MicroNet Technology RAIDBank4 User Manual
4
Owner’s Guide
September 2008
www.MicroNet.com
FCC Compliance Statement
Federal Communications Commission
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 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:
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Only use shielded cables, certified to comply with FCC Class B limits, to attach this equipment. Failure to install
this equipment as described in this manual could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Compliance: This equipment does not exceed Class B limits per radio
noise emissions for digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of the Canadian Department of
Communications. Operation in a residential area may cause unacceptable interference to radio and TV reception
requiring the owner or operator to take whatever steps are necessary to correct the interference.
Conformite aux regiements du Department Canadien de Communications: Cet equipement n’excede pas les
limites de Classe B concernaut les bruits des emissions de radio pour le dispositif digital etablies par le Reglement
d’Interference de Radio du Departement Canadien de Communications. L’operation de cet equipement dans un
quartier residential peut occasionner des parasites inacceptables dans la reception de la radio ou de la television
exigeant le proprietaire ou l’operateur de faire routes les necessaires pour corriger cet interference.
FTZ/BTZ German Postal Service Notice: We hereby certify that the ADV, SB, SBS, SS, SBX, SBT, MO, MS, MR, MT,
MD, CPK, CPKT, CPKD, DD and DDW products are in compliance with Postal Regulation 1046/1984 and are RFI
suppressed. The marketing and sale of the equipment was reported to the German Postal Service. The right to
retest this equipment to verify compliance with the regulation was given to the German Postal Service.
Bescheinigung des Herstellers/Importeurs: Hiermit wird bescheinigt, daB der/die/das: SB, SBS, SS, SBX, SBT,
MO, MS, MR, MT, MD, CPK, CPKT, CPKD, DD, DDW in Ubereinstimmung mit den Bestimmungen der: VFG1046,
VFG243 funk-enstort ist. Der Deutschen Bundespost wurde das Inverkehrbringen dieses Gerates angezeigt
and die Berechtigung zur Uberprdfung der Serie auf Einhaltung der Bestimmungen eingeraumt MicroNet
Technology, Inc.
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
2
Warranty
Limitations of Warranty and Liability
MicroNet Technology has tested the hardware described in this manual and reviewed its
contents. In no event will MicroNet or its resellers be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or
consequential damage resulting from any defect in the hardware or manual, even if they have
been advised of the possibility of such damages. In particular, they shall have no liability
for any program or data stored in or used with MicroNet products, including the costs of
recovering or reproducing these programs or data.
During the specified warranty period, MicroNet guarantees that the product will perform
according to specifications determined by the manufacturer, and will be free of defects. Parts
and labor of the received product, and replacement parts and labor are guaranteed during
the specified warranty period. The warranty covers defects encountered in normal use of the
product, and does not apply when damage occurs due to improper use, abuse, mishandling,
accidents, sand, dirt, excessive dust, water damage, or unauthorized service. The product must
be packed in its original packing material when shipped, or the warranty will be void. In all
cases, proof of purchase must be presented when a warranty claim is being made.
This manual is copyrighted by MicroNet Technology. All rights are reserved. This documentation
may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any
electronic medium or machine readable form without prior consent in writing from MicroNet.
MicroNet and the MicroNet logo are registered trademarks of MicroNet Technology. Microsoft
Windows and the Windows Logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Support Policy
If you have a problem installing your system or suspect it is malfunctioning, please contact
the Authorized MicroNet Reseller from whom you purchased the system. If the reseller fails
to resolve the problem, please visit our support page at www.micronet.com/support,
or call MicroNet’s Help Desk for assistance at (310) 320-0772. Please have the model, serial
number, date of purchase, and the reseller’s name available before calling. If possible, call
from a telephone near the system so we can more readily direct you to make any necessary
system corrections, should they be required.
Returning Materials
If a reseller or MicroNet Technician finds it necessary to have the system returned for testing
or servicing, a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number will be issued. The RMA number
must be placed on the outside of the carton in large, visible letters near the address label.
Return the complete system including all cables and software. The system must be packed
in the original packing materials and shipped prepaid. MicroNet will repair the system and
return it prepaid by similar common carrier and priority. Please record the RMA number and
make reference to it when inquiring on the status of the system. A returned unit found to be
fault-free will carry a $65.00 charge for service and repackaging.
