preface - accusys exasan product/exaraid...and windows storport driver, its future is guaranteed. 6...

Preface

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Preface Notice Product features and specifications described in this manual are subject to change without notice. The manufacturer shall not be liable for any damage, or for the loss of information resulting from the performance or use of the information contained herein.

Trademarks Accusys and the names of Accusys products and logos referenced herein are trademarks and/or service marks or registered trademarks and/or service marks of Accusys, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista and MS-DOS are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Mac, Mac OS, and Macintosh are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners. All contents of this manual are copyrighted by Accusys, Inc. The information contained herein is the exclusive property of Accusys, Inc. and shall not be copied, transferred, photocopied, translated on paper, film, electronic media, or computer-readable form, or otherwise reproduced in any way, without the express written permission of Accusys Inc. Manual version 1.1 © Copyright 2008 Accusys, Inc. All rights reserved.

ExaRAID HD User’s Manual

About this Manual Thank you for choosing an Accusys RAID storage solution. This manual takes you step by step through the installation and configuration of the ExaRAID HD disk array.

PART ONE: Introduction

Chapter 1: Introduces the key features of ExaRAID HD. Chapter 2: Detailed list of package contents. Chapter 3: Definition of the disk array components.

PART TWO: Installation Chapter 4: Instructions for setting up the disk array.

PART THREE: Connections Chapter 5: Instructions for making connections and powering on.

PART FOUR: Card BIOS and LCD Menu Chapter 6: Instructions for configuring arrays with the BIOS. Chapter 7: Instructions for configuring arrays with the LCD menu.

PART FIVE: Maintenance Chapter 8: Instructions for replacing modules of ExaRAID HD.

PART FIVE: Appendices Appendix A: Technical details of the ExaRAID HD disk array. Appendix B: Contact details of Accusys business units around the world.

Guide to Conventions Important information that users should be aware of is indicated with the following icons:

This icon indicates the existence of a potential hazard that could result in personal injury, damage to your equipment or loss of data if the safety instruction is not observed.

This icon indicates useful tips on getting the most from your ExaRAID HD disk array.

Important terms, commands and programs are put in Boldface font.

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Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

PREFACE ........................................................................................ 1 Notice....................................................................................................................1 Trademarks ...........................................................................................................1 About this Manual ................................................................................................2 Guide to Conventions ...........................................................................................2

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................ 3

PART ONE INTRODUCTION .................................................... 5

CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW............................................................. 6 Key Features .........................................................................................................7

CHAPTER 2 PACKAGE CONTENTS ........................................ 9 12 Bay Disk Array ..............................................................................................10 16 Bay Disk Array ..............................................................................................11 24 Bay Disk Array ..............................................................................................12 Optional Items ....................................................................................................13 What Else You Need...........................................................................................13

CHAPTER 3 YOUR DISK ARRAY ........................................... 14 A12S-PA Closed Front Panel .............................................................................14 A12S-PA Open Front Panel................................................................................15 A12S-PA Rear Panel ..........................................................................................16 A16S-PA / A16D-PA Closed Front Panel ..........................................................17 A16S-PA / A16D-PA Open Front Panel.............................................................18 A16S-PA Rear Panel ..........................................................................................19 A16D-PA Rear Panel..........................................................................................20 A24S-PA / A24D-PA Closed Front Panel ..........................................................21 A24S-PA / A24D-PA Open Front Panel.............................................................22 A24S-PA Rear Panel ..........................................................................................23 A24D-PA Rear Panel..........................................................................................24 RAID Controller .................................................................................................25 Re-drive card ......................................................................................................26 Single Port Re-drive card....................................................................................26 Dual Port Re-drive card ......................................................................................27

PART TWO INSTALLATION .................................................. 28

CHAPTER 4 INSTALLATION................................................... 29 Basic Installation ................................................................................................29 Upgrade Your Disk Array...................................................................................29 Pre-installation Notices.......................................................................................30 Mounting In a Rack ............................................................................................31 Installing the Rail Extenders...............................................................................31 Installing the Hard Disk Drives ..........................................................................32 Installing the Re-drive card.................................................................................34 Installing the Battery Backup Module (Optional)...............................................35 Upgrading to Dual Independent Controllers .......................................................37 Upgrading Memory ............................................................................................38


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PART THREECONNECTIONS................................................ 39

CHAPTER 5 CONNECTIONS.................................................... 40 Connecting to the Host Server ............................................................................40 Removing the External PCIe x4 Cable ...............................................................41 Connecting to a Power Source and Powering On ...............................................41

PART FOUR BIOS AND LCD MENU ..................................... 42

CHAPTER 6 CONFIGURING THE BIOS ................................ 43 Entering BIOS ....................................................................................................43 Quick Array Configuration.................................................................................44 Custom Array Configuration ..............................................................................45 BIOS Menu Structure .........................................................................................46

CHAPTER 7 CONFIGURING THE LCD MENU.................... 50 The LCD Panel ...................................................................................................50 Creating an Array ...............................................................................................51 LCD Menu Structure ..........................................................................................52

PART FIVE MAINTENANCE .................................................. 53

CHAPTER 8 MAINTENANCE................................................... 54 Replacing a Disk.................................................................................................54 Replacing a Controller ........................................................................................55 Replacing a Power Supply..................................................................................56 Replacing a Fan Module .....................................................................................56

PART SIX APPENDICES........................................................... 57

APPENDIX A SPECIFICATIONS ............................................. 58 APPENDIX B CONTACT US...................................................... 59

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Introduction


Chapter 1

Overview

This chapter introduces the features and capabilities of ExaRAID HD.

