RAID Setup Procedure for Intel® NUC Kits

Documentation

Install & Setup

000021493

03/27/2023

Software RAID technology allows the combination of multiple physical disks into one logical unit, or disk. You can use this technology for the purpose of redundancy, performance, or both.

All Intel® NUC products that have multiple drives allow for the creation of a software RAID. This guide shows the process for setting up software RAID using the SATA (AHCI) method and the PCIe (NVMe) method and provides resources to setup RAID in Linux*.

If you want to configure Intel® Optane™ Technology on supported Intel NUCs, see Installing Intel® Optane™ Memory on Intel® NUC Kits.

What's needed?

  • USB flash drive
  • The latest Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory or Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) User Interface and Driver, available on Intel® Download Center
  • Windows 7*, Windows 8.1*, or Windows® 10 64-bit* Installer
  • Drives (one of the following combinations):
    • One 2.5" SATA drive and one M.2 SATA drive
    • Two M.2 NVMe SSDs (supported by NUC11PHKi7C[x], NUC9i[x]QNX, NUC9V[x]QNX, NUC8i7HNK, NUC8i7HVK, and NUC6i7KYK only)
Notes
  • The capacities of the drives don't have to be the same, but the RAID volume will only be two times the size of the smallest capacity drive. For example, if your two drives are 256 GB and 128 GB, the largest size the RAID can be is 256 GB (128 GB × 2).
  • Both drives need to be either AHCI (SATA) or NVMe* (PCIe*). The two technologies can't be mixed.
  • If you're using Windows 7*, the Windows 7 ISO image should be written to your USB flash drive via UEFI. See the instructions in the Windows 7 UEFI Image Creation guide.

 

Caution
 Creating a new RAID, SATA, or PCIe, will format your discs and erase all content.

 

Aptio® V UEFI Firmware Core (BIOS) for 11th Generation Intel® NUC 

SATA (AHCI) RAID
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Navigate to, Advanced > Storage.
  3. Set, Enable VMD controller (Enable for RAID and Optane Memory), to Enabled.
  4. Change, Map this Root Port under VMD, to Enabled.

    Change Map this Root Port under VMD to Enabled

  5. Press F10 to save the changes, then select OK and the system will reboot.
  6. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  7. Navigate to Advanced > Add-in config > Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology, then select Create RAID Volume.
    Note If you do not see two discs in the Non-RAID Physical Disks section, turn off the NUC, open the chassis and check the connections for both discs. You must see two discs to continue.

    Select Create RAID Volume.

  8. Name the volume and set the RAID Level.

    Name the volume and Set the RAID Level

  9. For both Disks, click the pull-down menu and select X.

    For both Disks click the pull down menu and select X

  10. Select the stripe size, and if desired, Capacity.

    Select the stripe size and if desired disc space

  11. Select, Create Volume.

    Select Create Volume

  12. You will see the completed RAID Volume.

    You will see the completed RAID Volume

  13. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
  14. The Intel NUC will restart. Turn off the Intel NUC.
  15. Connect the USB flash drive or USB optical drive that has the Windows* installation files.
  16. Power on the Intel NUC and press the F10 key during boot.
  17. Follow the Windows Installation instructions.
    Note When you get to the Where do you want to install Windows? screen below, Windows may not see your Disks. Continue following the instructions below.

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Where to install Windows screen

  18. Navigate to Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory, and Download, F6flpy-x64 (Intel® VMD).zip.
  19. Unzip F6flpy-x64 (Intel® VMD).zip and drag the unzipped folder on to a USB device.
  20. Insert the USB device, with the latest F6flpy-x64 (Intel® VMD) driver, into the Intel NUC.
  21. Select Load Driver > Browse > (your USB drive) > F6flpy-x64 (Intel® VMD) Folder

    Select Load Driver

    Click on browse

    Note

    You will see the screen below if Windows finds the Rapid Storage Driver.
  22. Select Next. It can take a minute or two for the driver to load. When the screen below displays, Windows is ready to be installed. Select Next to start the installation.

