HighPoint RS6414TS operation manual

RocketStor 6414TS

User Manual

January 15th, 2016
Revision 1.5
HighPoint Technologies, Inc.

1

Copyright
Copyright © 2016 HighPoint Technologies, Inc. This document contains materials protected by
International Copyright Laws. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced,
transmitted or transcribed in any form and for any purpose without the express written
permission of HighPoint Technologies, Inc.

Trademarks
Companies and products mentioned in this manual are for identification purpose only. Product
names or brand names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective owners. Backup your important data before using HighPoint's
products and use at your own risk. In no event shall HighPoint be liable for any loss of profits,
or for direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages arising from any defect or
error in HighPoint's products or manuals. Information in this manual is subject to change
without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of HighPoint.

Notice
Reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate.

HighPoint assumes no liability for technical inaccuracies, typographical, or other errors
contained herein.

FCC Part 15 Class B Radio Frequency Interference statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is

connected.

 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment under FCC rules.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

European Union Compliance Statement

This Information Technologies Equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
following European directives:

 European Standard EN55022 (1998) Class B
 European Standard EN55024 (1998)

2

Table of Contents

Product Overview ....................................................................................................................... 5

Kit Contents.................................................................................................................................. 5

RocketStor 6414S Enclosure Overview .....................................................................................7

RocketRAID 2711 Overview .........................................................................................................9

Getting Started ............................................................................................................................. 9

Step 1: Setting Up the Hardware .............................................................................................. 10

Step 2: Install/Update Drivers .................................................................................................. 11

Step 3: Install HighPoint RAID Management (WebGUI) ...................................................... 17

Step 4: Create RAID Arrays using WebGUI ............................................................................ 20

Step 5: Initialize and format the RAID Array ....................................................................... 24

Manage your RAID array ......................................................................................................... 28

RAID Spare Pool .......................................................................................................................... 28

WebGUI Remote Login ............................................................................................................... 30

Storage Health Inspector (SHI) ................................................................................................. 32

Utilizing the Health Inspector Scheduler .............................................................................. 33

RAID Expansion (OCE/ORLM) ................................................................................................ 35

Troubleshooting – Hardware .................................................................................................. 36

Enclosure Mute Button ............................................................................................................... 36

LED Activity .................................................................................................................................. 36

Replacing a Failed Disk .............................................................................................................. 38

Troubleshooting – Software ................................................................................................... 39

WebGUI – Connection cannot be established ....................................................................... 39

Troubleshooting – RAID .......................................................................................................... 39

Critical Arrays .............................................................................................................................. 39

Disabled Arrays ........................................................................................................................... 41

Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................................................. 42

Recovering your Password ........................................................................................................ 42

Online Array Roaming ............................................................................................................... 42

Stuck WebGUI Installation ........................................................................................................ 42

Appendix A: Navigating the HighPoint WebGUI ................................................................ 43

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How to Login HighPoint WebGUI ............................................................................................. 44

Appendix A-1: Global Tab ......................................................................................................... 45

Appendix A-2: Physical Tab ...................................................................................................... 46

Appendix A-3: Logical Tab ........................................................................................................ 48

Appendix A-4: Setting Tab ........................................................................................................ 57

Appendix B-5: Recover Tab ....................................................................................................... 60

Appendix A-6: Event Tab ........................................................................................................... 62

Appendix A-7: SHI (Storage Health Inspector) ..................................................................... 63

Appendix B: WebGUI Icon Guide ........................................................................................... 64

Appendix C: RAID Level Quick Reference .......................................................................... 66

Help .............................................................................................................................................. 67

HighPoint Recommended List of Hard Drives ...................................................................... 67

Contacting Technical Support .................................................................................................. 67

4

Product Overview

Item

Count

4-Bay Tower Enclosure

1

4-Port SATA 6Gb/s Turbo RAID
PCIe 2.0x8 Host Adapter

1

Low Profile Bracket

1

Disk Trays

4

SFF-8088 (Q-SATA) Cable

1

UL Power Cord

1

3.5” HDD mounting screws

16

2.5” SSD mounting screws

16

Quick Installation Guide

1

Feature
Specifications

RocketStor 6414TS

Host Port

1x Mini-SAS (SFF-8088)

RAID Controller /Bus
Interface

RocketRAID 2711 / PCIe 2.0 x8

The RocketStor 6414TS bundle package includes a enclosure for housing your physical
drives and a RAID Controller to manage and create RAID arrays of different levels.

 RocketStor 6414S Enclosure
 HighPoint RocketRAID 2711 Controller

Kit Contents

Before getting started, check to see if any items are missing, damaged, or incorrect. For
any discrepancy contact your reseller or go to www.highpoint-tech.com for online
support.

5

RAID Level

0, 1, 5, 10, 6, and JBOD

Max. Capacity

Up to 32 TB

Number Of drives

Up to 4

Drive Interface

SATA

Drive Form Factor

3.5"

Chassis Material

Brushed Aluminum housing

Dimension

8.66"(H)x5.31"(W)x8.67"(D)

Weight

Warranty

1 Years

Advanced RAID Features

Flash ROM for Upgradeable Firmware

Storage Health Inspector

Redundant RAID Configurations

Multiple RAID Partitions supported

Online Array Roaming

Online RAID Level Migration (ORLM)

Online Capacity Expansion (OCE)

RAID Initialization Background/Foreground/Quick

Global Hot Spare Disk support

Automatic and configurable RAID Rebuilding Priority

Disk Format compatible: 512, 512e, 4Kn

Larger than 2 TB Drive and RAID Array support

Spin down Massive Arrays of Idle Disks support

Native Command Queuing

Stagger Drive Spin Up

Write Back and Write Through

Storage Monitoring and Management Suite

RAID Management Suites:
RAID Management Suites, BIOS/Firmware configuration
tool, Browser-Based management tool,

CLI(Command Line Interface) - scriptable configuration
tool, API package

SMTP

Email Alert notification

Operating System Support

Window

2008 and Window 7 and later

Linux:

