Owner’s Guide September 2010 Storage you can rely on www.MicroNet.
Welcome Welcome From MicroNet Technology We are pleased that you have chosen the RAIDBank5. Our systems are designed for speed, reliability, compatibility, and performance. We think you will find the system easy to install, and a productive addition to your computer system. This manual presumes that you are familiar with standard computer operations; this includes copying files, opening documents, clicking with the mouse, and organizing files or folders within other folders.
Table of Contents Table of Contents Welcome Note Table of Contents Warranty Information Technical Support Policies Chapter 1. Getting Started Features and Benefits System Requirements and Compatibility Unpacking the RAIDBank5 What’s Included Choosing a place for your RAIDBank5 Installing the Fan Module The RAIDBank5 Interface Components Communications and Control Hot Plug Drive Replacement Connecting the RAIDBank5 Installing the included host bus adapter RAID System Management Control Methods Chapter 2.
Table of Contents Chapter 5. Host Computer Setup 1. Volume Setup and Apple Macintosh 2. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows XP/2003 3. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows Vista/7/2008 4. Optimizing Windows Caching Policy 5. Safe Volume Dismounting Chapter 6. Troubleshooting Daily Use Tips General Use Precautions Frequently Asked Questions General Mac and Mac OS Specific Windows Specific Appendix A. Getting Help Appendix B. RAID Level Comparison Table Appendix C. Glossary of RAID Terms Appendix D.
Warranty Two Year Limited Warranty Micronet warrants this product (the “Product”) against defects in material or workmanship as follows: 1. LABOR: For a period of two (2) year from the original date of purchase from Micronet or its authorized reseller, Micronet will repair defective Product (or, at its option, replace with a new or recertified product) at no charge. After this 2 year period, you must pay for all labor charges. 2.
Warranty Limitations of Liability MicroNet Technology has tested the hardware described in this manual and reviewed its contents. In no event will MicroNet or its resellers be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damage resulting from any defect in the hardware or manual, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
1-Getting Started Chapter 1. Getting Started Thank you for purchasing The MicroNet RAIDBank5 storage solution. With speed, high capacity, ease of use, and support for numerous applications, RAIDBank5 is the ideal solution for all of your data storage needs. Please take advantage of the information contained within this manual to ensure easy setup and configuration. If at any time you require technical assistance, MicroNet’s Help Desk is available at 310-320-0772 or at www.micronet.
1-Getting Started What’s Included Your RAIDBank5 comes with the following items: 1x 5x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x 1x RAIDBank5 unit Disk Drive Modules SATA to eSATA cable Kit eSATA to eSATA cable USB3.
1-Getting Started The RAIDBank5 interface components The following figures illustrate the connector locations for the RAIDBank5. FRONT VIEW Power Indicator Fault Indicator Host activity Indicator Front Display and control keypad Disk Activity LED Disk Power LED Canister Release Latch Disk Canisters REAR VIEW AC Power Connector Master Power Switch Fan vents (DO NOT BLOCK!) Host eSATA Port Host FireWire 800 Ports Host FireWire 400 Port Host USB 3.
1-Getting Started Communication and Control RAID functions including creation, modification, and monitoring can be accomplished through the LCD Control panel or the web based administration user interface. The LCD status panel informs you of the RAIDBank5’s current operating status at a glance, as shown here: Indicator Normal Status Problem Indication Power LED (Front) LED glows blue Dark on power fault.
1-Getting Started Connecting the RAIDBank5 Connecting the RAIDBank5 requires an available power socket, an operating system capable of addressing volumes larger then 2TB, and a host with one of the following interfaces: • An available USB 3.0 or 2.0 port • An external SATA host bus connector with large LUN and port multiplier support • An available FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 port ! IMPORTANT: The RAIDBank5 can only use one connection at a time.
1-Getting Started Installing the Included host bus adapter 1. Turn your computer off and any peripherals connected to the computer (ie. printers, external hard drives, etc.). Unplug the power cable from the rear of the power supply on the back of the computer. 2. Remove the cover or door to access your computer’s expansion slots. For more information on how to access your computer’s expansion slots consult your computer’s user manual. 3.