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
3
Welcome
Welcome From MicroNet Technology
We are pleased that you have chosen the RAIDBank4. Our systems are designed
for speed, reliability, compatibility, and performance. We think you will find the
system easy to install, and a productive addition to your computer system.
This manual presumes that you are familiar with standard computer operations;
this includes copying files, opening documents, clicking with the mouse, and
organizing files or folders within other folders. If you are unfamiliar with
these operations, please consult the User’s Guide that was supplied with your
computer system. Your computer dealer and local user’s groups are also good
sources of information. After you are comfortable with the operation of your
computer, continue reading this manual which describes hardware installation
and operation.
Your comments assist us in improving and updating our products. Please feel
free to share them with us. Please send comments to:
MicroNet Technology
Attn: Customer Service
19260 Van Ness Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
info@micronet.com
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
4
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
FCC Compliance Statement
Warranty Information
Welcome Note
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Getting Started
Features and Benefits
System Requirements and Compatibility
Unpacking the RAIDBank4
What’s Included
Choosing a place for your RAIDBank4
The RAIDBank4 Interface Components
Communications and Control
Hot Plug Drive Replacement
Connecting the RAIDBank4
RAID Configuration Methods
Chapter 2. Understanding RAID
RAID
RAID 0
RAID 1
RAID 10
RAID 3
RAID 5
RAID Set
Volume Set
Online Capacity Expansion
Array Roaming
Hot Swappable Disk Support
Instant Availability/Background Initialization
Online RAID Level and Stripe Size Migration
Hot Spare Drives
Hot Swap Disk Rebuild
Chapter 3. RAID Controls-LCD Interface
Conventions
Login Procedure
The Main Menu Configuration Tree
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup
2. RAID Set Functions
3. Volume Set Functions
4. Physical Drive Functions
5. RAID System Functions
6. Additional System Functions
Chapter 4. Built in Web-Based Administration
Introduction
Preparation
Login Procedure
The Main Menu Configuration Tree
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup
2. RAID Set Functions
3. Volume Set Functions
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RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
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Table of Contents
4. Physical Drive Functions
5. System Controls
6. System Information
Chapter 5. Host Computer Setup
1. Volume Setup and Apple Macintosh
2. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows
Chapter 6. Troubleshooting
Daily Use Tips
General Use Precautions
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Mac and Mac OS Specific
Windows Specific
Appendix A. Getting Help
Appendix B. RAID Level Comparison Table
Appendix C. Terminal Session Setup
Appendix D. Glossary of RAID Terms
Appendix E. Product Specifications
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RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
6
1-Getting Started
Chapter 1. Getting Started
Thank you for purchasing The MicroNet RAIDBank4 storage solution. With speed, high
capacity, ease of use, and support for numerous applications, RAIDBank4 is the ideal solution
for all of your data storage needs.
Please take advantage of the information contained within this manual to ensure easy setup
and configuration. If at any time you require technical assistance, MicroNet’s Help Desk is
available at 310-320-0772 or at www.micronet.com/support
Features and Benefits
The RAIDBank4 Subsystem is a high-performance RAIDBank4 built around a powerful 64bit
controller designed to meet or exceed the highest industry standards. Outstanding features
include:
• eSATA-300andUSB2.0hostconnectionsformaximumhostflexibility
• SATAII,NCQenableddrivechannels
• ConfigurableRAIDengineforhighdataprotection
• On-linevolumeexpansionandmigrationwithnosystemdown-time
Featuring high performance and availability RAID technology and advanced array management
features, The RAIDBank4 can serve in several applications:
• As a high speed local storage device for a dedicated workstation
• As a high-speed, fault tolerant server-attached storage device
• As a redundant backup station
System Requirements and Compatibility
The RAIDBank4 features a high speed eSATA 300 and a USB 2.0 connections, providing nearly
universal connectivity. While the RAIDBank4 can function with a variety of hardware and
software combination, MicroNet has tested and approved the RAIDBank4 for compatibility
with the following architectures:
Apple Hosts:
•G4-733 and better, Mac OS-X revisions 10.4.8 and newer (eSATA utilizing MicroNet’s eSATA
PCI-X host bus adapter, MicroNet part number SATAPCIX4)
•G5 and Mac Pro desktops with a PCI Express Slots, OS 10.4.8 and newer (eSATA utilizing
MicroNet’s eSATA-PCIX host bus adapter, MicroNet part number SATAPCIE2)
Windows Hosts:
•Pentium 3-800 and better, Windows revisions 2000/XP/2003/Vista (eSATA utilizing
MicroNet’s eSATA-PCIX host bus adapter, MicroNet part number SATAPCIX4)
•Pentium D-2800 and better with PCI expressports,Windowsrevisions2000/XP/2003/Vista
(eSATA utilizing MicroNet’s eSATA-PCIX host bus adapter, MicroNet part number SATAPCIE2)
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
7
1-Getting Started
Unpacking the RAIDBank4
Please unpack your RAIDBank4 in a static free environment, carefully making sure not to
damage or discard any of the packing material. If the RAIDBank4 appears damaged, or if
any items of the contents listed below are missing or damaged, please contact your dealer or
distributor immediately.