RedHat Enterprise, Open SuSE, Fedora Core, Debian,
Ubuntu

6

FreeBSD

9.0 and Later

Mac OS X

OS X 10.6 and later

Driver embedded

OS X 10.10

Operating Environment

Temperature

(Operating) 5°C – 45°C / (Non-operating) -40°C – 65°C

Relative Humidity

(operating) 8% – 90% RH (Non-condensing) / (Non­operating) 5% – 95% RH (Non-condensing)

Certification

CE, FCC, RoHS

RocketStor 6414S Enclosure Overview

Front Panel Overview

7

Front Panel

Disk Present LED

Indicates disk is present and available

Disk Status LED

Indicates disk is performing I/O
operations

Enclosure Power LED

Indicated enclosure is properly powered

Back Panel

Mini-SAS port

SFF-8088 port

Mute Button

Mutes enclosure alarm only. Alarm
sounds off only when FAN and
TEMPERATURE fail.

Power Receptacle

Connect power cord here

On/Off Switch

O – Off / I - On

Back Panel Overview

8

RocketRAID 2711 Overview

RocketRAID 2711 Key

PORT3

mini-SAS (SFF-8088) Connection
Corresponds to channel 1-4

BEEP1

Alarm/Beeper

Getting Started

Thank you for purchasing HighPoint Technologies RocketStor 6414TS. You are only a
few steps away from utilizing RAID storage using the industry’s most affordable
hardware RAID solution.

To start using your RocketStor 6414TS take the following steps:

1. Setting up the Hardware (pg. 10)

2. Install/Update drivers (pg. 11)

3. Install HighPoint RAID Management (WebGUI) (pg. 17)

4. Create RAID Arrays (pg. 20)

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5. Initialize and format RAID Volumes (pg. 24)

Step 1: Setting Up the Hardware

Ensure all items listed under Kit Contents are included in your package. For any
discrepancy contact your reseller or submit a support ticket online at www.highpoint-

tech.com/websupport.

Preparing the Enclosure

1. Press then pull the blue tab on the disk tray to unlock and slide the disk tray out.

Mount your hard drives onto each tray using the provided screws. Repeat for up to
four hard drives.

3.5" HDD Mounting Holes

2. Place the enclosure upright on a stable, flat surface

3. Connect the enclosure to a power source with the AC Power Cord.

4. Connect the enclosure to the included RocketRAID 2711 using the mini-SAS to

mini-SAS cable (SFF-8088).

2.5" SSD Mounting Holes

Preparing the HBA (Host Bus Adapter)

The following instructions describe how to prepare your RocketRAID 2711 HBA for use.

To install your RocketRAID 2711:

Important: Before installing the RocketRAID 2711 Controller, ensure that your system
is powered OFF.

1. Locate a PCIe 2.0 x8 slot (or compatible slot) on your PC motherboard.
 Note 1: Refer to your PC manual for instructions on how to access your

motherboard.

10

 Note 2: Refer to your motherboard manual for instructions on how to locate

your PCI Express slot.

2. Align the RocketRAID 2711 with the PCIe slot and push straight down until card is

fully seated.

3. Tighten the connection by fastening the RocketRAID bracket and enclosure

together.

A PCI-Express 2.0 x8 card is compatible with PCI-Express 2.0 x16 and PCI-Express 3.0
x16 slots.

Step 2: Install/Update Drivers

Installing Drivers on an Existing Operating System

Drivers provide a way for your operating system to communicate with your new
hardware. Updating to the latest drivers ensures your product has the latest
performance, stability, and compatibility improvements. Drivers are updated regularly
at www.highpoint-tech.com

For Windows Users:

1. Download the latest driver files from our website www.highpoint-tech.com >

Support > Documents and Downloads > RocketStor 6414TS.

2. Extract the downloaded files onto your PC and note the location of the files.

11

3. Open Windows Device Manager (Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices

and Printers > Device Manager).

4. Under Other devices, right-click RAID Controller.

5. Click Update Driver Software.

6. Click Browse my computer for driver software.

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7. Navigate to where you saved the driver files.

8. Click OK.

13

9. Click Next, Windows security will prompt to ask if you are sure you want to

install HighPoint Software.

10. After clicking Install, driver will be installed.

11. Reboot for changes to take effect.

For Mac Users:

14

HighPoint Mac Drivers have file extension .dmg; make sure the file extension for the
files you downloaded are the same.

1. Obtain latest driver online at www.hptmac.com>PCIe Controller Card > 6 Gb/s

SAS/SATA RAID HBA > RocketRAID 2711 > Download

 Navigate to your specific HBA controller page (Refer to How to View HBA

Properties to find model name)

2. Click the downloaded file.

3. A mounted volume (HighPointRR) will appear on the desktop. Click to open the

volume.

4. Click the driver package to start installation (~.pkg file)

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5. Follow the on-screen instructions of the installer.

6. Reboot computer for changes to take effect.

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7. Make sure Driver Installed is Yes. Click Apple Icon > About this Mac > System

Report > PCI

Step 3: Install HighPoint RAID Management (WebGUI)

The HighPoint RAID Management (WebGUI) software is necessary to create, maintain,
and view your RAID arrays.

17

For Windows Users:

1. Download the latest WebGUI from our website at www.highpoint-tech.com >

Support > Documents and Downloads > RocketStor 6414TS > Windows WebGUI

2. Extract and open the contents of the downloaded file.

3. Double-click HighPoint RAID Management.exe

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the WebGUI installation

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5. Double-click the HighPoint RAID Management desktop icon to start the WebGUI

6. Your default web browser will open and prompt for username and password

(Default username: RAID / password: hpt). Username and password are case­sensitive.

For Mac Users:

1. Download the latest WebGUI from our website www.hptmac.com>PCIe

Controller Card > 6 Gb/s SAS/SATA RAID HBA > RocketRAID 2711 > Download

2. Double Click the downloaded Mac WebGUI file.

3. Double click the HighPointWebGUI.pkg to start he WebGUI installer.

4. Follow the installer on-screen instructions to complete the WebGUI installation.

5. Double-click the HighPoint RAID Management desktop icon to start the WebGUI.

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6. Your default web browser will open and prompt for username and password

(Default username: RAID / password: hpt). Username and password are case­sensitive.

