help with promise fasttrack 100/2tx raid on A7M 266

[TAZMAN6]

I would like to setup a raid 0 config. with the promise fasttrack 100 2Tx with 2 40 gig IBM 60GXP's. I have a A7M266, 1.2GTB, Bios 1002. I am currently running Win98se but would like to use WinXP. I am looking for any help in installing and setting up the raid and WinXP from start to finish. Please any help, guides, or links would be greatly appreciated as this is the first time I will be setting up a raid array!

[Captn]

Hi, I wrote something in this thread. I hope it helps you.

Does your RAID work on a7v266-e???

It's on page two near the bottm righ now.

I tried to give you a link but failed.

[TAZMAN6]

thanks for the reply Captn, but i havent actually got the promise controller yet. I plan on getting one very soon, so to be ready, I just wanted to gather some info on setting it up right with as little problems as possible! Again any info on set up will be GREATLY appreciated!

[SCompRacer]

I have an A7M with the FastTrak100, also have a TX2 in an Epox. Performance is near the same with 75GXP drives. Some benches can be found through the links of my PC's below.

Put your drives on seperate cables as master/master or slave/slave. Master/slave on same cable will slow the array.

The Promise manual is well written and shows you how to set up a RAID 0 array automatically or manually. Manually allows you more control in setting up your Stripe Block, but choosing A/V (Audio/Video) Editing uses a 64KB stripe which does fine. You can get caught up in all kinds of optimum stripe block size and format with switch discussions but it depends on what file sizes you work with as to what is best.

Bench wise I have tried 16K blocks to 64K blocks and difference wasn't enough to make it worth it. You may get a great drive bench with lower block sizes but it may slow when you do an application type bench or work with apps.

If your array is to be one large partition (roughly 2 x 40 = 80GB), use a Win ME startup disk to fdisk and format as Win98 has a 64GB size limitation. Fdisk and format your array like a single drive. Partition it if you want or do it later with software like Partition Magic.

I ran XP over the top of Win2000 and had to hit F6 to load the Promise drivers via floppy disk during the beginning of the install. I had a SCSI card and Promise controller in the A7M and the first attempt to upgrade to XP failed until I loaded the drivers for both. (I thought I had read the drivers were in XP but may have been dreaming). You have to do it when loading Win2000 so I would guess XP would be the same.

If you ever break down your array to use the drives as singles, delete the array in the Promise BIOS first or the drives will give you a problem to fdisk as singles unless you kill the MBR with the IBM drive utility. Reason is you end up with symbols for the drive label and may not be able to duplicate them with the key board in fdisk.

If you ever update the BIOS on the Promise Controller, you always install the drivers first then update the BIOS.


Some links for RAID info.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/raid/index.htm

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/perf/...fStripe-c.html

http://www.tweakhardware.com/article/what-is-raid/

[TAZMAN6]

Thanks for all the info and links SCompRacer, I was able to find some info on raid setup as well. So with what you sent me as well as what I have now that should help alot, Thanks again!

[One Lazy Guy]

I've got the same MB and Raid card and Drives.
Excellent benches and performance. It's a good set up.