Motherboard RAID Configuration Guide (INTEL)
E22370 Revised Edition V5 August 2023 Copyright © 2023 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (“ASUS”).
Contents About this guide.......................................................................................................... iv Intel® RAID Configuration 1. RAID definitions.......................................................................................... 1-5 2. Installing storage devices.......................................................................... 1-5 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Creating a SATA RAID set in UEFI BIOS................................................... 1-6 3.
About this guide This guide contains information that you need to create Intel® RAID configurations. You can create different RAID configurations based on your motherboard chipset and software. The screenshots in this guide are for reference only. The screenshots may vary with models, but the configurations steps are similar. Where to find more information The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software products.
Intel® RAID Configuration Intel® RAID configurations If your motherboard supports Intel® Rapid Storage Technology, you can create RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 configurations. If you want to install a Windows® operating system to a hard disk drive included in a RAID set, you have to create a RAID driver disk and load the RAID driver during OS installation. Refer to section 6. Installing the RAID controller driver during Windows® 10 and Windows® 11 OS installation for details. 1.
3. Creating a SATA RAID set in UEFI BIOS You can create a RAID set with SATA mode M.2 modules and SATA SSD/HDD. 1. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST. Refer to Chapter 3 in your motherboard’s user guide for details on entering and navigating through the BIOS Setup. 2. Go to Advanced > System Agent (SA) Configuration > VMD Setup Menu. 3. In the VMD setup menu, set Enable VMD controller and Map SATA Controller under VMD to [Enabled], and set Map PCIE Storage under VMD to [Disabled].
3.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select Create RAID Volume and press . 2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 4. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set.
5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 1-8 6.
And also appear in the EZ Mode menu.
3.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1-10 1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete and press . 2. Select the Delete item and press . 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, or select No to cancel.
4. Creating a SATA RAID set in BIOS Some BIOS options may differ, but the steps remain the same. 1. Install the VROC key to the motherboard. Refer to your motherboard’s user guide for the location of the VROC Key slot. 2. Power on your board and enter the BIOS Setup during POST. Refer to Chapter 3 in your motherboard’s user guide for details on entering and navigating through the BIOS Setup. 3.
4.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1-12 1. From the Intel® VROC SATA controller menu, select Create RAID Volume and press . 2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 4. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set.
5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 6.
4.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1-14 1. From the Intel® VROC SATA controller menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete. 2. Select the Delete item. 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® VROC SATA controller menu, or select No to cancel.
5. Creating an NVMe RAID set with onboard M.2 modules in UEFI BIOS • • 1. You can create a RAID set with the following setups: - NVMe SSDs from the CPU. - NVMe SSDs from the PCH. - NVMe SSDs from the CPU and PCH. - Third-party storage devices. PCIe RAID support varies between different motherboard models. Make sure to check the product specification for more information. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST.
4. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then enter the BIOS Setup again. 5. Go to Advanced > Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology to display the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu. 5.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select Create RAID Volume. 2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3.
5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 6.
And also appear in the EZ Mode menu. 5.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1. 1-18 From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete and press .
2. Select the Delete item and press . 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, or select No to cancel.
6. Creating an NVMe RAID set with onboard M.2/PCIe storage modules in BIOS • • 1. You can create a RAID set with the following setups: - NVMe SSDs from the CPU. - NVMe SSDs from the PCH. - NVMe SSDs from the CPU and PCH. - Third-party storage devices. PCIe RAID support varies between different motherboard models. Make sure to check the product specification for more information. Install the VROC key to the motherboard.
5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then enter the BIOS Setup again. 6. Go to Advanced > Intel(R) Virtual RAID on CPU to display the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu. 6.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, select All Intel VMD Controllers. 2. Select Create RAID Volume.
3. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 4. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 5. When the Enable RAID Spanned over VMD Controllers item is selected, press and select X to enable RAID spanned over VMD controllers. This is for Data RAID only, boot is not supported. 6. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set.
7. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 8.
6.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1-24 1. From the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete. 2. Select the Delete item. 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, or select No to cancel.
