Enabling or disabling the write-cache mode on a hard disk drive

(Bootable-CD mode only.) Confused, need to go over with Marty.

Use this action to enable or disable the write-cache mode setting of a hard disk drive. The write-cache mode determines if the hard disk drive stores data before or after sending a confirmation to the controller.

  1. Select a physical drive Controller from the Main Tree.
  2. Select Enable/Disable write-cache mode on hard disk drive from the Actions menu.
  3. Click Yes.

If you enable write-cache mode, the controller sends data to the hard disk drive for storage. Subsequently, the hard disk drive sends a confirmation to the controller before actually storing the data. Doing so increases performance, but also contains an element of risk. If there is a power failure, the data currently in the controller cache is lost.

Attention: It is possible to lose data if a power outage occurs while using the write-back mode. Consider carefully whether to enable write-cache mode on a hard disk drive. Depending on how you use the system, write-cache mode might be undesirable.

If you disable write-cache mode, the controller sends data to the hard disk drive for storage. Subsequently, the hard disk drive store the data; then, sends a confirmation to the controller. Disabling write-cache mode can decrease performance, but has no risk of losing data.