(I realize this is a hardware question and that this is an AIX forum, but I figure it can't hurt to ask. If this is in appropriate for the forum please remove the thread. )

What is needed to setup a RAID 5 configuration on a pSeries 620? Currently the box only has one six-pack bay. I assume that I would need a two-pack bay to put the boot drives. What else do I need in terms of RAID controllers and any other hardware?

I can't clearly understand your questions.
Your drives should be connected to a RAID adapter.
Then you have to configure them as a RAID group.
Then you may install AIX on them.
It's probably easier to have two set of disks (one for AIX and one for the data) but maybe not necessarily.

All right, my understanding of the hardware in the box must be incorrect then. You are correct in your assumption on how I'd like to setup the drives. I want a disk with the OS on it and then my data on the other drives in a RAID 5 configuration.

From what I've read in the IBM redbooks, I've come to the understanding that the OS disk (whatever drive you're booting from) cannot be in the same six-pack as your RAID configuration as you cannot boot off RAID with this box. Since I only have one six-pack drive bay in the box I would have to get a two-pack bay (in order to use the two pack location on the box) and put my OS disk there. Then run my other 4 drives in their RAID configuration in the six-pack.

I guess my next question would be, how do I configure the RAID group?

(I apologize if these are "dumb" questions, I'm still fairly new to AIX and IBM's hardware) Your help is greatly appreciated!

Not sure that you can't boot AIX from a RAID group.
I did it several years ago, it worked fine, although not supported. I'm sure it should still work on the current systems with the current RAID adapters. It's rather easy to see if it works. First create a raid group, then boot on the first AIX CD and see if the RAID disk is seen as "bootable ? Yes"

Hi,

u can't make raid 5 configuration on pseries 620. It is not supported.

Booting on raid 5 internal storage become supported with the p615 cause the disk backplane can be attached to an integrated raid controller.

A +