Acer AEASYSTORE Annexe 3

ALTOS EASYSTORE

User’s Manual

Version 1.2

Copyright © 2006-2007 Acer Incorporated all Rights Reserved. Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other company’s product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

Chapter

Chapter 1 Introducing Your Storage System

Chapter

2 Getting Started

Initializing Installing the Console S Initializing the disks Configuring your storage system Accessing the Manager Accessing the Manager using the Console

your storage system

arting the Console

Accessing the Manager using a Web browser Logging in to the Manager Navigating the Manager Viewing information about your storage system Adding users Creating shared folders Managing shared folders Deleting a shared folder Assigning users to shared folders

Chapter 3

Managing Your Storage System

Managing users Adding users Modifying users Removing users Working with groups Changing the authentication mode Managing shared folders Creating shared folders Assigning users to shared folders Deleting a shared folder Managing backups Changing the recovery password Configuring remote boot Deleting a backup Deleting a client Setting up e-mail alerts Upgrading the firmware Disconnecting USB devices Changing the system settings Changing the network settings Reconfiguring your storage system disks

5 5 9 11 13 19 19 20 21 22

26 30 33

37 37 38 40 41 45 54

55 58 59 60 60 62 62 64 67 69 70 72 76

Altos easyStore Manua

Chapter

Expanding the shared storage Reconfiguring the disks Viewing system status information Logging out of the Manager Shutting down the storage system

Chapter 4

Work

ing

with Shared Folders

Windows users Linux users Mac users Accessing shared folders using FTP Disconnecting from shared folders Windows users Linux users Mac users

Chapter 5

Protecting Local Disks

Getting started System requirements Additional prerequisites Installing the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Installing DiskSafe Express S

arting DiskSafe Express Activating your license Protecting your disks Manually backing up your disk S

opping a backup or recovery in progress Changing the backup schedule Receiving event notifications Changing the recovery password Enabling or disabling remote boot Enabling remote boo Disabling remote boot Recovering data Recovering files or folders Recovering a data disk Recovering a system disk using the recovery CD Recovering a system disk while booting remotely Removing protection Adding hard disks to a linear or normal RAID configuration to a degraded RAID configuration Removing hard disks or responding to disk failure Responding to RAID degradation Responding to RAID failure

77 78 82 83 84

85 90 91 93 94 94 95 95

98 98 99 99 100 104 106 108 116 117 118 120 121 123 124 126 127 129 131 133 139 143 147 148 150 151 152 153

Altos easyStore Manua

Chapter

Swapping hard disks Transferring hard disks to a new storage system

Appendix A: Software Specifications

Appendix B: Configurations

Appendix C: Hardware Specifications

Technical Assistance

Glossary

155 156

Altos easyStore Manua

Preface

Documentation conventions

Related documentation

This guide provides you with the following information:

An overview of the Altos easyStore and instructions for setting

provide shared storage space to users in your network

Information about advanced features for configuring your storage system

Instructions for installing and using DiskSafeTM Express to back up your

networked computer disks to the storage system and recover that data as

needed

Reference material about product specifications and troubleshooting

Bold is used to indicate menu items, buttons, labels, and file and folder names.

Instructions to click a series of menu items are indicated with an arrow (-->).

For example, the instructions to click the Start menu, click Programs, and then

click

Storage System Console are presented as Start --> Programs -->

System Console

When you see two keys joined by a plus sign (+), press and hold down the first

key

and then press the second key. For example, Alt+F2 indicates that you

should

Significant information or exceptions are indicated with the note icon shown at

the lef

The potential for data loss or corruption is indicated with the caution icon shown

at the le

The term Windows refers to any supported Microsof

system.

press and hold down the Alt key and then press F2

ft.