In the unlikely event you may need to return the RAIDBank4 for repair or upgrade, please
use the original packing material to ensure safe transport.
What’s Included
Your RAIDBank4 comes with the following items:
1 RAIDBank4 unit
4 Disk Drive Modules
1 RAIDBank4 CD containing this manual in PDF format
1 Ethernet cord
1 RJ11-DB9 serial cord
1 power cord
1 eSATA cable
1 USB 2.0 cable
Choosing a location for your RAIDBank4
When selecting a place to set up your RAIDBank4, be sure to follow these guidelines:
•Placeonaflatandstablesurfacecapableofsupportingatleast25lbs
• Place the RAIDBank4 close enough to the computer for the host connection cable to reach.
•Useagroundedwalloutlet.
•Avoid an electrical outlet controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental disruption
of the power source may wipe out data in the memory of your computer or RAIDBank4.
•Keeptheentiresystem awayfrompotential sourcesofelectromagneticinterference,such
as loudspeakers, cordless telephones, etc.
CAUTION! Avoid direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, shock and
!
vibration, or dust
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
8
1-Getting Started
The RAIDBank4 interface components
The following figures illustrate the connector locations for the RAIDBank4.
FRONT VIEW
Disk Activity LED
Disk Power LED
Canister Release Latch
REAR VIEW
Disk Canisters
Power/Status Indicator Light
LCD Panel with Keypad
Fan vents (DO NOT BLOCK!)
RS232 Port (reserved)
LAN monitoring Port
Host USB Port
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
Host eSATA Port
Master Power Switch
AC Power Connector
9
1-Getting Started
Communication and Control
RAID functions including creation, modification, and monitoring can be accomplished through
the LCD Control panel or the web based
administration user interface. The LCD status
panel informs you of the RAIDBank4’s current
operating status at a glance, as shown here:
LED Normal Status Problem Indication
Power LED (Front) LED glows bright green Dark or blinking red on system error.
Power LED (LCD) LED glows bright green Dark on power-on
Busy LED LED is dark LED blinks amber
MicroNet Tech
Disk Activity LED
Disk Power LED LED glows bright green This LED will blink red if there is a disk error.
System Fault LED LED remains dark This LED will blink red if there is a system error.
LED blinks blue during hard
drive read and write activity
N/A
Hot plug Drive Replacement
In the event of a drive failure, the RAIDbank4 supports the ability to hot-swap drives without
powering down the system. A data module can be removed and replaced without powering
off the unit or taking the system off line. In a fault tolerant array, the RAID rebuilding will
proceed automatically in the background (see Section 2.Understanding RAID for more
information.)
A drive failure will illuminate amber the drive indicator light above the failed drive on the
front of the RAIDBank4. To replace a drive, please follow these steps:
1. Press down on the drive release latch (see page 8, “The RAIDBank4 Interface components”)
to release the drive tray
2. Gently pull out the disk drive tray handle and slide out the drive tray.
3. To replace: Slide in the replacement drive tray with the tray handle open. When the tray is
slid all the way into the RAIDBank4, push the tray handle closed.
IMPORTANT: NEVER remove a drive tray without replacing it. Operating the RAID with a drive
tray missing will disrupt airflow and may cause the RAIDBank4 to fail.
!
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
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1-Getting Started
Connecting the RAIDBank4
Connecting the RAIDBank4 requires an available power socket, and a host with one of the
following interfaces:
•AUSB2.0port
•AnexternalSATAhostbusconnectorwithlargeLUNandportmultipliersupport
•TheEthernetremotemanagementrequiresanavailableEthernetjacktoahuborswitchon
your network.
