RAID is a great way to add additional security and redundancy to a computer workstation. A RAID array is a setup of 2 or more hard drives that have been synchronized to provide protection against data loss due to a malfunctioning hard drive. Nowadays, most newer motherboards support RAID, and it is no longer as expensive or difficult to setup as it was in the past. In this article, you'll learn how to setup and how to configure RAID on your computer.
Step 1: Decide what type of RAID you want:
There are a variety of RAID levels, each offering its own type of protection and security.
RAID 0 improves hard drive performance by splitting data over multiple hard drives, but offers no data protection. RAID 1 writes the same data to multiple hard drives, protecting data against a hard drive failure. RAID 5 offers improved performance and protection, but requires at least 3 hard drives.
Step 2: Install the RAID adapter in your PC:
Here is a general overview of the steps involved. If your motherboard already came with RAID, then you can just skip this test.
Before handling a computer's inner parts, always make sure that the computer has been shut off and unplugged. This will prevent accidental damage to the computer parts as well as accidental injury to the user. Furthermore, always make sure that you have grounded yourself to prevent accidental shock damage generated by static electricity.
When handling any electrical computer component, don't touch any of the metallic chips or circuitry. The oils on your hands and fingers can and will damage the parts from working correctly.
Install the adapter in an available PCI or PCI Express slot. You will need to consult the instructions in both your RAID adapter manual and your motherboard manual, as the directions will vary depending on the individual models involved.
Step 3: Configure the RAID adapter in your BIOS:
During your PC's boot up sequence, press the key combination to bring up the configuration panel for your RAID adapter. You will find this information in the adapter's manual. Typically, the combination is either Ctrl+R or Ctrl+A.
In some cases, depending on your computer hardware setup, you may be asked to run your computer's CMOS setup program in order to setup your hard drives for RAID.
Step 4: Install the adapter in your operating system:
During the boot up sequence of your computer, keep your eyes open for any messages prompting you to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver. If you see it, then you will need to press F6 to initiate the installation process. In this case, you will be prompted to insert the floppy disk that came with your adapter, as this disk holds all of the third-party drivers.