In addition to this guide, you can find information about DiskSafe Express in the online

help. To access the online help, click Help --> He

Express

application window

it up to

Storage

Windows

Topics in the DiskSafe

operating

Altos easyStore Manua

Preface

Altos easyStore Manua

Introducing Your Storage System

ALTOS EASYSTORE is an intelligent network storage solution for small and medium-

offices and home network environments

sized space for both shared files and backups of your computer hard disks, offering an ideal

What your package includes

way to distribute and protect important data

To make DiskSafe rapid data recovery in the event of a system crash or disk failure. With DiskSafe Express, you can recover your local disks or partitions without having to reinstall or reconfigure the operating system or applications, dramatically shortening

Before you begin using your storage system, please make sure that your package includes

any of these items are missing, please contact the reseller or retailer from which

you

easy to back up your computer hard disks, this solution includes

Express, a software application that provides reliable data protection and

recovery time.

the following items:

The Altos easyStore un

One power cord

One RJ-45 Ethernet cable

Installation CD (for the Storage System Console and DiskSafe Express)

DiskSafe Express recovery CD

purchased this product.

. It

provides up to 2 TB of hard disk

Altos easyStore Manual 1

Chapter 1

Additional accessories

The storage system supports up to two USB disks, which can be purchased separately

Notes:

Only USB disks are supported. USB hubs and other USB devices are no supported.

Any USB disk must be formatted before you can use system,

and only the first partition of a FAT or FAT32 file system will be

recognized

Do not use a USB cable to attach the storage system directly to a USB port on a computer

Key features and benefits

Flexible storage capacity

SATA-I hard disks, with a capacity of 250–500 GB each.

Built-in data protection

the

disks are treated as independent entities, the storage system supports several means duplication

different types of RAIDs (redundant arrays of independent disks). This

that you can take advantage of the build-in data protection and data

offered by advanced RAID levels.

multiple hard disks and one fails, you won’t lose important data. For more

informa

Simple administration

ion, refer to Appendix B, "Disk Configurations

interface from any computer in your network, and configuration

Status at a glance

quickly connected.

Support for multiple platforms

Windows, file

Security

system.

determine how much space is being used and who’s currently

Mac OS X or other Mac operating systems, or Linux, you can set up

sharing for each of them.

—Only authorized users can access the shared folders on your storage

You can also control whether the user can only view the information in

the shared folders or also add, modify, or delete files there.

Fast performance

provides

fast access to the data you need, when you need

Introducing Your Storage System

with the storage

—The storage system supports up to four 3.5"

—In addition to a linear disk configuration in which all

your storage system has

—You can run the browser-based managemen

its

informative wizards and

pages will help you accomplish your tasks quickly and easily

—The Home page of the management interface lets you

—Whether the computers in your network run

—With

its

gigabit

hernet support, the storage system

it.

Altos easyStore Manual 2

Chapter

Getting Started

Getting started with your storage system involves the following general steps:

Set up your storage system.

This involves attaching any optional USB devices, attaching the storage system to your network, and powering up the system.

Install the Storage System Console on a computer in the same subnet as your

storage system and initialize the hard disks on your storage system.

Initializing the hard disks involves installing the operating system and other software from a file on your installation CD to each of the hard disks in your storage system. (Altos easyStore comes already configured)

For information about this step, refer to “Initializing your storage system.”

. A

ccess the Web-based management interface (the Manager) and log in.

For information about this step, refer to “Accessing the Manager”

Manager.”

and

“Logging in to the

Add users.

This is necessary only access to the shared folders, or or Macs other than those running OS

For information about this step, refer to “Adding users.”

Create shared folders.

By default, the storage system includes a shared folder named public However, you might want to create other shared folders as well. For example, in an office environmen can view, and separate folders for confidential business documents that only selected individuals can view or change. In a home environmen folders for different types of files, like photos, videos, or music.

For information about this step, refer to “Creating shared folders.”

you’re using local authentication mode and want to control

some users in your network use Linux

you might want to create a shared folder for company policies that everyone

you might want to set up separate

Altos easyStore Manual 3

Chapter

Getting Started

Access the shared folders.

For information about this step, refer to “Accessing shared folders.”

Protect your computer hard disks.

This involves installing DiskSafe Express on each computer that you want to protect and specifying which hard disks or partitions to back up and how often backups should occur

For information about this step, refer to Chapter 5, "Protecting Local Disks."

Altos easyStore Manual 4

Chapter

Initializing your storage system

Altos easyStore comes with four must install the Storage System Console on a computer in the same subnet as your

Inst

alling

the Console

storage system and use that application to connect to the storage system.

