HighPoint RocketRAID 2302 - Manual (Page 8)

Introduction
Array initialization
A redundant array (RAID5, RAID1, RAID10) needs to be initialized to ensure full
performance and reliability. Non-redundant arrays (RAID0, JBOD) do not need to be
initialized.
When you create a redundant array using the host adapter’s BIOS Configuration
Utility, it will create the array in un-initialized state. The initialization process can be
completed after installing the driver and management software.
When creating an array using the HighPoint RAID Management Console software,
you can specify an initialization option (Skip initialization, foreground and
background).
Foreground initialization
Foreground initialization will zero-out all data on the array. The array is not accessible
by the operating system until initialization is complete.
Background initialization
Background initialization allows the array to be used immediately. For RAID1 and
RAID10 arrays, initialization will results in data being duplicated identically to the
mirror pair. For RAID5 arrays, initialization will result in parity being generated from
all array members.
Note: An un-initialized RAID1 or RAID10 array can still provide redundancy in case
of a disk failure. A RAID5 array, however, is not fault-tolerant until initialization is
finished.
Online Capacity Expansion (OCE)
This feature allows disks to be added to existing RAID arrays, in order to increase the
array’s capacity, without fear of data loss. Any number of disks can be added to an
array, at any time. Data can be accessed and utilized even while being redistributed.
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