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SilverSATA™ II SR
USER’S MANUAL
Revised 9/21/2006
Features
• Connects through either widely-compatible
USB 2.0, or fast eSATA.
• Hardware RAID 1 offers best possible
protection of data by mirroring the drives in real
time.
• Hot-swappable trays allow you to remove and
replace failed drives without shutting down the
system.
• Auto-rebuilding of data – after changing a
drive, the system automatically begins
reconstructing the data on the new drive.
• Windows-based GUI monitoring software can
optionally be used to monitor the system’s
status remotely.
• Tiny footprint for such large storage capability.
• Simple, plug and play configuration with
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 and Mac OS X.
Table of Contents
Installation Instructions
Accessories List
Identifying the parts of the product
Choosing the RAID type
Installing Hard Drives
Connecting the SilverSATA II to the computer
General Usage with Macs
General Usage with Windows Computers
Warnings and Notices
Special RAID Instructions
LCD Interface Buttons
LCD Messages
Password Feature
Updating the Firmware
Technical Specifications
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Installation Instructions
1. Check the accessories with your SilverSATA II. Please contact WiebeTech if any parts are
missing or damaged. The box should contain the following items:
SilverSATA II main unit 1
Removable trays
(contained in the unit)
eSATA cable 1
USB cable 1
RS232 cable 1
Power cable 1
Packet of keys and extra screws 1
CD with Manual and
Warranty information
2. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the parts of the SilverSATA II. This will help you to
better understand the remaining instructions.
2
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3. Consider your RAID configuration. If you purchased the SilverSATA II with drives pre-installed
and pre-configured, you can skip to step 6.
The SilverSATA II supports both RAID 0 and RAID 1 in hardware. Consider which RAID type best suits
your specific needs.
RAID 0
In this mode, the unit will configure the drives in a “striped” RAID. This will split your data between the
drives, offering faster performance and allowing you to use the full capacity of the drives in a single
volume.
RAID 1
In this mode, the unit will “mirror” the two drives for best data protection. In this mode, you will work with
a single volume equal in size to the capacity of one drive. When you copy data to the volume, the
SilverSATA II will simultaneously write the data to both drives. If one drive were to fail, your data would
still be preserved on the other drive. After replacing a failed drive, the unit will automatically rebuild the
RAID so that your data is once again redundant and secure.
The default setting is RAID 1. If you are using brand new drives and want RAID 1, you may proceed to
the next step. Otherwise, check the “Special RAID Instructions” section of this manual before proceeding.
WARNING: Always back up data
before switching RAID types. You
must reformat your drives afterwards.
4. Install your hard drives into the trays. Unlock the tray by using the included plastic key and then
pull it straight out of the unit. Remove the plastic spacer. Lay the drive into the frame of the removable
tray. Secure the drive into position with the four screws.
5. Insert the trays into the SilverSATA II unit. Gently push each tray along the sliding track into the
hard drive compartment and then close the tray, as illustrated below.
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6. Plug in the data cable. The SilverSATA II connects to your computer through either fast eSATA or
USB2. One end of the cable connects to the back of the unit. Insert the other end into an available port
on your computer.
7. Plug in the power cable. One end connects to the back of
the unit. Plug the other end into an electrical outlet.
Your SilverSATA II is now ready to use! Turn on the power switch on the back of the unit. Make sure the
primary disk and the second disk are ready which will be indicated by the “OK” message on LCD screen
If your drives are already formatted, you can begin using the unit right away. New hard drives will need to
be formatted before they can be used. You may be prompted to enter a password before you can access
the unit. If so, the default password is either “1234” or “0000”. If the buttons seem unresponsive, you
may need to temporarily disconnect the data cable.
NOTE: If a hard drive fails, the SilverSATA II will report the failure and
then rebuild the RAID after the drive is changed. When the unit is first
powered on or reawakened, some drives may not be fully spun up and
ready for access when the unit checks them. This could result in an
incorrect report of a drive failure. If this happens, turn the unit off and
back on again. The drive will often mount correctly the second time.
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Usage with Macintosh computers
Compatibility
The SilverSATA II is fully plug-and-play under Mac OS 10.2.6 or later. No additional drivers are needed.
However, the SATA host you are plugging into will probably require driver or firmware installation.
Mounting and Ejecting Volumes
When you connect the unit to the Mac for the first time and turn on the power,
you’ll probably see a message saying that the disk is unreadable. This is
because you must format the volume before using it. The easiest way to do
this is to use Mac OS X’s Disk Utility. If you plan to use the unit on both Macs
and PCs, select “MS DOS File System” as the format type. If you only plan to
use the unit on Macs, then select “Mac OS Extended”. After the volume is
formatted, an icon representing the drive volume will appear (“mount”) on the
desktop. You can now use the volume just like an internal hard drive.
