Chapter 9: Managing Your Storage Space ● 59About the Adaptec RAID Configuration UtilityThe Adaptec RAID Configuration (ARC) utility is a BIOS-based utility that you can use tocreate and manage controllers, disk drives and other devices, and arrays. The ARC utilitycomprises these tools:● Array Configuration Utility (ACU)—For creating and managing arrays, and initializingand rescanning disk drives. (ACU for DOS is also available. See page 91.)● SerialSelect—For modifying your controller and disk drive settings.● Disk Utilities—For formatting or verifying disk drives.The ARC utility is included in your controller’s BIOS. For more information, see Using theAdaptec RAID Configuration Utility on page 81.Note: The ARC utility is primarily intended for preoperating system installation configuration.About the Adaptec Flash UtilityThe Adaptec Flash Utility (AFU) is a text-based DOS utility that you can use to update, save, orverify your RAID controller’s firmware BIOS and Non-Volatile Random Access Memory(NVRAM).Caution: Although the AFU contains safeguards to prevent you from accidentally damagingyour RAID controller’s flash contents, it is still important to use the AFU carefully andcorrectly to avoid rendering your RAID controller inoperable.Adaptec recommends that onlyadvanced users familiar with working in DOS use the AFU. You can also use AdaptecStorage Manager to update the controller firmware/BIOS. See the Adaptec StorageManager User’s Guide for more information.Which Utility Should I Use?To create a bootable array, Adaptec recommends that you use the BIOS-based ACU (See Usingthe Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility on page 81).For all subsequent storage management tasks, Adaptec recommends that you install and useAdaptec Storage Manager (see page 58). As a full-featured software application with agraphical user interface, it is the easiest to use and offers the widest range of managementfunctions.!