The ExaRAID HD disk array provides superior functionality and performance for managing your information. The ExaRAID HD disk array offers the following models: A12S-PA 12 bay disk array operated by a single RAID controller.

A16S-PA 16 bay disk array operated by a single RAID controller.

A16D-PA 16 bay disk array operated by dual independent RAID controllers.

A24S-PA 24 bay disk array operated by a single RAID controller.

A24D-PA 24 bay disk array operated by dual independent RAID controllers.

With a Java based GUI, the RAIDGuard X Server and Client software offers improved functionality and manageability. Using the latest Intel XScale® 64-bit RISC processor, ExaRAID HD supports up to 24 x SATA I/II disk drives, making it ideal for applications that require high storage capacity and fast access such as video editing, digital surveillance, file servers and shared storage. Using intelligent I/O processing and elaborate algorithms, ExaRAID HD bypasses slow disk drives and rebuilds the data by sustaining a stable throughput and streamlining the data transfer, therefore enabling the smooth handling of heavy loaded and time critical applications. Data protection is one of the key features of ExaRAID HD. Online recovery and reallocation protect against disk failure and bad sectors. Disk scrubbing is available to fix the bad sectors and online data, and parity refresh protects against data loss caused by media aging. The RAIDGuard X management software supports the online changing of RAID configurations and quick configuration on any Java enabled platform. Together with the next generation BIOS and Windows Storport driver, its future is guaranteed.

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Chapter 1 – Overview

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Key Features ExaRAID HD features the following:

Multiple RAID levels: 0,1, 0+1, 5, 6, and JBOD Up to 4 independent disk arrays Supports 12, 16, and 24 SATA I/II drives RAID capacity partitioning: up to 16 slices Supports up to 64 LUNs Variable stripe sizes, up to 256KB Selective initialization method with on-the-fly background initialization and performance

evaluation Supports over-2TB volumes Online RAID group expansion Online RAID level migration On-the-fly RAID initialization Snapshot for fast backup and restore Supports write-back and write-through caching Selective and adaptive read/write optimization policies Fast read response by intelligently bypass slow drive Automatic drive insertion/removal detection and fast disk rebuilding Online bad block data recovery and reallocation Online disk scrubbing with data refresh and parity regeneration Disk health monitoring by S.M.A.R.T. NVRAM-based transaction log and auto parity resynchronization Array roaming and drive traveling with redundant on-disk meta data Array recovery to restore RAID configurations Dual firmware images for firmware recovery Supports boot from RAID Enclosure components monitoring and control Optimized for multiple-stream video processing Java-based GUI for remote management Reliable multi-lane SATA connectors RoHS compliant


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SERIAL ATA (Serial advanced technology attachment) ExaRAID HD is designed for use with the latest Serial ATA II hard disk drives. Serial ATA (often abbreviated as SATA or S-ATA) allows data transfer up to 3 Gbps and is compatible with older Parallel ATA standards. It has an additional advantage parallel ATA in that cables are thinner, so airflow within computer cases is less impeded, and can extend to one meter in length (against only 40 cm for parallel ATA).

PCI EXPRESS X 4 Developed by Intel in 2004, PCI Express has been developed to match the speed of CPUs. It provides a serial communications channel that provides up to 2.5 Gbits/sec in each direction of a pair of wires. The 4 refers to the number of pairs of wires, therefore allowing a maximum of 10 Gbits/sec transfer.

FIRMWARE Appropriate firmware must be loaded into the Re-drive card for it to function. The ExaRAID HD disk array is shipped with firmware preloaded. Check the installation disk that came with the package to find a backup firmware copy. You can also periodically check the vendor’s web site to find the latest firmware version for use with the Re-drive card.

BIOS and EFI The ExaRAID HD Re-drive card contains an internal BIOS and EFI, which can be used to configure a RAID array instead of using the RAIDGuard X GUI. The BIOS and EFI are accessed as the Re-drive card boots up and contains all the functionality of the RAIDGuard X GUI. The BIOS and EFI may be upgraded using the RAIDGuard X GUI. See www.accusys.com.tw for upgrades.

http://www.accusys.com.twm/

Chapter 2 – Package Contents

Chapter 2

Package Contents

This chapter provides a checklist for ExaRAID HD package contents. You will find a detailed list for each model, as well as other items you will need for installation.

Depending on the model you purchased, the contents of your package may vary.