Uninstalling HighPoint RAID Management (WebGUI)

For Windows Users:

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Click Uninstall a program.

3. Select HighPoint RAID Management to uninstall.

For Mac Users:

1. Navigate to /Applications/HPTWEBGUI/uninstall.

2. Click on the uninstall script.

3. Type in the Administrator password when prompted.

Step 4: Create RAID Arrays using WebGUI

For both Mac and Windows users:

1. Login to WebGUI (Default username: RAID / password: hpt).

2. Once logged in, click the Logical tab to go to array page.

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3. Click Create Array:

4. The RAID creation page provides many features, options, and settings. Detailed

descriptions are provided on pg. 48.

5. Select RAID 5 for Array Type. (RAID Quick Reference on pg. 66)

6. Set array name as “Tutorial_Array”.

7. Select Quick Init as the initialization method. (Note: Quick Init gives immediate

access to the array by skipping parity synchronization. Recommended for
testing/verification purposes or when new disks are used.)

8. Select Write Back as the Cache Policy for better disk write performance.

9. Select 64K as the Block Size.

10. Select all 4 available disks.

11. Leave the Capacity maximum so all disk space will be utilized

12. Click Create

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13. Once created, the WebGUI will acknowledge the array has been created and the

system will prompt you to initialize the new volume.

Array disk is created

22

The new volume needs to be initialized before use

Array successfully created

(Windows) For Windows platforms, user will be prompted to initialize disks in Disk

Management.

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14. Tutorial_Array can now be seen under Logical Device Information. (Take note

that the OS name is HPT DISK 0_0; this will help identify which volume to
initialize)

Tutorial_Array is now created and can be seen in Logical tab.

Step 5: Initialize and format the RAID Array

Before using the newly created RAID array, you must initialize and format the new
volume.

For Windows Users:

1. After creating the RAID array, open Windows Disk Management.

2. Disk Management will ask to initialize unknown disks either in MBR format or

GPT.

(Windows) Disk Management asks to initialize the disks before use. As a general rule, select

MBR for disks less than 2TB and GPT for disks greater than 2TB.

24

3. Right click the new disk, and click properties.

4. In properties, check and make sure it is a HPT VD (HighPoint Virtual Disk).

Disk properties show HPT VD 0-0.

5. Once the disk has been confirmed, right click the unallocated space and click

New Simple Volume.

25

Right Click unallocated space, then click New Simple Volume.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure and format the drive.

7. Once finished, the new volume will receive a drive letter and be available for use.

RAID array is now formatted as NTFS and drive letter E:

For Mac Users:

1. After creating a RAID array, click Initialize when prompted. (Note: If you

ignored the prompt, simply open Disk Utility).

26

Disk Utility for Mac

2. In Disk Utility, select the Volume you created on the right, then click the Erase

tab.

27

3. Select the desired disk format and disk name then click Erase. (Note: All

previous data on disks will be erased.)

4. When finished, your new RAID volume will be available for use.

(Mac) Tutorial_Array volume created and mounted on desktop.

Manage your RAID array

The following features allow you to monitor and maintain your arrays to prevent any
critical failures from occurring:

 Spare Pool (pg. 28)
 Email Notifications (pg. 29)
 WebGUI Remote Login (pg. 30)
 Storage Health Inspector (pg. 33)
 Health Inspector Scheduling (pg. 33)

RAID Spare Pool

Physical drives marked as a spare will automatically be added to a redundant RAID
array (RAID levels 1, 10, 5, and 6) whenever there is a disk failure. Enabling this feature
minimizes the chances of data loss since it reduces the time an array is in critical
status.

Add/Remove Spare

Using WebGUI:

28

1. Log in WebGUI

2. Click Logical

3. Click Spare Pool

4. Check the box for the disk you want as a spare from Available Disks

5. Click Add Spare

Disks added to the spare pool will show under Spare Pool and can be removed by
checking the disk checkbox from Spare Pool > Click Remove Spare.

Email Notifications

When enabled, all added recipients will receive an email notification for any event log
entries.

To set up email alerts:

1. Check the Enable Event Notification box.

2. Enter the ISP server address name or SMTP name.

3. Type in the email address of the sender (email account that is going to send the

alert).

4. Type in the account name and password of the sender.

5. Type in the SMTP port (default: 25).

6. Check support SSL box if SSL is supported by your ISP (port value will change to

465, refer to your ISP if you have a specific SMTP port.

Note: After you click ‘Change Setting’ the password box will become blank.

Adding Email Recipients

You can add multiple email addresses as receivers of a notice.

1. Type the email of the recipient in the E-mail text box.

2. Type the name of the recipient in the Name text box.

29

3. Check which type(s) of events will trigger an email in the respective Event Level

check boxes.

4. (Optional) Click test to confirm settings are correct by sending out a test email.

5. Click add to add the recipient to recipient list.

6. The added recipient will display in under Recipients.

The email will send to your recipients the output recorded in the event log.

Example: event log email message.

WebGUI Remote Login

A user connected to a local network can remotely access the WebGUI using the IP
address of the host device.

To obtain your IP address

For Windows Users:

1. Open a command prompt window on the host computer.

2. Type ipconfig

3. Look for the section that contains your network adapter information

4. Take Note the IP address

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Example: The IPv4 address is under Ethernet adapter Ethernet 4 and is 192.168.1.143

Note: Make sure Restrict to localhost access is disabled in WebGUI Setting (Refer to

setting)

You can then remotely access the WebGUI using any other computer that is in your
local network by opening any web browser and typing http://{IP address of host
computer}:7402 (default port is 7402)

For Mac Users:

1. Open a terminal window on the host computer (computer that is connected to the

RocketStor 6414TS enclosure)

2. Type ifconfig.

3. Look for the connection that has status: active

4. Write the IP address located after inet:

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Example: en2 has active status, the IP is 192.168.1.254

Storage Health Inspector (SHI)

The Storage Health Inspector monitors each individual disk’s health. Monitoring disk
SMART attributes can prevent critical RAID failures from occurring.