You can install the Console on any computer that runs one of the following operating systems

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Microsoft Windows XP

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Server, or Advanced Server with Service Pack 2 or newer

Note: To access the storage system, the Console launches a Web browser, so

the computer where you install the Console must have Microsoft Internet Explorer

6.0 or Firefox 1.06 or newer installed as well. In addition, one of those browsers be

must

your defau

browser

browser, refer to the documentation for your browser

To install the Console:

. At a

computer in the same subnet as your storage system, insert the installation

CD into a CD-ROM drive.

. Start

the setup utility for the Console.

Getting Started

hard disks drive, they are already initialized. You

. If

you’re not sure how to configure the defau

Altos easyStore Manual 5

Chapter

. On

the welcome page, click Next

Getting Started

. If

you agree to the terms of the license agreement, click Yes

Enter your name and company name and then click Next

Altos easyStore Manual 6

Chapter

Getting Started

6. Click Next to install the Console in the displayed location, or click Browse to select or specify a different location and then click Next

Review your selections and click Next

Altos easyStore Manual 7

Chapter

. To

install the Console, click Finish

Getting Started

you want to start the Console immediately after

it is

installed, select the

Launch Storage System Console check box before you click Finish

Altos easyStore Manual 8

Chapter

Starting the Console

Getting Started

Once you have installed the Console (as described in “Installing the Console”), you can use the following procedure to start

Note:

the storage system is not directly connected to your computer and your

network

does not have a DHCP server, you must change the

computer to use the same subnet as the storage system. (You can change

you have configured the storage system.)

after

it.

address of your

back

To do this, access your local area network properties. (For example, you might right-click network

(TCP/IP)

with storage each open dialog box.

When you configure the storage system (as described in “Configuring your

storage system”), you can specify whatever

system to use your computer, you must also specify the gateway to use (as

Network

connection and click Properties.) In the

and click Properties. The

192.168.0 except 192.168.0.101, since that’s the system. The subnet mask must be 192.168.0.1. Then click OK to close

aces and click Properties, and then right-click your

list, select Internet Protocol

address can be any address beginning

address used by the

address you would like the storage

. If

the

address of the storage system is in a different subnet than

described in “Changing the network settings”). This ensures that you can manage the storage system from any computer using a Web browser (as described in

“Accessing the Manager using a Web browser”). Then

you can change your computer’s

To start the Console:

address back to

1. Click Start --> Programs --> Storage System Console

As soon as you start the Console, systems. le

This might take a few minutes. As soon as the scan is complete, the

pane displays a tree view of all the storage systems

automatically scans the network for storage

its

original setting.

found.

Altos easyStore Manual 9

Chapter

Getting Started

Note:

already scanned storage network

If no the

same subnet as the storage system. Be sure to install the Console on a

compu

. In

the le

(for example, Storage),

your storage system uses both available ports to connect to the network, you

can

select either item

you connect a storage system to the network after the Console has

it, or if

system, you must click Discover Storage Systems to scan the

again and update the tree in the left pane.

you subsequently change the

storage system displays in the left pane, your computer might not be in

ter in

the same subnet as the storage system and try again.

pane, select the name of the storage system that you want to access

and then click Log On Storage System Manager

address of the

. If

your storage system has not yet been initialized, the System Initialization page displays. For more information, refer to the next section, “Initializing the

disks.”

If the System Setup Wizard displays. For more information, refer to

“Configuring your storage system”

If Manager

your storage system been initialized but not yet configured, the welcome page for

your storage system has been initialized and configured, the login page for the

displays. For more information, refer to “Logging in to the Manager”.

Altos easyStore Manual 10

Chapter

Initializing

the

Getting Started

sks

Once you have installed the Console (as described in “Installing the Console”), started

Console”), the System

it,

and connected to the storage system (as described in “Starting the

Initiali

zation page displays:

all the hard disks have not been detected, or

you want to add, remove, or

re-order the disks at this time, insert or remove the disks one at a time and click

Scan after each action.

Insert the installation CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive, type the path to

the firmware package in the File name text box, and click Upload

Alternatively, you can click Browse and browse the CD for the firmware package The firmware package is the file on the CD that ends in the PKG file extension.