12 Bay Chassis 16 Bay Chassis 24 Bay Chassis

Disk tray AA-MUX adapter Software CD

Quick Start Guide RAID Controller Single Port Re-drive card

Dual Port Re-drive card Front Panel Key Power Cable

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External PCIe x4 Cable Rail Rail Extender

Screw pack Fix Screw Pack M5 Fix Screw Pack M6

Fix Screw Pack UNC#10-32

12 Bay Disk Array The A12S-PA is shipped with the controller and disk trays installed in the 12 bay chassis. The A12S-PA package contents include the following:

A12S-PA

12 bay chassis x1 Disk tray x12 Software CD x1 Quick Start Guide x1 RAID Controller x1 Single port Re-drive card x1 Front panel key x2 Power cable x2 External PCIe x4 cable x1 Rail x 1 (set) Rail extender x1 (set) Screw pack x4

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16 Bay Disk Array The A16S-PA is shipped with the controller and disk trays installed in the 16 bay chassis. The A16D-PA is shipped with the controllers and disk trays installed in the 16 bay chassis. The AA-MUX adapters have been assembled onto the disk trays. The A16S-PA and A16D-PA package contents include the following:

A16S-PA A16D-PA

16 bay chassis x1 Disk tray x16 Software CD x1 Quick Start guide x1 RAID Controller x1 Single port Re-drive card x1 Front panel key x2 Power cable x2 External PCIe x4 cable x1 Rail x 1 (set) Rail extender x1 (set) Screw pack x4

16 bay chassis x1 Disk tray x16 AA-MUX adapter x16 Software CD x1 Quick Start Guide x1 RAID Controller x2 Dual port Re-drive card x1 Front panel key x2 Power cable x2 External PCIe x4 cable x2 Rail x 1 (set) Rail extender x1 (set) Screw pack x4


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24 Bay Disk Array The A24S-PA is shipped with the controller and disk trays installed in the 24 bay chassis. The A24D-PA is shipped with the controllers and disk trays installed in the 24 bay chassis. The AA-MUX adapters have been assembled onto the disk trays. The A24S-PA and A24D-PA package contents include the following:

A24S-PA A24D-PA

24 bay chassis x1 Disk tray x24 Software CD x1 Quick Start Guide x1 RAID Controller x1 Single port Re-drive card x1 Front panel key x2 Power cable x3 External PCIe x4 cable x1 Rail x 1 (set) Rail extender x1 (set) Screw pack x4

24 bay chassis x1 Disk tray x24 AA-MUX adapter x24 Software CD x1 Quick Start Guide x1 RAID Controller x2 Dual port Re-drive card x1 Front panel key x2 Power cable x3 External PCIe x4 cable x2 Rail x 1 (set) Rail extender x1 (set) Screw pack x4


Optional Items Battery Backup Module (BBM) – the BBM

stores the cached data in the event of power supply failure.

What Else You Need SATA I/II Hard disk drives (HDDs). Host server with spare PCIe x4 slot. Static grounding strap or electrostatic discharge (ESD) safe work area.

The PCIe slot s on some motherboards are for graphics cards only. Check with the motherboard vendor for compatibility.

Different RAID levels require different numbers of HDDs. See the RAIDGuard X User's Manual to determine how many HDDs you require.

The hard drives in a RAID should match in size and speed. All drives in any array should be identical models with the same firmware versions. The smallest drive will determine the size of the array.

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Chapter 3

Your Disk Array

This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to your disk array, RAID controller, and Re-drive card.

A12S-PA Closed Front Panel

No. Name Description

1 LCD Panel Displays operation, configuration and warning information.

2 Power-on indicator Blue light indicates the power is on.

3 Power supply fail indicator Red light indicates a failed power supply.

4 Host server access indicator Blue light indicates data transfer between the disk array and the host server.

5 Up function button Press to move up the LCD menus.

6 Down function button Press to move down the LCD menus.

7 Enter function button Press to select a menu item, or to confirm a choice or entry.

8 Escape function button Press to return to the previous LCD menu.

9 Lock Locks and unlocks the front panel.

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Chapter 3 – Your Disk Array

A12S-PA Open Front Panel

Disk Mapping

Disk 1 Disk 4 Disk 7 Disk 10


Disk 3 Disk 6 Disk 9 Disk 12 Disk Tray

No. Name Description 1 Access indicator LED Blue light indicates the disk is being accessed.

2 Disk tray release button Press to release the disk tray handle.

3 Disk tray handle Releases the disk tray from the chassis.

4 Power/Error indicator LED

Green light indicates the disk is online. Orange light indicates disk failure. Red light indicates no disk is detected or disk failure.

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A12S-PA Rear Panel

No. Name Description 1 Power supply AC in Connects to a power cable and power source.

2 Power supply 1 Removable redundant power supply 1.

3 Power supply switch Switches the power on or off.

4 Cooling fan 1 Prevents the disk array from overheating.

5 Power supply AC in Connects to a power cable and power source.




9 Controller Provides access to the hard disk drives.

10 External PCIe x4 port Connects to the external PCIe x4 cable and the host server.

11 Terminal port Connects to maintenance equipment.

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A16S-PA / A16D-PA Closed Front Panel











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A16S-PA / A16D-PA Open Front Panel

Disk Mapping










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A16S-PA Rear Panel

No. Name Description 1 Cooling fan 1 Prevents the disk array from overheating.

