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)

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-4
1.2 What’s in the Box
Your ExaSAN B08S3-PS is shipped in special packaging to provide protection during
transportation. Carefully check your carton contents against the included packing list, or the
inside flap of the box, and your original purchase order. You should have the items as described
in the sections below.
B08S3-PS packing list
Contact your Accusys System Integrator/Value Added Reseller or Accusys Customer Service
(see Appendix C “Customer Service and Technical Support” for more information) to report any
missing item.
The Accessories package includes the following items. These items can also be ordered and
shipped separately from Accusys.
1. Installation DVD (x1)
2. AC power cord cable (x1)
3. Screw pack for disk tray (x2)
4. 2M QSFP copper cable (x1)
5. Plug adapter (x3)
6. ExaSAN B08S3-PS storage (x1)
7. Z2M-G3 HBA (x1)
1.3 Your B08S3-PS at a Glance
This section helps you get familiar with the physical appearance of your ExaSAN B08S3-PS.

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-5
1.3.1 ExaSAN B08S3-PS
1.3.1.1 B08S3-PS Front Panel & LED Indicators
Name
Description
1
Power status
Flashing Blue indicates the subsystem power supplies are
working normally after a beep sound
2
Access
Flashing Blue indicates the host is accessing
3
System Fan
Blue is Fan normal
Red is Fan fail
4
Heartbeat
Flashing Blue indicates the controller is active
1.3.1.2 Beeper Codes
Controller Status
Beeper mode
Turn on the Controller
One short beep
System Panic
Long beep
Controller Work Status, ex:
Disk init, disk rebuild, disk expansion, disk
migratrion, disk snapshot, etc.
Regularly repeating one short
beep
System Problem, ex:
Fan issue, Power issue, RAID error, etc.
Regularly repeating three short
beeps
Create array successfully
One short beep
Memory test error
Regularly repeating three rapid
short beeps

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-6
1.3.1.3 Disk Mapping
Disk 1
Disk 5
Disk 2
Disk 6
Disk 3
Disk 7
Disk 4
Disk 8
1.3.1.4 Disk Tray and LED Indicators
Disk Status
LED #1 (Access LED)
LED #2 (Status LED)
Disk Online
Steady Green
Disk Fail
Steady Red
No Disk
Steady Red
Disk Lock
Steady Green
Disk Access
Flashing Blue
Steady Green
Disk Initialization
Flashing Blue
Steady Green
Disk Rebuild
Flashing Blue
Rebuild Drives: Steady Red
Original Drives: Steady Green
Disk Expansion
Flashing Blue
Extend Drives: Steady Red
Original Drives: Steady Green
Disk Migration
Flashing Blue
Migrating Drives > Original Drives
Migrating Drives: Steady
Green
Original Drives: Steady
Green
Migrating Drives < Original Drives
Migrating Drives: Steady Red

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-7
Original Drives: Steady
Green
Migrating Drives = Original Drives
Migrating Drives: Steady
Green
Original Drives: Steady
Green
Disk Health
Center Action
Flashing Blue
Steady Green

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-8
1.3.1.5 B08S3-PS Rear Panel
Figure 10: B08S3-PS back view
No.
Name
Description
1
Cooling fan
Maintains the disk array away from overheating.
2
PCIe port
Connects the controller to the HBA on the host server.
Host access LED (top):
Flashing Blue indicates host accessing is in progress.
No light indicates no host accessing.
Host connected LED (bottom):
Flashing Green indicates the controller is connected
normally.
No light indicates the controller connected abnormal.
3
Terminal port
Connects to diagnostic equipment. (For engineering only)
4
Power button
Control the power to the RAID system
Push the button to power on the RAID system
Push the button for 5 seconds to shut down the power of the
RAID system manually.
5
Power Supply
AC In
Connects to a power source with a power cord.

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-9
1.3.1 Z2M-G3
HBA LED indicators
No.
Name
Description
1
QSFP Port 1
For connection with switch.
2
QSFP Port 2
For connection with A08S3-PS-PS directly.
Refer to Z2M-G3 document on website (http://www.accusys.com.tw/products/accessories/hba-cable/document.html)
for more detail.
1.4 What Else You Need
When you purchased your ExaSAN system, additional hardware, software and accessories may
be required to fully take advantage of this system. The following describes the software and
hardware which you may need to purchase separately. If you still have questions, please
consult with your ExaSAN reseller for more details.
1. Disk drive: B08S3-PS supports both SAS and SATA interface HDD/SSD drives in 3.5”and
2.5”dimension. Recommend using Enterprise level of the same model, size, and firmware.
The B08S3-PS HDD compatibility list is on the Document section of B08S3-PS’s web page.
2. Host system computer: When connecting B08S3-PS-PS, you will need a host workstation
or server with an available PCIe3.0 x8 (or larger) slot to install the ExaSAN HBA. Please
confirm manufacturer’s specifications for PCIe3.0 support to get 32Gb/s transfers from the
B08S3-PS-PS.
Note
Accusys cannot guarantee ExaSAN product compatibility with all workstations
and motherboards on the market, so please check with your supplier before
installation.
3. Driver Software: B08S3-PS required Firmware/ Driver/ BIOS/ GUI are all included in the
DVD ROM inside B08S3-PS package. Also, you can download it from the website
(http://www.accusys.com.tw/support/download.html), folder path is /Download /ExaSAN
/ForDAS or /ForSAN
4. ExaSAN Switch (optional): If you plan to setup a SAN environment for sharing B08S3-PS,
an Switch is necessary, B08S3-PS compatible with SW08, SW16 and SWF16, refer to
website for more information; http://www.accusys.com.tw/products/switch/swf16-v2.html

