# Configuring a ServeRAID controller: the basic steps

The following steps are an overview of the ServeRAID configuration process:

1. In the Enterprise view, click (controller) that you want to configure.

2. Right-click Create logical drive, or click in the Logical devices view. The Configuration wizard opens.

3. Click either Express configuration or Custom configuration:
   If you select Express configuration, the ServeRAID Manager automatically:
   1. Creates one or more arrays, based on the number and size of ready physical drives in your system.

   2. Defines a hot-spare drive, if four or more ready physical drives of the same size are available.

   3. Defines a logical drive for each array.

   If you select Custom configuration, the ServeRAID Manager walks you through:
   1. Selecting the physical drives that you want to include in your arrays or create as hot-spare drives.

   2. Defining the logical drives for your arrays.
4. Click Automatically initialize new logical drives. Initializing a logical drive erases the first 1024 sectors on the drive and prevents access to any data previously stored on the drive.
5. Click Next; then, review the configuration summary.
6. Click Apply. The ServeRAID Manager will configure the controller and initialize and synchronize the logical drives.

For HostRAID controllers, Express configuration creates a single logical drive. Custom configuration allows you to select the physical drives and segments used to define your logical drives.

## More information

- Example: Express configuration
- Choosing between Express and Custom configuration (SAS, SATA, HostRAID)
- Configuring RAID

Glossary | Contents

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