Accusys ExaSAN User manual

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ExaSAN B08S3-PS
User Guide
Support Host Bus Adapter:
PCIe 2.0: Z1M-G2
PCIe 3.0: Z2M-G3, Z2D-G3
Support Host Convertor:
Thunderbolt2.0 to PCIe2.0: C1M-G2
Support Switch System:
PCIe 2.0: SW08-Q4, SW16, SWF16
Accusys Storage Ltd.,
Version: V1.2

Revision Sheet
User Guide
Page i
Revision Sheet
Release
No.
Date
Revision Description
V1.0
11/10/2012
Initial release on CD.
V1.1
12/19/2012
Modify page 4-3(erase clear log explanation and add DAS and SAN log
file path)
V1.1.1
02/26/2013
Delete 5M copper cable on page 1-4 and 1-6
V1.1.2
12/24/2013
Modify Heartbeat LED indicator to flash on page 3-5
V1.1.3
09/22/2014
Modify item 3.3.4.2 Installing driver on Linux and RAIDGuardX
Installation
V1.2
11/30/2014
Add C1M-G2,
Add Z2M-G3
Add Chapter plan you SAN
Add Chapter create array

User Guide Page ii
PREFACE
Notice
The product features and specifications described in this guide are subject to change without
notice.
The manufacturer shall not be liable for any damage, or the loss of data resulting from the
performance or use of the information contained herein.
About This Guide
Congratulations on your purchase of the ExaSAN (pronounced X-sa-SAN) B08S3-PS, The 8
bay PCIe 2.0 tower model of the ExaSAN family, specifically designed for all post production
storage. It delivers stability, exceptional performance, and scalable capacity.
This guide also contains instructions for installing and using the ExaSAN B08S3-PS system and
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technologies and RAIDGuardX (ExaSAN’s RAID
management software).
If you are new to RAID and RAIDGuardX, this guide will help you become familiar with the
technology, and assist you in setting up and using RAID on the B08S3-PS. If you are already
familiar with ExaSAN, use this guide as a reference for implementing your ExaSAN B08S3-PS
solution to achieve maximum performance and reliability.
For details of hardware installation, setup, configuration and considerations, see
Chapter 1, “Introducing ExaSAN PCIe2.0 Storage System”
Chapter 2, “Preparing to Install ExaSAN B08S3-PS”
Chapter 3, “Installing ExaSAN B08S3-PS”
Chapter 4, “Using RAIDGuardX”
Chapter 5, RAID Overview
Guide to Conventions
Inside the double boxes are important information that users should be aware of:
Caution
This 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.
Note
This indicates useful tips on getting the most from your Accusys RAID
system.

User Guide Page iii
Trademarks
Accusys and the names of Accusys products and logos referenced herein are trademarks
and/or service marks or registered trademarks and/or service marks of Accusys Storage Ltd.
Xsan, Mac, Mac OS, and Macintosh are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple.
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 Storage Ltd.
The information contained herein is the exclusive property of Accusys Storage Ltd. 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.
Document version V1.2
Date Published: October, 2014
© Copyright 2014 Accusys Storage Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.
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.

User Guide Page iv
ExaSAN B08S3-PS User Guide
Table of content
Page #
Notice.............................................................................................................................................................ii
About This Guide........................................................................................................................................ii
Guide to Conventions ...............................................................................................................................ii
Trademarks.................................................................................................................................................iii
Table of content.........................................................................................................................................iv
1. Introducing ExaSAN PCIe 3.0 Storage System..............................................................................1-1
1.1 Overview..................................................................................................................................1-1
1.1.1 What is the ExaSAN Solution.............................................................................................................1-1
1.1.2 ExaSAN B08S3-PS features...............................................................................................................1-2
1.2 What’s in the Box ...................................................................................................................1-4
1.3 Your B08S3-PS at a Glance...................................................................................................1-4
1.3.1 ExaSAN B08S3-PS ............................................................................................................................1-5
1.3.1.1 B08S3-PS Front Panel & LED Indicators.................................................................................1-5
1.3.1.2 Beeper Codes ............................................................................................................................1-5
1.3.1.3 Disk Mapping............................................................................................................................1-6
1.3.1.4 Disk Tray and LED Indicators ..................................................................................................1-6
1.3.1.5 B08S3-PS Rear Panel................................................................................................................1-8
1.3.1 Z2M-G3..............................................................................................................................................1-9
1.4 What Else You Need...............................................................................................................1-9
2. Preparing to Install ExaSAN B08S3-PS.........................................................................................2-1
2.1 Precaution for Handling the System.....................................................................................2-1
2.2 Choosing the Location for the System..................................................................................2-1
2.3 Electrical Power......................................................................................................................2-1
2.4 Operating Environment.........................................................................................................2-2
2.5 Security....................................................................................................................................2-2
3. Installing the ExaSAN B08S3-PS ...................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Installing the System ..............................................................................................................3-1
3.1.1 Installing Disk Drives.........................................................................................................................3-1
3.1.2 Installing the HBA Card .....................................................................................................................3-2
3.2 Install driver and GUI............................................................................................................3-4
3.2.1 Installing ExaSAN driver and GUI RAIDGuardX .............................................................................3-4
3.2.1.1 Installing driver and GUI on MAC and Windows ....................................................................3-4
3.2.1.2 Installing driver and GUI on Linux...........................................................................................3-5
3.2.2 Confirm the ExaSAN RAID system driver on OS..............................................................................3-9
3.2.2.1 Confirming the ExaSAN RAID system driver on Mac.............................................................3-9
3.2.2.2 Confirming the ExaSAN RAID system driver in Windows....................................................3-10
3.2.3 Confirm LEDs on HBA....................................................................................................................3-10
3.3 Create Array.........................................................................................................................3-11
3.3.1 Check on new Volume in Disk Utility of MacOS ............................................................................3-11