2 Controller A Provides access to the hard disk drives.







9 I/O board Install the battery backup modules here.




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A16D-PA Rear Panel






6 Controller B Provides access to the hard disk drives.






12 I/O board Install the battery backup modules here.




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A24S-PA / A24D-PA Closed Front Panel











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A24S-PA / A24D-PA Open Front Panel

Disk Mapping












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A24S-PA Rear Panel















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A24D-PA Rear Panel







7 Controller B Provides access to the hard disk drives.











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RAID Controller The RAID controller communicates with the host server and the hard disk drives installed in the disk array. ExaRAID HD offers controllers for the 12 bay, 16 bay, and 24 bay disk arrays, and supports operation by dual independent controllers for increased efficiency and manageability. Depending on the model you have purchased, one or two RAID controllers may be installed in your disk array.

No. Name Description 1 Serial port Connects to maintenance equipment.

2 External PCIe x4 port Connects to the external PCIe x4 cable.

3 Battery backup module (BBM) connector Connects to the battery backup module (BBM).

4 Jumper Enables dual independent controller operation.

5 DDR RAM module socket Connects to the memory module.

6 Backplane connector Connects to the disk array.

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Re-drive card The Re-drive card is installed in the host server, and provides the interface for managing the disk array. Depending on the model you have purchased, your package may include the single port or dual port Re-drive card.

Single Port Re-drive card


1 External PCIe x4 port Connects to the PCIe x4 cable and the disk array.

2 PCIe x4 connector Connects to the motherboard of the host server.

The Re-drive card has provide Dip Switch configure that is configure

external PCIx4 cable length set, default is 2 Meter cable setting, No1~7 are "On". The10 Meter cable configure No1~7 are "Off".

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Dual Port Re-drive card


1 External PCIe x4 port Connects to the PCIe x4 cable and the disk array.

2 PCIex8 connector Connects to the motherboard of the host server.

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Installation

Chapter 4 – Installation

Chapter 4

Installation

This chapter provides instructions for installing necessary components of the ExaRAID HD disk array, as well as upgrades you may wish to install to your system.

Basic Installation Before your disk array is ready to be connected and powered on, you must do the following:

• Mount the disk array in a rack. • Install the hard disk drives. • Install the Re-drive card in the host server.

Upgrade Your Disk Array To further upgrade the performance of your disk array, you can do the following:

• Install a battery backup module. • Upgrade from a single controller to dual independent controllers. • Install a memory module with larger capacity.

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Pre-installation Notices

Before starting any kind of hardware installation, please ensure that all power switches have been turned off and all power cords disconnected to prevent personal injury and damage to the hardware.

To avoid overheating, ExaRAID HD should be installed in a well-ventilated area and in such a way that sufficient airflow is maintained across the card chips.

Static electricity can damage electronic components. To guard against such damage:

Work in a static-free environment.

Wear a grounded anti-static wrist strap.

Store uninstalled components in anti-static bags.

Handle PCBs by their edges and avoid touching chips and connectors.

Operating parameters

Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)

Storage temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)

Operating humidity: 5-85%, non-condensing

Storage humidity: 0-95%, non-condensing

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Mounting In a Rack Your disk array is designed to be mounted in a standard 19-inch rack. ExaRAID HD is shipped with the controller installed, and ready to be mounted. It is recommended that you mount the disk array before installing the hard disk drives. To mount the disk array in a rack:

1. Attach eight rack nuts into the rack, making sure that they correspond with the mounting points on the rails.

2. Attach the rails and adjust the length to fit the rack.

3. Secure the rails with two nuts and bolts on both the front and back of the rack.

4. Tighten the locking screws on the top of the rails.

5. Slide the disk array into the rack and secure it into place with the fixing screws.

The disk array is heavy. To prevent injury, always move the disk array with the help of at least one other person.

Installing the Rail Extenders You may need to install rail extenders to properly secure the disk array to the rack.

1. Attach the rail extenders and secure with two screws.

2. Slide the disk array into the rack and secure into place with the fixing screws.

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Installing the Hard Disk Drives The disk array is shipped with the disk trays installed in the chassis. A16D-PA and A24D-PA are shipped with AA-MUX adapters installed to the disk trays. The AA-MUX adapters enable the dual independent controller technology. The procedures for installing the hard disk drive to the disk tray are different for disk arrays with a single controller (A12S-PA / A16S-PA / A24S-PA) and dual independent controllers (A16D-PA / A24D-PA). To remove the disk tray:

1. Unlock the front panel door and pull it open.

2. Push the button on the disk tray to release the handle, and pull the disk tray out.

For A12S-PA, A16S-PA, and A24S-PA:

1. Insert the HDD into the disk tray, with the connectors facing outward.

2. Slide the HDD forward until the connectors align with the end of the disk tray.

3. Secure the HDD onto the disk tray with four screws, two on either side of the disk tray.

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For A16D-PA and A24D-PA:

1. Insert the HDD into the disk tray, with the connectors facing the AA-MUX adapter.

2. Slide the connectors into place. 3. Secure the HDD to the disk tray with

four screws on the bottom of the disk tray.

