Acer Altos S300 User manual

Acer Altos S300
User’s guide

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new
editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes
no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents
hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in
the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label
affixed to your system. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial
number, model number, and purchase information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Model Number : _________________________________
Serial Number: ___________________________________
Purchase Date: ___________________________________
Place of Purchase: ________________________________
Copyright © 2001 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Acer Altos S300
User’s guide
Acer and the Acer Logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other company’s product
names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their
respective companies.

iii
Warranty/Limitation of Liability
Basic Warranty
In the absence of any optional warranty or continuing provisions by
formal agreement, Acer warrants its products in accordance with the
schedules listed below. Purchaser hereafter mentioned refers at all
times to the customer who purchased Acer product(s).
Altos S300 Warranty
Acer warrants Altos S300 products of its manufacture to be free from
defect in material and workmanship for a period of three (3) years
from the date of shipment. During this period, if the customer
experiences difficulties with a Acer Altos S300 system and is unable to
resolve the problem via phone with Acer Technical Support a Return
Material Authorization (RMA) number will be issued for the faulty
component. Following receipt of an RMA, the Purchaser is responsible
for returning the product to Acer, freight prepaid. Acer, upon
verification of warranty, will repair or replace at its option the Altos
S300 component in question, and will then return the product to the
Purchaser, freight prepaid.
Cable Warranty
All Acer provided cables are warranted for ninety (90) days from the
time of shipment. Questionable cables should be returned to Acer,
freight prepaid where they will be repaired or replaced by Acer at its
option and returned to the Purchaser, freight prepaid.
The above warranties shall not apply to expendable components such
as fuses, bulbs, and the like, nor to connectors, adapters, and other
items not a part of the basic product. Acer shall have no obligation to
make repairs or to cause replacement required through normal wear
and tear or necessitated in whole or in part by catastrophe, fault or
negligence of the user, improper or unauthorized use of the product,
or use of the product in such a manner for which it was not designed,
or by causes external to the product, such as, but not limited to, power
failure or air conditioning. Acer’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to
repair or replace any defective product, and unless stated, pay return

iv
transportation costs for such replacement.
Purchaser shall provide labor for removal of the defective product,
shipping charges for return to Acer and installation of its replacement.
On-site services are not a part of this warranty. Above warranties are
subject to change without notice.
Warranty claims must be received by Acer within the applicable
warranty period. A replaced product, or part thereof, shall become the
property of Acer and shall be returned to Acer at Purchaser’s expense.
All returned material must be accompanied by a Return Materials
Authorization (RMA) number assigned by Acer. For more information,
please contact your product supplier or Acer branch offices.
THE EXPRESSED WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE IN
LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH OTHER
WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED BY ACER.
THESE STANDARD EXPRESS WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ALL
OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES ON THE PART OF ACER FOR DAMAGES,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT.

v
Notices
FCC notice
This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a commercial environment. residential installation. This
device 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 device does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
device 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 antenna
• Increase the separation between the device and receiver
• Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician
for help
Notice: Shielded cables
All connections to other computing devices must be made using
shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.
Notice: Peripheral devices
Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.)
certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this
equipment. Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result
in interference to radio and TV reception.
Caution! Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the manufacturer could void the user’s authority, which is granted
by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this
computer.

vi
Use conditions
This part 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.
European Community Statement
This equipment complies with the following European directives:
• EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amending Directives 92/31/EEC and
93/68/EEC.
• Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and amending Directive 93/68/
EEC.
Notice: Canadian users
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
ICES-003.
Remarque à l’intention des utilisateurs canadiens
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-
003 du Canada.
VCCI
This Class A product is based on the standard of the Voluntary Control
Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment. If this
equipment is used in a domestic environment, radio disturbance may
arise. When such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take
corrective actions.
BSMI
In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference,
in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.

