Amount of data and information which we used to create, edit, used, save and share has been increased over the years. Moreover, the amount of information from the pictures we snap, documents we mange and save and movies we watch, increasing day by day. However, to counter with these high quality digital needs, there has to be a responsive, efficient, reliable and safe solution. So, here comes Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) which provides optimum level of performance and expandability for SATA storage drives.
Overview of Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Intel Rapid Storage Technology also known as RST is an amazing Windows based software that provides peak performance for your SATA disk drives. It also improves the overall performance and reliability level of SATA disk drives connected with your Desktop, Mobile or even with Server Systems.
Moreover, this powerful software also enhance the performance of one or more multiple SATA Disks are connected to your system and also lower the power consumption. By using this efficient and reliable software you can reduce the chances of data loss if you have installed more than one SATA disk drives on your PC.
Listed below are some of the most commonly used storage types & technologies which an Intel Rapid Storage Technology software can provide support:
- Intel Smart Response Technology Support
- Support for Serial ATA RAID 0, 1, 5 & 10
- Power-Up in Standby (PUIS) Support
- Support for PCI Storage Devices
- Dynamic Storage Accelerator Support
You may also interested to read about Cloud Technology.
Main Functions of Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Given below are main functions of Intel Rapid Storage Technology has to offer for its users.
Status
This function show you and let you determine the current status of your available / installed disk drives.
Create
Create function will let you create volumes on the disk and also let you choose volume types such as Flexible data protection or real time data protection.
Manage
Intel Rapid Storage Technology manage function show you detailed information of your installed disk drives. It will also let you check the advanced setting of a disk to determine and manage your disks.
Performance
This function will let you enable or disable Link Power Management that helps the SATA device to save power during idle time. Moreover, this will also let you configure SSD drive to be used as non volatile intelligent caching for disks.
Preferences
This function known as system preferences will let you choose that which type of notification you will receive. In addition, it also let you check and un-check the notification setting as per your preferences.
Features of Intel Rapid Storage Technology
There are a bundle of useful features of Intel Rapid Storage Technology which we used in our routine work with digital devices. Moreover, we mostly used two types of devices, one is RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) enabled and the other is AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) enabled devices. So, here we have divided Intel Rapid Technology features in two sub categories for AHCI and RAID:
Features of RST for RAID Enabled Devices:
Intel Rapid Storage Technology has unfold many useful features for RAID configured devices such as giving you the faster access to the files and folders you use most. Some of the most useful features out of many others are given below:
Intel Rapid RAID
RAID technology allows you to create various level of RAID like RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 volumes for server, desktop and mobile platforms. You can also read more about RAID in this post.
Intel Rapid Data Recovery
This is an amazing feature of Intel Rapid Storage Technology which is known as Intel RRT (Intel Rapid Recovery Technology). This feature allows you to quickly recover a system if hard drive failure occurred.
Disk Capacity above 2 TB Support
This useful feature provide support for SSD and HDD larger than 2 TB that reported pass-through devices.
Intel Smart Response Technology
This amazing features allows you to quickly access files and folders you mostly use with faster and better performance and speed.
Native Command Queuing
This wonderful features allows SATA Disk Drives to accept multiple command at a time and handle them with efficiency.
Intel Matrix RAID Technology
By using RST this features of Matrix RAID let you create two independent RAID volumes on a single array.
Password Protected Disks
This is surely a great feature which protects your data and storage devices from unauthorized access by providing high level security and protection.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology Features for AHCI Enabled Devices:
- Disk Capacity above 2 TB support
- Native Command Queuing
- Hot Plug Support
- Password Protected Disks
Intel Rapid Storage Technology Support for RAID
Many of us doesn’t care about planning backup of storage in advance. Because when a Hard Drive failure occurred, it may became a devastating situation. Moreover, you may not be able to retrieve your lost data or content stored on that drive. However, Intel Rapid Storage Technology provides many useful features, unbeatable performance with reliability for your content as a disk intensive retrieval program.
Moreover, to boost the hard drive performance, Intel Rapid Storage Technology can merge two to six drives in configuration called RAID. However, when you enabled RAID, it will let you access data on each drive simultaneously by speeding and boosting the response time. For better usability, efficiency and performance, an Intel Rapid Storage Technology software use following standard RAID levels:
RAID Level 0 – Striping
RAID level 0 is also known as stripe set or striped volume. It is basically used to splits data evenly between two or more than two disks, without redundancy and fault occurrence. Moreover, RAID 0 level is basically used to increase the performance level of disks. Although, you can also use it to create a large scale volume from two or more than two physical disks.
RAID Level 1 – Mirroring
RAID level 1 known as mirroring can create an exact copy / mirror of a set of data on two or more disks. By using RAID 1 configuration, you can not get access to parity, spanning and striping of disk space between multiple disks.
RAID Level 5 – Striping with Parity
RAID level 5 basically used for striping with distributed parity. Moreover, RAID 5 is based on block level striping which distribute parity information among various drives. However, to work efficiently, it require minimum one drive to operate.
RAID Level 10 – Striping and Mirroring
RAID level 10 configuration also known as striping and mirroring which provide added protection from hard drive failure. Moreover, RAID 10 also provide more reliability and let you mirror all data and content between four disks drives respectively.
Want to read more about RAID Click Here.
RST Support for Solid State Drive (SSD)
A solid state drive (SSD) which is now increasing rapidly due to its speed and performance. If you are using SSD drive than you must try once using it alongside Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Because, it has added next generation PCIe storage devices support and provide speed more than 1 GB per second.
Moreover, it also improves response time for various kind of programs and Apps. Such as video editing, photo managing and routine office work and productivity. In fact, it also maximize storage performance. Furthermore, it also deliver 15 percent faster performance using dynamic storage accelerator which boost performance of SSD.
Although, by dynamically adjusting system power you can also increase performance while heavy multitasking as compared to default system power management.
