The Initializing status on the RAID management page indicates that the FortiAnalyzer is performing the initial setup of a newly created RAID array. For redundant RAID levels (such as RAID 5, 6, 50, or 60), this process involves writing parity data across all the member disks. This initial write operation is essential to establish the array's fault tolerance, allowing it to withstand a drive failure without data loss. This is a one-time process for a new array and can be time-consuming depending on the disk size.

A: This describes a RAID consistency check or "scrubbing," which verifies existing parity data, rather than creating it for the first time. The status for this is typically Verifying.

B: This describes a RAID rebuild process, which occurs after a failed drive is replaced. The status for this is Rebuilding or Degraded during the process.

D: Initializing is a transitional state during which the array is being prepared. The normal, fully functional state is Optimal or Good.

1. FortiAnalyzer 7.4.0 Administration Guide

Page 310

Section: "RAID Management"

The guide states

"After you create a RAID array

the system needs to initialize the array. This process can take a long time

depending on the size of the hard disks." It further explains that for RAID 5

this involves creating parity blocks

which is the mechanism for fault tolerance.

2. FortiAnalyzer 7.4.0 CLI Reference

Page 671

Command: diagnose system raid status

The output of this command shows various states of the RAID array. While it doesn't explicitly define "Initializing" in a glossary

the context of RAID creation commands (execute raid ...) implies that initialization is the step following creation to bring the array to an Optimal state. The process described in the Administration Guide aligns with option C.