Asus DS300j User manual

ASUS Storage
DS300j
User Manual
Version 1.0

ASUS Storage DS300j User Manual
ii
Copyright
© 2011 ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. (Taiwan) All Rights Reserved. ASUS, the
ASUS logo, ASUS Storage, and ASUS Storage Management are registered or
pending trademarks of ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. (Taiwan) in the U.S. and
other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Information regarding products, services and offerings may be superseded by
subsequent documents and are subject to change without notice. For the latest
information and specifications regarding ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. (Taiwan)
and any of its offerings or services, please contact your local ASUS office or the
corporate headquarters. Visit http://www.asus.com/ for more information on
ASUS products.
Important data protection information
You should back up all data before installing any drive controller or storage
peripheral. ASUS Technology is not responsible for any loss of data resulting
from the use, disuse or misuse of this or any other ASUS Technology product.
Notice
Although ASUS Technology has attempted to ensure the accuracy of the content
of this manual, it is possible that this document may contain technical
inaccuracies, typographical, or other errors. ASUS Technology assumes no
liability for any error in this publication, and for damages, whether direct, indirect,
incidental, consequential or otherwise, that may result from such error, including,
but not limited to loss of data or profits.
ASUS Technology provides this publication ―as is‖ without warranty of any kind,
either express or implied, including, but not limited to implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
The published information in the manual is subject to change without notice.
ASUS Technology reserves the right to make changes in the product design,
layout, and driver revisions without notification to its users.
This version of the User Manual supersedes all previous versions.
Recommendations
In this User Manual, the appearance of products made by other companies,
including but not limited to software, servers, and disk drives, is for the purpose of
illustration and explanation only. ASUS Technology does not recommend,
endorse, prefer, or support any product made by another manufacturer.

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Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to ASUS Storage . ... . . ... ... . . ... .....1
About This Manual . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... . .1
Features . ... . . . . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... . .2
Specifications . . ...... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... . .3
Power Supply . . . . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Current (maximum) ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Power Consumption ..... . . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . ......3
Temperature ... . . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . ......3
Relative Humidity . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Vibration . . . ...... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Dimensions (H x W x D) . . . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Net Weight . ... . . .... . . . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......3
Carton Dimensions (H x W x D) . ........... . . ... . . ......4
Carton Weight . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
Safety ... . . . . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
Environmental . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
Warranty and Support . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
CE Statement . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
FCC Statement ......... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
KCC Statement . . . .... . . . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......4
Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation . ........ . . . . . ...... . . ...5
Unpacking the ASUS Storage . . . .... . ...... . . . . . ......... . .5
Mounting ASUS Storage in a Rack ............. . . . . ....... . .6
Installing Disk Drives ... . . . . . . . . ..... ... . . ... ... . . ... .....9
Drive Slot Numbering . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . ......9
Installing Your Disk Drives . . . ..... ... . . ... ... . . ... .....9
Making Data and Management Connections . . . . . . . . . ....... .11
Configuring a Data Path . . . . .... . . . . ..... . . . ... . . .... .11
Configuring a Management Path . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . .... .11
Direct Management of ASUS Storage . . . .... . . ... . . .... .11
Setting Up Serial Cable Connections ...... . .... . . ... . . .... .13
Connecting the Power . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .14
Front Panel LEDs . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .14
I/O Module LEDs . . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .14
Disk Drive LEDs ... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .15
Setting up the Serial Connection . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .16

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Chapter 3: Management . ...... . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . ...... . . . .17
LEDs . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .17
Front Panel LEDs . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . . ... .17
I/O Module LEDs . . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .19
Disk Drive LEDs ... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .20
CLI Command Set . . . . . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .21
Cable Command ... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .21
Enclosure Command . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .22
Factory Default Command . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .25
Help Command ....... . . . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .26
Link Command ......... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .26
Route Command ........ . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .31
Uptime Command . ...... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .32
VPDR Command . .... . . . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .32
? Command ...... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .32
Chapter 4: Maintenance . ...... . . . . . ...... . .... . . ...... . . . .35
Updating the Firmware . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .35
Downloading the Firmware Image File . . . .... . . ... . . .... .35
Updating Firmware in ASUS Storage Management . . . . .... .35
Updating Firmware with the JBOD Flash Utility . . . . . ... ... .37
Replacing a Power Supply ... . . .... . ...... . . . . . ......... .39
Removing the old power supply . ...... . .... . . ... . . .... .39
Installing the new power supply . ... ... . . ... ... . . ... ... .39
Replacing an I/O Module . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .40
Removing the old I/O module . . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . .... .40
Installing the new I/O module . ... . . ... . . ... ... . . ... ... .40
Replacing a Cooling Fan . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .41
Chapter 5: Support . . . . . ...... . . . . . ...... . .... . . ...... . . . .43
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . .... . ...... . . . . . ......... .43
Contacting Technical Support . . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . ......... .45
Technical Support Services . ........... . . . . . . . . . . .... .45
Limited Warranty . . .... . . ... . . ...... . . ... . . . . . . . ....... .46
Disclaimer of other warranties ..... . . ... . . . . . ... . . .... .46
Your Responsibilities . . . . . . . ..... ... . . ... ... . . ... ... .47
Returning the Product For Repair . . . ... . . ...... . . ......... .48
Index. . .... . . ... . . ... . . ...... . . . . . ... . . ... . . . . . ...... . . . .49

