Configure PM8204-Family RAID in Two-Socket UEFI Systems
This archived OEM guide combines several historical hardware/firmware examples. Retained English screens are original; translated bitmap labels are English instructional illustrations, not captured official English UI. Identify the actual controller, disks and required data before any destructive configuration. No controller or disk operation was performed to prepare this article.
I. RAID Card Array Configuration
1.1 View RAID Status
The source mixes a PM8222-SHBA-labelled controller, older Aptio 2017 examples and later 2020/2023 firmware. The title PM8204 is not proof that every pictured option applies to one model/version. One existing RAID 1 example is labelled 1111, size 7.2 TiB (7.9 TB), using two 8 TB drives.
View array status in UEFI mode, locate the adapter card information in the Advanced interface, and press Enter to enter.
Select Array Configuration.
Select Manage Arrays.
As shown below, three arrays have been created. Select one of them, such as
Select the intended existing array from Manage Arrays and inspect its logical drives; the following screenshots show separate example selections.
The current arrays will be displayed at this point; press Enter.
Select List Logical Drives.
You can see the current array information as shown below.
1.2 Delete RAID Array
Delete Logical Drive removes the selected logical drive and its data access; deleting the last logical drive may also remove its array. It is not interchangeable with deleting every array.
Select Array Configuration.
Select Manage Arrays.
Select Delete Logical Drive.
Select Submit changes.
A prompt indicates that the logical disk has been successfully deleted, as shown below.
1.3 RAID Configuration Recommendations for Large Storage
UEFI boot can support an OS boot volume over 2 TB only when the actual OS edition, GPT partitioning, installation-media boot mode, controller/firmware and driver support it. The source’s blanket statement that no other configuration is required is not sufficient installation guidance.
1.4 RAID 0 Configuration
Several source sections reuse the same Logical Drive 1 form: 14.554 TiB, 256 KiB strip, 512 KiB full stripe, Default parity initialization and acceleration None. These are shared example values, not valid demonstrated capacities for every RAID level. One disk-list illustration repeats bay 5 on multiple rows. Identify actual disks and validate the selected level, capacity and membership rather than copying those reused figures.
Select Array Configuration.
Select Create Array.
Set the disks to be used for the array to Enable mode.
Select Proceed to next Form.
Select RAID 0 and click Proceed to next Form.
Configure the required array information, such as array name, stripe size, etc. After setting is complete, click Submit changes.
You can see that the logical array has been created successfully.
1.5 RAID 1 Configuration
Select Array Configuration.
Select Create Array.
Set the disks to be used for the array to Enable mode.
Select Proceed to next Form.
Select RAID 1 and click Proceed to next Form.
Configure the required array information, such as array name, stripe size, etc. After setting is complete, click Submit changes.
You can see that the logical array has been created successfully.
1.6 RAID 5 Configuration
Select Array Configuration.
Select Create Array.
Set the disks to be used for the array to Enable mode.
Select Proceed to next Form.
Select RAID5, then click Proceed to next Form.
Configure the required array information, such as array name and stripe size. After setting is complete, click Submit changes.
The logical array creation will be confirmed successfully.
1.7 RAID6 Configuration
Select Array Configuration.
Select Create Array.
Set the disks intended for the array to Enable mode.
Select Proceed to next Form.
In RAID Level, select RAID6, then click Proceed to next Form.
Configure the required array information, such as array name and stripe size. After setting is complete, click Submit changes.
The logical array creation will be confirmed successfully.
1.8 RAID10 Configuration
Select Array Configuration.
Select Create Array.
Set the disks intended for the array to Enable mode.
Select Proceed to next Form.
Select RAID1+0, then click Proceed to next Form.
Configure the required array information, such as array name and stripe size. After setting is complete, click Submit changes.
The logical array creation will be confirmed successfully.
1.9 JBOD Configuration
Configuration differs depending on whether a pass-through backplane or an expand backplane is used; please note this distinction.
1) Backplane Type: The Port CN0 Mode and Port CN1 Mode parameters under Modify Controller Settings are only displayed when the backplane type is a pass-through backplane.