Eject the volume before powering down the unit by dragging the volume’s icon to the trash bin, or by
selecting the volume then pressing Command-E. Shutting down the unit without first ejecting the volume
can result in data loss.
Usage with Windows computers
Compatibility
The SilverSATA II is fully plug-and-play with Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003. No additional drivers
are needed. However, the SATA host you are plugging into will probably require driver or firmware
installation.
Formatting Volumes
Before you can use your SilverSATA II, you must first format the drives into a volume. Use Disk
Management, which you can find by right-clicking on My Computer then selecting Manage. Select NTFS
for the format type. If you wish to format FAT-32 for cross-platform compatibility, you will need to use a
third-party utility to do so. Windows XP will not create FAT-32 volumes larger than 32GB.
After the volume is formatted, an icon representing the drive volume will appear in My Computer. You
can now use the volume just like an internal hard drive.
Ejecting Volumes
Unlike external storage devices that connect via FireWire or USB, eSATA devices cannot usually be
ejected. It is possible to disable the device using Device Manager. Whether or not you choose to disable
the device in this way, always make sure the drives are not being accessed before shutting off the
SilverSATA II. If the unit is turned off in the middle of a data input/output process, data loss may result.
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Warnings and Notices
• The SilverSATA II supports drives of various specifications and different capacities. However, we
recommend using drives of the same brand and type for optimal performance. If drives of different
capacities are used, the unit will consider both drives to have the same capacity as the smaller
drive.
• Use only hard drives that are in perfect condition. Avoid using drives that have ever developed
bad sectors during previous usage. This could lead to possible device failure or loss of data.
• The SATA interface is much faster than USB 2.0. To achieve the best possible data transfer
speeds, your system must support SATA connection. Few computers come equipped with
external SATA connectivity, so in many cases you will need to add a SATA host adapter to your
system before connecting this way.
• You should carefully consider and select your RAID type before using this device. Once you have
put data onto the hard drives, changing the RAID type will corrupt or delete that data. You must
reformat the volume after changing the RAID.
• RAID level 0 will allow you to use the full capacity of both drives, and offers the best data transfer
speeds. However, RAID 0 offers no protection for the data. If one drive fails in a RAID 0, the data
on both drives is irretrievably lost.
Special RAID Instructions
Keeping existing data
The SilverSATA II allows you to incorporate existing drive data into a new RAID 1 configuration. The data
you wish to keep must all be on one of the drives. This data will be “mirrored” (cloned) to the second
drive to establish a RAID 1. If you wish to do this, the new (2
have a capacity at least as large as the old (1
that is the same brand, capacity, and model of the old drive. It is not necessary for the new drive to be
blank, but any data on the new drive will be erased during RAID initialization. Follow these steps:
1. Install the old drive (with the data you wish to keep) into one of the unit’s removable trays. With
the unit’s power turned off, insert the tray into the first (top) position inside the unit.
2. Turn on the unit’s power. You will hear a buzzer and see an orange LED. The LCD should show
“Pri HDD: OK, Sec HDD: OFF”.
3. Insert the new (second) drive and tray into the bottom slot inside the unit. After approximately 10
to 15 seconds, the SilverSATA II will automatically begin data reconstruction. The progress will
be displayed on the LCD screen. The time required depends on the capacity of the drives.
Changing the RAID type
RAID 0 combines the drives into one logical drive with the
total capacity of both. If drives of different sizes are used,
the total capacity will be twice that of the smaller drive. The
data is “striped” across both drives so that reading and
writing can occur on both drives simultaneously. This offers
faster performance, but no data redundancy. If one hard drive in a RAID 0 were to fail, the data on both
drives is lost. After switching from RAID type to another, you must reformat your hard drives.
1. From the main menu, use the ▼or ▲ button to find the “Change RAID Mode” screen.
2. The LCD screen will show the current RAID type. Press the ENT button to change it.
3. The screen will warn you that your data will be lost. To continue anyway, press the ENT button.
4. The screen will warn you that you must reset the system. Press the ENT button one more time.
5. You will hear a buzzer indicating that the system is resetting the RAID type.
6. Always check the volume to confirm that the RAID type has been changed before using it. The
quickest way to do this is to check the volume capacity. A RAID 0 will have the combined
capacity of both drives. A RAID 1 will have the capacity of one drive.
st
) drive containing the data. If possible, use a new drive
nd
) drive you are adding must be newer and
WARNING: Always back up data
before switching RAID types. You
must reformat your drives afterwards.
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LCD Interface Buttons
▲ ▼: Move up or down through the menu system, or adjust a setting.
ENT: Enters a new setting into the system.
NOTE: If you hesitate too long on a
given menu screen, the unit will time
out and return to the main menu.
NOTE: If the buttons are
unresponsive, unplug the data cable
from the back of the unit temporarily.
