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NATARAID(4)           DragonFly Kernel Interfaces Manual           NATARAID(4)


NAME

     nataraid, ar -- ATA software RAID support


SYNOPSIS

     To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your
     kernel configuration file:

           device nata
           device nataraid

     Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the
     following line in loader.conf(5):

           nataraid_load="YES"


DESCRIPTION

     The nataraid driver provides support for so-called software RAID
     (sometimes referred to as fake RAID or pseudo RAID).

     When a controller that supports software RAID is instructed to create a
     RAID array, its BIOS writes data structures in a specific metadata format
     to the disks.  These data structures are picked up by the nataraid
     driver, so that DragonFly can work with the array.  The nataraid driver
     has to understand the specific metadata format of a controller BIOS in
     order to support its RAID capabilities.

     Read-only support for a metadata format means that DragonFly can use the
     given RAID array for normal read/write operations.  Creation and rebuild
     of such arrays has to be done from the controller BIOS.

     Read and write support for a metadata format means that DragonFly can use
     the given RAID array for normal read/write operations.  Additionally, the
     natacontrol(8) utility can be used to create, rebuild, update and fail
     such RAID arrays.

     The nataraid driver can read the following metadata formats:

     o   Adaptec HostRAID
     o   Highpoint V2 RocketRAID
     o   Highpoint V3 RocketRAID
     o   Intel MatrixRAID
     o   Integrated Technology Express (ITE)
     o   JMicron
     o   LSI Logic V2 MegaRAID
     o   LSI Logic V3 MegaRAID
     o   NVIDIA MediaShield
     o   Promise FastTrak
     o   Silicon Image Medley
     o   Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS)
     o   VIA Tech V-RAID
     o   FreeBSD PseudoRAID

     The nataraid driver can write the following metadata formats:

     o   Highpoint V2 RocketRAID
     o   Intel MatrixRAID
     o   JMicron
     o   Promise FastTrak
     o   Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS)
     o   VIA Tech V-RAID
     o   FreeBSD PseudoRAID

     It is also possible to use software RAID on controllers that do not have
     special software RAID capabilities.  See natacontrol(8) for details.


FILES

     /dev/ar*  ATA RAID device nodes


SEE ALSO

     nata(4), natacontrol(8)


CAVEATS

     RAID5 is not supported at this time.  Code exists, but it neither uses
     nor maintains parity information.


AUTHORS

     The nataraid driver was written by Soren Schmidt <sos@FreeBSD.org>.  This
     manual page was written by Christian Brueffer <brueffer@FreeBSD.org>.

DragonFly 3.7                  February 22, 2014                 DragonFly 3.7

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