On the main page, select configure controller setting.
Select modify controller setting.
When Port CN0/CN1 Mode is set to Mixed, both RAID and JBOD can be configured simultaneously; disks not configured for RAID are treated as JBOD.
When Port CN0/CN1 Mode is set to RAID, only RAID can be configured; JBOD cannot be configured.
When Port CN0/CN1 Mode is set to HBA, all disks are treated as JBOD, and RAID cannot be configured.
2) When using an expand backplane, modifications must be made under Configure Controller Settings - Configure Controller Port Mode.
When using an expand backplane:
Configure Controller Settings- Configure Controller Port Mode:
The source expander-backplane example shows RAID/Mixed while arrays exist and an HBA option in a different no-array example. This is not an instruction to delete required arrays to expose HBA. A mode change can affect device presentation and data access; confirm the actual supported configuration first.
Compare with the status of the pass-through backplane configuration.
1.10 Hot Spare Configuration
Select Array Configuration.
Select Manage Arrays.
Select Manage Spare Drives.
Dedicated and Auto Replace are spare policies for selected arrays, not synonyms for global and local. A dedicated spare protects its assigned array(s), normally becoming available again after supported copyback; an auto-replace spare becomes a permanent member of its assigned array after use. Verify actual activation and copyback behavior for this OEM firmware.
Set the disk intended for hot spares to Enabled mode, then select which type of hot spare configuration to apply.
1.11 Controller Attribute Configuration
Select Configure Controller Settings.
Modify Controller Settings and Advanced Controller Settings contain the relevant controller configurations.
The next two figures are English instructional localizations of the original Chinese controller settings. They retain the original selected values, including Write Cache without Battery Disabled, three cache-state values Default, CN0/CN1 Mixed, degraded-mode optimization Disabled and queue depth Automatic. They do not establish an official English UI or recommended settings for every controller.
II. Common Problem Recovery
2.1 Single Disk Offline and Handling Steps
Taking RAID5 as an example, when one disk in the array goes offline, the array status will change to Interim Recovery. The disk status will become Failed, as shown in the figure below.
Use a compatible verified replacement and monitor the actual recovery. The source’s later picture shows the member states Ok but crops off the logical-drive Status row; it is not a pictured completed logical-drive Ok status or data-integrity check.
2.2 Multi-Disk Offline and Handling Steps
In the source RAID 5 example, two failed members leave the logical drive Failed. Preserve original disks, member order, metadata and event evidence and obtain an appropriate recovery assessment; initialization or blind array recreation is not a recovery procedure and data restoration is not guaranteed.
2.3 Erase a Disk (Destructive Source Example)
Select Disk Utilities.
Select the intended disposable disk by actual port, enclosure and bay. Erase Disk destroys data; it is a distinct operation from merely viewing/locating a drive or controller-specific initialization.
Select Erase Disk.
The source shows an 8 TB SATA ST8000NM000A-2KE at CN1, box 1, bay 4 and a three-pass Random + Random + Zero erase choice. Alternatives include two-pass, one-pass and restricted/unrestricted sanitize overwrite. The warning prohibits power-off, reboot or hot removal during erase. The localized Chinese form calls the field Erase Mode; another original English form uses Erase Pattern. No erase was executed.
English references and source scope
- https://www.ieisystem.com/qa/raid/14542.html
- https://onlinedocs.microchip.com/oxy/GUID-A735A5E3-4456-4763-9EA6-B7AE0E5FE7E8-en-US-19/GUID-FBAE3544-95EF-4EB2-86F2-1B7FB1DCA1C1.html
- https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/aemDocuments/documents/adaptec/documents/adaptec_smarthba_smartraid_x200_iug_7_2024.pdf
No exact English edition of this OEM QA was verified from its language navigation. The English manufacturer references clarify terminology and policy distinctions; newer Microchip guides do not certify PM8204/PM8060 OEM firmware support, and Broadcom documentation does not make every displayed OEM model interchangeable. All original sections and working image references are retained, with source inconsistencies identified above.