Dat Optic RM16_EX8 User manual

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RM16_EX8
SATA RAID Cards
USER Manual
Version: 1.00
Issue Date: July, 2008

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INTRODUCTION
This section presents a brief overview of the RM16_EX8 SATA RAID System.
Overview
The RM16_EX8 is a high-performance Serial ATA RAID system support a maximum of 16
SATA II on a single chassis. The RM16_EX8 featuring a PCI Express x4* or x8 lane
(selectable) host connection with a bandwidth of up to 20Gbps. When properly configured,
this RM16_EX8 provides a non-stop service with a high degree of fault tolerance through the
use of our RAID technology and can also provide advanced array management features.
*when use as PCI E x4 the performance of RM16_EX8 will be lower
Unparalleled Performance
The built-in hardware RAID engine provides reliable data protection for desktops,
workstations, and servers. These systems set the standard with enhancements that include
a high-performance Intel I/O Processor, new memory architecture (DDRII), and a high
performance PCI bus interconnection. The sixteen SATA II drives can be configures as the
RAID 0,1,3,5 and 6 engine, where RAID 6 can offer extreme-availability
Unsurpassed Data Availability
The RM16_EX8 with drive RAID controllers provide RAID 6 functionality to meet these
demanding requirements.
The RM16_EX8 raid engine also provide RAID levels 0, 1, 10(1E), 3, 5, 6, Single Disk or
JBOD configurations. Its high data availability and protection is derived from the following
capabilities:
Online RAID Capacity Expansion
Array Roaming, Online RAID Level
Stripe Size Migration
Dynamic Volume Set Expansion
Global Online Spare
Automatic Drive Failure Detection
Automatic Failed Drive Rebuilding
Disk Hot-Swap Online Background Rebuilding
Instant Availability/Background Initialization.
During the controller firmware flash upgrade process, it is possible that an error results in
corruption of the controller firmware. This could result in the device becoming non-
functional. However, with our Redundant Flash image feature, the controller will revert back
to the last known version of firmware and continue operating. This reduces the risk of
system failure due to firmware crashes.
Easy RAID Management
The RM16_EX8 raid engine utilizes built-in firmware with an embedded terminal emulation
that can access via:
-Hot key at Mother Board BIOS boot-up screen.
-The Web base GUI manager via IP address allows both local and remote access.

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Features
Adapter Architecture
Intel IOP341 I/O processor with RAID 6 engineer
PCI Express x8 host bus connection
Default 256 MB of DDR2-533 SDRAM with ECC protection, upgrade to 2GB (Option)
Support up to 16x SATA ll drives
Write-through or write-back cache support
Multi-System to support for large storage requirements
BIOS boot support for greater fault tolerance
Supports extreme performance Intel RAID 6 functionality
NVRAM for RAID event & transaction log
Battery backup module (BBM) (Option)
RAID Features
RAID level 0, 1, 10(1E), 3, 5, 6, Single Disk and JBOD
Multiple RAID selection
Online array roaming
Online RAID level/stripe size migration
Online capacity expansion & RAID level migration simultaneously
Online volume set growth
Instant availability and background initialization
Automatic drive insertion/removal detection and rebuilding
Greater than 2TB per volume set for 64-bit LBA
Redundant flash image for adapter availability
Support SMART, NCQ and OOB staggered spin-up capable drives
Monitors/Notification
System status indication through system and HDD LED; LCD display, and alarm
buzzer
SMTP support for email notification
SNMP agent supports for remote SNMP manager
Management
Field-upgradeable firmware in flash ROM or via remote Ethernet
Hot key boot-up RM16_EX8 BIOS RAID manager via M/B BIOS
Support controller’s API library, allowing customer to write its own AP
Support Command Line Interface (CLI)
Single Admin Portal (SAP) monitor utility
Disk Stress Test (DST) utility for production in Windows
Firmware-embedded browser-based manager, SMTP manager, SNMP agent and
Telnet function via Ethernet port (IP address base)
Support controller’s API library for customer to write its own AP
Push Button and LCD display panel
Operating System
Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista
Linux: Red Hat Linux, SuSE Linux and other
FreeBSD, Novell Netware 6.5
Solaris 10 X86/X86_64
SCO Unixware 7.1.4
Mac OS 10.X (EFI BIOS support)
ForlatestsupportedOSlistingvisithttp://www.datoptic.com