User Guide Page v
3.3.2 Check on new volume in Disk Management of Windows................................................................3-11
3.3.3 Check on new volume by fdisk command on Linux.........................................................................3-11
4. Using RAIDGuardX GUI.................................................................................................................4-1
4.1 RAIDGuardX Overview ........................................................................................................4-1
4.1.1 RAIDGuardX at a Glance...................................................................................................................4-2
4.1.1.1 Menu Bar...................................................................................................................................4-2
4.1.1.2 RAIDGuard X main console.....................................................................................................4-3
4.1.2 Adding Controller...............................................................................................................................4-4
(1) DAS –add controller locally ..................................................................................................................4-4
(2) SAN –add controller remotely...............................................................................................................4-5
4.1.3 Planning your RAID...........................................................................................................................4-6
4.1.4 Creating an Array ...............................................................................................................................4-7
4.1.5 Email Notification ............................................................................................................................4-11
4.1.6 Preference.........................................................................................................................................4-12
4.1.6.1 Disk Lag Proof Mode..............................................................................................................4-12
4.1.6.2 NCQ ........................................................................................................................................4-13
4.1.6.3 SMART Mode.........................................................................................................................4-13
4.1.6.4 Beeper .....................................................................................................................................4-14
4.1.6.5 Equalization Mode ..................................................................................................................4-14
4.1.6.6 Cache.......................................................................................................................................4-15
4.1.6.7 MISC.......................................................................................................................................4-16
4.1.7 Option...............................................................................................................................................4-17
4.1.7.1 Slicing .....................................................................................................................................4-17
4.1.7.2 LUN Map ................................................................................................................................4-19
4.1.7.3 Expansion................................................................................................................................4-20
4.1.7.4 Migrations ...............................................................................................................................4-21
4.1.7.5 Snapshot..................................................................................................................................4-24
4.1.7.6 Health Center ..........................................................................................................................4-27
4.1.7.7 Unlock Drives .........................................................................................................................4-28
4.1.8 Updating the ExaSAN RAID system Firmware ...............................................................................4-29
4.1.8.1 Preparing the Firmware Update Files......................................................................................4-29
4.1.8.2 Installing the Firmware Update Files ......................................................................................4-29
5. RAID Overview.................................................................................................................................5-1
5.1 How RAID Works ..................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 Data Storage Methods............................................................................................................5-1
5.2.1 Data Striping.......................................................................................................................................5-1
5.2.2 Data Mirroring....................................................................................................................................5-1
5.2.3 Data Parity..........................................................................................................................................5-2
5.3 RAID Levels............................................................................................................................5-2
5.3.1 RAID 0: Striping.................................................................................................................................5-2
5.3.2 RAID 1: Mirroring..............................................................................................................................5-2
5.3.3 RAID 5: Independent data disks with distributed parity.....................................................................5-2
5.3.4 RAID 6: Independent data disks with two Independent parity schemes.............................................5-2
5.3.5 RAID 0+1: Striped set with Mirroring................................................................................................5-3
6. Appendices........................................................................................................................................6-1
Appendix A: FAQs ..............................................................................................................................6-2
Appendix B: Icons ...............................................................................................................................6-4
Appendix C: Customer Service and Support....................................................................................6-6