This section covers the following:

 Enabling SMART Monitoring
 Disabling SMART Monitoring
 Changing HDD Temperature Threshold

Enabling SMART Monitoring

32

To access the SMART attributes of an individual disk:

1. Log in to WebGUI (default user: RAID password: hpt).

2. Select the proper controller using the drop down menu on the top left.

3. Click the SHI tab.

4. Click SMART on the desired disk.

5. Click Enable to enable SMART monitoring.

Disabling SMART monitoring

You have the option the disable SMART monitoring on each individual disk:

1. Select the proper controller using the drop down menu on the top left.

2. Click the SHI tab.

3. Click SMART on desired disk.

4. Click Disable.

Note: Disabling SMART will prompt the Storage Health Inspector to change the disk
status to ‘Failed’. The alarm will not alert you when this setting is changed. And any
potential warnings due to S.M.A.R.T attribute technology will not.

Changing HDD Temperature Threshold

To ensure hard disk temperatures remain within safe operating temperatures, enable
Storage Health Inspector to monitor disk temperatures. In SHI, you can set a threshold
so that the WebGUI or controller alarm (if enabled) can warn you when physical disks
get too hot.

1. Log in to WebGUI.

2. Select the controller from the drop down on the top left.

3. Click SHI.

4. Type the desired harddisk temperature threshold (°𝐹).

5. Click Set.

Utilizing the Health Inspector Scheduler

The Health Inspector Scheduler (HIS) enables you to periodically check your
disk/arrays to ensure they are functioning optimally.

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Creating a New Verify Task in HIS

All arrays will appear under New Verify Task

1. Log in to WebGUI.

2. Select the proper controller from the top left drop down.

3. Click SHI.

4. Click Schedule.

5. Select the array you want to schedule the verify task.

6. Type the name in Task Name entry box.

7. Choose whether you want to schedule.

 One time verify task on specific date (YYYY-MM-DD) at (HH:MM:SS, 24-hr clock).
 Or a specific schedule you can adjust based on Daily, Weekly, or Monthly

options.

8. Click Submit.

9. Your entry will appear under Tasks List.

Note: New Verify Task box only appears if you have normal status arrays. If you have a
critical array, New Rebuild Task will replace New Verify Task.

34

RAID Expansion (OCE/ORLM)

Important: It is recommended to Verify/Rebuild your array before Expanding or
Migrating. Once you start an OCE/ORLM procedure, you can stop the process but it
must be resumed until completion.

To add more capacity to your current configuration follow these steps:

1. Log in WebGUI

2. Select desired controller from drop down menu on top left

3. Click Logical

4. Click Maintenance for the array you want to change

 Select a different RAID level to Migrate
 Select the same RAID level to Expand

5. Important: Record all the physical drives currently in array.

6. Click ORLM

7. Select the physical drives you recorded earlier and the drives you want to add

8. Click Submit

Upon submission, you will receive a prompt stating ORLM created successfully.

The Logical Device Information will change status to migrating.

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Troubleshooting – Hardware

LED Status

Interpretation

STABLE GREEN

 Disk is detected and connection has

been made

 Enclosure is properly powered

If you face any hardware related issues involving the RocketStor 6414S enclosure, disk
drives or RAID controller, refer to the following sections for troubleshooting tips. For
all other problems, submit a support ticket at www.highpoint-tech.com/websupport.

Enclosure Mute Button

The mute button on the back will mute the alarm for enclosure related issues such as
enclosure FAN or TEMPERATURE failures. Failures associated with the RAID controller
will trigger the RAID card alarm, and cannot be muted with the enclosure mute button.

LED Activity

The following information tells you how to interpret LED activity seen on the enclosure
and disk trays.

Table 1. LED Status Information

36

BLINKING BLUE

Disk is in use and performing I/O
activity such as:

 Rebuilding an array
 Verifying data integrity
 Transferring data

STABLE BLUE

 Enclosure is properly powered

UNLIT

 Unit is powered OFF
 Disk tray is empty
 No disk I/O occuring

Icon

Normal

Faulty

Disk Tray Top
LED

 When powered

on, the LED will
be a STABLE

GREEN

N/A

Disk Tray
Bottom LED

 When disk is

busy, LED will
be BLINKING

BLUE

N/A

Table 2. LED Diagrams

37

Power LED

 When

enclosure is
powered on
LED will be

SOLID BLUE

 Power LED will

be UNLIT if not
connected to a
running host
system

N/A

Present

Active

Failed

Identify

Disk Tray

GREEN

BLUE

N/A

N/A

Enclosure

LEDs

BLUE

N/A

N/A

N/A

Table 3. LED Reference Chart

Present – Indicates that the disk is present and available.
Active – Indicates the disk is performing disk I/O
Failed – N/A
Identify – N/A

Replacing a Failed Disk

When a disk in your array fails it is important to get it replaced or rebuilt as soon as
possible to prevent any data loss.

1. Identify the faulty disk.

2. Once disk has been identified press the disk tray blue tab and slide the failed drive

3. Replace the failed drive with a new drive.

4. If auto rebuild is enabled, the rebuild process should start immediately.

5. If auto rebuild is disabled, click rescan on the left panel to initiate rebuilding.

 Look at the front panel for the RED disk error LED to be LIT.
 Log in to WebGUI and check the Logical Tab.

out.

38

Troubleshooting – Software

If you face any software related issues involving the HighPoint RAID Management
(WebGUI), refer to the following sections for troubleshooting tips. For all other
problems, submit a support ticket at www.highpoint-tech.com/websupport.

WebGUI – Connection cannot be established

1. Check the connection of the card with its PCI Express slot. (PCIe 2.0 x4 for

RR644LS)

2. Check and make sure the cables are not faulty.

3. Check Device Manager (Windows) or System Report (Mac) to verify the device

and drivers are installed and detected by the OS

a. For Windows Users:

 Open Device Manager.
 Click on the Storage Controller tab.
 Check to see if RocketRAID 644LS RAID Controller is listed.
 If RocketRAID 644LS RAID Controller is not listed, check to see if

RAID Controller is under Unknown devices.