7. Creating an NVMe RAID set with expansion M.2 card in UEFI BIOS Some BIOS options may differ, but the steps remain the same. 1. Enter the BIOS Setup during POST. Refer to Chapter 3 in your motherboard’s user guide for details on entering and navigating through the BIOS Setup. 2. Go to Advanced > System Agent (SA) Configuration > VMD Setup Menu. 3. In the VMD setup menu, set Enable VMD controller and Map PCIE Storage under VMD to [Enabled], and set Map SATA Controller under VMD to [Disabled].
4. 1-26 Go to Advanced > Onboard Devices Configuration, and set the PCIEX16 configuration as [Dual M.2]. • Please refer to the support site or your motherboard’s user guide for more information on the Hyper M.2 card configurations. • The PCIEX16 configuration option may differ between models, please refer to the actual BIOS of your motherboard for the correct item. 5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then enter the BIOS Setup again. You may check if the Hyper M.2 card and installed M.
7.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select Create RAID Volume and press . 2. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 3. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 4. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set.
5. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 1-28 6.
And also appear in the EZ Mode menu. 7.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete and press .
1-30 2. Select the Delete item and press . 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology menu, or select No to cancel.
8. Creating an NVMe RAID set with expansion M.2 card in BIOS Some BIOS options may differ, but the steps remain the same. 1. Install the VROC key to the motherboard. Refer to your motherboard’s user guide for the location of the VROC Key slot. 2. Power on your board and enter the BIOS Setup during POST. Refer to Chapter 3 in your motherboard’s user guide for details on entering and navigating through the BIOS Setup. 3. Go to Advanced > Sytem Storage Configuration for VROC. 4.
5. Go to Advanced > Onboard Devices Configuration. 6. Set the PCIe slot configuration of the slot you installed the expansion M.2 card to [PCIe Bifurcation Mode]. The PCIe slot configuration option may differ between models, please refer to the actual BIOS of your motherboard for the correct item. 1-32 7. Save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup, then enter the BIOS Setup again. 8. Go to Advanced > Intel(R) Virtual RAID on CPU to display the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu.
8.1 Creating a RAID set To create a RAID set: 1. From the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, select All Intel VMD Controllers. 2. Select Create RAID Volume.
3. When the Name item is selected, enter a name for the RAID set and press . 4. When the RAID Level item is selected, press to select the RAID level to create, and then press . 5. When the Enable RAID Spanned over VMD Controllers item is selected, press and select X to enable RAID spanned over VMD controllers. This is for Data RAID only, boot is not supported. 6. Under Select Disks, press and select X for the disks you want to include in the RAID set.
7. When the Strip Size item is selected, press to select strip size for the RAID array (for RAID 0, 10 and 5 only), and then press . The available strip size values range from 4 KB to 128 KB. The following are typical values: - RAID 0: 128 KB - RAID 10: 64 KB - RAID 5: 64 KB We recommend a lower strip size for server systems, and a higher strip size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing. 8.
8.2 Deleting a RAID set Be cautious when deleting a RAID set. You will lose all data on the hard disk drives when you delete a RAID set. To delete a RAID set: 1-36 1. From the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, select the RAID volume you want to delete. 2. Select the Delete item. 3. Select Yes to delete the RAID volume and return to the Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU menu, or select No to cancel.
9. Installing the RAID controller driver during Windows® 10 or Windows® 11 OS installation After creating the RAID sets, you are now ready to install an operating system to the independent drives or bootable array. This part provides the instructions on how to install the RAID controller drivers during OS installation. The steps and screenshots are for reference only and may change with newer Windows updates.
1-38 4. A message appears, reminding you to insert the installation media containing the driver of the RAID controller driver. Click Browse to continue. 5. Locate the driver in the corresponding folder of the Support DVD or the USB flash drive with RAID driver, then click OK to continue. 6. Select the RAID controller driver you need from the list and click Next. 7. When the system finishes loading the RAID driver, select the drive to install Windows and click Next. 8.