1. Plug the AC adapter cord into the power port on the back of the drive. The plug should
not require much effort to insert. If the plug will not go in, do not force it; the plug is
probably upside down. Rotate the plug and try again. Incorrectly inserting the plug
could damage the drive and void the warranty.
2. Plug the power cord into the power socket
3. Connect the appropriate cable to your host. USB and eSATA plugs are shaped so they can
only be properly inserted one way. Be sure to insert the plugs properly
or you may damage the drive and void the warranty.
(USB) Connect the square USB 2.0 connector
(type B) of the included USB cable to a the
square USB plug on the RAIDBank4 (illustrated
right in green), and the rectangular end to a
free USB port on your computer.
(eSATA) Connect the included eSATA cable to
a free eSATA port on your computer (illustrated
right in blue.) If your computer does not
have eSATA ports, you may purchase an eSATA
expansion card for your computer. Contact your
authorized MicroNet reseller for further details.
4. Flip the power switch located on the back of the RAIDBank4 to the “ON” position
(labelled “-”.)
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
11
1-Getting Started
RAID System Management Controls
Following the hardware installation, the RAIDBank4 must be configured and the volume
set units initialized before they are ready to use. This can be accomplished by one of the
following methods:
• Frontpaneltouch-controlkeypad
• Webbrowser-basedRAIDmanagement
These user interfaces can access the built-in configuration and administration functions that
reside in the controller’s firmware. They provide complete control and management of the
controller and disk arrays, requiring no additional hardware or software.
Using the front panel touch-control keypad
The front panel keypad and liquid crystal display (LCD) are the primary user interface for the
RAIDBank4. All configuration and management (with the exception of firmware upgrades)
of the controller can be performed from this interface. The LCD provides a system of screens
with areas for information, status indication, or menus. The LCD screen displays up to two
lines at a time of menu items or other information.
Note:
The RAIDBank4 allows only one method
to access menus at a time.
The four function keys at the button of the front panel perform the following functions:
Key Function
Up Arrow
Down Arrow
ENT Key
ESC Key
The main menu can be activated by hitting the ENT key. Use the up and down arrow buttons to highlight a menu item. Press ENT to select the highlighted item. Press the UP/
DOWN to browse the selection. Press ESC to return to the previous screen.
Using the web browser-based RAID management
The RAIDBank4 controller firmware includes a complete HTML-based weblet application that
allows all configuration and monitoring to be performed across any IP based network, and
utilizes standard web browsers for interfacing.
To ensure proper communications between the RAIDBank4 and Web browser-based RAID
management,Pleaseconnectastandard,Cat5EthernetcabletotheRJ45networkjackonthe
back of your RAIDBank4 and attach to your existing network. In order to access the web
administration utility please note the IP address displayed on the LCD screen. You may launch
your firmware-embedded TCP/IP & Web Browser-based RAID manager by entering http://[IP
Address] in your web browser. The RAIDBank4 controller default username is “admin” and
there is no password assigned from the factory. Please refer to Chapter 6, section 6.2 for more
information on proper network settings.
Use to scroll the cursor Upward / Rightward
Use to scroll the cursor Downward / Leftward
Submit Selection Function (Confirm a selected item)
Return to Previous Screen (Exit a selection configuration)
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
12
2-Understanding RAID
Chapter 2. Understanding RAID
The RAIDBank4 controller subsystem is a high-performance SATA2 drive bus disk array
controller. When properly configured, the RAIDBank4 can provide non-stop service with
a high degree of fault tolerance through the use of RAID technology and advanced array
management features.
The RAIDBank4 can be configured to RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 3, and 5, as well as disk spans
and direct mapping. RAID levels other than 0 are able to tolerate a hard disk failure without
impact on the existing data, and failed drive data can be reconstructed from the remaining
data and parity drives. RAID configuration and monitoring is accessible through the LCD
front control panel or the built in web administration interface. The RAIDBank4 features the
following high availability functions:
•RAIDLevels0,1,10,3,5,diskspans,anddirectmappingSupport
•Upto4discreteLUNsupport
•OnlineCapacityExpansion
•OnlineRAIDLevelMigration
•LogicalDriveCapacityExtension
•ArrayRoaming
•AutomaticDriveFailureDetection
•AutomaticFailedDriveRebuilding
•HotSpareDiskDrives
•InstantAvailability/BackgroundInitialization.
techniques described by Garth Gibson, Randy Katz,
and David Patterson in papers written while they
were performing research into I/O subsystems at
the University of California at Berkeley. There are
six Berkeley RAID Levels, usually referred to by the
names RAID Level 1, etc., through RAID Level 6.