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Select disk to install Windows

PCIe (NVMe) RAID
Note
  • PCIe (NVMe) RAID is only supported via UEFI boot. Windows 7* must be installed via UEFI. For instructions, see a Guide to Create a Windows 7* UEFI Installer.
  • In order to create a RAID volume, you must see two discs in the Non-RAID Physical Disks: section.
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced > Storage.
  3. Set SATA Controller(s) to Enabled.

    Set SATA Controller to Enabled

  4. Scroll down, then, set the following options to, Enabled
    • VMD controller (Enable for RAID and Optane Memory)
    • Both, Map this Root Port under VMD
      Scroll down then set the following options to Enabled
  5. Press F10 to save the changes, then select OK and the system will reboot.
  6. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  7. Select Advanced > Add-in Config > Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology.
  8. Select, Create RAID Volume.
  9. Name the RAID Volume.
  10. Select the RAID level.
  11. Select the discs, by selecting X, in the pull-down menu.
  12. Set the Stripe Size and Capacity.
  13. Select, Create Volume. Note You will see the completed RAID Volume.
  14. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
  15. Shutdown the Intel NUC.
  16. Plug your Windows installer into any of the USB ports on the Intel NUC and press the power button to boot the Intel NUC.
  17. Follow the Windows Installation instructions.
  18. When you get to the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, on a different computer navigate to https://downloadcenter.intel.com

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Where to install Windows screen

  19. Select, Memory and Storage, and navigate to the latest, Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Sowtware with Intel® Optane Memory installer.
  20. Download; F6flpy-x64 (Intel® VMD).zip.
    • Unzip the folder
    • Copy the unzipped folder to a USB flash drive
    • Insert the USB flash drive into the Intel NUC.
  21. Select Load Driver > Browse > USB drive > RSTxxxx Folder.
    Note The USB flash drive is the C: drive: for example, xxxxx (C:)

    Browse to folder


    The screen below shows if Windows finds the Rapid Storage Driver.

    >The screen below will be shown

  22. Select Next. It can take a minute or two for the driver to load. When the screen below displays, Windows is ready to be installed. Select Next to start the installation.

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Select disk to install Windows

Aptio® V UEFI Firmware Core (BIOS) for some 8th, 9th and 10th Generation Intel NUC

SATA (AHCI) RAID
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced > Storage.
  3. Set SATA Mode Selection to RAID.

    SATA Mode Selection to RAID

  4. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.

  5. The system will reboot. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
    Note You must see two discs in the Non-RAID Physical Disks: section in order to create the RAID volume.

  6. Name the volume.

    Name the volume

  7. Select the RAID Level.

    Select the RAID Level

  8. Select the discs, by selecting X in the pull-down menu.

    Select the discs

  9. Set the stripe size and disc space.

    Set the stripe size and disc space

  10. Select Create Volume

    Select <em>Create Volume

  11. You will see the completed RAID Volume.

    You will see the completed RAID Volume

  12. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
PCIe (NVMe) RAID
Note PCIe (NVMe) RAID is only supported via UEFI boot. Windows 7* must be installed via UEFI. For instructions, see a Guide to Create a Windows 7* UEFI Installer.
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced > Storage.
  3. Set SATA Mode Selection to RAID and select both M.2 Slot 1 RST PCIe Storage Remapping and M.2 Slot 2 RST PCIe Storage Remapping.

    Advanced settings

  4. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
  5. The system will reboot. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  6. Click Advanced > Add-in Config > Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology > Create RAID Volume.
    Note You must see two discs in the Non-RAID Physical Disks: section in order to create the RAID volume.

  7. Name the RAID Volume.

    Name the RAID Volume

  8. Select the RAID level.

    Select the RAID level

  9. Select the discs by selecting X in the pull-down menu.

    Select the discs

  10. Set the Stripe Size and Capacity.

    Set the Stripe Size and Capacity

  11. Select Create Volume.

    Select Create Volume

  12. You will see the completed RAID Volume.

    You will see the completed RAID Volume

  13. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.