To reinsert the disk tray:

1. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the disk tray back into the empty slot.

2. Push the handle down to lock the disk tray into place.

3. Close and lock the front panel.

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Installing the Re-drive card The single port Re-drive card is compatible with PCI Express slots x4, x8, and x16, and the dual port Re-drive card is compatible with PCI Express slots x8 and x 16.

Read the pre-installation notices earlier in this chapter before proceeding.

1. Make sure the host server is turned off. 2. Open the server case. 3. Remove the blanking plate from the

PCIe slot. 4. Position the connector of the card over

the PCIe slot. 5. Press the connector of the card gently

but firmly into the PCIe slot until it is correctly and securely seated.

6. Secure the metal bracket of the card to the system case with a screw.

Many motherboards only come with one PCI Express interface. Before installation, make sure there is one free.

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Installing the Battery Backup Module (Optional) The battery backup module (BBM) can sustain cache memory in case of a power failure. It is recommended that you install the BBM to protect against data loss and inconsistency. The BBM is an optional item that can be purchased separately. Contact your vendor for details. For the 12 bay disk array:

1. Loosen the screw of power supply 1. 2. Press the release latch and pull the

handle to release the power supply. 3. Loosen the screw of fan module 1, and

pull the fan module out by the screw. 4. Turn the fan module over and insert the

BBM into the opening. 5. Hold the BBM in place as you turn the

fan module right side up again, and align the four screw holes of the BBM with the fan module.

6. Secure the BBM onto the fan module with four screws.

7. Connect the cables of the BBM to the battery module connector.

8. Insert the fan module back into the empty slot and tighten the screw.

9. Insert power supply 1 back into the empty slot and tighten the screw.

You must power off the disk array before installing the BBM for the first time. Once the BBM has been installed, it is hot-swappable. It can be removed and inserted while the disk array is powered on and operating.

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For the 16 bay disk array:

1. Loosen the screws of the I/O board. 2. Gently pull out the I/O board by the

screws. 3. If your disk array is managed by a single

controller, connect the cables of the BBM to the battery module connector BBM_A on the I/O board.

4. Place the BBM into the space marked BBM 1, and secure onto the I/O board with four screws.

5. If your disk array is managed by dual controllers and a BBM is already installed, connect the cables of the second BBM to the battery module connector BBM_B on the I/O board.

6. Place the second BBM into the space marked BBM 2, and secure onto the I/O board with four screws.

7. Insert the I/O board back into the empty slot and tighten the screws.

For the 24 bay disk array:

1. Loosen the screws of the controller. 2. Lift up the handle to release the

controller, and gently pull it out. 3. Attach the BBM to the bracket with four

screws. 4. Attach the bracket to the controller with

four screws. 5. Connect the cables of the BBM to the

battery module connector on the controller board.

6. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the controller back into the slot.

7. Push the handle down to lock the controller into place.

8. Tighten the screws. 9. If your disk array is managed by dual

controllers and you wish to install a second BBM, repeat steps 1 to 8 for controller B.

Install only battery backup modules manufactured by Accusys. Use of battery cells from another source may damage the disk array and void your warranty.

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Upgrading to Dual Independent Controllers You can upgrade your disk array from a single controller to dual independent controllers. Before you upgrade, you will need to backup data stored on the hard disk drives and delete the current arrays. All data will be lost when the current arrays are deleted. Once the second controller is installed, you can retrieve the stored data and create new arrays for each controller. When you upgrade to dual independent controllers, you will need to install controller B into the chassis, and AA-MUX adapters to the disk trays. The AA-MUX adapter enables the dual independent RAID controller technology. You must purchase controller B, AA-MUX tray adapters, adapter brackets, and adapter screw packs separately. Contact your vendor for details. The AA-MUX adapter must be installed to the disk tray before you can reinstall a SATA I/II hard disk drive. To insert controller B:

1. Loosen the screws of the blanking board over the controller B slot.

2. Remove the blanking board. 3. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the

new controller into the controller B slot. 4. Push the handle down to lock the

controller into place. 5. Tighten the screws.

To install the AA-MUX adapters to the disk trays:

1. Loosen the screws of the disk tray and remove the HDD.

2. Secure the AA-MUX adapter to the bracket with two screws.

3. Align the AA-MUX adapter with the end of the disk tray and secure with four screws.

4. Insert the HDD into the disk tray, with the connectors facing the AA-MUX adapter.

5. Slide the connectors into place. 6. Secure the HDD to the disk tray with

four screws on the bottom of the disk tray.

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Upgrading Memory You can upgrade the memory of the RAID controller for faster and more efficient performance. The RAID controller supports up to 2GB memory.

1. Loosen the screws of the controller. 2. Lift up the handle to release the

controller, and gently pull it out. 3. Pull the white retaining chips on either

side of the memory card to release it. 4. Insert the new memory card gently but

firmly, until the retaining clips click into place.

5. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the controller back into the slot.

6. Push the handle down to lock the controller into place.

7. Tighten the screws.

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39

Connections


Chapter 5

Connections

This chapter provides instructions for making connections and powering on your disk array.