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Chapter 1: Introduction to ASUS Storage
This chapter covers the following topics:
•About This Manual (below)
•Features (page 2)
•Specifications (page 3)
About This Manual
This Product Manual describes how to setup, use, and maintain the ASUS
Storage DS300j expansion unit. It also describes how to use the built-in
command-line interface (CLI).
This manual includes a full table of contents, index, chapter task lists, and
numerous cross-references to help you find the specific information you are
looking for.
Also included are four levels of notices:
Note
A Note provides helpful information such as hints or alternative
ways of doing a task.
Important
An Important calls attention to an essential step or point required
to complete a task. Important items include things often missed.
Caution
A Caution informs you of possible equipment damage or loss of
data and how to avoid them.
Warning
A Warning notifies you of probable equipment damage or loss of
data, or the possibility of physical injury, and how to avoid them.

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Figure 1. ASUS Storage front view
Figure 2. ASUS Storage DS300F rear view
Dual Power Supplies
I/O Module
Features
•3.5" x 1" SAS 3 Gb/s drives
•3.5" x 1" SATA 3 Gb/s drives
•Any combination of SAS and SATA drives in the same system.
•Hot-swappable drive bays.
•Staggered physical drive spin-up.
•Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies.
•Command Line Interface via RJ-11 Serial Port.
•Three years complete system limited warranty includes 24 x 7 email and
phone support with highly experienced technical support technicians and an
advanced replacements program.
•Compatible with leading SAS hard drives, host bus adapters, and RAID
controllers.

3
Chapter 1: Introduction to ASUS Storage
•OS support:
•Windows 2008 Server, 2003 Server
•Red Hat Linux, SuSE Linux
•FreeBSD, VMware ESX 4.0
•Supports all background activities running on ASUS Storage subsystem
Specifications
Power Supply
450W, Dual hot-swappable and redundant, 100-240 VAC auto-ranging, 50-60 Hz,
with PFC
Current (maximum)
8 A @ 100 VAC or 4 A @ 240 VAC current rating with two power cords
Power Consumption
Without disk drives, 72.2 W; with disk drives, 242.3 W
Temperature
Normal conditions:
5°to 40°C operational (-40°to 60°C non-operational)
Conditions of running SAS disk drives with one failed cooling fan:
5°to 35°C operational (-40°to 60°C non-operational)
Relative Humidity
95 percent maximum
Vibration
Random, 0.21 grms, 5-500 Hz, 30 Mins, X, Y, Z axis.
Dimensions (H x W x D)
13 x 45 x 46 cm (5.1 x 17.7 x 18.1 in)
Net Weight
16.6 kg (36.1 lb) without drives, 24.6 kg (53.5 lb) with 16 drives*
* Assuming 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) per drive.

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Carton Dimensions (H x W x D)
28.5 x 57.2 x 75.2 cm (11.2 x 22.5 x 29.6 in)
Carton Weight
21.6 kg (47.6 lb)
Safety
BSMI, CB, CCC, CE, FCC Class A, MIC, VCCI, UL, cUL, TUV.
Environmental
RoHS, China RoHS.
Warranty and Support
Warranty: Three year limited warranty on all components except the optional
battery backup unit, which has a one-year warranty.
Support: 24x7 email and phone support (English only). 24x7 access to ASUS
support site for drivers, firmware, and compatibility.
CE Statement
Warning: This is a class B product. In a domestic environment this product may
cause radio interference in which case the user may be required to take
adequate measures.
FCC 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.
KCC Statement

5
Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation
This chapter covers the following topics:
•Unpacking the ASUS Storage (below)
•Mounting ASUS Storage in a Rack (page 6)
•Installing Disk Drives (page 9)
•Making Data and Management Connections (page 11)
•Setting Up Serial Cable Connections (page 13)
•Connecting the Power (page 14)
•Setting up the Serial Connection (page 16)
Unpacking the ASUS S
torage
The ASUS Storage product box contains the following items:
•ASUS Storage DS300j unit
•Quick Start Guide printed
•RJ11-to-DB9 serial data cable
•Screws for disk drives
(70 pieces)
•1.5m (4.9 ft) Power cords (2)
•CD with User Manual and Quick
Start Guide in PDF format
Warning
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product
may cause radio interference in which case the user may be
required to take adequate measures.
Warning
The electronic components within the ASUS Storage enclosure
are sensitive to damage from Electro-Static Discharge (ESD).
Observe appropriate precautions at all times when handling the
ASUS Storage or its subassemblies.

