Create Logical Drive Wizard: Specify Advanced Logical Drive Parameters

Related Topics

This screen allows you to customize settings for an individual logical drive, based on application requirements.

Procedure

1

Specify the logical drive I/O characteristics for the logical drive based on your application needs. The expected I/O characteristics of the logical drive are used by the controller firmware to indicate an appropriate default logical drive segment size and cache read-ahead multiplier .

When you specify expected I/O characteristics, the corresponding default cache read ahead multiplier and segment size values that are typically well suited for those I/O patterns are populated in the Cache read ahead multiplier and Segment size areas.

Choose from the following Logical Drive I/O Characteristics:

  • File system (typical): Cache read ahead multiplier (1); Segment size (128KB)
  • Database: Cache read ahead multiple (0); Segment size (128KB)
  • Multimedia: Cache read ahead multiple (8); Segment size (256KB)
  • Custom: Select your own cache read ahead multiplier and segment size

Note: The cache read ahead multiplier may be changed later using the Logical Drive >> Change >> Cache Settings option. For more information, see Changing the Segment Size of a Logical Drive.

Important:

  • Logical Drive segment size may be changed later using the Change Segment Size option, however, any changes should be made at this time. Once the segment size has been set during the logical drive creation process, changes to the segment size are restricted to increasing or decreasing the segment size by 50%.
  • You can specify a 640K segment size using this wizard screen, but the 640K segment size is not available later using the Change Segment Size option.

2

Specify the preferred controller ownership.

Note: 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 the preferred controller ownership .

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

A Free Capacity node

The preferred controller ownership 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.

3

Select the logical drive-to-LUN mapping parameter. You have two choices:

Mapping

Description

Automatic

This is the only available if the Storage Partitioning feature is disabled.

The logical drive is automatically assigned a Logical Unit Number (LUN) and may be accessed by any hosts connected to the storage subsystem.

You can change the logical drive-to-LUN mapping at a later time using the Subsystem Management Window Mappings View. For more information, see Changing a Logical Drive-to-LUN Mapping.

Map Later with Storage Partitioning

If the Storage Partitioning feature is enabled, this is the option to choose.

The logical drive will not be assigned a LUN and will not be accessible by any hosts until a specific host and LUN are assigned to this logical drive, via the Mappings View.

4

Select Finish.

Result: If the logical drive is created successfully, a success message is displayed and the logical drive is created with the specified RAID level, capacity, and other default parameters. If there is remaining free or unconfigured capacity on the storage subsystem, you have the option to create another logical drive.

If you select...

Then...

No

You are finished with this procedure. Perform any operating system modifications necessary on the application host so that the applications can use the logical drive. For more information, see your storage management software installation guide.

Yes

Select where you want to create the logical drive (on the same array where you placed the last logical drive, or on a different array), then press Yes.

Result: The Create Logical Drive Wizard restarts.

If you chose to create the logical drive on the same array, the Specify Logical Drive Parameters screen is displayed. Specify the capacity, name, and other parameters for the new logical drive.

If you chose a different array, the Introduction screen is displayed. Select either a Free Capacity or Unconfigured Capacity node on which to place the new logical drive, and then follow the remaining Wizard screens to specify capacity, name, ad other parameters for the new logical drive.

Related Topics

Learn About Creating Logical Drives and Arrays

Creating a Storage Subsystem Logical Drive

Changing the Segment Size of a Logical Drive