 If RAID Controller is under unknown devices, re-install RocketRAID

drivers.

 If no RAID Controller is present, recheck your hardware and cables.

b. For Mac Users:

 Click the Apple Icon on the menu bar.
 Click About this Mac > System Report.
 Click PCI.
 Check to see the Type: RAID Controller and Driver Installed: Yes.
 If Driver Installed is No, re-install the drivers.
 If no RAID controller is present, recheck your hardware and cables.

Troubleshooting – RAID

If you face any RAID related issues involving your RAID array, refer to the following
sections for troubleshooting tips. For all other problems, submit a support ticket at

www.highpoint-tech.com/websupport.

Critical Arrays

When your disk is critical, that means your array as a whole is still accessible, but a
disk or two is faulty (depending on your RAID level) is in danger of failing.

39

Common scenarios for critical
status

 Unplugging disk that is part of an array
 Bad sector detected on a disk part of the

array

 Unrecoverable data during rebuilding
 Defective port or cable interrupts

rebuilding process

To recover from this situation,

1. It is recommended to backup your existing data if accessible.

2. Identify which disk is faulty.

 You can refer to the LED lights on the enclosure.
 Refer to the WebGUI Logical tab and Event tab.

3. Re-insert the faulty disk or replace with a new disk.
 Array will rebuild automatically if you enable auto-rebuild setting and you

simply reseated the faulty disk. Note: Click Rescan if array still does not rebuild
automatically.

 (Note: When replacing with a new disk, make sure the new disk capacity is equal

to or greater than the faulty disk capacity. Also make sure previous RAID
configurations on the replacement disk are deleted.)

4. Once a new disk is added, add the new disk into the critical array.

 Log in to WebGUI.
 Click Logical Tab.
 Click Maintenance > Add disk > select the appropriate disk.

5. Rebuild should start automatically.
 If rebuild does not start, click ‘Rescan’ on the left hand panel.

Note: Rebuilding an array takes on average 2 hours per 1 Terabyte of disk capacity.
The process will scan through the entire disk, even if you have very little used disk
space.

Rebuild failed

Rebuilding operations may fail due to bad disk sector errors (check in the Event Log),
there is an option to continue rebuilding on error in HighPoint WebGUI.

1. Log in to WebGUI.

2. Click Setting tab.

3. Under System Setting, change Enable Continue Rebuilding on Error to Enabled.

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This option will enable rebuilding to ignore bad sectors and attempt to make your data
accessible. It is important to backup immediately after backup is complete and replace
or repair the disks with bad sectors.

Critical array becomes disabled when faulty disk was removed

If this is the case, check to make sure you removed the correct disk. When you remove
the wrong disk from a critical array, the array status may become disabled. Data is
inaccessible for disabled arrays, follow these steps to restore the previous state:

1. Shut down your PC.

2. Shut down the RS6314A Enclosure.

3. Place all disks back to original configuration.

4. Boot up PC.

5. Once array is back to critical status, identify the correct disk and replace it.

Disabled Arrays

If two or more disks in your array go offline due to an error or physical disconnection
your array will become disabled.

To recover a disabled array, using the ‘Recover Tab’ will yield the best results. To

utilize the Recover tab, you will need to insert the exact physical drives that are listed
on the recover list. The goal of using recover is to get the RAID status back to
critical/normal, allowing you to access and back up your data.

Example: RAID 5 Disabled Array:

Recover with RAID Maintenance

1. Log in to WebGUI.

2. Click Maintenance for the array that is disabled.

3. Click Recover.

Recover RAID with Recover Tab

Before using the Recover tab to recover your array, check to see if the RAID array is
listed in your Recover List. Once you have confirmed the RAID array is there, proceed
to delete the disabled array.

1. Log in to WebGUI.

2. Click Maintenance for the array that is disabled.

3. Click delete, to delete the disabled array.

4. Click Recover Tab.

5. Select the RAID configuration you just deleted.

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6. Click Recover Array.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section covers some commonly asked questions:

How do I recover my WebGUI password? (see pg. 42)
If I purchase another HighPoint RAID Controller, will my data be retained? (see pg. 42)

Recovering your Password

For Windows Users:

1. Open file explorer

2. Navigate to C:/Windows/

3. Delete hptuser.dat

4. Reboot

For Mac Users:

1. Open Terminal

2. Type or navigate to cd /usr/share/hpt

3. Type rm hptuser.dat, to remove the file. (Note: must be root user mode to remove

this file)

4. Reboot

Online Array Roaming

One of the features of all HighPoint RAID controllers is online array roaming.
Information about the RAID configuration is stored on the physical drives. So if the
RocketStor 6414S fails or you wish to use another RAID controller, the RAID
configuration data can still be read by another HighPoint card.

Stuck WebGUI Installation

Solution: During the WebGUI installation, uncheck Create a Desktop Shortcut

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Tab Name

Function

Global View

View HBA (Host Bus Adapter) and

For Linux and FreeBSD users:

Refer to the Driver Installation Guide and README files in each driver package for
steps to install.

The latest drivers can be found at www.highpoint-tech.com

Appendix A: Navigating the HighPoint WebGUI

The HighPoint WebGUI management utility allows you to do several key things:

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Storage Properties

Physical

Logical

Manage and create RAID arrays

Setting

Adjust WebGUI controls settings

Event

Show WebGUI Event Log

SHI (Storage Health Inspector)

View and schedule S.M.A.R.T
monitoring

Recover

Revert to previously created arrays

Logout

Logout of WebGUI

Help

Additional WebGUI documentation
Online Web Support

How to Login HighPoint WebGUI

You can reach the HighPoint WebGUI log in page either by:

 Double clicking on the HighPoint RAID Management icon created on your desktop
 Opening your preferred web browser and typing http://localhost:7402 in the

address bar.

