This manual is the introduction of i Series, and to help user to know the operation
of the disk array system easily. Information contained in the manual has been
reviewed for accuracy, but not for product warranty because of the various
environments/OS/settings, Information and specification will be changed without
further notice. For any update information, please visit www.thecus.com and your
contact windows.
Copyright@2008, Thecus Technology Corp. All rights reserved.
Thank you for using Thecus Technology Corp. products; Please contact with
“sales@thecus.com” to get the latest user manual and firmware. If you have
any question, please e-mail to “sales@thecus.com
question as soon as possible.
The RAM size of i Series is recommended DDR-333 512MB or above. Please
A. Certification list............................................................... 63
B. Event notifications.......................................................... 65
C. Microsoft iSCSI Initiator.................................................. 70
D. MPIO and MC/S setup instructions................................ 75
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Chapter 1 RAID introduction
1.1 Features
i Series features:
• Gigabit LAN (x2) -to- SATA II (xN bays) RAID controller.
• RAID 6 ready.
• SATA II support with SATA I backward compatible.
• N-way mirror.
• On-line volume expansion and RAID level migration.
• Global/dedicated cache configuration by volume.
• S.M.A.R.T. enabled.
• Support Microsoft VDS (Virtual Disk Service).
• Disk roaming.
• MPIO ready (initiator driver support needed).
• MC/S ready (initiator driver support needed).
• Support iSCSI header and data digest.
• Support CHAP authentication.
With proper configuration, i Series can provide non-stop service with a high
degree of fault tolerance by the use of i Series RAID technology and advanced
array management features. For more detail, please contact with your direct
sales or email to “sales@thecus.com”.
i Series connects to the host system in iSCSI interface. It can be configured to
any RAID level. i Series provides reliable data protection for servers and the
RAID 6 function ready. The RAID 6 function allows two HDD failures without any
impact on the existing data. Data can be recovered from the remaining data and
parity drives. (Data can be recovered from the rest disks/drives.)
Thecus RAID system is the most cost-effective disk array system with
completely integrated high-performance and data-protection capabilities which
meet or exceed the highest industry standards, and the best data solution for
small/medium business (SMB) users.
Caution
Please refer to RAM certification list in Appendix A for more
detail.
- 5 -
1.2 Terminology
The document uses the following terms:
RAID
PD
VG
UDV
CV
RAID is the abbreviation of “Redundant Array of Independent
Disks”. There are different RAID levels with different degree
of the data protection, data availability, performance to host
environment.
The Physical Disk belongs to the member disk of one specific
volume group.
Volume Group. A collection of removable media. One VG
consists of a set of UDVs and owns one RAID level attribute.
User Data Volume. Each VG could be divided into several
UDVs. The UDVs from one VG share the same RAID level,
but may have different volume capacity.
Cache Volume. i Series uses the on board memory as cache.
All RAM (except for the part which is occupied by the
controller) can be used as cache. User can divide the cache
for one UDV or sharing among all UDVs. Each UDV will be
associated with one CV for data transaction. Each CV could
be assigned different cache memory size.
LUN
GUI
RAID width,
RAID copy,
RAID row
(RAID cell in
one row)
Logical Unit Number. A logical unit number (LUN) is an
unique identifier used on a iSCSI connection which enables it
to differentiate among separate devices (each of which is a
logical unit).
Graphic User Interface.
RAID width, copy and row are used to describe one VG.
3. One RAID 10 volume over 3 4-disk RAID 1 volume:
RAID width=1; RAID copy=4; RAID row=3.
- 6 -
WT
WB
RO
DS
GS
Write-Through cache write policy. A caching technique in
which the completion of a write request is not signaled until
data is safely stored on non-volatile media. Each data is
synchronized in both data cache and the accessed physical
disks.
Write-Back cache write policy. A caching technique in which
the completion of a write request is signaled as soon as the
data is in cache and actual writing to non-volatile media
occurs at a later time. It speeds up system write performance
but needs to bear the risk where data may be inconsistent
between data cache and the physical disks in one short time
interval.
Set the volume to be Read-Only.
Dedicated Spare disks. The spare disks are only used by one
specific VG. Others could not use these dedicated spare disks
for any rebuilding purpose.
Global Spare disks. GS is shared for rebuilding purpose. If
some VGs need to use the global spare disks for rebuilding,
they could get the spare disks out from the common spare
disks pool for such requirement.
DC
GC
DG
S.M.A.R.T.
WWN
HBA
MPIO
MC/S
NIC
Dedicated Cache.
Global Cache.
DeGraded mode. Not all of the array’s member disks are
functioning, but the array is able to respond to application
read and write requests to its virtual disks.
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology.
World Wide Name.
Host Bus Adapter.
Multi-Path Input/Output.
Multiple Connections per Session
Network Interface Card.
- 7 -
iSCSI
CHAP
Internet Small Computer Systems Interface.
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol. An optional
security mechanism to control access to an iSCSI storage
system over the iSCSI data ports.
iSNS
Internet Storage Name Service.
1.3 RAID levels
RAID 0
RAID 1
N-way
mirror
RAID 3
Disk striping. RAID 0 needs at least one hard drive.
Disk mirroring over two disks. RAID 1 needs at least two hard
drives.
Extension to RAID 1 level. It has N copies of the disk.
Striping with parity on the dedicated disk. RAID 3 needs at
least three hard drives.
RAID 5
RAID 6
RAID 0+1
RAID 10
JBOD
Striping with interspersed parity over the member disks. RAID
3 needs at least three hard drives.
2-dimensional parity protection over the member disks. RAID
6 needs at least four hard drives.
Mirroring of the member RAID 0 volumes. RAID 0+1 needs at
least four hard drives.
Striping over the member RAID 1 volumes. RAID 10 needs at
least four hard drives.
The abbreviation of “Just a Bunch Of Disks”. JBOD needs at
least one hard drive.
- 8 -
Chapter 2 Getting started
2.1 Before starting
Before starting, prepare the following items.
1. Check the “Certification list” in Appendix A to confirm the hardware
setting is fully supported.
2. Read the latest release notes before upgrading. Release notes
accompany with release firmware.
3. A server with a NIC or iSCSI HBA.
4. CAT 5e, or CAT 6 network cables for management port and iSCSI data
ports. Recommend CAT 6 cables for best performance.
5. Prepare storage system configuration plan.
6. Management and iSCSI data ports network information. When using
static IP, please prepare static IP addresses, subnet mask, and default
gateway.
7. CHAP security information, including CHAP usernames and secrets.
(Optional)
2.2 iSCSI introduction
iSCSI (Internet SCSI) is a protocol which encapsulates SCSI (Small Computer
System Interface) commands and data in TCP/IP packets for linking storage
devices with servers over common IP infrastructures. iSCSI provides high
performance SANs over standard IP networks like LAN, WAN or the Internet.
IP SANs are true SANs (Storage Area Networks) which allow few of servers to
attach to an infinite number of storage volumes by using iSCSI over TCP/IP
networks. IP SANs can scale the storage capacity with any type and brand of
storage system. In addition, using any type of network (Ethernet, Fast Ethernet,
Gigabit Ethernet) and combining operating systems (Microsoft Windows, Linux,
Solaris, …etc.) within the SAN network. IP-SANs also include mechanisms for
security, data replication, multi-path and high availability.
Storage protocol, such as iSCSI, has “two ends” in the connection. These ends
are the initiator and the target. In iSCSI we call them iSCSI initiator and iSCSI
target. The iSCSI initiator requests or initiates any iSCSI communication. It
requests all SCSI operations like read or write. An initiator is usually located on
the host/server side (either an iSCSI HBA or iSCSI SW initiator).
- 9 -
The iSCSI target is the storage device itself or an appliance which controls and
serves volumes or virtual volumes. The target is the device which performs SCSI
commands or bridges it to an attached storage device. iSCSI targets can be
disks, tapes, RAID arrays, tape libraries, and etc.
Host 1
(initiator)
NIC
Host 2
(initiator)
iSCSI
HBA
IP SAN
iSCSI device 1
(target)
iSCSI device 2
(target)
Figure 2.2.1
The host side needs an iSCSI initiator. The initiator is a driver which handles the
SCSI traffic over iSCSI. The initiator can be software or hardware (HBA). Please
refer to the certification list of iSCSI HBA(s) in Appendix A. OS native initiators or
other software initiators use the standard TCP/IP stack and Ethernet hardware,
while iSCSI HBA(s) use their own iSCSI and TCP/IP stacks on board.