FYI:
The Berkeley RAID levels are a family of
disk array data protection and mapping
This section will help you gain understanding of how these functions can serve your needs best.
RAID
RAID is an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It is an array of multiple
independent hard disk drives that provide high performance and fault tolerance through
support of several levels of the Berkeley RAID techniques. An appropriate RAID level is
selected when the volume sets are defined or created, and is based on disk capacity, data
availability (fault tolerance or redundancy), and disk performance considerations. The
RAIDBank4 controller makes the RAID implementation and the disks’ physical configuration
transparent to the host operating system, which means that the host operating system drivers
and software utilities are not affected regardless of the RAID level selected.
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
13
2-Understanding RAID
RAID 0 (Striping)
ThisRAIDalgorithmwritesdataacrossmultiplediskdrivesinsteadofjustonediskdrive.RAID
0 does not provide any data redundancy, but
does offer the best high-speed data throughput.
RAID 0 breaks up data into smaller blocks and
then writes a block to each drive in the array.
Pros: Disk striping enhances both read and
write performance because multiple drives
are accessed simultaneously,
Cons: The reliability of RAID Level 0 is less than
any of its member disk drives due to its lack
of redundancy.
RAID 1 (Disk Mirroring)
RAID 1, also known as “disk mirroring”, distributes duplicate data simultaneously to 2 disk drives.
Pros: RAID 1 offers extremely high data reliability
as all the data is redundant. If one drive
fails, all data (and software applications)
are preserved on the other drive. Read
performance may be enhanced as the
array controller can access both members
of a mirrored pair in parallel.
Cons: RAID 1 volume requires double the raw
data storage capacity. During writes, there
will be a minor performance penalty when
compared to writing to a single disk.
RAID 10 (Striped Mirror)
RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1, combing striping with disk mirroring. RAID
Level 10 combines the fast performance of
Level 0 with the data redundancy of Leve1 1.
In this configuration, data is distributed across
several disk drives, similar to Level 0, which are
then duplicated to another set of drive for data
protection. RAID 10 provides the highest read/
write performance of any of the Hybrid RAID
levels, but at the cost of doubling the required
data storage capacity.
Pros: Fastest read/write performance of any of
the Hybrid RAID levels High data reliability
as all the data is redundant.
Cons: Requires double the raw data storage capacity
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
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2-Understanding RAID
RAID 3
RAID 3 provides disk striping and complete
data fault tolerance though a dedicated parity
drive. RAID 3 breaks up data into smaller
blocks, calculates parity on the blocks, and
then writes the blocks to all but one drive in
the array. The parity data created is then written
to the last drive in the array. If a single drive
fails, data is still available by computing the
inverse operation on the data and parity of the
contents corresponding strips of the surviving
member disk. RAID 3 is best for applications
that require very fast large block data transfer
rates or long data blocks
Pros: Very good large file transfer performance. Fault tolerant.
Cons: Not well suited for transaction processing or other I/O request-intensive applications.
RAID 5
RAID 5 is sometimes called striping with parity
at byte level. In RAID 5, the parity information
is written to all of the drives in the subsystems
rather than concentrated on a dedicated parity
disk. If one drive in the system fails, the parity
information can be used to reconstruct the data
from that drive. All drives in the array system
can be used to seek operation at the same time,
greatly increasing the performance of the RAID
system. RAID 5 is the most often implemented
RAID algorithm in RAID arrays.
Pros: Very good general transfer performance.
Fault tolerant.
Cons: Can be slower then RAID 3 at large size file transfers
RAID Set
A RAID Set is a group of disks containing one or more volume sets. The MicroNet RAIDBank4
supports as follows:
• UptothreeRAIDSetsaresupported.PleasenotethatmultipleRAIDSetsonthesame
disks are not supported.
• FromonetofivedrivescanbeincludedinanindividualRAIDSet.