The default username and password to login is:

Username: RAID

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Password: hpt

Username and Password are Case-Sensitive (Username is not changeable)

Appendix A-1: Global Tab

The GUI Global view provides an overview of what each HighPoint controller card
connected to your computer detects. It is also the first page you see when logging in.

 Host Bus Adapter Properties
 Storage Properties

On the top left of the page is a drop down menu that allows you to select which
controller you want to manage (if you have multiple HighPoint controllers connected).

HBA Properties

 Host Adapter model: the model name of the controller
 Enclosure Count: number of external enclosures detected
 Physical drives: number of drives seen by the controller
 Legacy Disks: number of Legacy disks connected. Legacy disks are physical

drives that have previous partitions stored on them.

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Storage Properties

Total capacity: the combined capacity of each physical disk connected to controller
Configured capacity: the amount of space used for creating arrays
Free Capacity: total amount of space unused

Appendix A-2: Physical Tab

The physical tab shows general and extended information about the controller you are
using. Information about the firmware, BIOS, and operating temperatures are all
located here. This information is useful for identifying what RAID controller model you
have and to make sure you have the most updated version available.

Controller Information: Lists the controller model name, BIOS version, and vendor.

 Model Name: RocketRAID 2711 SAS Controller
 BIOS Version: v1.0
 Vendor: HighPoint Technologies, Inc.

Update Firmware: Allows you to update the controller BIOS through the WebGUI.

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The following properties are part of the Physical Devices Information box under the
physical tab.

 Model – Model number of the physical drive
 Capacity – Total capacity of the physical drive
 Revision – HDD device firmware revision number
 Read Ahead* - (Enable/Disable) Disk read ahead.
 Location – Device location (example: 1/2 states controller 1, slot 2)
 Write Cache* – (Enable/Disable) the disk write cache
 Max Free – space on disk that is not configured in an array
 Status – (Normal, disabled, critical) status of the disk

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 NCQ* – (Enable/Disable) Native Command Queuing

Read Ahead

Enabling disk read ahead will speed up read operations by pre-fetching data and
loading it into RAM.

Write Cache

Enabling write cache will speed up write operations.

NCQ (Native Command Queuing)

A setting that allows disks to queue up and reorder I/O commands for maximum
efficiency.

Identify LED

N/A

Rescan

Clicking rescan will immediately signal the controller to scan for any changes in the
connection. Clicking this button will also stop any alarm if currently ringing.

 Serial Number – serial number of the physical disk
 Identify LED – N/A
 Unplug – Safely ejects selected disk. Other methods of disk removal will trigger

alarm if enabled.

* Disk properties that can be adjusted.

Appendix A-3: Logical Tab

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The Logical tab is where you are edit, delete, and maintain your RAID configurations,
as well as, adding drives to your spare pool. The logical tab has the following settings:

 Create Array
 Spare Pool
 Logical Device
 Rescan
 Beeper Mute

An array is a collection of physical disks that will be seen as one virtual drive by your
Operating System (OS). The RocketStor 6414TS has a RocketRAID 2711 controller
capable of creating the following array types

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Array Type:

 JBOD – Just a Bunch of Disks
 RAID 0 - Striping
 RAID 1 - Mirroring
 RAID 5 – Rotating Parity bit
 RAID 1/0 – Striping of Mirrored Drives
 RAID 6 – Double Parity Bit

Each RAID level has its pros and cons based on the application you use it for (Note:
Refer to RAID level Quick Reference)

Array Name: the name that will be displayed in Logical Device Information (Default:

RAID_<level>_<array number>)

Initialization Method:

 Keep Old Data: This option skips the initialization process and all data on each

physical disk of the array will be untouched.

 Quick Init: Grants immediate access to the array volume. This option will delete

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previous user data, but will not build parity. Recommended for testing purposes
only or when new disks are used. Not recommended for RAID 5, and RAID 6.

 Foreground: The array initialization process will be set at high priority. During

this time array will be non-accessible, but initialization completion time will be
shorter.

 Background: The array initialization process will have a lower priority. During

this time array will be accessible, but initialization completion time will be
longer.

Note 1: Initializing takes a significant amount of time (approximately 2 hours per 1 TB).

Cache Policy (Default: Write Back)

Write Back – Any data written to the array will be stored as cache, resulting in better

I/O performance at the risk of data failures due to power outages. Data will be stored
as cache before it is physically written to the disk; when a power outage occurs, any
data in the cache will be lost.

Write Through – Data written to an array is directly written onto the disk, meaning
lower write performance for higher data availability. Without cache acting as a buffer,
write performance will be noticeably slower but data loss due to power outages or other
failures is significantly minimized.

Block Size (default: 64K)

A block size of 64 KB is recommended since it gives balanced performance for most
applications.

Capacity (Default: Maximum)

The total amount of space you want the RAID array to take up. When creating RAID
levels, disk capacities are limited by the smallest disk.

Example Capacity calculation:

A RAID 5 organizes data in the manner shown below. All parity data will become
unusable for the user and not included in the total disk capacity.

Disk 1

Disk 2

Disk 3

Disk 4

Data 1

Data 2

Data 3

Parity

Data 4

Data 5

Parity

Data 6

Data 7

Parity

Data 8

Data 9

Parity

Data 10

Data 11

Data 12

Therefore, RAID 5 capacity will be [SMALLEST DISK CAPACITY] * (number of disks – 1).

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Spare Pool

Spare disks are physical disks that will immediately replace critical disks in an array.
Only redundant RAID arrays (RAID 1, 5, 6, and 10) support spare drives.

Physical drives marked as a spare will automatically be added to an array whenever
there is a disk failure. Having this feature minimizes the chances of a data loss by
reducing the time an array is in critical status.

Disks added to the spare pool will show under Spare Pool and can be removed by
checking the disk checkbox from Spare Pool > Click Remove Spare

Logical Device Information

Logical device tab is the default page upon clicking the Logical tab of the WebGUI. This
page contains information about your RAID arrays and individual disks your system
detects.

Logical Device Information

Arrays you create and the properties associated with them will appear here.