Hardware iSCSI HBA(s) would provide its initiator tool. Please refer to the
vendors’ HBA user manual. Microsoft, Linux and Mac provide software iSCSI
initiator driver. Below are the available links:
1. Link to download the Microsoft iSCSI software initiator:
Please refer to Appendix C for Microsoft iSCSI initiator installation
procedure.
2. Linux iSCSI initiator is also available. For different kernels, there are
different iSCSI drivers. Please check Appendix A for software iSCSI
initiator certification list. If user needs the latest Linux iSCSI initiator,
please visit Open-iSCSI project for most update information. LinuxiSCSI (sfnet) and Open-iSCSI projects merged in April 11, 2005.
- 10 -
Open-iSCSI website: http://www.open-iscsi.org/
Open-iSCSI README: http://www.open-iscsi.org/docs/README
Features: http://www.open-iscsi.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl/Roadmap
Support Kernels:
Thecus i Series only support SSH for remote control. For
using SSH, the IP address and the password is required for
login.
2.4 Enclosure
2.4.1 LCM
There are four buttons to control LCM (LCD Control Module), including:
c (up), d (down), ESC (Escape), and ENT (Enter).
After booting up the system, the following screen shows management port IP and
model name:
192.168.1.100
i Series ←
Press “ENT”, the LCM functions “Alarm Mute”, “Reset/Shutdown”, “Quick Install”, “View IP Setting”, “Change IP Config” and “Reset to Default” will
rotate by pressing c (up) and d (down).
When there is WARNING or ERROR level of event happening, the LCM shows
the event log to give users more detail from front panel too.
- 12 -
The following table is function description.
Alarm Mute
Reset/Shutdown
Quick Install
Mute alarm when error occurs.
Reset or shutdown controller.
Quick three steps to create a volume. Please refer to
section 3.3 for operation in web UI.
View IP Setting
Change IP
Config
Display current IP address, subnet mask, and gateway.
Set IP address, subnet mask, and gateway. There are 2
selections, DHCP (Get IP address from DHCP server) or
set static IP.
Reset to Default
Reset to default sets password to default: admin, and
Caution
Before power off, it is better to execute “Shutdown” to flush
the data from cache to physical disks.
2.4.2 System buzzer
The system buzzer features are describing in the following:
1. The system buzzer alarms 1 second when system boots up
successfully.
2. The system buzzer alarms continuously when there is error level event
happened. The alarm will be stopped after mute.
3. The alarm will be muted automatically when the error situation is
resolved. E.g., when RAID 5 is degraded and alarm rings immediately,
after user changes/adds one physical disk for rebuilding, and when the
rebuilding is done, the alarm will be muted automatically.
2.4.3 LED
The LED features are describing as follows:
1. Marquee/Disk Status/Disk Rebuilding LED: The Marquee/Disk
Status/Disk Rebuilding LEDs are displayed in the same LEDs. The
LEDs behave for different functions in different stages.
I. Marquee LEDs: When system powers on and succeeds to boot
up, the Marquee LED acts until the system is booting successful.
II. Disk status LEDs: the LEDs reflect the disk status for the tray.
Only On/Off situation.
III. Disk rebuilding LEDs: the LEDs are blinking when the disks are
under rebuilding.
2. Disk Access LED: Hardware activated LED when accessing disks (IO).
3. Disk Power LED: Hardware activated LED when the disks are plugged
in and powered.
4. System status LED: Used to reflect the system status by turn on the
LED when error occurs or RAID malfunctioning happens.
5. Management LAN port LED: GREEN LED is for LAN transmit/receive
indication. ORANGE LED is for LAN port 10/100 LINK indication.
6. BUSY LED: Hardware activated LED when the front-end channel is
busy.
7. POWER LED: Hardware activated LED when system is powered on.
- 14 -
Chapter 3 Web GUI guideline
3.1 GUI hierarchy
The below table is the hierarchy of i Series GUI.
Æ
Quick Install
System Config
System name
IP address
Language
Login config
Password
Messenger
System log
Event log
iSCSI config
Entity Property
CHAP account
Session
Volume config
Physical disk
Volume group
User data
Volume
Cache volume
Logical unit
Enclosure management
SES config
Hardware
monitor
S.M.A.R.T.
Date
Mail
SNMP
server
NIC
Node
UPS
Step 1 / Step 2 / Step 3 / Confirm
System name
Æ
DHCP / Static / Address / Mask / Gateway / DNS /
Æ
HTTP port / HTTPS port / SSH port
Language
Æ
Auto logout / Login lock
Æ
Old password / Password / Confirm
Æ
Time zone / Date / Time / NTP Server
Æ
Mail-from address / Mail-to address / Sent events /
Æ
SMTP relay / SMTP server / Authentication / Account /
Password / Confirm / Send test mail
SNMP trap address / Community / Send events
Æ
Messenger IP/hostname / Send events
Æ
Server IP/hostname / Port / Facility / Event level
Æ
Filter / Download / Mute / Clear
Æ
Entity name / iSNS IP
Æ
IP settings for iSCSI ports / Become default gateway /
Æ
Set Jumbo Frame
Change Authentication
Æ
Delete
Æ
Create /Delete
Æ
Free disks / Global spares / Dedicated spares / More
Æ
information / Auto Spindown
Create / Delete / More information / Rename / Migrate
Æ
Attach / Create / Delete / More information / Rename /
Æ
Extend / Set read/write mode
Create / Delete / More information / Resize
Æ
Attach / Detach
Æ
Enable / Disable
Æ
Auto shutdown
Æ
Æ
UPS Type / Shutdown Battery Level / Shutdown Delay
Æ
/ Shutdown UPS
- 15 -
Maintenance
Logout
Upgrade
Info
Reset to default
Config import &
export
Shutdown
Browse the firmware to upgrade / Export config
Æ
System information
Æ
Sure to reset to factory default?
Æ
Import/Export / Import file
Æ
Reboot / Shutdown
Æ
Sure to logout?
3.2 Login
i Series supports graphic user interface (GUI) to operate the system. Be sure to
connect the LAN cable. The default IP address is 192.168.1.100; open the
browser and enter:
http://192.168.1.100 (Please check IP address first on LCM)
Click any function at the first time; it will pop up a dialog for authentication.
Login name: admin
Default password: admin
After login, you can choose the function blocks on the left side of window to do
configuration.
There are four indicators at the top-right corner.
Figure 3.2.1
Figure 3.2.2
- 16 -
1. RAID light: Green means RAID works well. Red represents RAID
failure happening.
2.
Temperature light: Green is normal. Red represents abnormal
temperature.
3.
Voltage light: Green is normal. Red represents abnormal voltage
status.
4. UPS light: Green is normal. Red represents abnormal UPS status.
3.3 Quick install
It is easy to use “Quick install” function to create a volume. Depend on how
many physical disks or how many residual spaces on created VGs are free, the
system will calculate maximum spaces on RAID levels 0/1/3/5/6. “Quick install”
function will occupy all residual VG space for one UDV.
Quick Install function has a smarter policy. When the system is full inserted with
5 HDD, and all HDD are in the same size, Quick Install function lists all
possibilities and sizes among different RAID levels, Quick Install will use all
available HDD for the RAID level which user decides. But, when the system is
inserted with different sizes of HDD, e.g., 2*200G HDD and 3*80G, i Series also
lists all possibilities and combinations of different RAID Level and different sizes.
After user chooses RAID level, user may finds there are still some HDD are not
used (Free Status). The result is from i Series’s smarter policy on Quick Install
which gives user:
1. Biggest capacity of RAID level which user chooses and,
2. The fewest disk number for the RAID level/volume size.
- 17 -
Step 1: Select “Quick install” then choose the RAID level to set. Please refer to
Figure 3.3.1. After choosing the RAID level, click “”, which
links to another page, user can set up “LUN” here.
Figure 3.3.1
Step 2: Please select a LUN number. Access control of host would show as a
wildcard “*”, which means every host can access this volume. In this page, the
“Volume size” can be changed. The maximum volume size is shown. To re-enter
the size be sure it has to be less or equal to maximum volume size. Then click
“”.
