VROC, SAMSUNG PM961 RAID UNSUPPORTED

[waltrox]

Hi there!

I bought a Dell Precision 5820, compatible but not configured for RAID1 over VROC technology.

So I bought from third party

- Intel VROC Key Premium

- 2x Samsung PM961 (supported third pary vendor SSDs)

and I installed them on the workstation.

Entering Intel(R) VROC configuration on boot (version 6.2.0.1034) I see the SSDs but it's impossible to configure them on RAID1: clicking on the disk it says RAID unsupported.

What do I have to do please, I'm going crazy!

Thank you, 

Walter

screenshot

[BrusC_Intel]

Hello, @waltrox.

Thank you for contacting the Intel Community Support.

I received your ticket regarding Intel® VROC, I will be glad to assist you.

Based on your screenshot, I checked the motherboard's user manual and confirmed this system uses the X299 chipset, this means that only Intel® drives are supported for Intel® VROC configurations.

-User manual: https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/precision-5820-workstation_owners-manual2_en-us.pdf

Please review the following document for additional information about Intel® VROC on X299 platforms:

- Intel® VROC support on X299 FAQ: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/memory-and-storage/ssd-software/VROC_Support_on_X299_FAQ.pdf

Based on this document, please take into consideration the following:

Intel® VROC is targeted as an enterprise product, mainly for Servers and Workstations. Also, per the details found in the article “Intel® VROC Support on X299 FAQ”, Intel® VROC was enabled on X299 client platforms (see below). This initial decision was made at the time of launch in 2017. Since then, it has become apparent that Intel® RST (and not Intel® VROC) is the better product to support SSD RAID on X299 platforms, partly because of Intel® RST availability, broad SSD support and no need for an extra HW key. Intel® RST is free and it supports Intel® as well as NON-Intel® storage devices.
 
Intel® VROC will continue to have its HW Key licensing policies, which are more in line with enterprise product expectations. From the above explanation, we hope it’s clear that for X299 / client platforms, our customers do NOT require purchasing Intel® VROC key for RAID 0 (even with NON-Intel® drives). Please use Intel® RST instead of Intel® VROC for RAID 0 and other configurations.

It is also recommended to contact the system manufacturer as they may have other information about non-Intel SSD on X299 platforms or other supported configurations.

This being said, I will proceed to close the thread, but if you require further assistance, please do not hesitate on contacting us back.

Best regards,

Bruce C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

A Contingent Worker at Intel

[Aaron33]

You are offering SOFTWARE Raid. What we need is the HARDWARE Raid.

Why don't you support brands other than Intel SSD/Nvme? 

Please solve our problem by updating the BIOS.

[n_scott_pearson]

VROC, like RST, offers a hybrid H/W-S/W solution. If you want H/W RAID, go purchase a H/W RAID card (Mr. Deep Pockets).

Why offer a feature that doesn't put additional money towards Intel's bottom line? Humor aside, I believe the capabilities of the NVMe card make a difference.

Intel doesn't provide the BIOS, the board vendor does. I am unsure it's that simple, however.

...S

[Aaron33]

Dell Precision 5820 | 7820 | 7920 Tower platforms has an internal raid controller(MegaRaid).

Unfortunately Software Raid performance is lower than that of Hardware Raid.

Also, software raid not bootable so the OS cannot be installed.

[n_scott_pearson]

Not true; Intel RAID is bootable and the O/S *can* be installed (you just have to insert the drivers into the image or load them during the install).

...S

[Aaron33]

I insert the drivers(iaVROC.sys) and Windows 10 loading on Nvme RAID. But Windows doesn't open after installation. Because Software Raid => " Intel Virtual Raid On CPU Program - (Intel(R) VROC (in pass-thru mode)" not bootable.

I think it needs a Intel VROC Premium Hardware Key to boot.
VROCPREMMOD is very expensive and it's not sold anywhere.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?296890-Sabrent-Rocket-12GB-s-VROC&fbclid=IwAR21rm0EXNIs5De-5hYwxSZXwZ5wrIhMEUnXrSSU_a4h-BVR2stMtZsmCRw

Bu 

[Aaron33]

Intel Virtual RAID on CPU. (software raid)