Intel Rapid Storage Technology - Wikipedia

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST), until 2010 called Matrix RAID, is a firmware-primarily based RAID answer constructed into a huge range of Intel chipsets. As of 2020, it includes a RAID gadget able to RAID stages zero, 1, 5, and 10, a block level SSD caching accelerator ("Smart Response Technology") with support for write-back and write-thru modes for velocity or statistics protection of any disk or RAID array, and aid for intelligent caching, speedy recuperation from positive troubles, and for PCI Express primarily based drives. Intel RST is available in two variations, RST for computer systems, and RSTe (VROC is a part of Intel RSTe[1][2]) for enterprise eventualities, despite the fact that for plenty chipsets, the user can pick as each versions will perform effectively.[3]

Intel RST is supplied by means of a aggregate of firmware, chipset and CPU capabilities, and software program. As such, the chipset, the firmware protected inside the BIOS, and the software established by way of the user, need to be like minded versions. Online forums and communities exist which evaluate the benefits of different versions of these, endorse as to excellent compatibility for particular hardware, and adjust present firmware and software program to allow most suitable combos or updates past the ones furnished with the aid of the hardware manufacturers.[4]

Like all RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), Intel RST RAID employs two or more physical tough disks which the working gadget will deal with as a unmarried disk, as a way to growth redundancy which avoids records loss (besides RAID zero), and/or to increase the speed at which records is written to and/or study from a disk. Intel RST RAID does not provide new RAID stages. It permits one-of-a-kind regions (e.g. walls or logical volumes) on the equal disk to be assigned to distinct RAID gadgets, not like some other RAID controllers. Intel recommends to position any important programs and records on a RAID 1, five, or 10 volume, with redundancy to protect against facts loss. The RAID 0 extent in Matrix RAID presents rapid get right of entry to to massive files in which statistics loss isn't a critical trouble but velocity is; examples consist of video modifying, swap documents, and documents which are sponsored up. Intel Matrix RAID, Intel Rapid RAID, and Intel Smart Response Technology are collectively defined as Intel Rapid Storage Technology.[5]Operating system help[edit]

"Rapid Storage Technology" (RST), inclusive of creation of RAID volumes, works under Windows 7 and more recent variations of Microsoft Windows. The older "Intel Matrix RAID" is supported below Microsoft Windows XP.

Linux helps Matrix RAID and Rapid Storage Technology (RST) via tool mapper, with dmraid device, for RAID zero, 1 and 10. And Linux MD RAID, with mdadm tool, for RAID zero, 1, 10, and five. Set up of the RAID volumes have to be carried out by using the usage of the ROM alternative inside the Matrix Storage Manager, then similarly configuration may be performed in DM-RAID or MD-RAID.[6]

FreeBSD and MidnightBSD assist Intel Matrix RAID the usage of the "ataraid" driver, controlled thru the atacontrol command.[7][eight] However, with older variations[whilst?] of FreeBSD there had been important reliability problems which include array tool renaming while a disk in an array is replaced,[9] an array being taken into consideration healthy if the gadget reboot/crashes at some point of an array rebuild,[10] and kernel panics when a disk is lost or is eliminated from the bus.[eleven][12] Some of these troubles, while experienced in mixture, ought to result in the lack of an entire array (even in the case of RAID 1).

VMware ESXi 4 does now not guide any RAID characteristic nor Intel Matrix RAID based on Intel ICHxR controllers.[13]

PGPDisk does now not support Intel Matrix RAID based totally on Intel ICHxR, and does now not guide standalone drives if the "RAID" mode is enabled at the motherboard.Matrix Storage Manager alternative ROM[edit]

The Intel Matrix Storage Manager (IMSM) option ROM is part of Matrix RAID that has to be used within the BIOS to create new RAID arrays.[14]As of 2014 Intel uses "Rapid Storage Technology" -"Option Rom"- on its new chipsets, dropping the "Matrix" name.[15][sixteen]An Intel file notes that Matrix RAID garage changed to RST (Rapid Storage Technology) starting with version nine.five.[17]

There were several motive force variations:VersionRelease dateNotesv3.0.02003v3.x.xv5.five.02006Last version to aid ICH5Rv5.x.xv6.zero.02006Included on P965 chipsets with ICH8R southbridgev7.x.s2007v8.0.02008Standard on Intel X58-based totally motherboards.v8.x.x2008v8.9.02009latest model with WIN XP guide, statistics loss risk: no S.M.A.R.T.support for more moderen HDD/SSDv9.5.0The product name became changed from "Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager" to "Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology"v9.6.02010v10.1.02011Last model to assist ICH8Rv10.5.02011Standard on Intel Z68-based motherboards.