Step 3: Confirm page. Click “” if all setups are correct. Then
a page with the “User data volume” just been created will be shown as Figure
3.3.2.
Done. You can start to use the system now.
(Figure 3.3.2: A RAID 0 user data volume with the UDV name “QUICK98273”, named by the
system itself, with the total available volume size 222GB.)
Figure 3.3.2
- 18 -
3.4 System configuration
“System config” selection is for the setup of “System name”, “IP address”,
“Language”, “Login config”, “Password”, “Date”, “Mail”, “SNMP”,
“Messenger” , “System log server” and view “Event log”.
Figure 3.4.1
3.4.1 System name
Select “System name” to change system name. Default system name
composed by model name and serial number of this system.
Figure 3.4.1.1
- 19 -
3.4.2 IP address
Select “IP address” to change IP address for remote administration usage.
There are 2 selections, DHCP (Get IP address from DHCP server) or static IP.
The default setting is Static IP (192.168.1.100 ) enabled. User can change the
HTTP, HTTPS, and SSH port number when the default port number is not
allowed on host/server.
Figure 3.4.2.1
3.4.3 Language
Select “Language” is to set the language shown in Web UI. The option “Auto
Detect” will be detected by browser language setting.
Figure 3.4.3.1
- 20 -
3.4.4 Login config
Select “Login config” is to set only one admin and set the auto logout timing.
The only one admin can prevent multiple users access the same controller in the
same time.
1. Auto logout: The options are (1) Disable; (2) 5 mins; (3) 30 mins; (4) 1
hour. The system will log out automatically when the user is no
response for a period of time.
2. Login lock: Disable/Enable. When the login lock is enabled, the system
allows only one user to login/modify the system settings.
Figure 3.4.4.1
3.4.5 Password
Select “Password” is for changing administrator password. The maximum
length of admin password is 12 characters.
Figure 3.4.5.1
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3.4.6 Date
Select “Date” to set up the current date, time, and time zone before using or
synchronize time from NTP(Network Time Protocol) server.
Figure 3.4.6.1
3.4.7 Mail
Select “Mail” to enter at most 3 mail addresses for receiving the event
notification. Some mail servers would check “Mail-from address” and need
authentication for anti-spam. Please fill the necessary fields and select “Send test mail” to check whether the email works fine. User can also select which
levels of event logs are needed to be sent out by Mail. Default setting is only
ERROR and WARNING event logs enabled.
- 22 -
Figure 3.4.7.1
3.4.8 SNMP
Select “SNMP” to set up SNMP trap for alert via SNMP. It allows up to 3 SNMP
trap addresses. Default community setting is “public”. User can choose the event
log levels and the default value of SNMP is INFO event log enabled only.
Figure 3.4.8.1
There are many SNMP tools. The following web sites are for reference:
SNMPc: http://www.snmpc.com/
Net-SNMP: http://net-snmp.sourceforge.net/
- 23 -
3.4.9 Messenger
Select “Messenger” to set up pop-up message alert via Windows messenger
(not MSN). User must enable the service “Messenger” in Windows (Start Æ
Control Panel Æ Administrative Tools Æ Services Æ Messenger), and then event
logs can be received. It allows up to 3 messenger addresses. User can choose
the event log levels and the default values are WARNING and ERROR event
logs enabled only.
Figure 3.4.9.1
3.4.10 System log server
Select “System log server” to set up alert via syslog protocol. The default port
of syslog is 514. User can choose the facility and the event log level. The default
values of event level are WARNING and ERROR event logs enabled.
Figure 3.4.10.1
There are some syslog server tools. The following web sites are for reference:
WinSyslog: http://www.winsyslog.com/
Kiwi Syslog Daemon: http://www.kiwisyslog.com/
Most UNIX systems build in syslog daemon.
- 24 -
3.4.11 Event log
Select “Event log” to view the event messages. Press “Filter” button to choose
the display. Press “Download” button will save the whole event log as text file
with file name “log-ModelName-SerialNumber-Date-Time.txt”. Press “Clear”
button will clear event log. Press “Mute” button will stop alarm if system alerts.
Figure 3.4.11.1
For customizing your own display of event logs, there are total three display
methods, on Web UI/Console event log page, popup windows on Web UI, and on
LCM. The default setting of these three displays is WARNING and ERROR event
logs enabled on Web UI and LCM. The popup is default disabled.
Figure 3.4.11.2
The event log is displayed in reverse order which means the latest event log is on
the first page. The event logs are actually saved in the first four hard drives; each
hard drive has one copy of event log. For one controller, there are four copies of
event logs to guarantee users can check event log most of the time when there
is/are failed disk(s).
Tips
Please plug-in anyone of first four hard drives, and then event
logs can be saved and appeared in next system boot up.
Otherwise, event logs would be gone.
- 25 -
3.5 iSCSI config
“iSCSI config” selection is for the setup of “Entity Property”, “NIC”, “Node”,
“Session”, and “CHAP account”.
Figure 3.5.1
3.5.1 Entity property
Select “Entity property” to view the view the entity name of the controller, and
setup “iSNS IP” for iSNS (Internet Storage Name Service). Add an iSNS server
IP address to the iSNS servers list which the iSCSI initiator service can send
queries. The entity name cann’t be changed.
Figure 3.5.1.1
- 26 -
3.5.2 NIC
Select “NIC” to change IP addresses of iSCSI data ports.
Figure 3.5.2.2
(Figure 3.5.2.2: there are 2 iSCSI data ports.)
User can change IP address by clicking the button “” in the “DHCP”
column. There are 2 selections, DHCP (Get IP address from DHCP server) or
static IP.
Figure 3.5.2.3
Default gateway can be changed by clicking the button “” in the
“Gateway” column. There is only one default gateway.
Jumbo frame setting can be changed by clicking the button “
” in the
“Jumbo frame” column. Default setting is Disable.
3.5.3 Node
Select “Node” to view the target name for iSCSI initiator.The node name of i
Series exists by default and can not be changed.
Figure 3.5.3.1
- 27 -
CHAP:
CHAP is the abbreviation of Challenge Handshake Authorization Protocol. CHAP
is a strong authentication method used with point-to-point for user login. It’s a
type of authentication in which the authentication server sends the client a key to
be used for encrypting the username and password. CHAP enables the
username and password to transmitting in an encrypted form for protection.
1. Click “” in Auth column.
2. Select “CHAP”.
3. Go to / iSCSI config / CHAP page to create account and password.
Figure 3.5.3.2
Figure 3.5.3.3
4. Select “None” to disable CHAP.
Tips
After setting CHAP, the initiator in host/server should be set the
same Account/Password. Otherwise, user cannot login.
3.5.4 Session
Enter “Session” function; it will display iSCSI session and connection
information, including the following items:
1. Host (Initiator Name)
2. Error Recovery Level
3. Error Recovery Count
4. Detail of Authentication status and Source IP: port number.
- 28 -
Figure 3.5.4.1
(Figure 3.5.4.1: iSCSI Session.)
Pressing the button ““ will display connection(s).
Figure 3.5.4.2
(Figure 3.5.4.2: iSCSI Connection.)
3.5.5 CHAP account
Enter “CHAP account” function to create/delete a CHAP account for
authentication.
(Figure 3.5.5.1: Press “Create” to create a CHAP account.)
Figure 3.5.5.1
- 29 -
Figure 3.5.5.2
(Figure 3.5.5.2: Create a CHAP account named “chap1”.)
3.6 Volume configuration
“Volume config” selection is for the setup of volume configurations including
“Physical disk”, “Volume group”, “User data volume”, “Cache volume”,
and “Logical unit” functions.
3.6.1 Volume relationship diagram
Figure 3.6.1
- 30 -
LUN 1 LUN 2 LUN 3
UDV 1 UDV 2 UDV 3
+
+
+
VG
PD 2 PD 3 DS PD 1
Global CV
RAM
Dedicated
CV
- 31 -
The above diagram describes the relationship of RAID components. One VG
(Volume Group) consists of a set of UDVs (User Data Volume) and owns one
RAID level attribute. Each VG can be divided into several UDVs. The UDVs from
one VG share the same RAID level, but may have different volume capacity.
