HP Smart Array P430 Controller - Manual (Page 20)

Installation and configuration 20
Configuring an array
To configure an array on an HP Smart Array controller, use HP SSA. For more information, see the HP Smart
Storage Administrator User Guide.
Remember the following factors when you build an array:
• All drives grouped in a logical drive must be of the same type (for example, either all SAS or all SATA
and either all hard drives or all solid state drives).
• For the most efficient use of drive space, all drives within an array should have approximately the same
capacity. Each configuration utility treats every physical drive in an array as if it has the same capacity
as the smallest drive in the array. Any excess capacity of a particular drive cannot be used in the array
and so is unavailable for data storage.
• The more physical drives that there are in an array, the greater the probability that the array will
experience a drive failure during any given period.
• To guard against the data loss that occurs when a drive fails, configure all logical drives in an array with
a suitable fault-tolerance (RAID) method.
System maintenance tools
Updating firmware
Server and controller firmware should be updated before using the controller for the first time, unless any
installed software or components require an older version. For system software and firmware updates,
download the SPP from the HP website ( http://www.hp.com/go/spp ).
Installing device drivers
IMPORTANT: Always perform a backup before installing or updating device drivers.
HP now distributes drivers and other support software for servers and server blades through Service Pack for
ProLiant, or SPP, which you can download from the HP website ( http://www.hp.com/go/spp/download ).
Be sure to use the latest SPP version for the server or server blade.
If you installed an OS by using the Intelligent Provisioning software, its Configure and Install feature may
have provided the latest driver support.
To directly locate the OS drivers for a particular server, enter the following web address into the browser:
http://www.hp.com/support/<servername>
In place of <servername>, enter the server name.
For example:
http://www.hp.com/support/dl360gen8