vii
Important safety instructions
Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future
reference.
1. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
2. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not
use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for
cleaning.
3. Do not use this product near water.
4. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The
product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.
5. Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are
provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must
not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked
by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.
This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or
heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation
is provided.
6. This product should be operated from the type of power indicated
on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power
available, consult your dealer or local power company.
7. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate
this product where persons will walk on the cord.
8. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the
total ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension
cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also,
make sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the
wall outlet does not exceed the fuse rating.
9. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet
slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out
parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid
of any kind on the product.
10. Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or
removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or
other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
11. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

viii
a When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed
b If liquid has been spilled into the product
c If the product has been exposed to rain or water
d If the product does not operate normally when the operating
instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are
covered by the operating instructions since improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will
often require extensive work by a qualified technician to
restore the product to normal condition.
e If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been
damaged
f If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance,
indicating a need for service.
12. Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we
recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or
explosion. Refer battery replacement to a qualified serviceman.
13. Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not
disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from
children and dispose of used batteries promptly.
14. Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in
your accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type:
UL listed/CSA certified, type SVT, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE
approved or its equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6
meters).

Contents
Warranty/Limitation of Liability iii
Basic Warranty iii
Altos S300 Warranty iii
Cable Warranty iii
Notices v
FCC notice v
European Community Statement vi
Important safety instructions vii
1 Introduction 1
About the Altos S300 series storage array 3
Features 4
Disk drive carrier 5
Power supplies 5
Cooling system 6
I/O modules 7
Enclosure Services Module 7
Terminating Services Module 8
Concentrator Services Module 8
2 Installation precautions 9
ESD precautions 11
Safety precautions 12
Unpacking and initial setup 13
Rack installation precautions 14
Environmental consideration 14
Electrical consideration 14
Mechanical consideration 15
3 Cabling and configuration 17
Altos S300 series SCSI ID assignments 19
I/O module LEDs 20
ESM/CSM LEDs 20
TSM LED 20
Cabling the Altos S300 series enclosure 21
Single ESM and TSM configuration 22
Cabling the single (joined) SCSI bus configuration 22
Cabling the dual (split) SCSI bus configuration 23
Single CSM and TSM Configuration 25
Cabling the single (joined) SCSI bus configuration 25
Cabling the dual (split) SCSI bus configuration 26

x
Dual CSM configuration 28
Dual concentrator services modules 28
Join/Split bus jumper 30
Powering on the Altos S300 series enclosure 31
Altos S300 series jumper settings 31
Powering on an AC enclosure 32
4 System monitoring 33
Overview 35
Environmental status (ES) block 36
Features 36
Alarm buzzer mute 38
Enclosure front panel LEDs 39
Disk drive carrier LEDs 40
Power supply LEDs 42
Advanced cooling module (ACM) LEDs 43
5 Installing and removing components 45
Location of the Components 47
Installing and removing a disk drive carrier 48
Installing a disk drive carrier 49
Removing a disk drive carrier 49
Installing and removing a power supply 50
Installing a Power Supply 50
Removing a Power Supply 50
Installing and removing an advanced cooling module (ACM)51
Installing an advanced cooling module (ACM) 51
Removing an advanced cooling module (ACM) 51
Installing and removing an I/O option module 52
Installing an I/O option module 52
Removing an I/O option module 52
Appendix A: Technical specifications 53
Appendix B: Safety statements 59
Index 67

1 Introduction

This chapter introduces the Altos S300 series
of storage arrays. The main features are
described along with a list of the options and
configurations that are available.

3
About the Altos S300 series storage
array
The Altos S300 series is a new concept in data storage that provides the
optimum in investment protection and versatility. The Altos S300
series will meet the performance, capacity, and high availability needs
of the widest variety of applications, such as video, imaging, prepress,
data warehouse, OLTP, and web servers.

1 Introduction
4
Features
• Fourteen disk drive slots.
• Redundant AC power supplies.
• Redundant input power cords.
• A total of four fans in two Advanced Cooling Modules (ACM)
providing n+1 redundancy on fans.
• Two rear removable I/O option modules provide active/passive
failure redundancy on environmental monitoring, or per Bus
Monitoring.
• Multi-MODE SCSI Interface Ultra 160.
• Hot plug of power supplies and ACM’s.
• Maximum configurations of drives supported with one or two
power supplies.
• Failure indication of all Field Replaceable Units (FRU) via LEDs and
audible alarm (with alarm mute button).
• Disk drive hot plug support.
• Auto-sense termination at end of bus (busses) if no cable present.
• Auto bus split, if two cables are present.
• Up to 10M of LVD SCSI cable.
• SCSI I.D.’s hard-wired.
• Global remote spinup enable capability.
• Global delayed spinup enable capability.
• Rail Kit mounting for 19” equipment racks.
• Carrier cam lever allows controlled insertion and extraction of disk
carriers.

