MicroNet PR10000SATA User manual

Owner’s Guide
May 2008
www.MicroNet.com
PlatinumRAID
PRO+eSATA

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 2
Federal Communications Commission
Radio Frequency Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment 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 or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on. The user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Only use shielded cables, certified to comply with FCC Class B limits, to attach this equipment. Failure to install
this equipment as described in this manual could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Compliance: This equipment does not exceed Class B limits per radio
noise emissions for digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of the Canadian Department of
Communications. Operation in a residential area may cause unacceptable interference to radio and TV reception
requiring the owner or operator to take whatever steps are necessary to correct the interference.
Conformite aux regiements du Department Canadien de Communications: Cet equipement n’excede pas les
limites de Classe B concernaut les bruits des emissions de radio pour le dispositif digital etablies par le Reglement
d’Interference de Radio du Departement Canadien de Communications. L’operation de cet equipement dans un
quartier residential peut occasionner des parasites inacceptables dans la reception de la radio ou de la television
exigeant le proprietaire ou l’operateur de faire routes les necessaires pour corriger cet interference.
FTZ/BTZ German Postal Service Notice: We hereby certify that the ADV, SB, SBS, SS, SBX, SBT, MO, MS, MR, MT,
MD, CPK, CPKT, CPKD, DD and DDW products are in compliance with Postal Regulation 1046/1984 and are RFI
suppressed. The marketing and sale of the equipment was reported to the German Postal Service. The right to
retest this equipment to verify compliance with the regulation was given to the German Postal Service.
Bescheinigung des Herstellers/Importeurs: Hiermit wird bescheinigt, daB der/die/das: SB, SBS, SS, SBX, SBT,
MO, MS, MR, MT, MD, CPK, CPKT, CPKD, DD, DDW in Ubereinstimmung mit den Bestimmungen der: VFG1046,
VFG243 funk-enstort ist. Der Deutschen Bundespost wurde das Inverkehrbringen dieses Gerates angezeigt
and die Berechtigung zur Uberprdfung der Serie auf Einhaltung der Bestimmungen eingeraumt MicroNet
Technology, Inc.
FCC Compliance Statement

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 3
Limitations of Warranty and Liability
MicroNet Technology has tested the hardware described in this manual and reviewed its
contents. In no event will MicroNet or its resellers be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or
consequential damage resulting from any defect in the hardware or manual, even if they have
been advised of the possibility of such damages. In particular, they shall have no liability
for any program or data stored in or used with MicroNet products, including the costs of
recovering or reproducing these programs or data.
During the specified warranty period, MicroNet guarantees that the product will perform
according to specifications determined by the manufacturer, and will be free of defects. Parts
and labor of the received product, and replacement parts and labor are guaranteed during
the specified warranty period. The warranty covers defects encountered in normal use of the
product, and does not apply when damage occurs due to improper use, abuse, mishandling,
accidents, sand, dirt, excessive dust, water damage, or unauthorized service. The product must
be packed in its original packing material when shipped, or the warranty will be void. In all
cases, proof of purchase must be presented when a warranty claim is being made.
This manual is copyrighted by MicroNet Technology. All rights are reserved. This documentation
may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any
electronic medium or machine readable form without prior consent in writing from MicroNet.
MicroNet and the MicroNet logo are registered trademarks of MicroNet Technology. FireWire,
the FireWire logo, Macintosh, and the MacOS Logo are trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
Microsoft Windows and the Windows Logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Technical Support Policy
If you have a problem installing your system or suspect it is malfunctioning, please contact
the Authorized MicroNet Reseller from whom you purchased the system. If the reseller fails
to resolve the problem, please visit our support page at www.micronet.com/help, or call
MicroNet’s Help Desk for assistance at [phone]. Please have the model, serial number,
date of purchase, and the reseller’s name available before calling. If possible, call from a
telephone near the system so we can more readily direct you to make any necessary system
corrections, should they be required.
Returning Materials
If a reseller or MicroNet Technician finds it necessary to have the system returned for testing
or servicing, a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number will be issued. The RMA number
must be placed on the outside of the carton in large, visible letters near the address label.
Return the complete system including all cables and software. The system must be packed
in the original packing materials and shipped prepaid. MicroNet will repair the system and
return it prepaid by similar common carrier and priority. Please record the RMA number and
make reference to it when inquiring on the status of the system. A returned unit found to be
fault-free will carry a $65.00 charge for service and repackaging.
Warranty

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 4
We are pleased that you have chosen the PlatinumRAID. Our systems are
designed for speed, reliability, compatibility, and performance. We think you
will find the system easy to install, and a productive addition to your computer
system.
This manual presumes that you are familiar with standard computer operations;
this includes copying files, opening documents, clicking with the mouse, and
organizing files or folders within other folders. If you are unfamiliar with
these operations, please consult the User’s Guide that was supplied with your
computer system. Your computer dealer and local user’s groups are also good
sources of information. After you are comfortable with the operation of your
computer, continue reading this manual which describes hardware installation
and operation.
Thank you again for choosing a MicroNet system. Please fill out the enclosed
registration card and mail it to the address below. Mailing the registration card
registers your system and provides us with helpful information. Alternatively,
You may also register your product online at www.MicroNet.com
Your comments assist us in improving and updating our products. Please feel
free to share them with us. Please send comments to:
MicroNet Technology
Attn: Customer Service
19260 Van Ness Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
[email protected]
Welcome From MicroNet Technology
Welcome

