On Thu, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:45:53AM +0200, Winkelmann, Marc wrote:
> 
> I have a HP Z400 workstation with a BIOS RAID (?). This is not a real
> hardware RAID like the ones in a server with /dev/cciss or /dev/sda.
> 

BIOS RAID is commonly referred to as "Fake RAID".

It works the same way as software RAID (linux md/mdadm) and would have the same performance (at best).

It's main advantage is that fake RAID disks are unreadable on another computer,
unless it implements exactly the same compatible type of BIOS RAID. So if you motherboard
dies, you better have an identical spare loaded with an identical BIOS version.

With Linux software RAID, of course, you can move disks between computers easily.

> 
> How can I use this BIOS RAID?
> 

Is it commonly recommended to never use BIOS RAID. But do not trust me on this, google "linux bios raid", "linux fake raid" and read recommendations by trusted people.

-- 
Konstantin Olchanski
Data Acquisition Systems: The Bytes Must Flow!
Email: olchansk-at-triumf-dot-ca
Snail mail: 4004 Wesbrook Mall, TRIUMF, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 2A3, Canada