5
Disk drive carrier
The disk drive carrier supports a one inch disk drive with support for
10K RPM drives and higher (15K). The Altos S300 series enclosure holds
up to fourteen disk drive carriers. The disk drives can be hot swapped
and the disk drive carriers provide for blind mating.
Power supplies
The Altos S300 series uses two AC power supplies for normal operation,
providing redundancy of the power system. The power supplies can be
hot swapped. The power supplies provide 673 Watts continuous
output power and 853 Watts peak output power. The power supplies
provide active current sharing, power factor correction, over current
and over voltage protection is also provided. The power supplies have
individual power inputs.
1
2
1
2
0
I
0
I
Mute
Power Supplies

1 Introduction
6
Cooling system
Cooling is provided by the two Advanced Cooling Modules (ACMs)
located at the rear of the enclosure. Each of the ACM units contain
two variable speed fans. The enclosure requires four fans for normal
operation, but will operate correctly when one fan fails to function
(redundancy is lost if one fan is failed in either ACM), however, it is
recommended that the failed fan be replaced as soon as possible. The
ACM units can be hot swapped. The I/O Option Module (ESM and TSM
described later) monitors and controls the speed of each fan. The
speed is set depending on the ambient temperature and failed status.
The fans are set to full speed, if one fan fails to function.
The following table shows how the fan speed relates to temperature
change.
Note: All fans are set to the same speed.
ACM Speed Ambient Temp ( oC)
Speed 1 0 to 26
Speed 2 26 to 28
Speed 3 28 to 30
Full Speed 30 +
1
2
1
2
0
I
0
I
Mute
ACMs
Fans 1 & 2
Fans 3 & 4

7
I/O modules
There are two I/O option slots located at the rear of the enclosure.
One of these must contain an Enclosure Services Module (ESM)
or a Concentrator Services module (CSM) and the other slot must
contain the Terminating Services Module (TSM) or a second
Concentrator Services Module (CSM) for dual CSM configuration.
The I/O slot located on the left of the enclosure as viewed from the
back is called I/O Slot A and the I/O slot located on the right is called I/O
Slot B. The I/O modules can be inserted into either of the I/O
slots.
Note: For a detailed information of the I/O modules, see page 20.
The following sections will describe the modules and how they should
be used.
Enclosure Services Module
The Enclosure Services Module (ESM) has three primary functions. It
acts as a SCSI bus pass-through from external cabling to the internal
busses. Secondly, it terminates the end of the SCSI bus in joined mode.
Finally, it provides monitoring, reporting and control of the system
storage enclosure. The ESM reports status and receives control
information via the SCSI bus per the SCSI-3 Enclosure Services
specification and also the SAF-TE specification.
1
2
1
2
0
I
0
I
I/O Module I/O Module
Mute
The I/O Modules can be inserted into either I/O slot

1 Introduction
8
Terminating Services Module
The Terminating Services Module (TSM) has no external connectors and
as such cannot have cables connected to it. Instead it can either
terminate or join the SCSI busses based on the cable configuration on
the ESM. The TSM reports status and receives control information via
the SCSI bus per the SCSI-3 Enclosure Services specification and also the
SAF-TE specification.
Concentrator Services Module
The Concentrator Services Module (CSM) includes the same
functionality as the ESM, in addition to giving the enclosure Clustering
capabilities. With a CSM installed in one I/O Slot and either a CSM or a
TSM installed in the second I/O slot then a Cluster Configuration is
possible.
This means that each external SCSI connector can have 25 meters of
SCSI cable attached, with each cable connected from the I/O module to
a host. When a host is disconnected from the enclosure, the CSM
isolates the disconnected host from the internal storage and remaining
attached host. This means that one host can be taken “off-line”
without data disruption to the other host.
Note: For information on how to configure your Altos S300
series, see page 17.

2 Installation
precautions

This chapter discusses the important safety
instructions along with the electrical,
mechanical and environmental precautions
that need to be taken when installing the
Altos S300 series enclosure.