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Mounting ASUS Storage in a Rack
Cautions
•At least two persons are required to safely lift, place, and
attach the ASUS Storage unit into a rack system.
• Do not lift or move the ASUS Storage unit by the handles,
power supplies or the controller units. Hold the subsystem
itself.
•Do not install the ASUS Storage unit into a rack without rails
to support the subsystem.
•Only a qualified technician who is familiar with the installation
procedure should mount and install the ASUS Storage unit.
•Be sure all switches are OFF before installing the ASUS
Storage unit or exchanging components.
•Mount the rails to the rack using the appropriate screws and
flange nuts, fully tightened, at each end of the rail.
•Do not load the rails unless they are installed with screws as
instructed.
•The rails available for the ASUS Storage unit are designed to
safely support that ASUS Storage unit when properly
installed. Additional loading on the rails is at the customer’s
risk.
•ASUSTek COMPUTER INC. (Taiwan) cannot guarantee that
the mounting rails will support your ASUS Storage unit unless
you install them as instructed.
Note
To lighten the ASUS Storage enclosure, remove the power
supplies. Replace the power supplies after the ASUS Storage unit
is mounted in your rack.
The ASUS Storage DS300j unit installs to the rack using the available mounting
rails. You can also use your existing rails.

Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation
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Figure 1. DS300j unit mounted in a rack with the available rails
Vertical Rack Post ASUS Storage unit
Handles mount
outside the rack post Mounting rails mount outside the rack post
To install the ASUS Storage unit into a rack with the available mounting rails:
1. Check the fit of the mounting rails in your rack system.
See page 8, Figure 2.
2. Adjust the length of the mounting rails as needed.
The rear rail slides inside the front rail. The rail halves are riveted together
and use no adjustment screws.
3. Attach the mounting rail assemblies to the outside of the rack posts, using
the attaching screws and flange nuts from your rack system.
Be sure the front rail support is on the bottom facing inward.
The alignment pins fit into the rack holes above and below the attaching
screws.
Use the attaching screws and flange nuts from your rack system. Tighten the
screws and flange nuts according to your rack system instructions.
4. Place the ASUS Storage unit onto the rails.
5. Secure the ASUS Storage unit to the rack.
One screw each side, in the upper hole only. Use the attaching screws and
flange nuts from your rack system. Tighten the screws and flange nuts
according to your rack system instructions.

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Figure 2. Rack mount assembly diagram
Rack front post Rack back post
Locating pins (2 on each end)
Rail attaching screws
(not included)
Flange
Support
Inside of post
Front rail Rear rail
Rail adjustment screw
(center, outside of rail)
Inside of post
This completes rack mounting. Go to ―Installing Disk Drives‖ on page 9.

Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation
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Installing Disk Drives
The ASUS Storage DS300F and DS300I subsystems and DS300j expansion
units support:
• SAS and SATA hard disk drives
• 3.5-inch hard disk drives
For a list of supported physical drives, download the latest compatibility list from
the ASUS support web site http://support.asus.com/.
Drive Slot Numbering
You can install any suitable disk drive into any slot in the enclosure. The diagram
below shows how ASUS Storage’s drive slots are numbered. Whether you have
the original or plus carriers, the slots are numbered the same.
Slot numbering is reflected in the ASUS Storage Management and CLU user
interfaces. See Figure 3.
Figure 3. ASUS Storage drive slot numbering
Install all of the drive carriers into the ASUS Storage enclosure to ensure proper
airflow, even if you do not populate all the carriers with disk drives.
Installing Your Disk Drives
1. Remove a disk drive carrier.
2. Carefully lay the disk drive into the drive carrier at the front, so that the screw
holes on the sides line up.
3. Insert the screws through the holes in the drive carrier and into the sides of
the disk drive.
•Install only the counter-sink screws supplied with the ASUS Storage.
•Install four screws per drive.
•Snug each screw. Be careful not to over-tighten.
4. Reinstall the drive carrier into the ASUS Storage enclosure.
Repeat steps 1 through 3 until all of your disk drives are installed.

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Figure 4. Disk drive mounted in a drive carrier
Disk drive
mounting screw
mounting screw
Caution
ASUS Storage supports disk drive hot-swapping. To avoid hand
contact with an electrical hazard, do not remove more than one
drive carrier a time.
This completes disk drive installation. Go to ―Making Data and Management
Connections‖ on page 11.

Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation
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Making Data and
Management Connections
Configuring a Data Path
To establish the data path:
1. Make the FC or iSCSI data connections as described in the ASUS Storage
DS300F, DS300I User Manual.
2. Connect the SAS Expansion port of the DS300F or DS300I subsystem to the
SAS IN port on the I/O module of the first DS300j unit.
See page 12, Figure 5.
3. Connect the SAS OUT port on the I/O module of the first DS300j unit to the
SAS IN port on the I/O module of the second DS300j unit.
4. Connect the remaining DS300j units in the same manner.
All SAS ports have SFF-8088 connectors.
Configuring a Management Path
To establish the management path, make the FC or iSCSI management
connections as described in the ASUS Storage DS300F, DS300I User Manual.
The RAID controller in the ASUS Storage DS300F or DS300I subsystem also
monitors and manages the DS300j units. No additional connections are required
for ASUS Storage Management or the CLU.
Direct Management of ASUS Storage
A management connection directly to the ASUS Storage DS300j unit has a serial
connection to the Host PC. See ―Chapter 3: Management‖ on page 17 for more
information.

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Figure 5. Data and management connections with ASUS Storage
Expansion
Management Port SAS port
ASUS Storage DS300F
SAS IN port SAS OUT port
ASUS Storage DS300j
SAS IN port SAS OUT port
ASUS Storage DS300j
SAS IN port
ASUS Storage DS300j
This completes data and management connections. Go to ―Setting Up Serial
Cable Connections‖ on page 13.

Chapter 2: ASUS Storage Installation
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Setting Up Serial Cable Connections
Serial communication enables the Command Line Interface (CLI) on your PC to
monitor and control the ASUS Storage DS300j unit. The product package
includes a RJ11-to-DB9 serial data cable.
The CLI is explained in ―Chapter 3: Management‖ on page 17.
Figure 6. The serial connector on the back of the ASUS Storage
RJ11 Serial Connector
To set up a serial cable connection:
1. Attach the RJ11 end of the serial data cable to the RJ11 serial connector on
the controller.
2. Attach the DB9 end of the serial data cable to a serial port on the Host PC or
Server.
This completes the serial cable connection. Go to ―Connecting the Power‖ on
page 14.

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Connecting the Power
Plug the power cords into the power supplies on the back of the ASUS Storage
DS300j unit and switch on the power supplies.
When the power is switched on, the LEDs light up.
Caution
After you turn the power supply switches off, you must wait at least
10 seconds before you turn the power switches on again.
Front Panel LEDs
When boot-up is finished and the ASUS Storage DS300j unit is functioning
normally:
•Power and Global Enclosure Status LEDs display green continuously.
•I/O Module Activity LED flashes green when there is controller activity.
•System Heartbeat LED blinks green once per second.
Figure 7. Front panel LED display
Power
Global Enclosure Status
Reserved
I/O Module Activity
Reserved
System Heartbeat
I/O Module LEDs
When boot-up is finished and the ASUS Storage subsystem is functioning
normally:
•Fan LEDs display green continuously.
•SAS port LEDs flash green when there is activity.

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Figure 8. ASUS Storage I/O Module LEDs
Fan 1 Fan 2 Reserved SAS IN port SAS OUT port
Fan 1 Fan 2
Disk Drive LEDs
There are two LEDs on each drive carrier. They report the presence of a disk
drive, activity of the drive, and the drive’s current condition.
Figure 9. Drive carrier LEDs
If there is a disk drive in the carrier, the Power/Activity LED displays green. If not,
the Power/Activity LED remains dark. The Power/Activity LED flashes during
drive activity.
The Disk Status LED displays green when a drive is configured.
This completes the power and start-up. Go to ―Setting up the Serial Connection‖
on page 16.
Disk Status
Power/Activiyt

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Setting up the Serial
Connection
The ASUS Storage DS300j unit has a Command Line Interface (CLI) to manage
all of its functions via your PC’s terminal emulation program, such as Microsoft
HyperTerminal. This procedure uses the serial cable connection you made on
page 13.
You must use the serial connection to run the CLI for direct management of the
ASUS Storage DS300j unit. See ―Chapter 3: Management‖ on page 17.
To set up a serial connection:
1. Change your terminal emulation program settings to match the following
specifications:
•Bits per second: 115200
•Data bits: 8
•Parity: None
•Stop bits: 1
•Flow control: none
2. Start your PC’s terminal VT100 or ANSI emulation program.
3. Press Enter once to launch the CLI.
When connected and ready, the CLI screen displays:
***********************************************
ASUS SAS Expander v2.00.0000.xx
***********************************************
cli>
The cli> prompt on your screen indicates that you have a connection and the
CLI is ready to accept commands.