Smart Array 5i Controller - retired

Smart Array 5i Controller

	key benefits

Data compatibility among all models of Smart Array Controllers means customers can instantly upgrade their Smart Array products to get to higher performance, capacity and availability. Unlike competitive products, successive generations of Smart Array products understand the data format of other Smart Array controllers, providing investment protection for your Compaq storage solution.

Availability

Provides increased server uptime by providing advanced storage functionality:

• Online RAID Level Migration (between any RAID level)
• Online Capacity Expansion
• Logical Drive Capacity Extension
• Global Online Spare
• Pre-Failure Warranty

Fault Prevention

The following features offer detection of possible failures before they occur, allowing preventive action to be taken:

• S.M.A.R.T.: Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology first developed at Compaq detects possible hard disk failure before it occurs, allowing replacement of the component before failure occurs.
• Drive Parameter Tracking monitors drive operational parameters, predicting failure and notifying the administrator.
  
• Dynamic Sector Repairing continually performs background surface scans on the hard disk drives during inactive periods and automatically remaps bad sectors, ensuring data integrity.
  
• Environment Tracking for External Storage System monitors

Fault Recovery

Minimizes downtime, reconstructs data, and facilitates a quick recovery from drive failure

• Recovery ROM: This new feature provides a unique redundancy feature that protects from a ROM image corruption. A new version of firmware can be flashed to the ROM while the controller maintains the last known working version of firmware. If the firmware becomes corrupt, the controller will revert back to the previous version of firmware and continue operating. This reduces the risk of flashing firmware to the controller.
  
• On-Line Spares: Up to two spare drives can be installed prior to drive failure. If a failure occurs, recovery begins with an On-Line Spare and data is reconstructed automatically.
  Note: On-Line Spares can only be used with RAID level 1, 1+0, and 5.

Ease of Use

Consistency and Upgradability make the Smart Array family unique in the industry:

• GUI based configuration, management and diagnostic software tools
  
• Common data format between generations of products
  
• Data migration between servers and external storage enclosures