Accusys ACS-8960 User manual

Preface
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Notice
Product features and specifications described in this manual are subject to change without
notice.
The manufacturer shall not be liable for any damage, or for the loss of information resulting
from the performance or use of the information contained herein
Trademarks
Accusys and the names of Accusys products and logos referred to herein are either
trademarks and/or service marks or registered trademarks and/or service marks of Accusys,
Inc.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, MS-DOS are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation.
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation.
Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or service
marks of their respective owners.
All contents of this manual are copyrighted by Accusys, Inc.
The information contained herein is the exclusive property of Accusys, Inc. and shall not be
copied, transferred, photocopied, translated on paper, film, electronic media, or
computer-readable form, or otherwise reproduced in any way, without the express written
permission of Accusys Inc.
© Copyright 2004 Accusys, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This manual version V1.0c

ACS-8960 User’s Manual
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Regulatory information
For Europe
This drive is in conformity with the EMC directive.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 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.
Those limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which
can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antennas.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circlet different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Warning:
A shielded-type power cord is required in order to meet FCC emission limits and also
to prevent interference to the nearby radio and television reception. It is essential that
only the supplied power cord be used.
Use only shielded cables to connect I/O devices to this equipment.
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.

Preface
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About this manual
Intended user
This manual is designed and written for users of the ACS-8960 RAID controller. The user
should ideally be familiar with RAID planning and data storage operations and have
experience in electronic or computer engineering.
Organization of the manual
This manual contains the following sections:
Chapter 1: Introduction provides details of key features, checklists of package contents
and user requirements, and an overview of the controller box and its features.
Chapter 2: Installation guides you through process of installing DRAM in ACS-8960 and
integrating the controller into a system. This chapter also details procedures for
replacing components.
Chapter 3: Quick Setup explains how to set up an array in seconds.
Chapter 4: Accessing the Monitor Utility tells you how to access and start using the
firmware-based Monitor Utility on the host terminal.
Chapter 5: Configuration details and explains the rich configuration options available for
ACS-8960 arrays, using either the control panel or Monitor Utility.
Appendix A: Troubleshooting helps you deal with encountered problems in the form of
Q&A.
Appendix B: Introduction to RAID levels contains all the information you need to
understand the features of different RAID levels.
Appendix C: Introduction to Serial ATA gives a full introduction to the disk interface
standard used by ASS-8960.
Appendix D: Control Panel Messages defines the status and error messages of the control
panel LCD display.
Appendix E: Glossary defines relevant technical terms used in this manual.
Appendix F: Specifications list technical specification of ACS-8960.
Appendix G: Record of Settings provides tables for you to record all ACS-8960 settings
and parameters.
Appendix H: Contact Us lists contact details of Accusys business units around the world.

ACS-8960 User’s Manual
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Using this manual
This guide contains all the information you need to set up and start using your RAID controller
and to monitor its performance in real time. It is intended to be read in a linear manner, though
some instructions may not be applicable to all users. Users may also prefer to skip more
familiar sections, but each of the steps below must be completed.
The setup process will follow these steps:
Prepare: Familiarize yourself with the features and capabilities
of ACS-8960 (Chapter 1)
Make sure you have everything (Chapter 1)
Install: Install SODIMM cache memory and attach the
necessary cables (Chapter 2)
Turn on (Chapter 2)
Configure: Perform Quick Setup (Chapter 3, optional)
Open Monitor Utility (Chapter 4, recommended)
Configure (Chapter 5)
ACS-8960 is available in two configurations differing in their host interfaces:
 SCSI (host) to Serial ATA (disk)
 Fibre (host) to Serial ATA (disk)
This manual contains the information necessary to set up both configurations.
Where procedures for the two configurations differ, they are described
separately and clearly marked.

Preface
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Guide to conventions
Important information that users should be aware of is indicated with the following icons:
This icon indicates the existence of a potential hazard that could result in
personal injury, damage to your equipment or loss of data if the safety
instruction is not observed.
This icon indicates useful tips on getting the most from your RAID controller.
Important terms, commands and programs are put in Boldface font.
Screen text is given in screen font.
Related documents for reference
ACSView/AccuSet User’s Manual: A guide to the GUI applications designed for use with
Accusys 8 series and 9 series RAID controllers. The applications serve as handy and
effective tools for remote, cross-platform monitoring and control of RAID Controllers.