1. Introduction
User Guide
1. Introducing ExaSAN PCIe 2.0 Storage System

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-1
1. Introducing ExaSAN PCIe 3.0 Storage System
1.1 Overview
1.1.1 What is the ExaSAN Solution
Developed by Accusys Storage Ltd., a worldwide leader in RAID (Redundant Array of
Independent Disks) storage systems, ExaSAN (pronounced “X-sa-SAN”) is a family of storage
and switch products that take advantage of well known PCIe (PCI Express) technology speeds,
standards, and roadmap.
The current ExaSAN products employ PCIe3.0 protocol that provides 8 Gb/s per lane transfers.
With 4 lane QSFP (Quad SFP) connector and cable, ExaSAN can transfer up to 32 Gb/s by
using single connection.
Post production work including non-linear editing (NLE) requires high bandwidth storage to
quickly move the volume of data being processed and ExaSAN storage solution meets those
demands. The high bandwidth provided by ExaSAN technology allows the client to complete
editing tasks in a much shorter time to save time and money.
ExaSAN solution, including its complete line of rack mount RAID systems, tower RAID systems,
PCIe switch systems and accessories, support to build DAS (directly attached storage) and
SAN (storage attached network) environments. Figures below depict the ExaSAN B08S3-PS
system solution architecture in DAS and SAN environment.
DAS environment
DAS with C1M environment

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-2
SAN environment
Whether it’s collaborative video editing in a post-production workgroup, or a shared research
project in a university, the ExaSAN solution offers a range of performance levels and storage
capacities that scale to meet the needs of small-to-medium-sized organizations. Equally
important and useful is its integrated design, centralized administration and monitoring, and a
suite of built-in management tools; which eliminate the need for a staff of experts to install and
maintain a SAN for the workgroups
1.1.2 ExaSAN B08S3-PS features
Below are the key features of the B08S3-PS. They are the reasons why ExaSAN is the best
RAID solution for a power user, working on studio, or individual work space.
1. Host Interface
PCIe3.0 8Gb/s x4 lanes, for transfers up to 32Gb/s
2. Disk Interface
Support 8 x 3.5” SAS/SATA HDD(hard disks) or 2.5”SSD (flash disks)
3. RAID Controller
Hardware XOR/Multi-Parity engine
2GB DDRII-800 memory, ECC-protected, support up to 4GB
4. Software Specifications
Multiple RAID levels: 0,1,5,6, 0+1, and JBOD
Up to 4 independent disk arrays
RAID capacity partitioning: up to 16 slices
Support up to 64 LUNs
Selective initialization method with background initialization
Online RAID set expansion and level migration
Controller and Disk Cache Control to optimize read/write performance
Support write-back and write-through caching
Automatic drive insertion/removal detection and fast disk rebuilding

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-3
Online bad block data recovery and reallocation
Online disk scrubbing and data refresh and parity regeneration
Disk health monitoring by S.M.A.R.T.
NVRAM-based transaction log and auto parity resynchronization
Array roaming and disk traveling with redundant on-disk metadata
Array recovery to restore RAID configurations
Dual firmware images for firmware recovery
Disk Lag Proof technology to guarantee disk timely response
Equalization mode to smooth the performance of sequential data transfers
5. Management
Java-based GUI, cross-platform executable
Enclosure components monitoring and control via GUI
LED indicator for RAID & enclosure status
Event logging to text file with event viewer
Event notification by email (SMTP)
Centralized multiple RAID system management
Supports both in-band and out-of-band management
Support SNMP
Support remote management
6. Enclosure
Dimensions: L: 374mm, W:175mm, H:394mm
Weight: 11.5 Kg (w/o drives)
7. Support OS
Windows 7, 8, 2008 and 2012 (32/64bit)
Linux: Red Hat, SUSE, Fedora, CentOS etc.
MAC: OS X 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 and later
8. Operating Conditions
Humidity: 5% - 85%
Operating Temperature: 0C –40C
Certification: RoHS, UL, CE, FCC, C-Tick, BSMI
9. Support Host and Switch
HBA: Z2M-G3 (PCIe3.0 x8), Z2D-G3 (PCIe3.0 x8)
Switch: SW08, SW16, SWF16
Convertor: C1M-G2 (Thunderbolt2.0 to PCIe)
10. Support Cable
Copper cable:2M (standard)
Optical cable:10M, 30M, 50M and100M (optional)