Each UDV will be associated with one specific CV (Cache Volume) to execute
the data transaction. Each CV could have different cache memory size from
user’s modification/setting. LUN is the logical volume/unit, which the users could
access through SCSI commands.
3.6.2 Physical disk
Enter “Physical disk” to view the status of hard drives inserted in the system.
The following are operation tips:
1. Multiple select. Select one or more checkboxes in front of the slot
number. Or select the checkbox at the top left corner will select all.
Check again will select none.
2. The list box will disappear if there is no VG or only VG of RAID 0,
JBOD. Because these RAID levels cannot be set as dedicated spare
disk.
3. These three functions “Free disks”, “Global spares”, “Dedicated spares” can do multiple selects, too.
4. The operations of the other web pages (e.g.: volume config of VG, UDV,
CV, LUN pages) are similar to previous steps.
(Figure 3.6.2.1: Physical disks of slot 1,2 are created for a VG named “VG-R0”. Physical
disks of slot 3,4,5 are created for a VG named “VG-R5”.)
Figure 3.6.2.1
- 32 -
•
PD column description:
Slot
WWN
Size (GB)
VG Name
Status
Status 1
The position of hard drives. The number of slot begins
from left to right at the front side. The button next to
the number of slot is “More Information” indication. It
shows the details of the hard drive.
World Wide Name.
Capacity of hard drive.
Related volume group name.
The status of hard drive.
“GOOD” Æ the hard drive is good.
“DEFECT” Æ the hard drive has the bad blocks.
“FAIL” Æ the hard drive cannot work in the respective
volume.
“RD”ÆRAID Disk. This hard drive has been set to
RAID.
“FR” Æ FRee disk. This hard drive is free for use.
Status 2
Speed
“DS” Æ Dedicated Spare. This hard drive has been
set to the dedicated spare of the VG.
“GS”ÆGlobal Spare. This hard drive has been set to
a global spare of all VGs.
“RS”ÆReServe. The hard drive contains the VG
information but cannot be used. It may be caused by
an uncompleted VG set, or hot-plug of this disk in the
running time. In order to protect the data in the disk,
the status changes to reserve. It can be reused after
setting it to “FR” manually.
“R” Æ Rebuild. The hard drive is doing rebuilding.
“M”Æ Migration. The hard drive is doing migration.
3.0G Æ From SATA ATAPI standard, if the disk can
support ATAPI IDENTIFY PACKET DEVICE
command, and the speed can achieve Serial ATA
Gen-2 signaling speed (3.0Gbps).
1.5GÆ From SATA ATAPI standard, if the disk can
support ATAPI IDENTIFY PACKET DEVICE
- 33 -
command, and the speed can achieve Serial ATA
Gen-1 signaling speed (1.5Gbps).
UnknownÆ The disk doesn’t support above
command, so the speed is defined as unknown.
•PD operations description:
Free disks
Global
spares
Dedicated
Make the selected hard drive to be free for use.
Set the selected hard drive(s) to global spare of all
VGs.
Set hard drive(s) to dedicated spare of selected VGs.
spares
In this page, i Series also provides HDD auto spindown down function to save
power. The default value is disabled. User can set up in physical disk page, too.
Figure 3.6.2.2
3.6.3 Volume group
Figure 3.6.2.3
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Enter “Volume group” to view the status of each volume group.
• VG column description:
Figure 3.6.3.1
(Figure 3.6.3.1: There is a RAID 0 with 2 physical disks, named “VG-R0”, total size is
148GB, related to 2 UDV. Another is a RAID 5 with 3 physical disks, named “VG-R5”.)
No.
Number of volume group. The button next to the No. is
“More Information” indication. It shows the details of
the volume group.
Name
Volume group name. The button next to the Name is
“Rename” function.
Total(GB)
Free(GB)
#PD
#UDV
Total capacity of this volume group.
Free capacity of this volume group.
The number of physical disks of the volume group.
The number of user data volumes related to the
volume group.
Status
Status 1
The status of volume group.
“Online” Æ volume group is online.
“Fail” Æ volume group is fail.
“DG” Æ DeGraded mode. This volume group is not
completed. The reason could be lack of one disk or
failure of disk.
- 35 -
Status 2
Status 3
“R” Æ Rebuild. This volume group is doing rebuilding.
“M” Æ Migration. This volume group is doing
migration.
RAID
The RAID level of the volume group. The button next
to the RAID level is “Migrate” function. Click
“Migrate” can add disk(s) to do expansion or change
the RAID level of the Volume group.
•VG operations description:
Create
Delete
Create a volume group
Delete a volume group
3.6.4 User data volume
Enter “User data volume” function to view the status of each user data volume.
Figure 3.6.4.1
(Figure 3.6.4.1: Create a UDV named “UDV-1”, related to “VG-R0”, size is 50GB, status is
online, write back, high priority, related to 1 LUN, with cache volume 80MB, )
• UDV column description:
- 36 -
No.
Name
Size(GB)
Status
Status 1
Number of this user data volume. The button in below
to the UDV No. is “More Information” indication. It
shows the details of the User data volume.
Name of this user data volume. The button in below to
the UDV Name is “Rename” function.
Total capacity of this user data volume. The button in
below to the size is “Extend” function.
The status of this user data volume.
“Online” Æ user data volume is online.
“Fail” Æ user data volume is failed.
“WT” Æ Write Through.
“WB” Æ Write Back.
“RO” Æ Read Only.
The button in below to the status1 is “Set read/write
The button in below to the status2 is “Set Priority”
function.
“I” Æ user data volume is doing initializing.
“R” Æ user data volume is doing rebuilding.
“M” Æ user data volume is doing migration.
Ratio of initializing or rebuilding.
The RAID levels that user data volume is using.
Number of LUN(s) that data volume is attaching.
The VG name of the user data volume.
The cache volume of the user data volume.
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•
UDV operations description:
Attach
Create
Delete
Attach to a LUN.
Create a user data volume function.
Delete a user data volume function.
3.6.5 Cache volume
Enter “Cache volume” function to view the status of cache volume.
The global cache volume is a default cache volume, which is created after power
on automatically, and cannot be deleted. The size of global cache is based on
the RAM size. It is total memory size minus the system usage.
•CV column description:
No.
Size(MB)
UDV Name
Figure 3.6.5.1
Number of the Cache volume. The button next to the
CV No. is “More Information” indication. It shows the
details of the cache volume.
Total capacity of the cache volume The button next to
the CV size is “Resize” function. The CV size can be
adjusted.
Name of the UDV.
- 38 -
•
CV operations description:
Create
Delete
Create a cache volume function.
Delete a cache volume function.
If there is no free space for creating a new dedicated cache volume, cut down the
global cache size first. After resized, then dedicated cache volume can be
created.
Tips
The minimum size of global cache volume is 40MB. The
minimum size of dedicated cache volume is 20MB.
3.6.6 Logical unit number
Enter “Logical unit” function to view the status of attached logical unit number
of each UDV.
User can attach LUN by clicking the “”. Please refer to
Figure 3.6.6.1. “Host” must input an initiator node name for access control, or
fill-in wildcard “*”, which means every host can access the volume. Choose LUN
number and permission, then click “”. Please refer to Figure
3.6.6.2. Users can assign up to 256 LUNs per system (controller). For host
connections, the number of simultaneous hosts are limited to 32 hosts per
system (controller). For single user data volumes (UDV), up to three hosts can
access one UDV at the same time.
Tips
Three hosts access the same UDV in the same time. The
function is depending on the software installed on the client PC
(i.e. MetaSAN).
- 39 -
Figure 3.6.6.1
Figure 3.6.6.2
(Figure 3.6.6.2: UDV-01 is attached to LUN 0 with every host can access. UDV-02 is
attached to LUN 1 with only initiator note named “iqn.1991-05.com.microsoft:s1300n” can
access.)
• LUN operations description:
Attach
Attach a logical unit number to a user data volume.
Detach
The matching rules of access control are from top to down by sequence. For
example: there are 2 rules for the same UDV, one is “*”, LUN 0; the other is
“iqn.host1”, LUN 1. The other host “iqn.host2” can login because it matches the
rule 1.
The access will be denied when there is no matching rule.
3.6.7 Examples
The followings are examples for creating volumes. Example 1 is to create two
UDVs sharing the same CV (global cache volume) and set a global spare disk.
