Introduction

Installation Overview • Controller Management Utilities • System Requirements • Conventions

The Dell^TMPERC 2 ^® RAID Controller provides powerful disk array support in servers that have a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The PERC 2 has four SCSI Ultra 2 channels, and each channel has the equivalent functionality of a separate SCSI Ultra 2 bus.

This installation guide explains how to install the PERC 2, connect SCSI devices to it, install the PERC 2 device drivers and the Controller Management Software, allowing you to manage the controller and its attached storage devices.

Installation Overview

The following steps are required to install the PERC 2 hardware and software:

1. Install the hardware:
   • Install the PERC 2 in the server.
   • Connect the SCSI devices to the PERC 2.

   For more information, see Installing the Hardware.

2. Optionally create and configure containers using the PERC 2 BIOS.

   For more information, see Using the BIOS Container Configuration Utility.

3. Install the PERC 2 device drivers.

   For more information, see Installing the Device Drivers.

4. Install the RAID Controller Management Software.

   For more information, see Installing the Controller Management Software.

   Note: Version 2.1 and Version 1.X are incompatible. If you have a V1.X controller in your system and are adding a new controller, you must upgrade the V1.X controller's firmware, drivers, and Controller Management Software to V2.1 (and they must be upgraded as a complete set). For information on how to perform the upgrade, see Performing an Upgrade Installation.

Controller Management Utilities

The PERC 2 supports the following management utilities:

• Flexible Array Storage Tool (FAST)-- FAST software enables you to manage data, files, and storage devices in an easy-to-use graphical interface with wizard support. In addition, you can integrate the FAST software with higher-level management platforms to unify systems and network management. FAST can create a container consisting of partitions on different disks, where each partition is less than the entire disk's capacity. FAST can be used to locally manage a PERC 2 on systems running the Microsoft^® Windows NT^® operating system. It can also be used to remotely manage -- from Windows NT-- many controllers from the Dell PERC 2 and PERC 3 family that are installed on another system running Windows NT or NetWare. For more information on FAST, see the Flexible Array Storage Tool User's Guide.
• Command Line Interface (CLI)-- CLI lets you perform most of the tasks that you can perform with the FAST utility and, in addition, lets you perform some tasks not available in FAST. CLI allows you to use CLI commands in command scripts. For more information on CLI, see the Command Line Interface Reference Guide available on Dell's website ( www.dell.com ).
• BIOS Utilities-- The built-in PERC 2 BIOS includes the following utilities that allow you to configure and manage your controller and attached storage devices:
  • Container Configuration Utility (CCU)-- Allows you to create and manage containers.
  • SCSISelect Utility (SSU)--Allows you to configure your SCSI channel and devices.
  • Disk Utilities (DU)--Allows you to format and verify your attached storage devices.

System Requirements

The following are the minimum system requirements for the PERC 2:

• A Dell PowerEdge server which supports PERC 2. Refer to www.dell.com for PowerEdge server and PERC 2 compatibility information.
• A minimum of 32 MBytes of main memory.
• An available full length, either 32- or 64-bit 33 MHz, unobstructed 5-volt or 3.3-volt PCI slot that supports bus mastering.
• One 32, 64, or 128 MByte EDO DRAM DIMM (Dual-In Line Memory Module) with ECC for cache memory (included with controller).
• Eight MBytes of available hard disk space for the PERC 2 software.
• One of the following:
  • Windows NT 4.0 Server, Small Business Server Edition.
  • Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition.
  • Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Server Edition.
  • Windows NT 4.0 Server, BackOffice Edition.
  • Windows NT 4.0 Workstation (for installing the controller's GUI).

    Note: All Windows NT systems require Service Pack 5 or higher.

  • NetWare 4.20 with Support Pack 7 or higher.
  • NetWare 5.0 with Support Pack 1 or higher.
• A 3.5-inch, 1.44-MByte floppy disk drive.
• CD-ROM drive.
• SCSI cables to connect the internal or external PERC 2 68-pin connectors to the SCSI devices. Depending on the configuration, from one to four cables may be required (internal cables are included with the controller).

Conventions

This document uses the following typographic conventions:

bold
Used for key names (... press the Enter key ...) and for options you are told to select (... select Configure SCSI Channels...).

Helvetica
Used for screen messages (...Save changes?...) and for text that must be typed exactly as shown.

Helvetica Italics
Used for program and file names when referenced in the text (... these changes are made to the config.sys file...).

This document includes three kinds of advisories:

Note: Notes are reminders, tips, or suggestions that might simplify the procedures included in this document.

Caution: Cautions alert you to actions that might cause damage to your system or your data.

WARNING: Warnings alert you to actions that might cause injury to you or someone else.

To avoid injury to people or damage to equipment and data, be sure to follow the cautions and warnings in this document. Dell does not claim to have included in this document every condition or situation that might require a caution or warning notice. Be sure to consult the documentation for your computer and any connected equipment when you are installing the equipment or changing its configuration.

WARNING: Always use caution when handling electrical equipment!