ACS-8960 User’s Manual
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PREFACE....................................................................................................................... 1
NOTICE....................................................................................................................... 1
TRADEMARKS ............................................................................................................ 1
REGULATORY INFORMATION...................................................................................... 2
ABOUT THIS MANUAL................................................................................................. 3
Intended user........................................................................................................ 3
Organization of the manual ................................................................................. 3
USING THIS MANUAL.................................................................................................. 4
GUIDE TO CONVENTIONS............................................................................................ 5
RELATED DOCUMENTS FOR REFERENCE ..................................................................... 5
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................. 11
OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 11
KEY FEATURES ........................................................................................................ 12
Serial ATA Compatible...................................................................................... 12
Three Operating Modes..................................................................................... 12
Self-Diagnostic Mode......................................................................................... 12
Configuration Mode........................................................................................... 13
Operation Mode................................................................................................. 13
Two Configuration Utilities............................................................................... 13
Control Panel..................................................................................................... 13
Monitor Utility................................................................................................... 13
Array Management ............................................................................................ 14
Hard Drive Hot Swapping ................................................................................. 14
Automatic Global Hot Spare.............................................................................. 14
Automatic Drive Rebuild.................................................................................... 14
Instant Remote Notification ............................................................................... 14
UPS Support ...................................................................................................... 14
BEFORE YOU BEGIN.................................................................................................. 15
What’s in the box ............................................................................................... 15
ACS-8960 SCSI-SATA package ......................................................................... 15
ACS-8960 FC-to-SATA (copper version) package............................................. 15
ACS-8960 FC-to-SATA (optical version) package............................................. 15
What else you need............................................................................................. 16

Table of Contents
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FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF WITH THE RAID CONTROLLER....................................... 17
Overview............................................................................................................ 17
Control Panel..................................................................................................... 17
Rear view ........................................................................................................... 18
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES............................................................................................ 18
3-in-1 Combo Cable........................................................................................... 18
RS232 Connection for VT-100/ANSI Terminal-Emulation................................ 18
Default Serial Port Settings ............................................................................... 19
Modem Connection............................................................................................ 19
UPS Connection................................................................................................. 19
CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION.................................................................................. 20
INSTALLATION FLOWCHART..................................................................................... 20
PRE-INSTALLATION NOTICES.................................................................................... 21
HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS ................................................................................. 22
SCSI to Serial ATA............................................................................................. 22
Fibre to Serial ATA (copper version)................................................................. 22
Fibre to Serial ATA (optical version)................................................................. 22
CHANGING HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS................................................................ 23
Removing / replacing control panel................................................................... 24
Removing / replacing the daughterboard........................................................... 24
Removing / replacing backplane........................................................................ 25
Removing / replacing controller board.............................................................. 26
INSTALLING / UPGRADING SODIMM ...................................................................... 27
SODIMM specifications:.................................................................................... 27
Architecture of supported SODIMM:................................................................. 27
Installing SODIMM ........................................................................................... 28
Removing SODIMM........................................................................................... 28
HOST CONNECTION................................................................................................... 29
SCSI configuration............................................................................................. 29
Fibre configuration (copper version)................................................................. 29
Fibre configuration (optical version)................................................................. 29
CABLING .................................................................................................................. 30
TURNING ON FOR THE FIRST TIME............................................................................. 31
TURNING OFF ........................................................................................................... 31
RESTARTING............................................................................................................. 31

ACS-8960 User’s Manual
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CHAPTER 3 QUICK SETUP..................................................................................... 32
QUICK SETUP WITH THE CONTROL PANEL ................................................................ 33
QUICK SETUP WITH THE MONITOR UTILITY .............................................................. 34
CHAPTER 4 ACCESSING THE MONITOR UTILITY ......................................... 36
ESTABLISHING A TERMINAL CONNECTION................................................................ 36
USING THE MONITOR UTILITY ................................................................................. 38
Monitor utility control keys................................................................................ 39
Menu area controls............................................................................................ 39
Output area controls.......................................................................................... 39
CHAPTER 5 CONFIGURATION.............................................................................. 40
CONFIGURATION OVERVIEW .................................................................................... 40
System configuration.......................................................................................... 40
RAID configuration............................................................................................ 41
How to configure ACS-8960.............................................................................. 42
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND THE MENUS................................................................ 43
ACCESSING THE MAIN MENU .................................................................................... 44
Using Monitor Utility......................................................................................... 44
Control Panel..................................................................................................... 45
SETTING ARRAY PARAMETERS ................................................................................. 46
RAID params menu............................................................................................ 47
SETTING SCSI PARAMETERS.................................................................................... 49
SCSI params menu............................................................................................. 49
SETTING FIBRE PARAMETERS.................................................................................... 51
Fibre params menu............................................................................................ 52
SETTING PORT PARAMETERS .................................................................................... 53
RS232 Params menu.......................................................................................... 53
Modem Port menu.............................................................................................. 54
Terminal Port menu........................................................................................... 54
PASSWORD SECURITY............................................................................................... 55
Password Info menu........................................................................................... 55
ENTERING AND EDITING ALERT SETTINGS ................................................................ 55
PAGER ALERT SETTINGS ........................................................................................... 56
Pager Info menu................................................................................................. 56
FAX ALERT SETTINGS ............................................................................................... 57
Fax Info menu.................................................................................................... 57
Company Info menu........................................................................................... 58