TITLE: Intel Virtual RAID on CPU
VERSION: 8.0.8.1001 REV: A-DCH PASS: 1
DESCRIPTION:
This package contains the Intel Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC) Drivers and Graphical
User Interface (GUI) and tools for Intel Serial ATA (SATA) and NVMe RAID
controllers in supported workstation models that are running a supported
Microsoft Windows Operating System.

PURPOSE: Recommended
SOFTPAQ NUMBER: sp149581
SOFTPAQ FILE NAME: sp149581.exe
SOFTPAQ MD5: a1b94e22414c45a34edf0f576ef46d0c
SUPERSEDES: sp143255
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 04, 2023
CATEGORY: Driver-Storage
SSM SUPPORTED: Yes

PRODUCT TYPE(S):
Desktops
HARDWARE PRODUCT MODEL(S):
HP Z Central 4R Workstation
HP Z 4 G4 Workstation
HP Z 6 G4 Workstation
HP Z 8 G4 Workstation

OPERATING SYSTEM(S):
Microsoft Windows 10 version 21H2 (64-bit)
Microsoft Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit)
Microsoft Windows 11 version 21H2 (64-bit)
Microsoft Windows 11 version 22H2 (64-bit)
Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2 (64-bit)
Microsoft Windows 11 version 24H2 (64-bit)

LANGUAGE(S): Global

DEVICES SUPPORTED:
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A182="Intel C600+/C220+ series chipset SATA AHCI Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A282="Intel C600+/C220+ series chipset SATA AHCI Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A1D2="Intel C600+/C220+ series chipset sSATA AHCI Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2826="Intel C600+/C220+ series chipset SATA RAID Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2827="Intel C600+/C220+ series chipset sSATA RAID Controller"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_201D="Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller"

ENHANCEMENTS:
This release is to address security vulnerabilities.
The changes include an updated VROC installer and the removal of the
stand alone application folder in the release.
PREREQUISITES:
Customer Notes: (High Impact notes you want the customer to see)

1. This release is to address security vulnerabilities. The changes include an
updated VROC installer and the removal of the stand alone application folder in
the release.

2. Please be aware of this important item: In order to manage arrays in the
BIOS UEFI driver interface, or to successfully boot from an NVMe RAID, the
following item must be DISABLED in the BIOS: "pre-boot DMA protection". This can
be done in the F10 Setup dialog via the Security->System Security page. A
similar control is available via software settings management.

3. Important Warning: With Windows 11, the Intel VROC installer could take a
very long time to complete in the "Install Drivers" phase, or might hang
entirely.
a. This issue can be seen when the primary SATA driver in use before the SoftPaq
installation starts is the Windows "in-box" SATA driver. It may be necessary
to force the system off via a shutdown process. On the next boot, the installer
may resume and complete. If not, it can be restarted manually.
b. The issue has not been observed when a prior version of the Intel VROC
primary SATA driver (iaStorE.sys) is already in use.
c. A similar timeout can be seen if Device Manager is used to change from the
in-box SATA controller driver to the Intel driver.

The graphical user interface has two prerequisite packages that can be obtained
from Microsoft websites, if not already present on your Windows image:
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.24.28127.4
Microsoft Windows Desktop Runtime - 6.0.3 (x64)
HOW TO USE:
TO INSTALL OR UPDATE THE INTEL VIRTUAL RAID ON CPU UTILITY AND DRIVERS ON AN
EXISTING SYSTEM:

1. Download the file by clicking the "Download" or "Obtain Software" button and
saving the file to a folder on your hard drive (make a note of the folder where
the downloaded file is saved).
2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. The INTEL Virtual RAID ON CPU installation utility starts automatically.
Follow on-screen instructions to complete the installation.


TO USE THE INTEL VIRTUAL RAID ON CPU DRIVER AS THE BOOT STORAGE DRIVER, DURING A
NEW OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALLATION:

1. Download the file by clicking the "Download" or "Obtain Software" button and
saving the file to a folder on your hard drive (make a note of the folder where
the downloaded file is saved).
2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Click "Cancel" on the first screen of the Intel Virtual RAID on CPU installer to
stop the GUI install.
3. Navigate to C:\SWSETUP\SPnnnnn\ and copy the VROC_n.n.n.nnnn_F6-drivers
folder to a USB key.
4. Use the newly created driver installation media during operating system
setup to install the drivers.

5. Known issue: If installing Windows 11, a timeout and error can be
encountered if the primary SATA controller driver iaStorE.sys is included in the
"Load Driver" (F6) step. Fortunately, the in-box driver for SATA in recent
Windows installers is capable of completing the OS installation. So if
installing to SATA storage (even a RAID), it is usually sufficient to skip the
"Load Driver" step and upgrade to the Intel drivers once the OS is booted.

Copyright (c) 2023 HP Development Company, L.P.