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HARDWARE INSTALLATION
This section describes the procedure for installing the install the PCI E host adapter
Before Your Begin Installation
Thank you for purchasing the RM16_EX8 raid engine as your RAID data storage and
management system. This user guide gives you a simple step-by-step instructions for
installing and configuring the SATA RAID Controller. To ensure personal safety and to
protect your equipment and data, please read the information carefully in pack content list
before you begin installing.
Package Contents
If any items listed in your package is missing, please contact your local dealers before
proceeding with installation (disk drives and additional disk mounting tray are not included):
RM16_EX8 RAID system
• 1 x RM16_EX8 – Sixteen SATA drives RAID 3U rack mount
• 16x RM16_EX8 SATA tray (with or without HDD depend on model ordered)
• 1 x Installation CD
• 1 x User Manual
• 1 x PCI-Express x8 Host adapter
• 1 x 1.50 meter PCI E x8 cable
• 2 x AC cord cables – for Redundant PSU model (optional)
• 1 x AC cord cable – ATX PSU
Overiew Front
Figure # 1 – Front View
HDDlatch
HDD#1
HDD#16
HDD#4
HDD#13

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Figure # 2 Back view
Tools Required
An ESD grounding strap or mat is required. Also required are standard hand tools to open
your system’s case.
System Requirement
The PCI-Express x8 Host adapter can be installed in a PCI Express slot with minimum of 4x ,
x8 or x16 lanes, where the 8x lanes is the default set up
Warning:
High voltages may be found inside computer equipment. Before installing any of the
hardware in this package or removing the protective covers of any computer equipment,
turn off power switches and disconnect power cords. Do not reconnect the power cords until
you have replaced the covers.
Electrostatic Discharge
Static electricity can cause serious damage to the electronic components on this SATA RAID
controller. To avoid damage caused by electrostatic discharge, observe the following
precautions:
Before you handle the RM16_EX8 internal components in any way, touch a
grounded, anti-static surface, such as an unpainted portion of the system chassis, for
a few seconds to discharge any built-up static electricity.
Installation Tools
The following items may be needed to assist with installing the RM16_EX8 raid engine into
an available PCI expansion slot.
Small screwdriver
Host system hardware manuals and manuals for the disk or enclosure being
installed.
Personal Safety Information
To ensure personal safety as well as the safety of the equipment:
Always wear a grounding strap or work on an ESD-protective mat.
Before opening the system cabinet, turn off power switches and unplug the power
cords.
ACswitches
Ethernet
(RJ‐45)
it h
PCIex8
connection
LCDDisplay

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Do not reconnect the power cords until you have replaced the covers.
Installation
Follow the instructions below to install a PCI express x8 lanes adapter into your computer /
Server.
Unpack
Unpack and remove the contents from the package. Inspect it carefully, if anything is
missing or damaged, contact your local dealer.
Power Computer /Server Off
Turn off computer and remove the AC power cord. Remove the system’s cover. See the
computer system documentation for detail instruction.
Install the PCI Express adapter Cards
To install the PCI Express adapter, remove the mounting screw and existing bracket from the
rear panel behind the selected PCI Express slot on computer system. Align the gold-fingered
edge on the card with the selected PCI expansion slot. Press gently but firmly down to
ensure that the card is properly seated in the slot, as shown in
Figure # 3.
Next, screw the bracket into the computer chassis.
Note: RM16 PCI Express adapter require a PCI-Express x8 slot. To run as x4 slot
please refer to Appendix F

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Install HDD into RM16_EX8
Install HDD into RM16 tray with supplied screws
Install RM16 tray + HDD into RM16, lock the HDD prevented accidental remove
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<. Picture here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Note RM16_EX8 comes with preconfigured RAID HDD then please installed HDD accordance
to their slot number as show below.
Preconfigured HDD map
HDD # 1 HDD # 2 HDD # 3 HDD # 4
HDD # 5 HDD # 6 HDD # 7 HDD # 8
HDD # 9 HDD # 10 HDD # 11 HDD #12
HDD # 13 HDD # 14 HDD # 15 HDD #16
5. Connect the PCI Express x8 lane cable
Connect an included PCI Express x8 cable between RM16_EX8 and host computer, make
sure the latches are secured to the PCI Express connectors on RM16_EX and computer
system.
<<<<<<To host picturre and to System picture
6. Power up the System
Check the installation thoroughly, reinstall the computer cover, and reconnect the power
cord cables. Turn on the power switch at the rear of the RM16_EX8(if equipped) and then
press the power button of the host computer.

