RAID systems, especially high-end ones, can be complex--more features means more
complexity. A simple IDE/ATA RAID array typically needs little in the way of management,
but it becomes important for larger arrays with multiple RAID levels, many virtual drives,
and so on. All RAID systems, whether hardware or software, come with some sort of
administration program for setting up, configuring, and managing the array(s) they
control.
In this section I will address some of the basic issues related to managing a RAID
array. This includes a description of RAID management software, including a look at the
types of errors and warnings that such software may generate, a discussion of partitioning
and partitioning software and how RAID affects them, and an explanation of remote RAID
management. I conclude with a brief discussion of service and support issues, which can be
very important in a RAID environment where high availability is a priority.
Next: Management Software