• AVolumeSetmustbecreatedeitheronanexistingRAIDsetoronagroupofavailable
individual disks (disks that are not yet a part of a RAID set). If there are pre-existing
RAID sets with available capacity and enough disks for specified RAID level desired,
then the volume set will be created in the existing RAID set of the user’s choice.
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
15
2-Understanding RAID
Volume Set
A Volume Set is seen by the host system as a single logical device. It is organized in a RAID
level with one or more physical disks. RAID level refers to the level of data performance
and protection of a Volume Set. A Volume Set capacity can consume all or a portion of
the disk capacity available in a RAID
Set. Multiple Volume Sets can exist
on a group of disks in a RAID Set.
Additional Volume Sets created in a
specified RAID Set will reside on all
the physical disks in the RAID Set.
Thus each Volume Set on the RAID Set
will have its data spread evenly across
all the disks in the RAID Set.
Data
Data Data Parity Parity
Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Disk 4
A 4 Disk RAIDset may contain two volumes. Volume 1 can be
assigned a RAID 5 level of operation while Volume 2 might be
assigned a RAID 0+1 level of operation.
Data Data
• Volume SetsofdifferentRAID
levels may coexist on the same
RAID Set.
• Themaximumaddressablesizeofasinglevolumesetis2Terabytes.
• UptoeightvolumesetscanbecreatedinaRAIDset
Parity
Free Space
Volume 1
Volume 2
Online Capacity Expansion
Online Capacity Expansion makes it possible to add one or more physical drives to a volume set,
while the server is in operation, eliminating the need to store and restore after re-configuring
the RAID set. When disks are added to a RAID set, unused capacity is added to the end of the
RAID set. Data on the existing volume sets residing on that RAID set is redistributed evenly
across all the disks. A contiguous block of unused capacity is made available on the RAID set.
The unused capacity can create additional volume set. The expansion process is illustrated
as following figure:
Before Expansion: Disk Array A, 600GB After Disk Expansion: Disk Array A, 800GB
Free Space
200GB
Vol 1 (200GB)
Vol 2 (200GB)
Disk 1
200GB
The RAIDBank4 controller redistributes the original volume set over the original and newly added disks, using the same faulttolerance configuration. The unused capacity on the expanded RAID set can then be used to create additional volume sets,
with a different fault tolerance setting if required.
Disk 2
200GB
Disk 3
200GB
Disk 1
200GB
Disk 2
200GB
Disk 3
200GB
Disk 4
200GB
Free Space
400GB
Vol 1 (200GB)
Vol 2 (200GB)
Array Roaming
The RAIDbank4 stores configuration information both in NVRAM and on the disk drives,
and can protect the configuration settings in the case of a disk drive or controller failure.
Array roaming allows the administrator the ability to move a complete RAID set to another
system without losing RAID configuration and data on that RAID set. Should the RAIDBank4
enclosure cease to function, the RAID set disk drives can be moved to another RAIDBank4,
inserted in any order, and become instantly available.
RAIDBank4 Owner’s Manual
16
2-Understanding RAID
Hot Swappable Disk support
Your RAIDBank4 has a built in protection circuit to support replacement of disk drives
without having to shut down or reboot the RAID. In case of drive failure, the failed drive can
be removed from the RAIDBank4 and replaced with a new drive without disrupting dataflow
to the host computer.
Instant Availability/Background Initialization
RAID 0 and RAID 1 volume set can be used immediately after the creation, whereas RAID
3 and 5 volume sets must be initialized to generate parity information. RAIDBank4 features
both foreground and background initialization modes for RAID 3 and RAID 5 volumes- In
background mode, the initialization proceeds as a background task and the volume set is
fully accessible for system reads and writes without requiring a reboot and waiting for the
initialization completion. Furthermore, the RAID volume set is also protected against a single
disk failure while initialing. Background initialization takes longer to complete and host
disk access will be slower during the initialization process. Foreground Initialization must
be completed before the volume set is ready for system accesses, but the RAID Initialization
completes faster.
Online RAID Level and Stripe Size Migration
Users can migrate both the RAID level and stripe size of an existing volume set, while the
RAIDBank4 is online and the volume set is in use. Online RAID level/stripe size migration
can prove helpful during performance tuning activities as well as at the addition of physical
disks to the RAIDBank4. For example, in a system using two drives in RAID level 1, you could
add capacity and retain fault tolerance by adding one drive. With the addition of third disk,
you have the option of adding this disk to your existing RAID logical drive by migrating from
RAID level 1 to 5. The result would be parity fault tolerance and double the available capacity
without taking the system offline.