1. Introduction
User Guide Page 1-10
5. Thunderbolt Convertor - C1M-G2 (optional): If you want to directly connect ExaSAN
storage with host server via Thunderbolt, you may need a C1M
(http://www.accusys.com.tw/products/accessories/c1m-new.html) to convert Thunderbolt to
PCIe.
6. Dual DAS port adapter - Z2D-G3 (optional): If you need twice times of B08S3-PS
performance to work on, you need a Z2D-G3
(http://www.accusys.com.tw/products/accessories/hba-cable.html) to connect 2 sets of
B08S3-PS, and striping them through operation system’s software to create a bigger and
faster storage device.

2. Preparation
User Guide
2. Preparing to Install ExaSAN B08S3-PS

2. Preparation
User Guide Page 2-1
2. Preparing to Install ExaSAN B08S3-PS
To ensure safe and smooth operation of your ExaSAN B08S3-PS, it is essential that you
choose an appropriate location for the system, provide an appropriate operating environment,
and adequate power for all components of the system. As you plan for installation, follow the
guidelines below to ensure that the system and its environment are safely and appropriately
positioned for efficient operation and service.
2.1 Precaution for Handling the System
Take the following precautions to avoid damage to the system or potential injury to you.
1. Prepare a flat, sturdy surface before removing the system from its packaging. The table or
cart that will hold the system should be as close as possible to the system carton.
2. Ensure that all power switches have been turned off and all power cords disconnected to
prevent personal injury and damage to the hardware.
3. Static electricity can damage electronic components of your system. Follow the guidelines
below to avoid such damage:
a. Work in a static-free environment
b. Wear a grounded anti-static wrist strap
c. Store uninstalled components in anti-static bags
d. Handle circuit boards by their edges and avoid touching chips and connectors
2.2 Choosing the Location for the System
The ExaSAN B08S3-PS is designed as a tower solution. Depending on where your desk or
rackmount cabinet or other install location is, you should keep the following points in mind when
determining where to place your system.
1. Measure the amount of available space on your desk. The amount of space required for the
B08S3-PS is L: 265mm, W:175mm, H: 87mm
2. Measure the distance between any two components that need to be connected via cable(s).
This measurement will help you determine the length of the required cable(s). Or if you’ve
already purchased the cables, determine the proximity of the components in question.
3. Leave sufficient room, at least two inches, around the unit to allow air ventilation.
4. Do not block or cover any of the ventilation holes in the front and back panels of the unit.
Consistent airflow is essential to keeping the system operating efficiently.
5. Allow additional room at the front and back of the unit for service.
6. The ExaSAN B08S3-PS uses several cables and cords. It’s a good idea to determine how
they will be arranged at the rear of the system, and where the cables will be routed to
connect to the host systems and RAID disk systems.
2.3 Electrical Power
At your chosen location for the ExaSAN B08S3-PS, make sure that the electrical circuitry and
power outlets are sufficient for the combined power needs of all hardware components. To plan
for safe and adequate power to the system, follow these guidelines:
1. Check the documentation for all hardware components at the chosen location to determine
their power requirements. Then make sure that the available power supply for that location
is sufficient for the planned components.
2. When possible use surge protectors or power conditions as part of the installation.

2. Preparation
User Guide Page 2-2
3. When planning for electrical power, make sure you have more power than the total power
requirements specified for all components. Also make certain that the power load is
distributed evenly among circuits to that location. Consult an electrician or other expert if you
need assistance with planning for the power needs for your components.
4. Make sure that the power outlets for all hardware components are grounded according to
local and national standards. Consult an electrician if you need assistance with grounding.
2.4 Operating Environment
The operating environment for the ExaSAN B08S3-PS must meet certain requirements:
1. Verify that the temperature range of the chosen location is within the limits established for
the system and all other components.
2. Make certain that the chosen location has adequate ventilation to maintain the necessary
temperature range.
3. If there are multiple hardware components installed at the chosen location, consider
additional cooling measures to assure efficient operation of the system and other
components.
4. Environment parameters:
a. Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
b. Operating humidity: 5-85%, non-condensing
c. Storage humidity:5%-95%, non-condensing
2.5 Security
To ensure the security of the ExaSAN B08S3-PS, make certain that the chosen location meets
your security requirements.