Altos easyStore Manual 11

Chapter

Getting Started

The firmware is uploaded to the hard disks. When this process is complete, the storage system restarts

Note: The operating system and storage system software are installed on each

disk in your storage system to ensure that the failure or removal of any one disk will not cause the entire storage system to fail.

. If the

welcome screen does not appear immediately after the storage system

restarts, close the browser window and log in again using the Console.

You can now perform initial configuration (as described in “Configuring your

storage

system”

)

Altos easyStore Manual 12

Chapter

Configuring your storage system

Once your storage system has been initialized (as described in “Initializing your

storage

necessary initial configuration:

system”), follow these steps to run the System Setup wizard and perform the

. If

you have not already installed the Storage System Console, install

described

Console”)

In the le

“Installing the Console”) and start

pane, click the name of the storage system. Then click Log On

Storage System Manager

Getting Started

(as

(as described in “Starting the

The welcome page displays:

. On

the welcome page, click Next

Altos easyStore Manual 13

Chapter

The End User Software License Agreement page displays:

Getting Started

. If

you agree to the terms, select the

then click Next

and

The Host Name page displays:

accept the license agreement check box

4. Click Next to accept the default storage system name ( whatever

name you prefer and then click Next

The storage system name can be up to 15 characters long and can include letters,

numbers, and hyphens.

Storage), or

enter

Altos easyStore Manual 14

Chapter

When you click Next, the Date/Time page displays:

Getting Started

Specify the current date,

me, and time zone, and then click Next

The time should be expressed in 24-hour format. For example, 2:00 P.M. would be entered as 14:00:00

Note: The storage system time does not automatically change to reflect

daylight savings time. To accommodate this, you can manually adjust the time as needed. For more information, refer to “Changing the system settings.”

When you click Next, the Network Settings page displays:

Altos easyStore Manual 15

Chapter

. By

default,

address from that server

your network does not have a DHCP server, or attached defau

255.255.255.0).

your network has a DHCP server, the storage system obtains

the storage system is directly

your computer, the default

lt IP

address is 192.168.0.101, and the default subnet mask is

address and subnet mask are used. (The

To accept the default settings, click Next. Otherwise, specify the desired settings

When you click Next, the Disk Configurat appear currently

and then click Next

this page vary, depending on the number of hard disks that are

installed in the system.)

ion

page displays. (The options that

Getting Started

its

. If

you want to add or remove hard disks, do so one at a time and click Scan after

each

action

you want to use in the storage system at this time, since changing the number of hard disks later can require disk reconfiguration and possible data loss.

To accept the defau protection available for the number of hard disks currently installed), click Next. By default, a linear disk configuration is used for a single hard disk, RAID 1 is used for two hard disks, and RAID 5 is used for three or four hard disks.

Note:

It is

strongly recommended that you install all the hard disks that

disk configuration (which will provide the best level of data

Altos easyStore Manual 16

Chapter

Getting Started

you want to change the disk configuration, select the desired RAID level and then click Next. (For detailed information about the different RAID levels, refer to

Appendix B, "Disk Configurations.")

When you click Next, the Disk Space Distribution page displays:

. To

accept how the disk space will be proportioned for shared folders and

backups

you want to allocate more space for shared folders, select Allocate more space

(only 200 MB will be allocated for shared folders), click Finish

for shared folders and then specify how much space to allocate (either available disk space or Specified disk space). If

you select Specified

All

disk space, enter the number of gigabytes to allocate for shared folders (the

minimum

GB). Then click Finish

is 1

olders later (as long as free disk space is available), but you cannot reduce

without reconfiguring your disks and losing all your data.

If recommended back space available

Note: You can expand the amount of disk space allocated for shared

you plan to back up computer disks to your storage system, it is

that you use the minimum amount of space for shared folders,

all the computer disks that you plan to protect, and then expand the

allocated for shared folders. This ensures that adequate space is

for backups

Altos easyStore Manual 17

Chapter

Getting Started

. On

the confirmation message, click OK

The Configuration page displays and the system is configured according to the settings

you specified. Once the configuration is complete, the system restarts

10. After the storage system restarts, you can access the Manager, add users, and create

For more information, refer to “Accessing the Manager”, “Logging in

to the Manager”, “Adding users”, and “Creating shared folders.”

shared folders.

