Software RAID configuration enables the creation and deletion of virtual disks of software RAID volumes RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
In this video, you will learn how to perform software RAID Configuration on Microsoft Windows operating system using iDRAC Service Module. Before you begin, ensure to install iDRAC Service Module and enable the Software RAID feature on the host operating system. To begin the process, log in to iDRAC using your credentials. Now, click Configuration and select BIOS Settings from the drop-down list.
Expand SATA Settings and ensure that Embedded SATA is in RAID Mode. When the embedded SATA is in the RAID Mode, the software RAID feature in iDRAC Service Module is enabled by default. Now, open the command prompt and view the help content of Software RAID configuration by typing the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid and press enter. The help options for the software RAID configuration is displayed.
To enumerate the physical disks, type the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -getpd and press enter. You can see that the physical disk information is displayed. Now, let us create a Virtual disk of type volume by typing the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -createVD -raidlevel=volume -pdisk= and enter the physical disk ID, and then press enter. The message that the virtual disk is successfully created is shown. To create a Virtual disk of type RAID0, type the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -createVD -raidlevel=r0 -pdisk= and enter the physical disk ID, and then press enter.
The virtual disk of type RAID0 is successfully created. Create a Virtual disk of type RAID1 by using the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -createVD -raidlevel=r1 -pdisk= and enter the physical disk ID, and then press enter. The message that the virtual disk is successfully created is displayed. You can create a Virtual disk of type RAID5 by typing the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -createVD -raidlevel=r5 -pdisk= and enter the physical disk ID, and then press enter. This creates a virtual disk of type RAID5.
To create a Virtual disk of type RAID10, type the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -createVD -raidlevel=r10 -pdisk= and enter the physical disk ID, and then press enter. You can see that the virtual disk is successfully created message is displayed. Now, let us enumerate the virtual disks by using the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -getvd and press enter.
The virtual disk information is displayed. Delete the virtual disk by using the command: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -ctrlID=0 -deleteVD -vd= and enter the virtual disk ID, and then press enter. Type Y to confirm the deletion. The selected virtual disk is successfully deleted. Type the following command to enumerate the available virtual disks: dcismcfg.exe -swraid -getvd and press enter. Notice that the available virtual disk information is displayed. For more information about iDRAC Service Module, visit www.dell.com/idracmanuals.
