Using Software RAID on PSA7000

All hard disks are encrypted with AES128 using a random generated key.

This section describes the use of software RAID.

Overview of Software RAID

The PSA7000 device has two hard disks. However, there is no hardware RAID controller. In Ivanti Policy Secure 5.4R1, RAID functionality is enabled through the software RAID available in Linux. Software is used to create RAID devices in the RAID 1 layer. These individual disk partitions can also be used as regular partitions. All partitions, which include boot, root, data, var, tmp, swap, and so on are created out of the software RAID. Software RAID does not affect any of the other hardware models except PSA7000. It works the same way either with hardware RAID or no RAID at all.

Configuring RAID Controller

To configure a RAID controller on the PSA7000, disks are hot plugged on the PSA7000. Configuring RAID on the PSA7000 also involves some manual configuration steps in the admin console. RAID configuration is carried out by the following steps:

To remove a disk from the second slot in the system:

  1. Select Menu option: 4. System Operations
  2. Select Menu option: 20. Manage RAID
  3. A prompt appears: Are you sure you want to manage RAID? (y/n)
  4. Enter y for the prompt.
  5. Choose Menu option: 2. Remove Disk2. This will detach the disk in the second slot from software RAID.
  6. Physically unplug the disk from the second slot.

To insert a disk to the second slot in the system:

  1. Physically plug in the disk in the second slot.
  2. Select Menu option: 4. System Operations
  3. Select Menu option: 20. Manage RAID
  4. A prompt appears: Are you sure you want to manage RAID? (y/n)
  5. Enter y for the prompt.
  6. Choose Menu option: 4. Add Disk2. This will attach the disk in the second slot to the software RAID.

Checking RAID Statuses

To check the status of RAID and individual disks:

  1. Go to system > platform page of the web interface.
  2. Status of RAID and individual disks are displayed. The below table shows the hard disk status and the hard disk RAID status.

 

Status

Guidelines

Hard Disk

Active

A disk that is present and part of RAID

 

Inactive

A disk that is present but not part of RAID

 

Missing

A disk that is removed.

Hard Disk RAID

Operation

Both disks are active and part of the software RAID

 

Recovering

Both disks are active and syncing with each other

 

Failed

Both disks are active but one of them is not part of RAID

In the single drive mode, only one disk is active. The other disk is either missing or inactive.