Adaptec 58300 User Manual

Page of 88
Chapter 1: About This Guide
11
What You Need to Know Before You Begin
You should be familiar with computer hardware, data storage, Redundant Array of 
Independent Disks (RAID) technology, and the input/output (I/O) technology—SAS—used 
by your HostRAID controller. (For an introduction to SAS, see 
You should also be familiar with Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Storage Area Network 
(SAN) concepts and technology.
Terminology Used in this Guide
Because you can use your HostRAID controller to manage data storage in a variety of 
configurations from DAS to SAN, the generic term “storage space” is used to refer to 
controller(s) and disk drives being managed with Adaptec Storage Manager
TM
 or the other 
utilities described in this Guide.
Many of the terms and concepts referred to in this Guide are known to computer users by 
multiple names. This Guide uses these terms:
Controller (also known as adapter, board, or card)
Disk drive (also known as hard disk, hard drive, or hard disk drive)
Array (also known as a container or logical drive)
Note: 
The Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide refers to arrays as logical drives. Why? 
Your HostRAID controller creates arrays, which your operating system (and Adaptec Storage 
Manager) recognizes as logical drives
How to Find More Information
You can find more information about your HostRAID controller and the software and utilities 
included with it by referring to these documents:
Readme.txt—Includes updated product information and known issues; located on the 
HostRAID Installation CD.
Adaptec Storage Manager User’s Guide—Describes how to install and use the Adaptec 
Storage Manager software (see 
); located on the Adaptec Storage Manager 
Installation CD.
Adaptec Storage Manager online Help—Describes how to use the Adaptec Storage Manager 
software; accessible from the main window of Adaptec Storage Manager.
Command Line Utility for Internal RAID Storage User’s Guide—Describes how to use the 
Adaptec HostRAID Controller Configuration (HRCONF) command line utility to 
perform basic array and configuration management functions; located on the Adaptec 
Storage Manager Installation CD.