After you have installed the necessary components, your disk array is ready to be connected and powered on.

Connecting to the Host Server

Insert one end of the external PCIe x4cable into the external PCIe x4 port on the back of the disk array, and the other end into the external PCIe x4 port of the host server.

Do NOT remove the external PCIe x4 cable when in use as this will cause data loss.

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Chapter 5 – Connections

Removing the External PCIe x4 Cable

Put your finger into the ring of the external PCIe x4 cable connector and pull gently to release it.

Do NOT remove the external PCIe x4 cable forcibly in any other way, as this will damage the cable.

Connecting to a Power Source and Powering On

1. Plug the power cables into the power sockets on the back of the disk array, and connect the other end to a power source.

2. Press the power switch on the back of the disk array. To power on A12S-PA, press both power switches on the back of the disk array.

Before powering on, make sure the hard disk drives, controller(s), Re-drive card, external PCIe x4 cable(s), and power cables are properly installed and connected.

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42

BIOS and LCD Menu

Chapter 6 –Configuring the BIOS

Chapter 6

Configuring the BIOS

This chapter provides instructions for creating the first disk array with the BIOS, and a menu tree detailing the structure of the BIOS.

The BIOS functionality is similar to that of the RAIDGUARD X application. You can use the BIOS to configure your disk array.

Entering BIOS 1. Start the server and watch the screen. When it gets to the position shown below, press

Enter.

2. Enter the password and press Enter. The default is 00000000 (8 zeros).

43

ExaRAID A12S-PA, A16x-PA, A24x-PA User’s Manual

Quick Array Configuration 1. For first time use, the quick array configuration option is recommended. Select RAID

Configuration > Config Array > Quick Array Configuration, and the RAID level. The BIOS will recognize how many drives are installed, and provide the best solution for the RAID level selected. Type Y to begin configuration.

1. If there are only 2 disks installed, the default RAID array is R0 (striping).

2. If there are more than 2 disks installed, the default RAID array is R5 (data protection).

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Custom Array Configuration 1. To manually enter the details for creating a new array, select RAID Configuration >

Config Array > Custom Array Configuration. You must create Array 1 before you can create others.

2. Press Enter.

3. Select the RAID level between 0, 1, 5, 6, 0+1, and JBOD. 4. Select the initialization type. On-the-fly is recommended as it contains parity. 5. Select the stripe size. 6. Select the drives to include in the array. XX indicates a hard disk drive can be added 7. Use the up or down arrow to go to CREATE and press Enter. The array is created.

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BIOS Menu Structure The BIOS menu structure details how the commands in the BIOS relate to each other. The BIOS manages the same information as the RAIDGuard X application. See the RAIDGuard X User's Manual for further details on these functions.

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47

BIOS Menu The table below provides an overview of the BIOS menu functions. See the RAIDGuard X User's Manual for further details on these functions.

RAID Config Utility

Config Array Quickly create an array, administer the details of a current array, or configure a JBOD. View a collection of disks from one or more commonly accessible disk controllers, presented as one or more virtual disks.

Set Slice Add and delete slices. Unlike striping, slicing allows the creation of arrays from a single disk without loss of speed as the disk fills up. This is because when striping across disks, the center of the disk fills up; when it’s being written to, it slows down. Slicing creates new disk partitions with similar characteristics, therefore keeping the speed the same.

LUN and Map Display details and set LUNs and Maps. A LUN (Logical Unit Number) is a unique identifier used on a SCSI bus that enables it to differentiate between up to eight separate devices (or logical unit). Each LUN is a unique number that identifies a specific logical unit, which may be an end user, a file, or an application.

Locked Disk Unlock locked disks. Disks that have become locked due to an error can be unlocked.

Array Information Display the RAID level, initialization type, stripe size, number of disks, and memory capacity of the array.

Refresh Array Refresh an array to improve performance.

RAID Checking Check that the RAID is functioning correctly.

RAID Expansion Expand the disks of an array. When extra disks are added to the chassis, the number of disks in an array can be expanded without needing to reconfigure the entire array.

RAID Migration Migrate an array from one RAID type to another. For example, from RAID 5 to RAID 1.

Disk Configuration Utility

Automatic Detection

Detect installed disks. A new disk must be detected before it can be added to an array.

Disk Information Display manufacturer and speed details of the installed disks.


Controller Configuration Utility

Password Change Change the BIOS password.

Serial Number Display the serial number of the Re-drive card.

System Cache Activate and disable the system cache. Controller memory is used to speed up data transfer to and from a disk.

Disk Cache Activate and disable disk caching. Controller memory is used to speed up data transfer to and from a disk.

Disk Lag Proof Activate and disable disk lag proof mode. Disk Lag Proof ensures streaming continuity and lossless recording.

Legacy RAID algorithms read only data stripes and wait for slow reads. It reads parity stripe and regenerates only when read fails.

ExaRAID HD reads both data and parity stripes concurrently. It bypasses the slow reads and returns data to host by the regenerated data.

NCQ Mode Activate and disable NCQ mode. NCQ allows several outstanding commands to be given to the drives at one time. The commands are carried out in sequence instead of the order they are given, rather like pressing buttons in a lift; the lift goes to the next floor in the list, not in the order that the buttons are pressed. This speeds up the disk access and reduces the load on the drives.

