Specifying Logical Drive Parameters

Related Topics

Procedure

Important: If you have selected a Free Capacity node when invoking the Create Logical Drive option and there are no valid logical drive candidates, an error message is displayed and you are returned to the Management Window.

1

In the Create Logical Drive - Specify Logical Drive Parameters dialog, specify the capacity units and logical drive capacity.

Use the spinner box to indicate capacity units (in MB or GB) and the list box to indicate the specific numeric capacity. The maximum value, shown by default, is the Maximum capacity shown in the Summary Area.

Note:

  • You can type up to three decimal places for the capacity.
  • If you enter a capacity larger than the maximum, the value will default to the maximum capacity when you move to another area on the dialog or when you select Finish.
  • If you enter a capacity that is less than the maximum, leave enough remaining capacity to create one or more additional logical drives that meet your application needs

2

Specify the logical drive name.

Choose a unique, meaningful name that helps you identify the logical drive. A meaningful name describes the data that will be stored on the logical drive.

Note:

  • There is a 30 character maximum.
  • If you choose a logical drive name that duplicates that of another logical drive, an error message is displayed and you are prompted to choose another name.
  • Any leading and trailing spaces in the name are deleted.

3

Specify the expected usage of the logical drive based on your application needs.

The expected logical drive usage that you specify is used by the controller firmware to indicate an appropriate default logical drive segment size and cache read-ahead multiplier . The choices available for expected logical drive usage include file system (the default), database, and multimedia.

4

Select an appropriate segment size for your application. You can choose the default (based on expected usage), 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, or 256 K.

Note: You can change the logical drive segment size later using the Change Segment Size option. For more information, see "Changing Segment Size."

5

Specify controller ownership (a preferred controller).

Note: This option is only available if you are using dual active controllers. Choices include either the controller in slot A or the controller in slot B.

If you are creating this logical drive from:

Then...

An Unconfigured Capacity node

The storage subsystem automatically selects a preferred owner .

You can change the preferred owner by selecting the alternate controller radio button.

A Free Capacity node

The preferred owner is set automatically by determining the owner of the other logical drives in the array.

You can change the preferred owner by selecting the alternate controller radio button.

6

Specify whether the logical drive should have a default mapping or be left unmapped. For more information, see "Introducing Storage Partitioning."

Mapping

Description

Default Mapping

The logical drive will be available to all host groups or hosts that don't have specific logical drive-to-LUN mappings. (All hosts or host groups in the Default Host Group can access the logical drive.)

You can change the default mapping at a later time using the Mappings Window. For more information, see "Changing a Logical Drive-to-LUN Mapping."

Map Later with Storage Partitioning

The logical drive cannot be accessed until you make a specific logical drive-to-LUN mapping using the Mappings window in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see "Defining Logical Drive-to-LUN Mappings."

Note: This option is not available if you do not have the Storage Partitioning premium feature enabled.

7

Select Finish.

Result: If the logical drive is created successfully, the Logical Drive Successful dialog is displayed. If any errors occur, an error message appears.

8

Select OK.

Result: A logical drive (or array/logical drive) is created with the specified RAID level and parameters. You are returned to the Subsystem Management Window. The Logical View is updated to reflect the addition of the new array and/or logical drive, and the subtraction of capacity from either the Free Capacity or the Unconfigured Capacity node.

Note: To change other logical drive parameters, see "Specifying Logical Drive Properties."

9

Perform any operating system modifications necessary on the application host so that the applications can use the logical drive. See the installation guide specific to your operating system.

Related Topics

Learn About Creating Logical Drives and Arrays

Creating a Logical Drive

Learn About Creating Storage Partitions