Maintenance

Once an array has been created, you have the option maintain it.

Array Information

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Clicking on the maintenance button will show you the Array information box. Different
array statuses (Normal, critical, disabled) will have different maintenance options.

Normal Status

Maintenance options for Normal Arrays.

Delete – deletes the selected RAID array
Unplug – powers off the selected RAID array
Verify – verifies the integrity of the RAID array
Change Cache Policy – Toggles between Write through and Write back cache
Change Margin – Adjust margin when DV mode is enabled
Rename – renames the RAID array
OCE/ORLM – Online Capacity Expansion / Online RAID Level Migration

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Critical Status

Maintenance options for Critical Arrays.

A critical status array has all the normal status options except the following:

 The Array can no longer be renamed
 Add Disk replaces the Verify disk option

Once array status changes to critical, the faulty disk will be taken offline and you can
either:

 Reinsert the same disk
 Insert new disk

Reinserting the same disk should trigger rebuilding status, since data on the disk
would be recognized.

If you insert a new disk, clicking add disk will give you the option to select that disk
and add it to the array.

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Disabled Status

Maintenance options for Disabled Arrays.

A disabled status array means that your RAID level does not have enough disks to
function.

 Your data will be inaccessible.
 Rebuilding will not trigger, since RAID does not have enough parity data to rebuild

upon.

Your options in Maintenance of a Disabled array are:

Delete – will delete the array
Unplug – will take array offline, making it safe to remove
Recover – will attempt to recover the array using the list from the recover tab

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Physical Device Information

 Location – which controller and port the drive is located in
 Model – model number of the drive connected
 Capacity – total capacity of the drive
 Max Free – total capacity that is not configured

Rescan

Clicking rescan will force drivers to report array status. For any disk(s) you hot plug
into the device, do not click rescan until all physical drives are detected and appear
under Logical Device Information.

Beeper Mute

The controller emits a beeping sound whenever an

 Array falls into critical status
 Array falls into disabled status
 You unplug a disk
 Your disk fails due to bad sectors
 SMART sensors anticipate drive failure

If device is currently beeping, clicking Beeper Mute will mute the sound immediately.
Note: This button does not permanently mute the alarm. In order to permanently mute
the alarm, go to Setting > Enable audible alarm > Disabled.

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Appendix A-4: Setting Tab

Under this tab, user can

 Enable auto-rebuilding
 Enable rebuilding on error
 Turn audible alarm on/off
 Set spindown time for idle disks
 Restrict to localhost
 Set rebuild priority
 Change port number
 Change WebGUI password

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System Settings

Enable auto rebuild (default: Enabled)

When a physical drive fails, the controller will take the drive offline. Once you re­insert or replace the disk, the controller will not automatically rebuild the array
unless this option is enabled.

Enable continue rebuilding on error (default: Enabled)

When enabled, the rebuilding process will ignore bad disk sectors and continue
rebuilding until completion. When rebuild is finished, the data may be accessible but
data inconsistency due to ignored bad sectors may cause problems in the future. If
this option is enabled, HighPoint recommends user to check the event log for bad
sectors.

Enable audible alarm (default: Enabled)

When a physical disk fails, the controller will emit an audible sound signaling failure.
This option mutes the alarm.

Set Spindown Idle Disk (minutes) (default: Disabled)

When set, physical drives will spindown a certain amount of time after disk activity
ceases. Only 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 minutes setting are available.

Restrict to localhost access (default: Enabled)

Remote access to the controller will be restricted when enabled, other users in your
network will be unable to remotely log in to the WebGUI.

Rebuild Priority (default: Medium)

You can specify the amount of system resources you want to dedicate to rebuilding
the array. There are 5 levels of priority [Lowest, Low, Medium, High, Highest]

Port Number (default: 7402)

The default port that the HighPoint WebGUI listens on is 7402. You may change it to
any open port.

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Password Setting - Changing your WebGUI password

Under Password Setting type your new password and confirm it, then click submit.

Email Setting

The following topics are covered under email:

 SMTP Setting
 Adding Recipients

You can set the controller to send an email out to recipients of your choosing when
certain events (refer to Event Tab) trigger.

SMTP settings

To set up email alerts:

1. Check the Enable Event Notification box.

2. Enter the ISP server address name or SMTP name

3. Type in the email address of the sender (email account that is going to send the

alert)

4. Type in the account name and password of the sender

5. Type in the SMTP port (default: 25)

6. Check support SSL box if SSL is supported by your ISP (port value will change to

465, refer to your ISP if you have a specific SMTP port.

Note: After you click ‘Change Setting’ the password box will become blank.

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How to Add Recipients

You can add multiple email addresses as receivers of a notice.

1. Type the email of the recipient in the E-mail text box

2. Type the name of the recipient in the Name text box

3. Check which type(s) of events will trigger an email in the respective Event Level

check boxes

4. (Optional) Click test to confirm settings are correct by sending out a test email

5. Click add to add the recipient to recipient list

6. The added recipient will display in under Recipients

The email will send to your recipients the output recorded in the event log.
Example email message:

Example: event log email

Appendix B-5: Recover Tab

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Previously created arrays will be stored under this tab. Recovering an array from here
will attempt to recover a ‘disabled’ array and make it ‘normal’.

The Recover List will list all your previous and current created arrays. Each entry will
list the following properties:

 Array name
 RAID level
 Array Capacity
 Time created ( YYYY/MM/DD, HH/MM/SS, 24 hr clock format)
 Location of physical drives
 Model of physical drives

Important: When recovering an array it is important to note the location and model of
each physical drive because you can only recover using those exact positions and drive
model.

Backup your Recover List

The recover list is a record of your previously created arrays containing the model and
location information of your physical drives. Recovering from the list could help bring
a disabled array back to normal status for emergency data retrieval.