Hot Spare Drives
A hot spare drive is an unused online available drive predesignated for replacing a failed
disk drive. Any unused online available drive installed but not belonging to a RAID set can
be defined as a hot spare drive. Hot spares permit you to replace failed drives automatically
without powering down your RAIDBank4. When your RAIDBank4 detects a drive failure in a
RAID 1,10,3 or 5 volume sets the system will automatically and transparently rebuild using any
available hot spare drive(s). The volume set(s) will be reconfigured and rebuilt in background,
while the RAIDBank4 continues to handle system requests. During the automatic rebuild
process, system activity will continue as normal, but system performance will be reduced and
the affected volume(s) will not be fault tolerant until the rebuild process is complete.
Hot-Swap Disk Rebuild
A Hot-Swap function can be used to rebuild disk drives in arrays with data redundancy such
as RAID level 1, 10, 3, and 5. If a hot spare is not available at time of drive failure, the failed
disk drive must be replaced with a new disk drive so that the data on the failed drive can be
rebuilt. Upon insertion of a replacement disk, the RAIDBank4 automatically and transparently
rebuilds failed drives in the background with user-definable rebuild rates. The RAIDBank4
will automatically restart the system and the rebuild if the system is shut down or powered
off abnormally during a reconstruction procedure condition. Please note that the affected
volume(s) will not be fault tolerant until the rebuild process is complete.
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Chapter 3. RAID Controls- LCD Interface
This Chapter describes the menu and control structure for your RAIDBank4 using the front
panel, serial port, or via Telnet. The RAIDBank4 configuration utility is firmware-based and
its operation is independent of host computer type or operating system.
Conventions
In this chapter, menu navigation is
described as follows:
UP/DOWN scrolling through options
ENT making selections
ESC Cancelling current menu choice
Login Procedure
MicroNet Tech
By Default, The RAIDBank4 ships without a password defined (user changeable to protect the
internal RAIDBank4 from unauthorized entry). The controller will check the password only
when entering the main menu from the initial screen The RAIDBank4 will automatically go
back to the initial screen when it does not receive any command in twenty seconds.
The Main Menu Configuration Tree
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup
2. RAID Set Function 2.1 Create RAID Set
2.2 Delete RAID Set
2.3 Expand RAID Set
2.4 Offline RAID Set
2.5 Activate RAID Set
2.6 Create Hot Spare
2.7 Delete Hot Spare
2.8 RAID Set Information
3. Volume Set Function 3.1 Create Volume Set
3.2 Delete Volume Set
3.3 Modify Volume Set
3.4 Check Volume Set Consistency
3.5 Stop Volume Set Consistency
3.6 Display Volume Info
4. Physical Drives 4.1 Display Drive Information
4.2 Create Pass-Through Disk
4.3 Modify Pass-Through Disk
4.4 Delete Pass-Through Disk
4.5 Identify Selected Drive
5. RAID System Controls 5.1 Mute The Alert Beeper
5.2 Alert Beep Setting
5.3 Change Password
5.4 JBOD/RAID Operation
5.5 RAID Rebuild Priority
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5.6 Max SATA Mode Support
5.7 Host NCQ Setting
5.8 Volume Read Ahead Cache
5.9 Staggered HDD Spin Up control
5.10 HDD Idle Spindown
5.11 Empty tray LED Control
5.12 HDD SMART Status Polling
5.13 Disk Capacity Truncation
5.14 Serial Port Configuration
5.15 Reset Controller
6. Additional System Functions 6.1 Ethernet Configuration
6.2 View System Events
6.3 Clear All Event Buffers
6.4 Hardware Monitor
6.5 System Information
CONSIDERATIONS FOR RAID VOLUME CREATION
Your RAIDBank4 is capable of creating large logical volumes (LUNS) in excess of 2 Terabytes.
!
Large LUNS (>2TB) must be supported by the host bus adapter and the host Operating System to
be usable. Windows 2003, Vista, Windows 2008, Mac OS X >10.4.8, and Linux distributions with
appropriate kernels all support large LUNS. Windows XP and prior cannot address large LUNS natively
over USB, and must use eSATA host bus adapters that have RAID support to be usable. MicroNet offers such
host bus adapters- consult your MicroNet authorized reseller for more information.