Detach a logical unit number from a user data volume.
- 40 -
Example 2 is to create two UDVs. One shares global cache volume, the other
uses dedicated cache volume. Set a dedicated spare disk.
•Example 1
Example 1 is to create two UDVs in one VG, each UDV uses global cache
volume. Global cache volume is created after system boots up automatically. So,
no action is needed to set CV. Then set a global spare disk. The last, delete all of
them.
Step 1: Create VG (Volume Group).
To create the volume group, please follow the procedures:
Figure 3.6.7.1
1. Select “/ Volume config / Volume group”.
2. Click “
“.
3. Input a VG Name, choose a RAID level from the picklist, press
“ “ to choose the RAID PD slot(s), then press
“
“.
4. Check the outcome. Press “ “ if all setups are
correct.
5. Done. A VG has been created.
- 41 -
Figure 3.6.7.2
(Figure 3.6.7.2: Creating a RAID 0 with 2 physical disks, named “VG-R0”. The total size is
148GB. Because of no related UDV there, free size still remains 148GB.)
Step 2: Create UDV (User Data Volume).
To create a data user volume, please follow the procedures.
Figure 3.6.7.3
1. Select “/ Volume config / User data volume”.
2. Click “
3. Input a UDV name, choose a VG Name and input a size to the UDV;
decide the stripe high, block size, read/write mode and set priority,
finally click “
4. Done. A UDV has been created.
5. Do one more time to create another UDV.
”.
“.
- 42 -
Figure 3.6.7.4
(Figure 3.6.7.4: Create UDVs named “UDV-1” and “UDV-2”, related to “VG-R0”, the size of
“UDV-1” is 50GB, the size of “UDV-2” is 98GB. The status of these UDVs are online, write
back, high priority with cache volume 383MB. There is no LUN attached.)
Step 3: Attach LUN to UDV.
There are 2 methods to attach LUN to UDV.
1. In “/ Volume config / User data volume”, press
“”.
2. In “/ Volume config / Logical unit”, press “”.
The procedures are as follows:
1. Select a UDV.
2. Input “Host”, which is an initiator node name for access control, or fillin wildcard “*”, which means every host can access this volume.
Choose LUN and permission, then click “
3. Done.
Figure 3.6.7.5
”.
- 43 -
Figure 3.6.7.6
(Figure 3.6.7.6: UDV1 is attached to LUN 0 with any hosts can access. UDV2 is attached to
LUN 1 with only initiator note named “iqn.1991-05.com.microsoft:s1300n” can access.)
Tips
The matching rules of access control are from top to down by
sequence. Please refer 3.6.6 for details.
Step 4: Set global spare disk.
To set global spare disks, please follow the procedures.
1. Select “/ Volume config / Physical disk”.
2. Select the free disk(s) by clicking the checkbox of the row, then click
“ “ to set as global spares.
3. There is a “GS” icon shown up at status 1 column.
Figure 3.6.7.7
- 44 -
(Figure 3.6.7.7: Slot 5 is set as global spare disk.)
Step 5: Done. They can be used as iSCSI disks.
Delete UDVs, VG, please follow the steps.
Step 6: Detach LUN from UDV.
In “/ Volume config / Logical unit”,
Figure 3.6.7.8
1. Select LUNs by clicking the checkbox of the row, then click
“”. There will pop up a confirm page.
2. Choose “OK”.
3. Done.
Step 7: Delete UDV (User Data Volume).
To delete the user data volume, please follow the procedures:
1. Select “/ Volume config / User data volume”.
2. Select UDVs by clicking the checkbox of the row.
3. Click “
“. There will pop up a confirm page.
4. Choose “OK”.
5. Done. Then, the UDVs are deleted.
Tips
When deleting UDV, the attached LUN(s) related to this UDV
will be detached automatically, too.
Step 8: Delete VG (Volume Group).
To delete the volume group, please follow the procedures:
- 45 -
1. Select “/ Volume config / Volume group”.
2. Select a VG by clicking the checkbox of the row, make sure that there
is no UDV on this VG, or the UDV(s) on this VG must be deleted first.
3. Click “ “. There will pop up a confirmation page.
4. Choose “OK”
5. Done. The VG has been deleted.
Tips
The action of deleting one VG will succeed only when all of the
related UDV(s) are deleted in this VG. Otherwise, it will have
an error when deleting this VG.
Step 9: Free global spare disk.
To free global spare disks, please follow the procedures.
1. Select “/ Volume config / Physical disk”.
2. Select the global spare disk by clicking the checkbox of the row, then
click ““ to free disk.
Step 10: Done, all volumes have been deleted.
•Example 2
Example 2 is to create two UDVs in one VG. One UDV shares global cache
volume, the other uses dedicated cache volume. First, dedicated cache volume
should be created; it can be used in creating UDV. The last, delete them.
Each UDV is associated with one specific CV (cache volume) to execute the data
transaction. Each CV could have different cache memory size. If there is no
special request in UDVs, it uses global cache volume. Or user can create a
dedicated cache for indivifual UDV manually. Using dedicated cache volume, the
performance would not be affected by the other UDV’s data access.
The total cache size depends on the RAM size and set all to global cache
automatically. To create a dedicated cache volume, first step is to cut down
global cache size for the dedicated cache volume. Please follow the procedures.
Step 1: Create dedicated cache volume.
- 46 -
Figure 3.6.7.9
1. Select “/ Volume config / Cache volume”.
2. If there is no free space for creating a new dedicated cache volume, cut
down the global cache size first by clicking the button “
” in the
size column. After resized, click “” to return to
cache volume page.
3. Click ““ to enter the setup page.
4. Fill in the size and click ““.
5. Done. A new dedicated cache volume has been set.
Tips
The minimum size of global cache volume is 40MB. The
minimum size of dedicated cache volume is 20MB.
Step 2: Create VG (Volume Group).
Please refer to Step 1 of Example 1 to create VG.
Step 3: Create UDV (User Data Volume).
Please refer to Step 2 of Example 1 to create UDV. To create a data user volume
with dedicated cache volume, please follow the below procedures.
- 47 -
Figure 3.6.7.10
1. Select “/ Volume config / User data volume”.
2. Click “”.
3. Input a UDV name, choose a VG Name, select Dedicated cache which
is created at Step 1, and input the size for the UDV; decide the stripe
height, block size, read/write mode and set priority, finally click
““.
4. Done. A UDV using dedicated cache has been created.
Figure 3.6.7.11
(Figure 3.6.7.11: UDV named “UDV-1” uses global cache volume 80MB, and “UDV-2” uses
dedicated cache volume 80MB. “UDV-2” is initialing about 5%.)
(Figure 3.6.7.12: In “/ Volume config / Cache volume”, UDV named “UDV-2” uses dedicated
cache volume 80MB.)
Figure 3.6.7.12
- 48 -
Step 4: Attach LUN to UDV.
Please refer to Step 3 of Example 1 to attach LUN.
Step 5: Set dedicated spare disk.
To set dedicated spare disks, please follow the procedures:
1. Select “/ Volume config / Physical disk”.
2. Select a VG from the list box, then select the free disk(s), click
“ ” to set as dedicated spare for the selected VG.
3. There is a “DS” icon shown up at status 1 column.
Figure 3.6.7.13
(Figure 3.6.7.13: Slot 4 has been set as dedicated spare disk of VG named “VG-R5”.)
Step 6: Done. The PDs can be used as iSCSI disks.
Delete UDVs, VG, please follow the steps.
Step 7: Detach LUN from UDV.
Please refer to Step 6 of Example 1 to detach LUN.
Step 8: Delete UDV (User Data Volume).
Please refer to Step 7 of Example 1 to delete UDV.
Step 9: Delete VG (User Data Volume).
Please refer to Step 8 of Example 1 to delete VG.
Step 10: Free dedicated spare disk.
- 49 -
To free dedicated spare disks, please follow the procedures:
1. Select “/ Volume config / Physical disk”.
2. Select the dedicated spare disk by clicking the checkbox of the row,
then click “ “ to free disk.
Step 11: Delete dedicated cache volume.
To delete the cache volume, please follow the procedures:
1. Select “/ Volume config / Cache volume”.
2. Select a CV by clicking the checkbox of the row.
3. Click “ “. There will pop up a confirmation page.
4. Choose “OK”.
5. Done. The CV has been deleted.
Caution
Global cache volume cannot be deleted.