To backup your recover list:

1. Log in to WebGUI

2. Click Recover Tab

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3. Click Backup to File

Icon

Name

Definition

Information

Includes general
administrative tasks:

 Create/delete

arrays

 Configuring spares
 Rebuilding arrays
 Configuring event

notifications

 Configuring

Note: The file will be saved as hptrec.rec

How to Reload your Backup Recover List

In the case that you cleared the recover list or it does not appear for any reason, you
can recover it if you saved the list beforehand.

To reload your recover list

1. Log in to WebGUI

2. Click Recover Tab

3. Under Update Recover List click Browse…

4. Locate your previously saved hptrec.rec file and select it

Note: loading a back up recover list will completely replace the current recover list.

5. Click Submit

Appendix A-6: Event Tab

In the event tab, you can see log entries associated with the HighPoint device. The
event log provides useful information when troubleshooting your set up.

In the event tab, there are four options available:

 Download – save the log file on your computer
 Clear – clears all log entries
 Prev – view previous log page
 Next – view next log page

Table 4. Event Log Icon Guide

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maintenance

Warning

Alerts issued by the Host
Adapter:

 High temperatures
 Sector errors
 Communication

errors

 Verification errors

Error

Hardware related
problems

 Hard disk failure
 Broken errors
 Memory failure

The event view is a basic error logging tool built into the HighPoint WebGUI.

Appendix A-7: SHI (Storage Health Inspector)

 S.M.A.R.T Attributes
 HDD Temperature Threshold
 Storage Health Inspector Scheduling

The SHI outputs information collected using SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and
Reporting Technology) Hard Drive Technology. The data provided on this tab helps you
to anticipate any disk failures based on a variety of monitored hard disk properties.

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Appendix B: WebGUI Icon Guide

Critical – missing disk

A disk is missing from the array bringing it to ‘critical’ status. The array

is still accessible but another disk failure could result in data loss.

Verifying

The array is currently running a disk integrity check.

Rebuilding

The array is currently rebuilding meaning you replaced a failed disk or
added a new disk to a ‘critical’ state array.

Critical – rebuild required

The array has all disks, but one disk requires rebuilding.

Disabled

The icon represents a disabled array, meaning more than one disk
failed and the array is no longer accessible

Initializing

The array is initializing. The two types of initialization is Foreground
and Background. (See Initialization)

Uninitialized

The array initialization process has been interrupted, and the process is
incomplete.

Not Initialized

Disk is not initialized yet, and needs to be initialized before use

OCE/ORLM

Array is performing a OCE/ORLM operation

OCE/ORLM has stopped

The array expansion process has been stopped.

Legacy

An existing file system has been detected on the disk. These disk are
classified as legacy drives.

Spare

The device is a spare drive, it will automatically replace any failed drive
part of an array.

Normal

The array status is normal

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Initializing

The array is initializing, either foreground or background
initialization

Initialization Stopped

The initialization has been stopped. Current status is uninitialized.

Critical – Inconsistency

Data in the array is inconsistent and needs to be rebuilt.

Critical – missing disk

A disk has been removed or experienced failure, and user needs to
reinsert disk or add a new disk.

Rebuilding

The array is currently rebuilding.

Verifying

The array is performing a data consistency check. Array status will
show ‘verifying’.

Disabled

The array does not have enough disks to maintain the RAID level. A
disabled array is not accessible.

OCE/ORLM

Array is expanding its capacity or migrating to a different raid level.
Status will display ‘Expanding/Migrating’

OCE/ORLM stopped

The ‘Expansion/Migrating’ process has been stopped. The status will
display ‘Need Expanding/Migrating’

Critical – OCE/ORLM

A disk member is lost during the OCE/ORLM process.

Critical – OCE/ORLM - rebuild

The expanding/migrating array requires a rebuild.

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Appendix C: RAID Level Quick Reference

Type

Description

Min.
disks

Usable
space

Advantage

Disadvantage

Application

JBOD

Just a bunch of
disk

1

100%

Each drive can be
accessed as a single
volume

No fault tolerance - failure
of one drive results in
complete data loss

Backup

RAID

0

Disk Striping

2

100%

Offers the highest
performance

No fault tolerance –
failure of one drive in the
array results in complete
data lose

Temporary file,
performance driven
application.

RAID

1

Disk Mirroring

2

50%

Provides convenient
low-cost data
redundancy for smaller
systems and servers

Useable storage space is
50% of total available
capacity. Can handle 1
disk failure.

Operating system,
backup, and
transaction
database.

RAID

10

Disk Mirroring
followed by
stripe

4

50%

High read performance
and medium write
performance with data
protection for up to 2­drive failures

Useable storage capacity
equals total capacity of all
drives in the array minus
two

Fast database and
application servers
which need
performance and
data protection

RAID

5

Disk Striping
with Rotating
parity

3

67-94%

High read performance,
and medium write
performance with data
protection with a single
drive failure

Not recommended for
database applications that
require frequent/heavy
write sessions. Can handle
1 disk failure.

Data archives, and
ideal for application
that require data
protection

RAID

6

Disk Striping
with dual
rotating parity

4

50-88%

High read performance,
and medium write
performance with data
protection in case of up
to two drives failure

Not recommended for
applications that require
frequent/heavy write
sessions.

Data archives and
ideal for application
that requires data
protection

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Help

Online Help redirects you to additional documentation concerning the HighPoint

WebGUI.
Register Product takes you to HighPoint’s web support. On this page you can create a
new customer profile where you can register your product or post an online support
ticket.

HighPoint Recommended List of Hard Drives

HighPoint maintains a list of tested hard drives suitable for RAID applications. Since
not every hard drive in the market can be tested, this list is meant to be a general
guideline for selecting hard drives operating in a RAID environment. Regular, desktop
grade drives are highly not recommended for RAID use.

http://highpoint­tech.com/PDF/Compatibility_List/RocketRAID_600_2700_3600_and_4500_Series_RAID
_HBA_Hard_Drive_Compatiblity_List.pdf

Contacting Technical Support

For any help and support, submit a support ticket online at http://www.highpoint-

tech.com/websupport/ .

You may also call us during our regular business hours:
Monday – Friday (Excluding Holidays), 9 AM to 6 PM (PST)
Phone: [phone]

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