HP NetServer LP 1000r Installing Banyan VINES on an HP Netserver - Page 3

Storage Devices You should determine your disk configuration before you begin installation--this includes choosing the type and number of disk controllers and drives that you will need. Choosing a Disk Controller The embedded SCSI-2 disk controller installed in your NetServer is an excellent performer, easily outperforming other embedded SCSI controllers in server applications. For optimum performance in a fileserver environment, you should attach any additional drives to the embedded controller. In cases where drive (hardware) level fault tolerance is critical, you should choose the HP Disk Array Controller or HP NetRAID for fault tolerance environments, or for better performance in some transaction-processing server environments. HP Disk Array Controller When installing the HP Disk Array controller, you must use the JetSet configuration software before installing any system software. When using HP Disk Array, HP recommends RAID level 5 for general office environments. HP NetRAID Disk Array Controller When installing the HP NetRAID disk array controller, you must use the DAC configuration utility on the NetServer Navigator CD-ROM before installing any system software. When using HP NetRAID, HP recommends RAID level 5 for general office environments Determining the Number of Disk Drives For acceptable server performance, HP recommends a minimum of two hard drives per controller. Because server environments generate a large number of random file accesses, all NetServer disk controllers are able to distribute file accesses evenly and effectively across multiple drives (if more than one drive is attached to the server). Setting up two or more drives is an effective way to reduce seek times and guarantee satisfactory server performance. Determining the Number of Controllers If you encounter high periods of disk usage, or need to separate disks by department, segregate disk storage on separate controllers. This technique will effectively disperse the disk loading, providing greater configuration flexibility and better performance. SCSI Extended Translation Setting The SCSI extended translation setting for disks with a capacity larger than 1 GB should be set to 'disabled' for all version of Banyan VINES. (Run the EISA Configuration Utility or the SCSI BIOS -A to set this parameter.) 3