1-Getting Started To set or change a RAID operating mode please follow the procedure herein: 1. Turn off the RAIDBank5 2. Use a small flathead screwdriver to turn the rotary mode selector switch to the operating mode desired. 3. Press and hold the multifunction button “setting/mute/backup” button illustrated above and power on the RAIDBank5. Release the button about 5 seconds after power on. The RAIDBank5 will utilize all available hard drives to create a single RAID volume.
2-Understanding RAID Chapter 2. Understanding RAID The RAIDBank5 controller subsystem is a high-performance SATA2 drive bus disk array controller. When properly configured, the RAIDBank5 can provide non-stop service with a high degree of fault tolerance through the use of RAID technology and advanced array management features. The RAIDBank5 can be configured to RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 3, and 5, as well as disk spans and direct mapping.
2-Understanding RAID RAID 0 (Striping) This RAID algorithm writes data across multiple disk drives instead of just one disk drive. RAID 0 does not provide any data redundancy, but does offer the best high-speed data throughput. RAID 0 breaks up data into smaller blocks and then writes a block to each drive in the array.
2-Understanding RAID RAID 10 (Striped Mirror) RAID 10 combines striping with disk mirroring. RAID Level 10 combines the fast performance of Level 0 with the data redundancy of Leve1 1. In this configuration, data is distributed across several disk drives, similar to Level 0, which are then duplicated to another set of drive for data protection. RAID 10 provides the highest read/write performance of any of the Hybrid RAID levels, but at the cost of doubling the required data storage capacity.
2-Understanding RAID Direct Mapping The RAIDBank5 can simply pass through individual disks to the host operating system. In this mode, all 5 disks are individually accessible to the host operating system. No RAID functions are performed. Hot Swappable Disk support Your RAIDBank5 has a built in protection circuit to support replacement of disk drives without having to shut down or reboot the RAID.
3-RAID Control-LCD Chapter 3. RAID Controls- LCD Interface This Chapter describes the menu and control structure for your RAIDBank5 using the front panel. The RAIDBank5 LCD configuration is firmware-based and its operation is independent of host computer type or operating system.
3-RAID Control-LCD 2. Disk Management 3.
3-RAID Control-LCD 4.
4- RAID Manager Software Chapter 4. RAID Manager Software Introduction The RAIDBank5 includes RAID Manager, a management utility for users to administrate one or multiple RAIDBank5 RAID subsystems attached to the host computer. The RAIDBank5 Manager provides a simple graphic user interface to create volumes, monitor hardware status, check event logs, upgrade firmware, etc. This Chapter describes the menu and control structure for your RAIDBank5 using the web interface.
4- RAID Manager Software 3. Basic Mode Basic mode allows simpler and quicker access to system administration. In basic mode, there are four function tags in the function pane: RAID and Disk Information, Event Log Viewer, Basic RAID Configuration and One Button Backup Settings. The current system configuration is displayed in the Information Pane. 3.1 RAID and Disk Information RAID and Disk Information provides users the information about RAIDBank5 controller, physical disks and RAID volumes.
4- RAID Manager Software 3.3 RAID Configuration (Basic Mode) The simplest and most common configuration for the RAIDBank5 is a single volume RAID set. With that in mind, RAID configuration in basic mode are limited to a single volume, single RAID configurations. 3.3.1 Creating RAID set Select the desired RAID level in the context pane and the unit will prepare a single RAID volume of the requested RAID Level, and utilize all available disks in the subsystem.
4- RAID Manager Software 3.4 Button Backup The Micronet RAIDBank5 RAID subsystem supports user triggered backup, triggered by the “Set/ Mute/Backup” button on the back of the unit (see page 9 for button location illustration.) Once configured, the button will trigger the configured task. Your RAIDBank5 may arrive with bundled backup software. If you’d like to use the button to trigger this software (or another program of your choosing) make sure it is installed before configuring the button task.
