How to Configure RAID or Intel® Optane™ Memory with Intel® RST on an Intel® VMD Capable Platform

Documentation

Install & Setup

000057787

06/21/2022

The Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) driver version 18.0 and later support Intel® Volume Management Device (Intel® VMD) technology capable platforms.

Intel® VMD is the new way to configure 11th Generation and greater Intel® Core™ Processor-based platforms for Intel® RST management of RAID and Intel® Optane™ memory volumes.

Note
  • It is not recommended to make changes to the BIOS or RAID/Intel® Optane™ memory volumes without consulting the system vendor.
  • Intel RST does not support Linux
  • The steps in this article describe the steps required to configure a system with no operating system. Changes to the BIOS described should not be made after the OS has been installed, as this will result in an Inaccessible Boot Device blue screen.
  • Platforms that are noted as Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready on a sticker or vendor site do not necessarily mean they support Intel® VMD or the proper BIOS described in this article.

The steps below are required to set up and configure HW/BIOS supported systems for Intel® RST storage management through Intel® VMD. This is only a reference for system vendors and expert users.

Click or the topic for details:

Step 1: Download the driver
  • The proper driver to download depends on the device that is being managed. Check the system specs from the vendor if it is unclear what device is in the platform.
    • If enabling RAID or using to manage an Intel® Optane™ Memory H Series device
      • Download the f6vmdflpy-x64.zip package for 11th/12th Generation platforms to a USB drive (unzipped), this contains the iaStorVD.sys that will be used in Step 3.
      • Download the Setup.exe as this will be used in Step 4 in the OS
  • If using Intel® Optane™ Memory M10 Series for system acceleration
    • Download the f6flpy-x64(Intel® VMD).zip package for 11th Generating platforms to a USB drive (unzipped), this contains the iaStorVD.sys that will be used in Step 3. 
    • Download the Setup.exe as this will be used in Step 4 in the OS 
      Note
      • 12th Generation platforms do not support  the M Series
      • The f6flpy-x64(Non-Intel®VMD).zip is for use with platforms that do not support Intel VMD or it is not enabled
Step 2: System BIOS
Note
  • Available settings and location in the menu can vary. Refer to the system manual or vendor's support site for specific information for the platform being used.
  • Intel® RST functionality requires a UEFI OS installation. The Boot Option setting should be UEFI before proceeding.
    • The Legacy Boot Option will result in failures once the OS is installed with the Intel® RST software.

The following fields will need to be updated to allow the storage devices to be managed by the Intel® VMD Controller:

  1. Locate the VMD Setup Menu for the platform and select Enable.
  2. From the available storage ports, select Enable for the ports that contain the devices to be managed by Intel® RST.
  3. Select SATA Controller to enable this to be managed by the Intel® VMD Controller.

VMD Setup Menu

Step 3: Install operating system (Windows®10 or Windows* 11 64-bit)

During OS installation process, the proper f6flpy VMD driver will need to be installed to detect the drives being managed by Intel® RST under the Intel® VMD Controller.

With the USB drive that contains the driver downloaded earlier connected, during the OS installation at the following screen follow these steps:

OS installation

  1. Press Load driver.
  2. Press Browse.
  3. Select the USB drive that contains the F6 driver and expand the folder that contains the driver. Press OK.
  4. Make sure the iaStorVD.sys driver is highlighted and Press Next.
  5. Select the drive for OS installation and Press Next.
Step 4: In the operating system

Once in the operating system, Install the Setup.exe downloaded in Step 1.  This will install the Windows driver and give the opportunity to download the Intel® Optane™ Memory and Storage Management application from the Microsoft Store* for management of RAID/Intel® Optane™ memory volumes.

Note
  • The Intel® RST VMD driver should not be uninstalled/removed after installation. This could result in an Inaccessible Boot Device blue screen and potential data loss.
  • VMD device is always enabled on a platform where VMD device is deployed. There is a possible configuration where VMD does not own any device. This is an empty VMD configuration. As a result of this, the RST VMD driver should always be installed on such a platform to avoid a yellow bang device in Window’s Device Manager.