Visual BIOS

SATA (AHCI) RAID
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced > Devices > SATA.
  3. Set Chipset SATA Mode to RAID.

    Chipset SATA Mode

  4. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
  5. The system will reboot. Press CTRL+I during boot (repeatedly, if necessary) until the RAID Option ROM utility opens.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Create RAID Volume


  6. Select Create RAID Volume.
  7. Name the RAID volume.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Name RAID Volume


  8. Set the Strip Size.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Set Stripe Size


  9. Set the Capacity.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Set the RAID size


  10. Select Create Volume and press Y to confirm.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Create RAID Volume


  11. Exit the RAID Option ROM utility and press Y to confirm.

    RAID Setup for Intel NUCs-Exit RAID screen


  12. Install Windows*.
PCIe (NVMe) RAID
Note PCIe (NVMe) RAID is only supported via UEFI boot. Windows 7* must be installed via UEFI. For instructions, see a Guide to Create a Windows 7* UEFI Installer.
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced  > Devices > SATA.
  3. Set Chipset SATA Mode to RAID.

    Chipset SATA Mode


  4. Enable M.2 Slot 1 RST PCIe Storage Remapping and M.2 Slot 2 RST PCIe Storage Remapping.

    Enable M.2 Slot 1 RST PCIe Storage Remapping


  5. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS setup.
  6. Enter BIOS Setup again, by pressing F2 during boot.
  7. Click Advanced > Devices > Add-In Config.
  8. Click Configure next to Intel® Rapid  Storage Technology

    Click configure


  9. Select Create RAID Volume.

    Select Create RAID Volume


  10. Name the RAID.

    Name the RAID


  11. Select which RAID version to use.

    Note Only RAID0 and RAID1 are supported.

    RAID


  12. Select the disks to be part of the RAID by pressing Enter on the disk, then selecting X. Repeat for the second disk.

    Select the disks


  13. Select the Strip Size and the Capacity.

    Select the Strip Size


  14. Select Create Volume.

    Select Create Volume


  15. Press ESC to exit and pressY to confirm.
  16. Press F10 to Save and Exit BIOS Setup.
  17. The Intel NUC will restart. Turn off the Intel NUC.
  18. Connect the USB flash drive or USB optical drive that has the Windows* installation files.
  19. Turn on the Intel NUC.
  20. At the prompt during boot, press F10 to open the boot menu and select the UEFI USB.

    Select the UEFI USB


  21. Follow the Windows Installation instructions.
  22. When you get to the Where do you want to install Windows? screen below:

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Where to install Windows screen

    Insert the USB flash device with the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology driver: RST_f6floppy_Win7_8.1_10_64_14.8.0.1042.zip.

    Note Make sure the driver is unzipped.

  23. Select Load Driver > Browse > USB drive > RSTxxxx Folder.

    Note The USB flash drive is the C: drive: for example, xxxxx (C:)

    Browse to folder


  24. The screen below shows if Windows finds the Rapid Storage Driver.

    >The screen below will be shown


  25. Select Next. It can take a minute or two for the driver to load.
  26. When the screen below displays, Windows is ready to be installed. Select Next to start the installation.

    Raid Setup for Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK-Select disk to install Windows

RAID on Linux

Software RAID on Linux is supported on all Intel NUCs with multiple drives.

To create and manage a software RAID in Linux see the following links:

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) in Linux*.

Linux RAID for Kernel versions 4 and earlier.

mdadm Manual page.

Note To enable RAID on an Intel® NUC8i5INH or Intel® NUC8i7INH:
  1. Press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Click Advanced > STORAGE.
  3. Set SATA Mode Selection to RAID.
Then continue to step 4 of both scenarios above.

 

Note

On Intel® NUC9V[x]QNX or Intel® NUC9i[x]QNX, the RAID0 and RAID1 volumes can be built only on storage available on the NUC Element.
If you connect additional storage drives to the base board, they can't be added to the same RAID0 or RAID1 volume as the built-in drive on the NUC Element.
More information is available in the Technical Product Specification.