Altos easyStore Manual 18

Chapter

Accessing the Manager

Once you have initialized and configured your storage system (as described in

“Initializing your storage system” and “Configuring your storage system”

), you can access the Manager to add users, create shared folders, and perform other

asks related to managing your storage system.

There are two ways to access the Manager:

Using the Console

Using a Web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox 1.06 or newer)

Using

the Console, you can access the Manager only from a computer in the same subnet as the storage system, but you do not have to know the name or of the storage system or otherwise modify the network settings.

Using a Web browser, you can access the Manager from any computer in your network, addition,

but

you must know the name or

you configured the storage system to use a specific might need to specify the successfully using

the Console and then specify the gateway address (as described in

access the Manager using a Web browser. First access the Manager

“Changing the network settings”.) and try to access

Accessing the Manager using the Console

To access the Manager using the Console

. If

you have not already done so, install the Console on each computer from

which

you plan to manage the storage system (as described in “Installing the

Console”)

. Start

the

the Console and connect to the storage system (as described in “Starting

Console”).

Getting Started

address

address of the storage system. In

address, you

address of the gateway in your network before you can

using a Web browser

Altos easyStore Manual 19

Chapter

Accessing the Manager using a Web browser

To access the Manager using a Web browser:

From any computer in your network, run Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox Enter:

https://storage_system

where storage_system is the name or

When the login page displays, you can bookmark easily access

1.06 or newer, enter the following in the address bar, and then press

Note: You can use the storage system name only

the same subnet as the storage system, IP

address and name to your local hosts file, or

name

with a DNS server in your network.

the next time

Getting Started

address of the storage system.

your computer is in

you added the storage system’s

you manually registered the

it so

that you can quickly and

Altos easyStore Manual 20

Chapter

Logging in to the Manager

To ensure that your connection to the storage system is secure, the HTTPS protocol is used, and only individuals who know the administrator user name and password

view or change any of the storage system settings.

can

To log in to the Manager:

When the security alert displays, click Yes

The login page displays.

Getting Started

Enter the administrator user name and password.

The defau

case-sensitive.) Once you have logged in, you can change both the

are

user name is adm

in,

and the default password is storage. (These

administrator user name and password at any time. For more information, refer to “Changing the system settings”.

3. Click Log

In.

Altos easyStore Manual 21

Chapter

Navigating the Manager

Once you log in to the Manager, the Home page displays:

Getting Started

Altos easyStore Manual 22

Chapter

Getting Started

The top of the Home page (and every page in the Manager) displays a navigation bar that lets you access all the features of the storage system:

Home

—Displays information about your storage system, including how the storage informa

Users

authentication add, using Linux authentication

space is being used and which users are connected. For more

ion, refer to “Viewing information about your storage system”

—Displays a list of all currently configured users.

mode, you can add, modify, and remove all types of users, and

modify, and remove groups of Windows and Mac OS X users.

Active Directory authentication mode, you can add, modify, and remove users and other Mac users. You can also use this page to change the

mode.

you’re using local

you’re

For more information, refer to “Adding users”, “Managing users”, and “Changing

Shared Folders

you add shared folders, change which users can access them, and remove

them

—Displays a list of all currently configured shared folders and

For more information, refer to “Creating shared folders” and

“Managing shared folders”.

the authentication mode”.

Backups

you change the recovery password, delete backups or a backup client, and

change information related to booting remotely

—Displays a list of all computer disk backups that currently exist and

For more information, refer to “Managing backups” and Chapter 5, "Protecting

Local Disks.”

Advanced

—Provides access to advanced storage system configuration options, such as setting up e-mail alerts; upgrading the firmware; removing USB devices; informa system

For more information, refer to Chapter 3, "Managing Your Storage System,"

services

Log Out

changing the system, network, or disk configuration settings; viewing

ion about the system status or system events; and shutting down the

remotely

—Provides information about FalconStor and the other products and

offers.

—Logs you out of the Manager

Altos easyStore Manual 23

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