48


On-The-Fly

Legacy RAID algorithms only record the progress. Sectors that have been initialized might have to be initialized again and accessed with resync overhead.

ExaRAID HD records the initialized sectors in bitmap. All sectors are initialized only once. The whole initialization will be done faster and performance will be better during the initialization.

Synchronize Cache Mode

Activate and disable synchronize cache mode.

Real Time Clock Display and set the BIOS clock.

S.M.A.R.T. Activate and disable S.M.A.R.T. warnings and polling frequency.

Max pre-fetch number

Set the maximum number of stripes that can be pre-fetched by the array.

Controller information

Display the model name, memory size, and system, boot, BIOS and EFI versions.

About

Display the company information.

Exit

Exit the BIOS.

49


Chapter 7

Configuring the LCD Menu

This chapter introduces the ExaRAID HD LCD panel, and provides instructions for using the LCD menu to create an array.

The LCD Panel The controller information is displayed in the first line, and the array information is displayed in the second line. To switch from controller A to controller B, press and hold Esc and the Down button. To switch from controller B to controller A, press and hold Esc and the Up button.

The first time you power on, the second line will display GGGGGGGG, indicating that an array has not been setup. Each character represents disks 1 to 8 of an array. Once you have created an array, the eight characters will be replaced by the array number (For example, 11111111, indicating that there are 8 disks in Array 1).

Character Definition

G Globe spare

1~4 Array 1~4

X Disk not exist

L Lock disk

W Too many bad sectors on disk

R Disk failure or error

50

Chapter 7 –Configuring the LCD Menu

51

Creating an Array Use the Up and Down buttons to view all menus and options. Press Enter to select a menu or item, and press Esc to return to the previous menu.

1. Switch on the RAID disk array and the host server. 2. Press Enter. 3. Select RAID Param > RAID Editor. 4. Select between Array 1 to 4. 5. Select RAID level, and select between 0,1,5,6, 0+1. 6. Select Stripe Size, and select between 8k, 16k, 32k, 64k, 128k or 256k. The

recommended stripe size is 256k. 7. Select Sector Size, and select between 512B and 4KB. 8. Select Disk Member, and the disks to add. 9. Select RAID type, and select between On-The-Fly or Evaluation. On-The-Fly is

recommended as it contains data parity. 10. Select Confirm > Yes.


LCD Menu Structure

RAID Editor

Write Buffer

Disk State

Unlock Drive

Array 1 - 4

Enable/Disable

RAID Params

HostLun Params

RAID Level 0,1,5,6,0+1

Stripe Size

Disk Member

RAID Type

Confirm

Slice

Delete RAID

8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256KB

Disk 1-8

On the Fly/Evaluation

No/Yes

Slice No (0? 15)

Slice Size (GB)

Yes/No

Disk 1-8

JBOD

Global Spare

Disk 1-8

System Params

Advanced

Lun 0-7 & # Array 1-4 Disable, Slice 0-15

Password Info

RTC Info

Passwd Check

Set Passwd

ENABLE/DISABLE

Set RTC

Expand Array

Migrate Array

Refresh Array

Disk Lag Proof

Disk Cache

Disk Smart

Array 1

Array 2

1-6 Disks

Array 1

Array 2

RAID 0,1,5,6, 0+1

Array 1

Start, Stop, Pause

All RAIDSs

Threshold

ENABLE/DISABLE

Disk 1-8 ENABLE/DISABLE

SMART Mode

Disk Check Time

ENABLE/DISABLE

8Hr, 4Hr, 2Hr, 60 min, 30 min, 15 min and 1 min

CLEAR

DISABLE

EqualizationENABLE

DISABLE

Create Shot

Delete Shot

Split Shot

MirReSync

Scheduling

MirSnapShot

Sector Size 512B/4KB

Array 2

ENABLEBeeper

52

53

Maintenance


Chapter 8

Maintenance

This chapter details the procedures for replacing modules of ExaRAID HD.

You may need to replace modules for the ExaRAID HD disk array. Always power on the disk array before the host server to ensure that data on the hard disk drives are properly accessed and displayed correctly.

When a module fails, an audible alert sounds. To turn off the audible alert, simultaneously press the Up and Down buttons on the front panel twice.

Replacing a Disk When a disk fails, the power/error indicator LED on the front of the disk tray turns red and an audible alert sounds. The LCD panel on the front of the disk array indicates the failed disk with the symbol “R” or “W” instead of the array number. “R” indicates a disk failure or error, and “W” indicates that there are too many bad sectors on the disk. The hard disk drives are hot-swappable. They can be removed and inserted while the disk array is powered on and operating.

1. Unlock the front panel door and pull it open.

2. Push the button on the disk tray to release the handle, and pull the disk tray out.

3. Loosen the screws on the disk tray and slide the HDD away from the connectors to release it.

4. Insert the new HDD into the disk tray, with the connectors facing the AA-MUX adapter.

5. Slide the connectors into place, and secure the HDD onto the disk tray with screws.

6. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the disk tray back into the empty slot.

