Initializing a Drive

Use this option only when you have moved a sub-set of drives that were previously part of a multi-drive array from one storage subsystem to another. Because you did not move the entire set of drives, the logical drive/array information on the drives is incomplete. Therefore, to erase all logical drive/array information on these drives and make them available again for new logical drive creation, you must initialize these drives. This will erase the logical drive/array information and return the selected drives to an unassigned state, adding new or additional unconfigured capacity to the storage subsystem. You can use this capacity to create additional logical drives.
Caution: All data on the drive or drives will be lost.

Procedure

1

From the Physical View, select one or more drives you want to initialize; then, select either the Drive >> Initialize pull-down menu option, or Initialize from the right-mouse pop-up menu.

Result: The Initialize Drive dialog is displayed.

2

Select Yes.

Result:

  • The drive initialization process begins.
  • The drive in the Physical View returns to an unassigned state.
  • The Logical View is updated as follows:

If...

Then...

An Unconfigured Capacity node did not exist prior to the drive initialization operation

A new Unconfigured Capacity node is added to the Logical View, containing the raw capacity of the newly initialized drives.

An Unconfigured Capacity node existed prior to the drive initialization operation

The raw capacity of the newly initialized drives is added to the existing Unconfigured Capacity node.