This version is the primary to guide RAID arrays fabricated from HDDs with over 2.2 TB.[18]v10.6.0June 2011v10.8.0November 2011Last model to formally aid ICH9R.(Supermicro X7SPA-L)v11.zero.0February 2012v11.2.0June 2012[19] 11.2 which offers TRIM aid on RAID zero compatible with Windows 7 on Intel 7 collection chipsets (in advance chipsets are officially orphaned via Intel).But you can mod RST or MSM oROM to guide "TRIM on RAID 0" on ICH8R and up.v11.6.0September 2012[20]v11.7.0November 2012v11.7.4.1001March 2013Last version to support ICH7R and ICH7M, ICH9M, ICH10R and ICH10Dv12.x.x.x2013v12.7.zero.1910June 2013This choice ROM model is the closing version for the X79 chipset, Intel has updated to a thirteen collection, but no function on X79.v12.7.0.1936July 2013This version is installed on some Intel C226 Chipset-based totally motherboards (e.g. Asus P9D WS).v12.8.zero.1016August 2013Windows Boot Problem when the use of Windows eight.1 & 10 use thirteen.1 and up, no solution for PCH 6 as of October 2015.v12.9.0.1001December 2013v12.nine.4.1000July 2014Last version to support PCH five and PCH 6 seriesv13.1.zero.2030August 2013This model is designed for the new 8 collection chipset. This can be injected right into a X79 chipset with change.v13.1.0.1058May 2014Works with ICH10R in RAID mode on Windows Server 2019v13.x.x.x2014v13.6.zero.1002December 2014Last commonplace model to guide PCH 7 seriesv14.x.x.x2015Last model to support PCH eight & 9 seriesv15.x.x.x2016v15.9.eight.1050July 2020Last model to guide Windows 8.1 and earlier. Last model to help Smart Response cache acceleration with a SATA SSD.[21]v16.0.2.1086February 2018First widespread model to help Skylake CPUsv16.five.1.1030February 2018First familiar model to support the three hundred series chipsetsv16.eight.3.1003July 2019v17.five.2.1024August 2019Improved Optane supportv17.7.zero.1006September 2019v18.6.1.1016September 2021

Since launch eleven.2.0.0000, TRIM instructions may be read by using Windows RAID drivers made for 7 series chipsets. There is no RAID mode TRIM support on drivers for older chipsets.[22]

Intel states that RST assist changed into delivered for the X79 chipset in RST model 11.6.0.0000 and after.[23]

On some 6 collection chipsets there's a modification for the ROM within the BIOS, with the intention to permit TRIM assist on the 6 series chipset.[24]

For the X79 chipset, positive motherboard manufacturers have added both RAID ROMs within the BIOS, the RST and RST-E ROM. X79 is the Enterprise model, referred to as RST-E. With the RST ROM brought to the BIOS, this lets in TRIM characteristic to pass thru the controller and TRIM SSD drives whilst RAID is enabled. This workaround changed into needed before RST-E driving force version three.eight was shipped which exceeded through TRIM commands to a RAID array with out changes to the RST-E ROM. There isn't any aid for TRIM within the RST-E version of the ROM when RAID is enabled and the RST-E driving force version is much less than 3.8.[25] It is possible to add an RST ROM to the BIOS to allow TRIM passthrough in RAID mode by way of using the RST ROM and motive force.[24]

The most recent Option ROM version is a thirteen collection ROM, this ROM will now not be utilized by motherboard manufacturers for the X79 chipset BIOS, and it may be injected right into a BIOS to use on the X79 with modded code, for the ones MFG's who have delivered a ROM transfer, this is in which the MFG has added each RST and RSTe to the RAID alternative of a BIOS, but there needs to be a code added for TRIM instructions to be despatched, when you inject the RST and update the RSTe with RST option ROM in X79 forums that don't incorporate the ROM transfer, TRIM can be dysfunctional.

There are modded RST thirteen collection Option ROMs (legacy) to be had at positive BIOS modding sites which have been made practical for use within the X79 chipsets.

When booting in a BIOS environment (legacy) and a few / EFI, the RST option ROM is used. When booting in a true UEFI environment the Option ROM is not used as a SataDriver with the RST version takes over. In BIOS mode the legacy/BIOS booting is under CSMCORE. In real UEFI mode the RST is controlled below SataDriver in BIOS.

The Intel RAID ROM is the firmware inside the motherboard BIOS this is used to create the RAID array.