7. Push the handle down to lock the disk tray into place.

8. Close and lock the front panel.

54

Chapter 8 –Maintenance

Before replacing the hard disk, make sure the new disk is greater or has the same memory capacity than the failed disk.

Replacing a Controller When a controller has been removed, the hard disk drives it controls are not active, and data stored on the hard disk drives is not lost.

1. Make sure the disk array is powered off.2. Remove the external PCIe x4 cable

connected to the faulty controller. 3. Loosen the screws of the controller. 4. Lift the handle to release the controller

and pull it out. 5. Loosen the screws on the bracket and

remove the faulty controller. 6. Secure the new controller to the bracket

with screws. 7. Keep the handle lifted as you insert the

new controller into the slot. 8. Push the handle down to lock the

controller into place. 9. Tighten the screws. 10. Connect the external PCIe x4 cable to

the controller.

Before replacing the controller, make sure the new controller is greater or has the same memory capacity as the original controller.

55


Replacing a Power Supply When a power supply fails, the power supply fail indicator LED on the front of the disk array turns red. An audible alert sounds, and the message “Power x failure” appears on the LCD panel. X indicates the number of the failed power supply. The power supplies are hot-swappable. They can be removed and inserted while the disk array is powered on and operating.

1. Identify the faulty power supply. 2. Remove the power cable connected to

the power supply. 3. Loosen the screws. 4. Press the release latch and pull the

handle to release the power supply. 5. Press the release latch and push the

handle to insert the new power supply. 6. Tighten the screws. 7. Connect to the power cable and a power

source.

Replacing a Fan Module When a fan module fails, an audible alert sounds and the message “FANx Fail” appears on the LCD panel. X indicates the number of the failed fan. Replace a faulty fan as soon as possible to prevent the system from overheating. The fan modules are hot-swappable. They can be removed and inserted while the disk array is powered on and operating.

1. Identify the faulty fan. 2. Loosen the screws. 3. Pull out the faulty fan module by the

screws. 4. Insert a new fan module into the slot. 5. Tighten the screws.

56

57

Appendices


58

Appendix A Specifications

CPU Intel 81341

R6 support Yes Disk

Disk interface SATAII/SATA Disk channel 12, 16, 24 Disk interface chip Marvell 6081 x 3 (Max)

Host Host channel External PCIe x 4

Memory Memory size 512 MB (up to 2 GB)

Battery backup Yes Dimensions

Single port Re-drive card board size L110*W68.9*T1.6MM Dual port Re-drive card board size L114.5*W106.5*T1.6MM PCB thickness L292.5*W150*T2MM 2U 12 bay chassis 485 (W) x 565 (D) x 88 (H) mm 3U 16 bay chassis 485 (W) x 565 (D) x 132 (H) mm 4U 24 bay chassis 485 (W) x 565 (D) x 176 (H) mm

Operating parameters Operating temperature 0oC~40 oC Operating humidity 5%~85%, Non-condensing Storage humidity 0%~95% Storage temperature -40 oC~70 oC

Power supplies 12 bays

Input requirements 100V~240V, 47 ~ 63Hz Wattage 350W x2 redundant

16 bays Input requirements 100V~240V, 47 ~ 63Hz Wattage 460W x2 redundant

24 bays Input requirements 100V~240V, 47 ~ 63Hz Wattage 350W x2+1 redundant

Fans 12 bays

Hot-swappable fan Turbofan x 2 Noise dBA Boot up < 60 dB, Stable < 45dB

16 bays Hot-swappable fan Turbofan x 3 Noise dBA Boot up < 60 dB, Stable < 45dB

24 bays Hot-swappable fan Turbofan x 4 Noise dBA Boot up < 60 dB, Stable < 45dB

Appendix B – Contact Us

59

Appendix B

Contact Us Taiwan - Accusys, Inc.

5F., No.38, Taiyuan St., Jhubei City, Hsinchu County 302, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: +886-3-5600288 Fax: +886-3-5600299 http://www.accusys.com.tw/ e-mail: [email protected]

America - Accusys U.S.A., Inc. 46710 Fremont Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538, U.S.A. Tel: +1-510-661-0800 FAX: +1-510-661-9800 Toll-free number: +1-866-277-5888 http://www.accusysusa.com/ e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Korea - Accusys Korea, Inc. Baegang B/D 5F Shinsa-Dong 666-14 Kangnam-Gu, Seoul, Korea Tel: (02)6245-9050 Fax: (02)3443-9050 http://www.accusys.co.kr/ e-mail: [email protected]

China Beijing- Accusys China, Inc. B1701, Horizon International Tower, No.6, ZhiChun Road, HaiDian District, Beijing Tel: +86-10-82800080 Fax: +86-10-82800784 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.accusys.cn

Europe - Accusys EU B.V Columbusstraat 2-10, 3165 AD Rotterdam, Netherlands Tel: +31-10-4284117 Fax: +31-10-4284114 http://www.accusyseu.com ftp://ftp.accusyseu.com e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

preface - accusys exasan product/exaraid...and windows storport driver, its future is guaranteed. 6...

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