RAID on my XPS

Question

So I've got a XPS, got it about a year and a half ago now . So it's got a 120gb SATA HD in it now and I want to get another SATA 120gb and put it in RAID 0. So, to do this, what do I need? The EXACT same HD? or maybe one that's a different brand, but still 120gb? can I just get an OEM drive, with no CD and manual? the reason I ask this is for my next question, how would I set it up to be in RAID 0? just plug it in and the first time I start it back up go into the setup and do something there? I really have no idea how I'd set it up in raid, so some step-by-step instructions would be a HUGE help. Thanks.

TomXPS · Answer

If you have A Gen 2 the steps would be something like this. I setup RAID 1 on my XPS Gen 2 in January of this year.

The drive you buy should match the one you have installed already make and model. Not sure if you can mix and match, may be able to install a bigger drive but really do not konw.

On my system I created a RAID from an existing SATA Disk. The steps were as follows:

install the second SATA drive.
Boot up your system
Open Control Panel
Open Intel Application Accelerator
Right Click The Raid Volumes
Select Create from Existing or something like this
Existing Drive will be the one one port 0
Select Raid Level 0 or 1 (If you Select RAID Level 0 you have more options to choose)
Select Drive to Add to Array this would be SATA port 1 assuming if it was like mine XPS Gen 2
Start Migration process Takes about 1.25 hours on 120 GB System
Boot after migration
New Device installed message on Boot says to reboot again
After this boot you should be operational in RAID Level 0 or 1

The Intel Manual assuming you have the XPS Gen 2covers it fairly well.

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa_raid/manual.htm

AceP40 · Answer

I don't have the 'Intel Application Accelerator' in my control panel, so do I have a gen1 XPS? So, now what would I do?

TomXPS · Answer

I checked your service tag after I responsed to you and you have a different hardware than I do, so i guess your's is Gen I. On your they had downloads for the promise RAID controller, where on my machine I have downloads for the Intel Application Accelerator and Pre-OS Raid drivers.

So for you to add raid you would have to buy a RAID controller card.

But hardware changes so fast, my machine was outdated since about July with the XPS gen 3, a year from now the XPS Gen 3 will look like old stuff. The price we pay for rapidly chaning hardware, and getting cheaper in the process.

TomXPS · Answer

I checked your service tag after I responsed to you and you have a different hardware than I do, so i guess your's is Gen I. On your they had downloads for the promise RAID controller, where on my machine I have downloads for the Intel Application Accelerator and Pre-OS Raid drivers.

So for you to add raid you would have to buy a RAID controller card.

But hardware changes so fast, my machine was outdated since about July with the XPS gen 3, a year from now the XPS Gen 3 will look like old stuff. The price we pay for rapidly chaning hardware, and getting cheaper in the process.

shesagordie · Answer

AceP40 wrote : 'OK, i doubt i'd need a RAID controller card, because in my manual, under specifications, under drives, RAID is listed' The XPS does not support Raid unless you buy a SATA controller with RAID support. The XPS Gen 2,3 and 8400 systems, do support it. Bev. Message Edited by shesagordie on 10-06-2004 12:25 AM

AceP40 · Answer

OK, i doubt i'd need a RAID controller card, because in my manual, under specifications, under drives, RAID is listed.

Storage, Drives & Media

RAID on my XPS

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