Accusys ExaSAN A08S-PS User Manual
Preface
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, Windows 7 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 1.0
© Copyright 2010 Accusys, Inc.
All rights reserved.
1
ExaSAN A08S-PS 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 RAID system.
PART ONE: Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduces the key features.
Chapter 2: Detailed list of package contents.
Chapter 3: Definition of the RAID system components.
PART TWO: Installation
Chapter 4: Instructions for setting up the RAID system.
PART THREE: Connections
Chapter 5: Instructions for making connections and powering on.
PART FOUR: Status Indicators and BIOS
Chapter 6: Identifying device status with the LED lights and beeper tones.
PART FIVE: Maintenance
Chapter 7: Instructions for identifying and replacing faulty modules.
PART SIX: Appendices
Appendix A: Frequently asked questions and answers.
Appendix B: Technical details of the RAID system.
Appendix C: 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.
2
Preface
This icon indicates useful tips on getting the most from
your Accusys RAID system.
Important terms, commands and programs are put in Boldface font.
3
ExaSAN A08S-PS User’s Manual
Table of Contents
PREFACE.....................................................................1
Notice.............................................................................................1
Trademarks ....................................................................................1
About this Manual..........................................................................2
Guide to Conventions ....................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................4
PART ONE INTRODUCTION ...................................6
CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW .........................................7
Key Features ..................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2 PACKAGE CONTENTS...................10
Optional Items..............................................................................11
What Else You Need....................................................................12
CHAPTER 3 YOUR RAID SYSTEM .....................13
Front.............................................................................................13
Rear Panel....................................................................................14
Open Rear Panel ..........................................................................15
Re-drive card................................................................................16
PART TWO INSTALLATION..................................17
CHAPTER 4 INSTALLATION...............................18
Basic Installation..........................................................................18
Pre-installation Notices................................................................18
Installing the Hard Disk Drives ...................................................20
Installing the Re-drive card..........................................................21
PART THREE CONNECTIONS ..............................22
CHAPTER 5 CONNECTIONS................................23
Connecting to the Host Server.....................................................23
Removing the External PCIe x4 Cable........................................24
Connecting to a Power Source and Powering On........................24
4
Table of Contents
PART FOUR STATUS INDICATORS AND BIOS 25
CHAPTER 6 STATUS INDICATORS....................26
LED Lights...................................................................................26
Beeper Activity............................................................................27
PART FIVE MAINTENANCE..................................28
CHAPTER 7 MAINTENANCE ...............................29
Replacing a Disk..........................................................................29
Controller Maintenance ...............................................................30
Power Supply and Fan Module Maintenance..............................31
PART SIX APPENDICES..........................................32
APPENDIX A Q & A.................................................33
APPENDIX B SPECIFICATIONS..........................36
APPENDIX C CONTACT US..................................37
Taiwan - Headquarters.................................................................37
Taiwan - Factory..........................................................................37
USA..............................................................................................37
China – Beijing office..................................................................37
China – Accusys Technology, Shanghai .....................................38
Korea............................................................................................38
5
Introduction
6
Chapter 1 – Overview
Chapter 1
OOvveerrvviieeww
This chapter introduces the features and capabilities
of the ExaSAN A08S-PS.
The ExaSAN A08S-PS is a RAID system that provides superior functionality
and performance for managing your information.
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, ExaSAN A08S-PS supports up to 8 x SAS & SATA hard 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. Utilization of SAS hard disk drives provides additional performance
advantages in your workstation environment.
External PCI Express technology enables disk arrays to be used in tune with
editing workstation via high-bandwidth, ensuring smooth handling of heavy
loaded and time critical applications such as editing of uncompressed,
multi-stream HD videos or film post-production.
Data protection is one of the key features of ExaSAN A08S-PS. 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 functions and quick configuration on any Java enabled platform.
7
ExaSAN A08S-PS User’s Manual
Key Features
ExaSAN A08S-PS features the following:
z Multiple RAID levels: 0,1, 0+1, 5, 6, and JBOD
z Up to 4 independent disk arrays
z Supports 8 SAS & SATA drives
z RAID capacity partitioning: up to 16 slices
z Supports up to 64 LUNs
z Variable stripe sizes, up to 256KB
z Supports over-2TB volumes
z Selective initialization method with background initialization
z Online RAID set expansion
z Online RAID level migration
z Controller and Disk Cache Control to optimize read/write performance
z Supports write-back and write-through caching
z Selective and adaptive read/write optimization policies
z Automatic drive insertion/removal detection and fast disk rebuilding
z Online bad block data recovery and reallocation
z Online disk scrubbing with data refresh and parity regeneration
z Disk health monitoring by S.M.A.R.T.
z NVRAM-based transaction log and auto parity resynchronization
z Array roaming and drive traveling with redundant on-disk metadata
z Array recovery to restore RAID configurations
z Dual firmware images for firmware recovery
z Mirror Snapshot for fast backup and restore
z Disk lag proof technology to guarantee disk timely response
z Equalization mode to smooth the performance of sequential I/Os and
reduce fluctuation
z Enclosure components monitoring and control via GUI
z Optimized for multiple-stream video processing
z RoHS compliant
8
Chapter 1 – Overview
SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
The Accusys RAID system is designed for use with the latest SAS hard disk
drives. SAS allows data transfer up to 3 or 6 Gbps, and is backwards
compatible with second-generation SATA drives. SAS offers several high
performance advantages, including speed, I/O frequency, high mean time
before failure (MTBF) and simultaneous support for many users.
SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
The Accusys RAID system 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 RAID system for it to function.
The Accusys RAID system is shipped with firmware preloaded. Check the
installation CD 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 RAID system. See ftp.accusys.com.tw for
upgrades.
EFI
The Accusys RAID system contains an internal EFI, which can be used to
configure a RAID array instead of using the RAIDGuard X GUI. The EFI is
accessed as the RAID system 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 ftp.accusys.com.tw for upgrades.
9
ExaSAN A08S-PS User’s Manual
Chapter 2
PPaacckkaaggee CCoonntteennttss
This chapter provides a checklist for the package
contents. You will find a detailed list for each model,
as well as other items you will need for installation.
The ExaSAN A08S-PS is shipped with the controller and disk trays installed in
the 8 bay chassis.
The package contents include the following:
z ExaSAN A08S-PS x1
z Disk tray x8
z Installation CD x1
z Quick Start Guide x1
z Re-drive card x1
z Rear panel key x2
z Power cable x1
z Power adapter converter x3
(AU/EU/UK)
z External PCIe x4 cable x1
z Low profile bracket x1
z Screw pack x2
8 Bay Chassis Disk tray (installed) Installation CD
Quick Start Guide Re-drive card Rear Panel Key
10
Chapter 2 – Package Contents
Power Cable Power Adapter
Converter
Low profile bracket Screw pack
Optional Items
z Battery Backup Module (BBM) –
the BBM stores the cached data
in the event of power supply
failure.
External PCIe x4 Cable
z Additional power supply –
ensures that the RAID system
remains functional in the event
that one power supply fails.
11
ExaSAN A08S-PS User’s Manual
What Else You Need
z SAS or SATA hard disk drives.
z Host server with spare PCIe x4 slot.
z Static grounding strap or electrostatic discharge (ESD) safe work area.
The PCIe slots on some motherboards are for graphics
cards only. Check with the motherboard vendor for
compatibility.
Different RAID levels require different numbers of hard
disk drives. See the RAIDGuard X User's Manual to
determine how many hard disk drives 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.
Many motherboards only come with one PCI Express
interface. Before installation, make sure there is one free.
12
Loading...