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Driver Installation chapter for more detail
-Windows page -
-Mac page -
-Linux page
-FreeBSD
-Solaris 10
To manage RM16_EX8 RAID configuration
Connect an Ethernet cable to RJ45 connection in the back of RM16_EX8 and refer to:
WebGUI chapter for more detail of RM16_EX8 RAID configuration – Page XX
Use RM16_EX8 as a boot disk
The RM16_EX8 raid engine is a bootable controller. If your system already contains a
bootable device with an installed operating system, you can set up your system to boot a
second operating system from the new controller. To add a second bootable controller,
you may need to enter setup of M/B BIOS and change the device boot sequence so that the
RM16_EX8 raid engine in the list. If the system BIOS setup does not allow this change, your
system may not be configurable to allow the RM16_EX8 raid engine to act as a second boot
device.

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Driver Installation
This chapter describes how to install the RM16_EX8 raid engine driver to your operating
system.
Driver Installation for Windows
The RM16_EX8 raid engine can be used with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP,
Windows Server 2003, and Vista. The RM16_EX8 supports SCSI Miniport and StorPort
device driver for Windows Server 2003/Vista.
New Storage Device Drivers in Windows 2003/XP-64/Vista
The Storport driver is new to Windows 2003/XP-64/Vista. Storport implements a new
architecture designed for better performance with RAID systems and in Storage Area
Network (SAN) environments. Storport delivers higher I/O throughput, enhanced
manageability, and an improved miniport interface. Storport better utilizes faster adapters
through the use of reduced Delay Procedure Call (DPC) and improved queue management.
Install NEW Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista on a RM16_EX8 RAID Volume
The following instructions explain how to install the RM16_EX8 RAID controller driver. For
completed details on installing Windows, see the Windows User’s Manual.
Installation Procedures
The following detailed procedure installing the SATA RAID controller driver while installing
Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista. Have your bootable Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
CD and follow the required procedure below to install SATA RAID controller:
1. Make sure you follow the instructions in Chapter 2 “Hardware Installation” to install the
controller and connect the disk drives or enclosure.
2. Start the system and then press Tab+F6 to access the RM16_EX8 BIOS RAID manager.
Use the RM16_EX8 BIOS RAID manager to create the RAID set and volume set to which
you will install Windows.
Note: The computer system BIOS must support bootable from CD-ROM. For details, see
Chapter 3 “RM16_EX8 BIOS RAID manager”. Once a volume set is created and
configured, continue with next step to install the operating system.
3. Insert the Windows setup CD and reboot the system to begin the Windows installation.
4. Press F6 key as soon as the Windows screen shows ”Setup is Inspecting your Computer’s
Hardware Configuration”. A message stating “Press F6 to Specify Thrid-party RAID
Controller” will display during this time. This must be done or else the Windows installer
will not prompt for the driver for from the SATA RAID controller and the driver diskette
will not be recognized.
5. The next screen will show: “Setup could not determine the type of one or more mass
storage device installed in your system”. Selected “specify additional SCSI adapter” by
pressing S.
6. Window will prompt to place the “Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk” into
floppy drive A: Insert the SATA RAID series driver diskette in drive “A:” and press Enter
key.

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Note: see appendix H for making floppy drivers
7. Window will check the floppy; select the correct card and CPU type for your hardware
from the listing and press Enter key to install it.
8. After Windows scans the hardware and finds the controller, it will display: “Setup will
load support for the following Mass Storage devices:
“ARECA [Windows X86-64 Storport] SATA/SAS PCI RAID Controller (RAID6-Engine inside)”.
Press Enter key to continue and copy the driver files. From this point on, simply follow
the Microsoft Windows installation procedure. Follow the on-screen Instructions,
responding as needed, to complete the installation.
9. After the installation is completed, reboot the system to load the new drivers/operating
system.
10.See Chapter 5 in this manual to customize your RAID volume sets using RM16_EX8
RAID storage manager.
Making Volume Sets Available to Windows System
When you reboot the system, log in as a system administrator. Continue with the following
steps to make any additional volume sets or pass-through disks accessible to Windows. This
procedure assumes that the RM16_EX8 raid engine hardware, driver, and Windows are
installed and operational in your system.
1. Partition and format the new volume set or disks using Disk Administrator:
a. Choose “Administrative Tools” from the “Start” menu.
b. Choose “Computer Management” from the “Administrative Tools” menu.
c. Select “Storage”.
d. Select “Disk Management”.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to write a signature to the drive.
3. Right click on the disk drive and select “Create Volume” from the menu.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to create a volume set and to give a disk drive letter.
Installing RM16_EX8 into an existing Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista system
In this scenario, you are installing the controller in an existing Windows system. To install
the driver:
1. Follow the instructions in Chapter 2, the Hardware Installation Chapter, to install the
controller and connect the disk drives or enclosure.
2. Turn on the computer Windows OS will recognize the RM16_EX8 RAID Controller and
launch the “Found New Hardware Wizard”, which guides you in installing the RM16_EX8
driver.