4- RAID Manager Software 4.1.2 Sender Name and Credentials In the sender name field, enter a name that will identify the RAIDBank5 as the sender of the email. “RAIDBank5” or the attached host name would be most appropriate. The mail address is not important, but should be used to validate the RAIDBank5 as the sender. The user Account and password fields may be required to authenticate the RAIDBank5 to the SMTP server- consult your network administrator for more information. 4.1.
4- RAID Manager Software of the context pane to enable RAID volume protection, and enter the desired password. The password supports up to 8 characters. Click to start creating the RAID volume to undo. CONSIDERATIONS FOR RAID VOLUME CREATION Your RAIDBank5 is capable of creating large logical volumes (LUNS) in excess of 2 Terabytes. Large LUNS (>2TB) must be supported by the host bus adapter and the host Operating System to be usable. Windows 2003 and newer, Mac OS X 10.4.
4- RAID Manager Software 4.4.2 Rebuilding Priority Setting When the unit is building or rebuilding a RAID set, the RAIDBank5 processor will be shared between the building task and host I/O. This option specifies the relative priority of data I/O and background rebuilding task of RAIDBank5 RAID subsystem. This value has no effect under normal operation but will dictate the length of RAID creation or rebuilding process and the available processor time to service host I/O.
4- RAID Manager Software 4.5.2 Duplicating Keys For a variety of reasons, customers may wish to have multiple AES USB key fobs, especially if the RAIDBank5 is to be transported. To duplicate an existing encrypted AES Key, plug in the original AES USB key fob, select the radio button labelled “Encryption Key (for duplication only)” and click . A dialog box will prompt you to remove the original key fob and replace the corresponding it with a new AES USB key fob.
5-Host Computer Setup Chapter 5 - Host Computer Setup This chapter is an overview of setting up storage volumes on Macintosh and Windows based computers. To ensure complete installation and ease of use, take a few minutes to read this chapter before installation. 1. Volume Setup on Apple Macintosh Installation on a MacOS system requires MacOS X 10.5 or greater, and any of the following: • Compatible eSATA Host Bus Adapter • A USB 2.
5-Host Computer Setup 2. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 Installation on a Windows system requires a Windows Installation with a properly installed and configured host bus. 2.1 Open the disk management console. A list of the attached drives and their respective volumes will appear. Each Volume set will appear as an individual disk in the management console.
5-Host Computer Setup 3. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows Vista/7/2008 Installation on a Windows system requires a Windows Installation with a properly installed and configured respective host bus. 3.1 Open the disk management console. To open Disk Management, click the Windows Start menu orb. In the search box type diskmgmt.msc, and press enter. A list of the attached drives and their respective volumes will appear. Each Volume set will appear as an individual disk in the management console.
5-Host Computer Setup 4. Optimizing Windows Caching Algorithm By default, Windows XP optimizes caching for performance on external drives. Vista and Windows 7 optimize caching for quick removal. As a result, Windows XP appears to have faster access to external disks but at a greater risk of data corruption and loss. To change Windows' caching policy, open the disk management console. A list of the attached drives and their respective volumes will appear.
6-Troubleshooting Chapter 6 - Troubleshooting Daily Use Tips • Read this User’s Guide carefully. Follow the correct procedure when setting up the device. • Additional application software may have been included with your drive. Please review the documentation included with this software for information on the operation and support of this software. The documentation can usually be found in an electronic format on the installation CD. • Always operate your drive on a steady, level surface.
6-Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions General FAQ Q: Can I leave my RAIDBank5 on all the time, or should I turn it off when not in use? A: The RAIDBank5 is meant to be left on, but does not add any limitations on being turned off. Drive reliability is definitely affected by repeated power cycles, and the RAIDBank5 cannot alleviate this.
6-Troubleshooting Q: Why is my Drive asking me to format it? It was already formatted and it contains data. A1: Run a disk repair utility on the drive. A2: Perform permission repair on your system drive. Open the disk utility (located in /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app.) Select your system drive (usually the first disk listed) and click "Repair Disk Permissions" in the "First Aid" Tab. A3: Restart your computer.
