrow keys to select Create IME Volume. Press Enter.
6. To configure a mirrored volume or an optional hot spare drive with up to the workstation-specific maximum number of drives:
   1. In the Create New Array screen, use the arrow keys to select the first disk for the IME volume.
   2. Use the arrow keys to move to the RAID Disk column for this disk, and then use the + or - keys to select Yes as the value.
      If partitions are defined on the selected disk, a message appears warning that the data on the disk will be lost when the mirrored volume is created.
   3. Press M to migrate, or D to delete the data on the drive.
   4. Use the arrow keys to select the next disk for the IME volume, and then select Yes as the value for the Array Disk column.
      If partitions are defined on this disk, a message warns you that data on the disk will be lost when the mirrored volume is created.
   5. Press Delete to confirm erasing data from the disk, or press any other key to deselect the disk.
   6. Repeat the previous steps to select up to the workstation-specific maximum number of drives for the IME volume, including configuration of a hot spare.
7. When all drives are selected, press C to create the array once. Use the arrow keys to move to Save changes then exit this menu and press Enter.
8. When the new array is created, the Adapter Properties screen appears. Press Esc twice and select Exit.

Deleting RAID volumes (LSI RAID)

Use the LSI Logic Corporation Configuration Utility to delete SAS RAID volumes.

1. Start the LSI Corporation Configuration Utility. During BIOS start up, you are prompted to Press Ctrl-C to start LSI Corp. Configuration Utility.
2. On the Main menu of the BIOS-based configuration utility, use the arrow keys to select an adapter.
3. Press Enter to go to the Adapter Properties screen.
4. In the Select New Array Type screen, use the arrow keys to select New Existing Array.
5. In the View Array screen, use the arrow keys to select Manage Array. Press Enter.
6. In the Manage Array screen, use the arrow keys to select Delete Array. Press Enter.
   Press Y to delete the array and exit to the adapter properties screen.