User`s manual

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1 WELCOME
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance. It is a hardware RAID solution for digital home and
small office storage appliances. Features of the TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B include advanced RAID modes. It’s available from
leading storage partners in pre-configured set-ups with USB or eSATA host connections. Simply connect the appliance with
an appropriate USB or eSATA cable to the USB host or PCIe 1x controller card. eSATA bracket cable is provided to
connect to motherboard if no PCIe slot avaliable.
The TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance are available in eight different configurations (Clean, Large, Clone, R0, R1,
R10, R3 and R5), each offering a different application of features and capabilities.
The TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B Storage Processors are powered by a RAID controller chip, 1 to 5-ports Serial ATA II Port
Multiplier with RAID function support. It is designed to provide SATA port expansion, data protection and performance
aggregation at various applications. It is a self-contained storage processor chip which completely frees up the main CPU
loading and the SATA ports comply with eSATA specification, the USB ports comply with Hi-Speed USB specification,
making it suitable for use in external storage applications.
The TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance uses industry-proven Multi-port Serial ATA PHY technology and storage
processor to provide very high efficient SATA RAID operation.
With an easy configuration scheme, the device can be a pure port-multiplier which provides SATA port expansion just like
a SATA Hub, or hard-drive performance booster which provides a high performance device seen by host controller or
hard-drive data protector which automatically backup data to prevent data loss from hard-drive damage. TowerRAID
TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance also has advance mode to provide both benefit of performance boost and data
protection.
The TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance architecture which provides:
• Fully hardware-accelerated RAID Engine.
• No driver, BIOS or software required for RAID operation.
• Independent of device SATA port connection sequence.
• Rebuild proceeds continuously between power cycling.
• Supports on-line read data integrity check.
• Supports on-line command based bad sector recovery.
• Supports disk modes: Clean, Large, Clone.
• Supports RAID levels: 0, 1, 3, 5, 10.
• RAID 3 / 5 write-back cache to enhance performance.
• Supports Auto-Rebuild on Clone, R1, R3, R5, R10.
• Supports Hot-Spare on Clone, R1, R3, R5, R10.
• Rebuild speed: 200GB/hour.
• Supports various RAID configuration methods.
1.2 PRECAUTION
Please read the safe precautions carefully before you using TowerRAID TR5UT/TR5UT-B storage appliance. Ensure that you
use the product correctly according to the procedure described in this guide.
The following safety precautions are intended to remind you to operate the product safely and correctly. Please read and
ensure that you understand them before you proceed to the other sections of this guide.
z Do not plug any HDD(s) while power is on (except operation in CLEAN MODE).
z Do not attempt to disassemble or alter any part of the product that is not describe in this guide.
z Do not allow the product to come into contact with water or other liquids. In the event that water or other liquids
enter the interior, immediately unplug the product from the computer. Continued use of the product may result in
fire or electrical shock. Please consult your product distributor or the closest support center.
z Do not handle the product near a heat source or expose them to direct flame or heat.
z Never place the product in close to equipment generating storage electromagnetic fields. Exposure to strong
magnetic fields may cause malfunctions or corrupt data.
z The product does nto support under Windows 3.x/ 95 / 98SE/ ME/ NT.