6-Troubleshooting Some software applications may be helpful in situations where the drive hardware is seen, but the volume is simply corrupt. A couple examples are www.stellarinfo.com, www. binarybiz.com, and www.prosofteng.com. There are many companies that provide these services, it is best to be selective. Micronet does not refer or recommend any data recovery service as we are not affiliated with these companies in any way.
A-Getting Help Appendix A- Getting Help If you experience problems with your RAIDBank5, please contact your Authorized MicroNet Reseller for assistance. If the reseller is unable to resolve your issue, please contact MicroNet’s Help Desk for assistance. Please have the model, serial number, date of purchase, and reseller’s name available before making contact. If possible, call from a telephone near the system so we can direct you in any necessary system corrections.
B-RAID Level Comparison Table Appendix B: RAID Level Comparison Table RAID Level 0 1 10 3 5 Description M i n . Max. Capacity Fault Tolerance Drives Drives Also known as striping 1 5 ( N ) No fault tolerance Data distributed across multiple Disks drives in the array. There is no data protection Also known as mirroring. 2 5 1 Disk Greater than RAID All data replicated on 2 Separate 3,5 disks.
C-Glossary Appendix C- Glossary ATA Acronym for “AT Bus Attachment” - a standard interface to IDE hard disks. Cache cache is a fast-access memory bank that serves as an intermediate storage for data that is read from or written to secondary storage. Typically, high-speed caches are implemented in RAM, though they can also be implemented on disk when speed is not a critical requirement.
C-Glossary DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) a protocol that lets network administrators manage centrally and automate the assignment of IP (Internet Protocol) configurations on a computer network. When using the Internet’s set of protocols (TCP/IP), in order for a computer system to communicate to another computer system it needs a unique IP address. Without DHCP, the IP address must be entered manually at each computer system.
C-Glossary Logical Drive A logical drive is comprised of spaces from one or more physical disks and presented to the operating system as if it were one disk. Logical Unit (LUN) a SCSI protocol entity which may be addressed by the actual input/output (I/O) operations of a Logical Drive. Each SCSI-type target provides one or more logical units.
C-Glossary up a lane. The lanes are designed for multiplexing, and PCIe devices that utilize multiple lanes in this configuration are designated with an “x” multiple to denote the number of lanes they can address simultaneously. The slots are modular- multiple lane slots (such as 16x) can accommodate devices of smaller lane count (such as 1x, 4x, 8x) but usually not the other way. PCI-X An enhanced version of PCI version 2.2.
C-Glossary RAID 3 utilizes a striped set of three or more disks with the parity of the strips (or chunks) comprising each stripe written to a disk. Note that parity is not required to be written to the same disk. Furthermore, RAID 3 requires data to be distributed across all disks in the array in bit or byte-sized chunks. Assuming that a RAID 3 array has N drives, this ensures that when data is read, the sum of the data-bandwidth of N – 1 drives is realized.
C-Glossary Read Ahead Cache Motivated by the principle of “spatial locality”, many RAID controllers read blocks of data from secondary storage ahead of time, i.e., before an application actually requests those blocks. The number of data blocks that are read ahead of time is typically governed by some heuristic that observes the pattern of requests. The read-ahead technique is particularly efficient when the spatial distribution of an application’s requests follows a sequential pattern.
C-Glossary Write-back Cache a caching scheme that acknowledges the write request as complete before data is written to the final storage location. This methodology can improve the efficiency of write operations under favorable circumstances, but is at risk of data incoherencies in a system that is not protected from power fluctuations or failures. Write-through Cache When a cache is operating in write-through mode, data written into the cache is also written to the destination secondary storage devices.
D-Product Specifications Appendix D: Product Specifications Disk Bus Interface 5 hot swappable, SATA2-NCQ enabled 3.
FCC Compliance Statement Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Storage you can rely on MicroNet Techology 20525 Manhattan Place Torrance, CA 90501 www.MicroNet.com 9-27-2010 Rev 1 (RB5M1) The material in this document is for information only and is subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, MicroNet Technology assumes no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein.