Step 12: Done, all volumes have been deleted.
3.7 Enclosure management
“Enclosure management” function allows managing enclosure information
including “SES config”, “Hardware monitor”, “S.M.A.R.T.” and “UPS”
functions. For the enclosure management, there are many sensors for different
purposes, such as temperature sensors, voltage sensors, hard disks, power
sensors, and LED status. And due to the hardware characteristics are different
among these sensors, for different sensors, they have different polling intervals.
Below is the detail polling time intervals:
1. Temperature sensors: 1 minute.
2. Voltage sensors: 1 minute.
3. Hard disk sensors: 10 minutes.
4. Power sensors: 10 seconds, when there are continuous 3 times of error,
controller sends ERROR event log.
- 50 -
5. LED status: 10 seconds.
Figure 3.7.1
3.7.1 SES configuration
SES represents SCSI Enclosure Services, one of the enclosure management
standards. Enter “SES config” function can enable or disable the management
of SES.
(Figure 3.7.1.1: Enable SES in LUN 0, and can be accessed from every host.)
Figure 3.7.1.1
The SES client software is available at the following web site:
SANtools: http://www.santools.com/
3.7.2 Hardware monitor
Enter “Hardware monitor” function to view the information of current voltage
and temperature.
- 51 -
Figure 3.7.2.1
If “Auto shutdown” has been checked, the system will shutdown automatically
when voltage or temperature is out of the normal range. For better data
protection, please check “Auto Shutdown”.
For better protection and to avoid single short period of high temperature
triggering Auto shutdown, i Series use multiple condition judgments for Auto
shutdown, below is the detail of when the Auto shutdown will be triggered.
1. The core processor temperature limit is 85℃. i Series will check each
sensor every 30 seconds. When sensor is over the high temperature
value for continuous 3 minutes, the Auto shutdown will be triggered
immediately.
2. If the high temperature situation doesn’t last for 3 minutes, i Series will
not do auto shutdown.
3.7.3 Hard drive S.M.A.R.T. function support
S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a diagnostic
tool for hard drives to give advanced warning of drive failures. S.M.A.R.T.
provides users chances to take actions before possible drive failure.
S.M.A.R.T. measures many attributes of the hard drive all the time and decide
the hard drives which are close to out of tolerance. The advanced notice of
possible hard drive failure can allow users to back up hard drive or replace the
hard drive. This is much better than hard drive crash when it is writing data or
rebuilding a failed hard drive.
Enter “S.M.A.R.T.” function will display S.M.A.R.T. information of hard drives.
The number is the current value; the number in parenthesis is the threshold value.
The threshold values of hard drive vendors are different, please refer to vendors’
specification for details.
- 52 -
Figure 3.7.3.1
3.7.4 UPS
Enter “UPS” function will set UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).
Figure 3.7.4.1
Currently, the system only support and communicate with smart-UPS function of
APC (American Power Conversion Corp.) UPS. Please check detail from
http://www.apc.com/
.
First, connect the system and APC UPS via RS-232 for communication. Then set
up the shutdown values when the power is gone. UPS of other vendors can work
fine, but they have no such function of communication.
UPS Type
Shutdown
Battery Level
Select UPS Type. Choose Smart-UPS for APC, None
for other vendors or no UPS.
When below the setting level, the system will
shutdown. Setting level to “0” will disable UPS
- 53 -
(%)
Shutdown
Delay (s)
Shutdown
UPS
Status
function.
If power failure occurred, and the system can not
return back to the setting value period, the system will
shutdown. Setting delay to “0” will disable the
function.
Select ON, when power is gone, UPS will shutdown by
itself after the system shutdown successfully. After
power comes back, UPS will start working and notify
system to boot up. OFF will not.
The status of UPS.
“Detecting…”
“Running”
“Unable to detect UPS”
“Communication lost”
“UPS reboot in progress”
“UPS shutdown in progress”
“Batteries failed. Please change them NOW!”
Battery Level
Current percentage of battery level.
(%)
3.8 System maintenance
“Maintenance” function allows operation of the system functions including “Upgrade” to the latest firmware, “Info” to show the system version, “Reset to
default” to reset all controller configuration values to origin settings, “Config
import & export” to export and import all controller configuration except for
VG/UDV setting and LUN setting, and “Shutdown” to either reboot or shutdown
the system.
- 54 -
Figure 3.8.1
3.8.1 Upgrade
Enter “Upgrade” function to upgrade firmware. Please prepare new firmware file
named “xxxx.bin” in local hard drive, then press “
Click “
”, it will pop up a message “Upgrade system now? If
” to select the file.
you want to downgrade to the previous FW later, please export your system
config first”, click “Cancel” to export system config first, then click “OK” to start
to upgrade firmware.
Figure 3.8.1.1
Figure 3.8.1.2
When upgrading, there is a progress bar running. After finished upgrading, the
system must reboot manually.
Tips
Please contact with www.thecus.com for latest firmware.
3.8.2 Info
Enter “Info” function will display system information (including firmware version),
CPU type, installed system memory, and controller serial number.
- 55 -
3.8.3 Reset to default
Enter “Reset to default” function, it allows user to reset controller to the factory
default setting.
Figure 3.8.3.1
Reset to default sets password to default: admin, and set IP address to default
Enter “Config import & export” function, `it allows user to save system
configurable values: export function, and to apply all configuration: import
function. For the volume config setting, the values are available in export function
and not available in import function which can avoid confliction/date-deleting
between two controllers. That says if one controller already has valuable data on
the disks and user may forget it, use import function could return to the original
config. If the volume setting was also imported, the user’s current data will be
cleared.
1. Import: Import all system configurations including volume config.
2. Import Logical unit only: No system and volume configurations.
3. Export: Export all configurations to a file.
Caution
Import function will import all system configurations including
volume config, the user’s current data will be cleared.
Figure 3.8.4.1
- 56 -
3.8.5 Shutdown
Enter “Shutdown” function; it will display “Reboot” and “Shutdown” buttons.
Before power off, it’s better to press “Shutdown” to flush the data from cache to
physical disks. The step is better for the data protection.
Figure 3.8.5.1
3.9 Logout
For security reason, “Logout” function will allow logout while no user is
operating the system. Re-login the system, please enter username and password
again.
- 57 -
Chapter 4 Advanced operation
4.1 Rebuild
If one physical disk of the VG which is set as protected RAID level (e.g.: RAID 3 ,
RAID 5, or RAID 6) is FAILED or has been unplugged/removed, then, the VG
status is changed to degraded mode, the system will search/detect spare disk to
rebuild the degraded VG to a complete one. It will detect dedicated spare disk as
rebuild disk first, then global spare disk.
i Series support Auto-Rebuild function. When the RAID level allows disk failures
which the VG is protected, such as RAID 3, RAID 5, RAID 6, and etc, i Series
starts Auto-Rebuild as below scenario:
Take RAID 6 for example:
1. When there is no global spare disk or dedicated spare disk on the system, i
Series will be in degraded mode and wait until (A) there is one disk assigned as
spare disk, or (B) the failed disk is removed and replaced with new clean disk,
then the Auto-Rebuild starts. The new disk will be a spare disk to the original VG
automatically.
a. If the new added disk is not clean (with other i Series VG information), it
would be marked as RS (reserved) and the system will not start "auto-rebuild".
b. If this disk is not belonging to any existing VG, it would be FR (Free)
disk and the system will start Auto-Rebuild function.
c. if user only removes the failed disk and plugs the same failed disk in the
same slot again, the auto-rebuild will start by this case. But rebuilding in the
same failed disk may impact customer data later from the unstable disk status.
Thecus suggests all customers not to rebuild in the same failed disk for better
data protection.
2. When there is enough global spare disk(s) or dedicated spare disk(s) for the
degraded array, i Series starts Auto-Rebuild immediately. And in RAID 6, if there
is another disk failure happening during the time of rebuilding, i Series will starts
the above Auto-Rebuild scenario as well. And the Auto-Rebuild feature only
works at "RUNTIME". It will not work the downtime. Thus, it will not conflict with
the “Roaming” function.
In degraded mode, the status of VG is “DG”.