LCD Messages
Hard drive status is reported as OK, OFF, or FAIL:
OK – Indicates that the hard drive is ready for use.
OFF – The hard drive is not installed.
FAIL – Indicates a malfunction.
Possible causes of a failure message include an inability to recognize the drive, a compatibility problem,
or damaged tracks.
When you replace a tray/drive while the unit is on, a buzzer will sound and the LCD will indicate a drive
failure. After a few seconds, the hard drive status will change to “OK” and then the automatic
reconstruction of the data will begin (in RAID 1 mode only). Note: any data already on the new drive will
be erased during reconstruction. The progress of the reconstruction will be displayed as shown below.
After the process is complete, both hard drives should be displayed as “OK”.
(Example)
If the unit is overheating, the LCD will show a “T” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. You
should immediately stop any active processes, unmount the volumes, and turn off the unit to avoid
possible damage to the unit or drives.
If the cooling fan malfunctions, “F” will be displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. You
should replace the fan as soon as possible to avoid overheating.
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Using the Password Feature
For additional data protection, the SilverSATA II offers a password feature. This prevents unauthorized
users from tampering with the configuration. If you change your password, write it down and store it in a
safe place away from the unit. The default password is either “1234” or “0000”.
1. From the main menu, use the ▼or ▲ button to find the “Setup Password” screen:
2. Press ENT to enter the password setup screen.
3. Press ▼or ▲ to select each of the four password digits. Press the ENT button after each
selection.
4. When you have entered all four digits, the screen will display your new password and ask you to
confirm it. Press ENT to confirm. You should see the following message:
Updating the Firmware
In the rare event that your unit ever needs a firmware update, you must use a Windows computer to
install it. Connect the RS232 (serial) cable to the back of the unit and to the appropriate port on a PC.
Install the RAIDGuide software if you haven’t already. Launch the RAIDGuide software. From the menu
at the upper part of the screen, select “Advanced” and then RAID System 1 Setting. You’ll need to enter
the unit’s password to continue (0000 by default). When the menu appears, click the RS232 UPGRADE
button. Click “Yes” to continue.
Set the Serial Port Address to COM1, and the Baud Rate to 9600.
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click “Yes” to confirm
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Next, click the “Open Files” button to open the location of the firmware. Specify the correct file path for
the new firmware.
You will see the message “Verifying….Address: xxxxx” during the Firmware update process.
When the update has successfully completed, you will be prompted to restart your computer.
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Technical Specifications
Product name/code:
Raid Levels Supported:
Host Interfaces:
Data Interface Speeds:
Drive Types Supported:
Hot-Swappable Trays
Automatic Data Reconstruction:
Monitoring Software
System Detection
Controller Display
Operating System
Requirements:
Operating Temperature:
Operating Humidity:
Power Switch:
Power Supply:
Cooling Fan:
Safety Certification:
External Material:
Shipping Weights:
Dimensions:
Warranty:
SilverSATA II is a trademark of WiebeTech LLC. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2005 WiebeTech LLC. All rights reserved.
FCC Compliance Statement: “This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This
device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.”
In the event that you experience Radio Frequency Interference, you should take the following steps to resolve the problem:
If you have any questions or problems, please contact support@wiebetech.com for technical support. If you are
interested in purchasing more WiebeTech products, check our website or contact
appreciate being able to serve you!
1) Ensure that your unit is plugged into a grounded electrical outlet.
2) Use a data cable with RFI reducing ferrites on each end.
3) Use a power supply with an RFI reducing ferrite approximately 5 inches from the DC plug.
SilverSATA II SR / SIS2-SR
RAID 0 (striped) or RAID 1 (mirrored)
eSATA and USB 2.0
SATA 1.5GHz (up to 150MB/sec)
USB 2.0 (up to 56MB/sec)
3.5” SATA (Serial-ATA) hard drives up to 750GB+
Yes
Yes
RAIDGuide GUI software (Windows only)
Hard Disk failure sensors
Temperature alert
Cooling fan failure sensor
LCD screen with blue backlight/control panel
Windows 2K, XP, Server 2003
Mac OS 10.2.6 or later
Linux distributions using core 2.4 or above (USB only)
50 – 85° Fahrenheit (10 – 30° Celsius)
5% to 95%, noncondensing
2 position: On / Off
75 Watts, Input voltage: 90-240V
3cm and 4cm Ball Bearing Fans
CE/FCC
Aluminum case
8 pounds, sans drives
10 pounds, with drives
(122mm Width x 205mm Depth x 105mm Height)
1-year limited warranty. See warranty statement for details and limitations.
WiebeTech offers free phone support for 90 days after purchase (1-866744-8722). After 90 days, email support is available at
support@wiebetech.com.
SilverSATA II SR
Tested to comply
with FCC standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
sales@wiebetech.com. We
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