HSRAID-1

Hot Swap capable RAID Expansion

To take advantage of the software RAID feature on the PIP20 platform CPU boards, MPL created the HSRAID-1 option. This new solution is a user friendly and easy option to build a hot swap capable RAID system inside the PIP housing - perfect for a RAID1 array.

The HSRAID-1 consists of a PCB backplane where the two HDDs are plugged in, internal SATA cables, and the additional mechanics including two HDD drawers. The HDD drawers are mounted above the PIP internal power module on the left side of the housing. The HDDs can be removed externally, without the use of any tools.

The solution allows hot swap exchange of the two SATA-HDDs under a RAID1 system! Hot swapping means replacing the HDDs without significant interruption to the system and without shutting down the system.

Required steps to exchange a faulty RAID1 disk

Unfasten the two screws of the HDD drawer - no tools required!
Remove HDD drawer
Replace the HDD in the drawer
Insert HDD drawer
Fix the two screws of the HDD drawer again
The new disk automatically becomes part of the RAID array

It is also possible to create a RAID0 system with the HSRAID-1 option. Please be aware that with RAID0, hot swapping exchange of the HDD is not possible. As by definition, as soon as one disk is missing in a RAID0 array, all data will be lost!
The option fits inside any PIP83 or PIP120 housing.

Product highlights

Solution for hot swap capable RAID1 array
Improved reliability and availability of data
No tool required for exchanging HDD drawer
Use of any 2.5" SATA-disks
Free space for additional PC/104 cards

Suitable for

The HSRAID-1 can be used with all Core Duo based PIPs and any 2.5" standard SATA-disks. For example, it works on the PIP20-1 and PIP22-1.

Restrictions

1. Minimal 82.5mm housing size required
Due to hard disk height requirements at least a 82.5mm high PIP housing is needed.

Operating system based "Software RAID" drivers:

Operating System	Driver	Remark
Windows XP	"Drivers for Setup (F6) - f6flpy3289.zip"	Driver for Windows XP setup. Please use a USB Floppy for loading the driver during Windows XP setup.
Windows XP	IATA89ENU.exe	Intel Matrix Storage Manager for Windows XP.

General RAID Information:

A RAID, an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is used to improve reliability and availability of data. Mainly ensuring that important data is not harmed in case of hardware failure, and/or to increase the speed of file input/output. The RAID distributes data across multiple disks, but the array (combination of disks) presents itself as one single logical unit to the operating system.

RAID0 (striped disks) distributes data across multiple disks in a way that gives improved speed at any given instant. If one disk fails, however, all of the data on the array will be lost. Goal is to increase the speed of file input/output only.
RAID1 mirrors the content of the disks, making a form of 1:1 ratio real time mirroring. The content of each disk in the array is identical to that of every other disk in the array. Main goal is to ensure that data is not harmed in case of hardware failure.