- 58 -
When rebuilding, the status of PD/VG/UDV is “R”; and “R%” in UDV will display the ratio in
percentage. After complete rebuilding, “R” and “DG” will disappear. VG will become
complete one.
Tips
The list box doesn’t exist if there is no VG or only VG of RAID
0, JBOD. Because user cannot set dedicated spare disk for
these RAID levels.
Sometimes, rebuild is called recover; these two have the same meaning. The
following table is the relationship between RAID levels and rebuild.
RAID 0
RAID 1
N-way
mirror
RAID 3
RAID 5
RAID 6
Disk striping. No protection of data. VG fails if any hard drive
fails or unplugs.
Disk mirroring over 2 disks. RAID 1 allows one hard drive fails
or unplugging. Need one new hard drive to insert to the
system and rebuild to be completed.
Extension to RAID 1 level. It has N copies of the disk. N-way
mirror allows N-1 hard drives fails or unplugging.
Striping with parity on the dedicated disk. RAID 3 allows one
hard drive fail or unplugging.
Striping with interspersed parity over the member disks. RAID
5 allows one hard drive fail or unplugging.
2-dimensional parity protection over the member disks. RAID
6 allows two hard drives fails or unplugging. If it needs to
rebuild two hard drives at the same time, it will rebuild the first
one, then the other by sequence.
RAID 0+1
Mirroring of the member RAID 0 volumes. RAID 0+1 allows
two hard drives fails or unplugging, but at the same array.
RAID 10
Striping over the member RAID 1 volumes. RAID 10 allows
two hard drives fails or unplugging, but at different arrays.
JBOD
The abbreviation of “Just a Bunch Of Disks”. No protection of
data. VG fails if any hard drive fails or unplugs.
- 59 -
4.2 VG migration and expansion
To migrate the RAID level, please follow the below procedures. If the VG
migrates to the same RAID level of the original VG, it is expansion.
1. Select “/ Volume config / Volume group”.
2. Decide which VG to be migrated, click the button “” in the RAID
column next the RAID level.
3. Change the RAID level by clicking the down arrow mark “”.
There will be a pup-up which shows if the HDD is not enough to
support the new setting RAID level, click “” to
increase hard drives, then click ““ to go back to
setup page. When doing migration to lower RAID level, such as the
original RAID level is RAID 6 and user wants to migrate to RAID 0, the
controller will evaluate this operation is safe or not, and display "Sure to migrate to a lower protection array?” to give user warning.
4. Double check the setting of RAID level and RAID PD slot. If no problem,
click ““.
5. Finally a confirmation page shows detail RAID info. If no problem, click
““ to start migration. Controller also pops up a
message of “Warning: power lost during migration may cause damage of data!” to give user warning. When the power is abnormally
off during migration, the data is in high risk.
6. Migration starts and it can be seen from the “status 3” of a VG with a
running square and an “M”. In “/ Volume config / User data volume”,
it displays an “M” in “Status 4” and complete percentage of migration
in “R%”.
Figure 4.2.1
(Figure 4.2.2: A RAID 0 with 2 physical disks migrates to RAID 5 with 3 physical disks.)
Figure 4.2.2
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Figure 4.2.3
(Figure 4.2.3: A RAID 0 migrates to RAID 5, complete percentage is 2%.)
To do migration/expansion, the total size of VG must be larger or equal to the
original VG. It does not allow expanding the same RAID level with the same hard
disks of original VG.
During setting migration, if user doesn’t setup correctly, controller will pop up
warning messages. Below is the detail of messages.
1. Invalid VG ID: Source VG is invalid.
2. Degrade VG not allowed: Source VG is degraded.
3. Initializing/rebuilding operation's going: Source VG is initializing or
rebuilding.
4. Migration operation's going: Source VG is already in migration.
5. Invalid VG raidcell parameter: Invalid configuration. E.g., New VG's
capacity < Old VG's capacity, New VG's stripe size < Old VG's stripe
size. Or New VG's configuration == Old VG's configuration.
6. Invalid PD capacity: New VG's minimum PD capacity < Old VG's
minimum PD capacity.
Caution
VG Migration cannot be executed during rebuild or UDV
extension.
4.3 UDV Extension
To extend UDV size, please follow the procedures.
1. Select “/ Volume config / User data volume”.
2. Decide which UDV to be extended, click the button “
column next the number.
3. Change the size. The size must be larger than the original, and then
click ““ to start extension.
” in the Size
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4. Extension starts. If UDV needs initialization, it will display an “I” in
“Status 3” and complete percentage of initialization in “R%”.
Figure 4.3.1
(Figure 4.3.1: Extend UDV-R0 from 80GB to 90GB.)
Tips
The size of UDV extension must be larger than original.
Caution
UDV Extension cannot be executed during rebuild or migration.
4.4 Disk roaming
Physical disks can be re-sequenced in the same system or move whole physical
disks from system-1 to system-2. This is called disk roaming. Disk roaming has
some constraints as described in the following:
1. Check the firmware of two systems first. It is better that both have
same firmware version or newer.
2. Whole physical disks of related VG should be moved from system-1 to
system-2 together. The configuration of both VG and UDV will be kept
but LUN configuration will be cleared to avoid conflict with system-2.
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Appendix
A. Certification list
• RAM
i Series RAM Spec: 184pins, DDR333(PC2700), Reg.(register) or
UB(Unbufferred), ECC or Non-ECC, from 64MB to 1GB, 32-bit or 64-bit
data bus width, x8 or x16 devices, 9 to 11 bits column address.
Vendor Model
ATP AG64L72T8SQC4S, 512MB DDR-400 (ECC) with Samsung
ATP AG28L64T8SHC4S, 1GB DDR-400 with Samsung
ATP AG28L72T8SHC4S, 1GB DDR-400 (ECC) with Samsung
ATP AB28L72Q8SHC4S, 1GB DDR-400 (ECC, Reg.) with Samsung
Trenscend 256MB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with PSC
Trenscend 512MB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with Winbond
Trenscend 1GB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with Micron
Unigen UG732D6688KN-DH, 256MB DDR-333 (Unbuffered) with Hynix
Unigen UG732D7588KZ-DH, 256MB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with Elpida
Unigen UG764D7588KZ-DH, 512MB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with Elpida
Unigen UG7128D7588LZ-DH, 1GB DDR-333 (ECC, Reg.) with Hynix
Unigen UG7128D7488LN-GJF, 1GB DDR-400 (ECC) with Hynix
Unigen UG7128D7588LZ-GJF, 1GB DDR-400 (ECC, Reg.) with Hynix
Unigen UG7128D7588LZ-GJF, 1GB DDR-400 (ECC, Reg.) with Elpida
Unigen UG732D6688KS-DH, 256MB DDR-333 (Unbuffered, Low profile)
Disk inserted Info: Disk <slot> is inserted.
Disk removed Info: Disk <slot> is removed.
S.M.A.R.T.
threshold exceed
condition
S.M.A.R.T.
information
•Physical HW events
Level Type Description
Warning
Error
Info
Info
Error
Error
Warning
ECC error Warning: Single-bit ECC error is detected.
ECC error Error: Multi-bit ECC error is detected.
ECC DIMM
Installed
Non-ECC installed Info: Non-ECC Memory is installed.
Host chip failure Error: Host channel chip failed.
Drive chip failure Error: Drive channel chip failed.
Ethernet port failureWarning: GUI Ethernet port failed.
Warning: Disk <slot> S.M.A.R.T. threshold
exceed condition occurred for attribute of
1. read error rate
2. spin up time
3. reallocated sector count
4. seek error rate
5. spin up retries
6. calibration retries
Warning: Disk <slot>: Failure to get S.M.A.R.T
information
Info: ECC Memory is installed.
•HDD IO events
Level Type Description
Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning
• SES events
Level Type Description
Disk error Error: Disk <slot> read block error.
Disk error Error: Disk <slot> writes block error.
HDD failure Error: Disk <slot> is failed.
Channel error Error: Disk <slot> IO incomplete.
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Info
Warning
SES load conf. OK Info: SES configuration has been loaded.
SES Load Conf.
Failure
Info
Info
SES is disabled Info: The SES device is disabled.