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup
Quick Volume And RAID Setup is the fastest way to prepare a RAID and volume set, and
needs few keystrokes to complete. This function creates a single RAIDset and one volume set,
and you can modify the RAID level, stripe size, capacity, and designating drives as Hot Spares.
The created RAIDset will have the following properties (default setting values can be changed
after configuration is completed):
Parameter Setting
Volume Name Volume Set#00
Host Channel/ Drive Select SATA/0
Cache Mode Write Back
SATA Xfer Mode SATA300+NCQ
1.1 Specify desired RAID level and spare configuration
1.2 Select volume set capacity size. When choosing >2TB support, make sure the host operating
system can support the volume (see “Consideration for RAID volume creation” above)
1.3 Select stripe sizes for the current volume set. This parameter specifies the size of the stripes
written to each disk in a RAID 0, 1, 10, or 5 volume set. You can set the stripe size to 4 KB, 8
KB, 16 KB, 32 KB, 64 KB, or 128 KB. A larger stripe size provides better-read performance,
especially if your computer does mostly sequential reads. However, if you are sure that your
computer does random read requests more often, choose a small stripe size.
1.4 Specify foreground or background initialization. Background initialization will make
the volume immediately available to host access, but initialization will complete slower.
Foreground Initialization must be completed before the volume set ready for system
accesses, but will complete quicker.
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2. RAID Set Functions
Select the RAID Set Function to manually configure the RAID set for the first time or delete/
reconfigure existing RAID sets. The RAID Set function allows more complete control over
the RAID creation process, but requires more interaction then the Quick Volume/RAID Setup
option. To enter a RAID Set Functions, press ENT to enter the Main menu. Scroll to select
the “RAID Set Functions” option and press ENT to enter further submenus. All the RAID set
submenus will be displayed.
2.1 Create A New RAID Set
Choose “RAID Set Function”
from the main menu. Select the
“Create RAID Set” and press ENT.
Select the drives to be used in the
RAIDSet. Press UP/DOWN buttons
to select specific physical drives,
and press the ENT key to associate
the selected physical drive with
RAID set.
RAID 0 requires 1 or more physical drives per RAID set.
RAID 1 requires at least 2 physical drives per RAID set.
RAID 1 + Spare requires at least 3 physical drives per RAID set.
RAID 3/5 requires at least 3 physical drives per RAID set.
RAID 3/5 + Spare requires at least 4 physical drives per RAID set.
the current RAID set. When all
required drives are added press ENT to commit. The RAIDSet is now ready for volume creation
(See Section 3.1 “Create a Volume Set”)
Note:
The numbers of physical drives in a specific RAID set
determine the RAID levels that can be implemented with the
2.2 Delete Existing RAID Set
Once this option is selected, scroll to select the RAID set number to delete and press ENT.
A Confirmation screen appears, and press ENT to delete the existing RAID set. A second
confirmation screen will appear, and choose “Yes” to complete the deletion.
2.3 Expand Existing RAID Set
The Expand existing RAID Set function allows the user to
add disk drives to the RAID set that already exists. To expand
an existing RAID set, scroll to choose the “Expand Existing
RAID Set” option. Scroll to select the RAID set number to be
expanded and then press ENT. If there is an available disk,
Note:
If a disk drive fails during
RAID set expansion and
a hot spare is available, an auto
rebuild operation will occur after
the RAID set expansion completes.
then the Select Drive Channel x appears. Scroll to select the
target disk and then press ENT to select it. Press ENT to start the expansion process. The
new added capacity will be available for new volume sets. To define one or more volume sets,
follow the instruction presented in the Volume Set Function to create the volume sets. When
RAID migration is in progress, migration status is displayed in the RAID and volume status
areas of the RAID Set information.
IMPORTANT: Once the RAID Set expansion process has started it cannot be stopped. The process
!
must complete before any other RAID functions will be available.
2.4 Offline RAID set
You can selectively offline RAID Sets to limit access or for diagnostics. Select the RAIDset to
bring offline and press ENT. Following confirmations, all Hdds of the selected RAIDset will
be put into offline state, spun down and fault LED will be in fast blinking mode.
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