Uniwide UniServer 1522VA 008-00134A Manual

 

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This section describes features of the LSI Logic Integrated Striping (IS) firmware. 

 

5.2.4.4.1  Host Interface 

The IS host interface uses the Message Passing Interface, as described in the Fusion-MPT Message Passing 

Interface Specification, including Integrated Striping. Through the Fusion-MPT interface, the host operating 

system has access to the logical IS drive as well as the physical disks. 

 

5.2.4.4.2  Metadata Support 

The firmware supports metadata, which describes the IS logical drive configuration stored on each 

member disk. When the firmware is initialized, each member disk is queried to read the stored metadata 

to verify the configuration. The usable disk space for each IS member disk is adjusted down to leave room 

for this data. 

 

5.2.4.4.3  SMART Support 

The IS firmware enables Mode 6 SMART on the IS member disks. Mode 6 SMART requires each physical 

disk to be polled at regular intervals. If a SMART ASC/ASCQ code is detected on a physical IS disk, the 

firmware processes the SMART data, and the last received SMART ASC/ASCQ is stored in non-volatile 

memory. The IS volume does not support SMART directly, since it is just a logical representation of the 

physical disks in the volume. 

 

5.2.4.4.4  Disk Write Caching 

Disk write caching is disabled by default on all IS volumes. 

 

 

The BIOS uses the LSI Logic Fusion-MPT interface to communicate to the SAS controller and firmware to 

enable Integrated Striping. This includes reading the Fusion-MPT configuration to gain access to the 

parameters that are used to define behavior between the SAS controller and the devices connected to it. 

The Fusion-MPT drivers for all supported operating systems implement the Fusion-MPT interface to 

communicate with the controller and firmware.