SES is enabled Info: The SES device is enabled
•Environmental events
Level Type Description
Info
Info
Info
Warning
Error
Warning
Error
Warning
Info
Error
Info
Error
Error
Error
Info
Warning
Error
Error
Info
Warning
Info
Admin Login OK Info: Admin login from <IP or serial console> via
Admin Logout OK Info: Admin logout from <IP or serial console>
iSCSI data port
login
iSCSI data port
login reject
Thermal critical Error: System Overheated!!! The system will do
Thermal warning Warning: System temperature is a little bit
Voltage critical Error: System voltages failed!!! The system will
Voltage warning Warning: System voltage is a little bit
PSU restore Info: Power <number> is restored to work.
PSU Fail Error: Power <number> is out of work.
Fan restore Info: Fan <number> is restore to work.
Fan Fail Error: Fan <number> is out of work.
Fan non-exist Error: System cooling fan is not installed.
AC Loss Error: AC loss for the system is detected.
UPS Detection OK Info: UPS detection succeed
UPS Detection FailWarning: UPS detection failed
AC Loss Error: AC loss for the system is detected
UPS power low Error: UPS Power Low!!! The system will do the
Mgmt Lan Port
Active
Mgmt Lan Port
Failed
RTC Device OK Info: RTC device is active.
Error: Failed to load SES configuration. The
SES device is disabled.
<Web UI or Console UI>.
via <Web UI or Console UI>.
Info: iSCSI login from <IQN> (<IP:Port
Number>) succeeds.
Warning: iSCSI login from <IQN> (<IP:Port
Number>) was rejected, reason of
1. initiator error
2. authentication failure
3. authorization failure
4. target not found
5. unsupported version
6. too many connections
7. missing parameter
8. session does not exist
9. target error
10. out of resources
11. unknown
the auto shutdown immediately.
higher.
do the auto shutdown immediately
higher/lower.
auto shutdown immediately.
Info: Management LAN Port is active.
Warning: Fail to manage the system via the
LAN Port.
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Warning
Info
Info
RTC Access FailedWarning: Fail to access RTC device
Reset Password Info: Reset Admin Password to default.
Reset IP Info: Reset network settings set to default.
•System config events
Level Type Description
Info
Info
Error
Warning
Sys Config.
Defaults Restored
Sys NVRAM OK Info: The system NVRAM is active.
Sys NVRAM IO
Failed
Sys NVRAM is full Warning: The system NVRAM is full.
•System maintenance events
Level Type Description
Info
Error
Info
Info
Info
Error
Firmware
Upgraded
Firmware
Upgraded Failed
System reboot Info: System has been rebooted
System shutdown Info: System has been shutdown.
System Init OK Info: System has been initialized OK.
System Init Failed Error: System cannot be initialized in the last
Info: Default system configurations restored.
Error: Can’t access the system NVRAM.
Info: System firmware has been upgraded
Error: System firmware upgrade failed.
boot up.
•LVM events
Level Type Description
Info
VG Created OK Info: VG <name> has been created.
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Warning
Info
Info
Warning
Info
Info
Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Info
Warning
Info
Info
Warning
Warning
Warning
Info
Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning
Info
Error
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Info
Error
VG Created Fail Warning: Fail to create VG <name>.
VG Deleted Info: VG <name> has been deleted.
UDV Created OK Info: UDV <name> has been created.
UDV Created Fail Warning: Fail to create UDV <name>.
UDV Deleted Info: UDV <name> has been deleted.
UDV Attached OK Info: UDV <name> has been LUN-attached.
UDV Attached Fail Warning: Fail to attach LUN to UDV <name>.
UDV Detached OK Info: UDV <name> has been detached.
UDV Detached FailWarning: Fail to detach LUN from Bus
<number> SCSI_ID <number> LUN <number>.
UDV_OP Rebuild
Info: UDV <name> starts rebuilding.
Started
UDV_OP Rebuild
migration.
VG Degraded Warning: VG <name> is under degraded mode.
UDV Degraded Warning: UDV <name> is under degraded
mode.
UDV Init OK Info: UDV <name> completes the initialization.
UDV_OP Stop
Initialization
Warning: Fail to complete UDV <name>
initialization.
UDV IO Fault Error: IO failure for stripe number <number> in
UDV <name>.
VG Failed Error: Fail to access VG <name>.
UDV Failed Error: Fail to access UDV <name>.
Global CV
Error: Fail to adjust the size of the global cache.
Adjustment Failed
Global Cache Info: The global cache is OK.
Global CV Creation
Error: Fail to create the global cache.
Failed
UDV Rename Info: UDV <name> has been renamed as
<name>.
VG Rename Info: VG <name> has been renamed as
<name>.
Set VG Dedicated
Spare Disks
Info: Assign Disk <slot> to be VG <name>
dedicated spare disk.
Set Global Disks Info: Assign Disk <slot> to the Global Spare
Disks.
UDV Read-Only Info: UDV <name> is a read-only volume.
WRBK Cache
Policy
WRTHRU Cache
Policy
Info: Use the write-back cache policy for UDV
<name>.
Info: Use the write-through cache policy for UDV
<name>.
High priority UDV Info: UDV <name> is set to high priority.
Mid Priority UDV Info: UDV <name> is set to mid priority.
Low Priority UDV Info: UDV <name> is set to low priority.
PD configuration Error: PD <slot> lba <#> length <#> config
Here is the step by step to setup Microsoft iSCSI Initiator. Please visit Microsoft
website for latest iSCSI initiator. The following setup may not use the latest
Microsoft iSCSI initiator.
1. Run Microsoft iSCSI Initiator version 2.03. Please see Figure C.1.
2. Click “Discovery”.
3. Click “Add”. Input IP address or DNS name of iSCSI storage device.
Please see Figure C.2.
Figure C.1
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4. Click “OK”. Please see Figure C.3.
Figure C.2
5. Click “Targets”. Please see Figure C.4.
Figure C.3
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Figure C.4
6. Click “Log On”. Please see Figure C.5. Check “Enable multi-path” if
running MPIO.
Figure C.5
7. Click “Advance…” if CHAP information is needed. Please see Figure
C.6.
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Figure C.6
8. Click “OK”. The status would be “Connected”. Please see Figure C.7
9. Done, it can connect to an iSCSI disk.
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Figure C.7
The following procedure is to log off iSCSI device.
- 74 -
1. Click “Details”. Please see Figure C.8.
Figure C.8
2. Check the Identifier, which will be deleted.
3. Click “Log off”.
4. Done, the iSCSI device log off successfully.
D. MPIO and MC/S setup instructions
Here is the step by step to setup MPIO. There are 2 kinds of scenarios for MPIO.
Please see Figure D.1. Thecus suggests using scenario 2 for better performance.
Known issues
Microsoft MPIO is not supported on Windows XP or Windows 2000 Professional.
Using Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 server to run MPIO
xNetwork diagram of MPIO.
- 75 -
Figure D.1
The setup instructions are in the following figures.
1. Create a VG .
Figure D.2
2. Create a UDV.
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Figure D.3
3. Run Microsoft iSCSI initiator and check the Initiator Node Name.
Figure D.4
4. Attaching LUN to UDV_1 UDV. Input the Initiator Node Name in Host
field.
Figure D.5
5. The volume config setting is done.
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Figure D.6
6. Check iSCSI settings. The IP address of iSCSI data port 1 is
192.168.11.229, port 2 is 192.168.12.229 for example.
Figure D.7
7. Add Target Portals on Microsoft iSCSI initiator.
8. Input the IP address of iSCSI data port 1 (192.168.11.229 as
mentioned in previous page).
Figure D.8
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Figure D.9
9. Add second Target Portals on Microsoft iSCSI initiator.
Figure D.10
- 79 -
10. Input the IP address of iSCSI data port 2 (192.168.12.229 as
mentioned in previous page).
11. The initiator setting is done.
Figure D.11
- 80 -
12. Log on.
Figure D.12
Figure D.13
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13. Enable “Enable multi-path” checkbox. Then click “Advanced”.
Figure D.14
14. Select Target Portal to iSCSI data port 1 (192.168.11.229). Then click
“OK”
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15. Log on “Enable multi-path” again.
Figure D.15
Figure D.16
16. Enable “Enable multi-path” checkbox. Then click “Advanced…”.
Figure D.17
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17. Select Target Portal to iSCSI data port 2 (192.168.12.229). Then select