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 5
FCC Compliance Statement
Warranty Information
Welcome Note
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 -- Getting Started
Features and Benefits
System Requirements and Compatibility
Unpacking the PlatinumRAID
What’s Included
Choosing a place for your PlatinumRAID
The PlatinumRAID Interface Components
Communications and Control
Hot Plug Drive Replacement
Connecting the PlatinumRAID
Chapter 2- Understanding RAID
RAID
RAID 0
RAID 1
RAID 10
RAID 3
RAID 5
RAID Set
Volume Set
Online Capacity Expansion
Hot Swappable Disk Support
Instant Availability/Background Initialization
Array Roaming
Online RAID Level and Stripe Size Migration
Hot Spare Drives
Hot Swap Disk Rebuild
Chapter 3- Configuration Methods
1. Overview
2. Using the front panel touch-control interface
3. VT-100 Terminal (using the controller’s serial port)
4. Web Browser-based RAID management
Chapter 4- Getting a Fast Start
1. Overview
2. Main Menu Options
3. Configuring RAID Sets and Volume Sets
4. Designating Drives as Hot Spares
5. Using Quick Volume and RAID Set Setup
6. Creating a RAID Set using Quick Volume and RAID Setup Configuration
7. Using RAID Set and Volume Set Functions
Chapter 5- Navigating the RAID Controls
Conventions
Login Procedure
The Main Menu Configuration Tree
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup (A)
2. Raid Set Functions (B)
Table of Contents
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Table of Contents

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 6
3. Volume Set Functions (C)
4. Physical Drive Functions (D)
5. RAID System Functions (E)
6. Additional System Functions (F)
Chapter 6 - Built in Web-Based Administration
Introduction
Preparation
Login Procedure
The Main Menu Configuration Tree
1. Quick Volume/RAID Setup
2. Raid Set Functions
3. Volume Set Functions
4. Physical Drive Functions
5. System Controls
6. System Information
Chapter 7- Host Computer Setup
1. Volume Setup and Apple Macintosh
2. Volume Setup on Microsoft Windows
Chapter 8- Troubleshooting
Daily Use Tips
General Use Precautions
Frequently Asked Questions
Appendix A- Getting Help
Appendix B- RAID Level Comparison Table
Appendix C- Terminal Session Setup
Appendix D- Glossary of RAID Terms
Appendix E- Product Specifications
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PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 7
Chapter 1 - Getting Started
Thank you for purchasing The MicroNet PlatinumRAID storage solution. With speed, high
capacity, ease of use, and support for numerous applications, PlatinumRAID is the ideal
solution for all of your data storage needs.
Please take advantage of the information contained within this manual to ensure easy setup
and configuration. If at any time you require technical assistance, MicroNet’s Help Desk is
available at 310-320-0772 or at www.micronet.com/help
Features and Benefits
The PlatinumRAID Pro Subsystem is a high-performance RAID subsystem built around
a powerful 64bit controller designed to meet or exceed the highest industry standards.
Outstanding features include:
• SATA,FireWire800,andUSB2.0hostconnectionsformaximumhostflexibility
• SATAII,NCQenableddrivechannels
• ConfigurableRAIDengineforhighdataprotection
• On-linevolumeexpansionandmigrationwithnosystemdown-time
Featuring high performance and availability RAID technology and advanced array management
features, The PlatinumRAID can serve in several applications:
• As a high speed local storage device for a dedicated workstation
• As a high-speed, fault tolerant server-attached storage device
• As a redundant backup station
System Requirements and Compatibility
The PlatinumRAID Pro features triple host interfaces, including external SATA, FireWire 800
(downward compatible with FireWire 400,) and USB 2.0 (downward compatible with USB 1.1)
providing nearly universal connectivity. While the PlatinumRAID can function with a variety
of hardware and software combination, MicroNet has tested and approved the PlatinumRAID
Pro for compatibility with the following architectures:
PowerMac: G4-733 and better, OS-X revisions 10.4.8 and newer
Intel PCs: Pentium 3-500 and better, Windows revisions 2000 and newer
Unpacking the PlatinumRAID
Please unpack your PlatinumRAID in a static free environment, carefully making sure not to
damage or discard any of the packing material. If the RAID subsystem appears damaged, or
if any items of the contents listed below are missing or damaged, please contact your dealer
or distributor immediately.
In the unlikely event you may need to return the PlatinumRAID for repair or upgrade, please
use the original packing material to ensure safe transport.
1-Getting Started

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 8
What’s Included
Your PlatinumRAID comes with the following items:
1 PlatinumRAID Pro unit
5 Disk Drive Modules
1 PlatinumRAID CD containing this manual in PDF format, warranty information, registration
and marketing materials
1 Ethernet cord
1 DB9-DB9 serial cord
1 power cord
1 external SATA cable
1 PCI to external SATA host bus adapter (Pro Model)
1 9 pin-9 pin FireWire 800 cable (Pro Model)
1 9 pin-6 pin FireWire 400 cable (Pro Model)
1 USB 2.0 cable (Pro Model)
Choosing a location for your PlatinumRAID
When selecting a place to set up your Disk Array, be sure to follow these guidelines:
•Placeonaflatandstablesurfacecapableofsupportingatleast30lbs
•Place the Disk Array close enough to the computer for the host connection cable to reach.
•Useagroundedwalloutlet.
•Avoid an electrical outlet controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental disruption
of the power source may wipe out data in the memory of your computer or Disk Array.
•Keeptheentiresystemawayfrompotentialsourcesofelectromagneticinterference,such
as loudspeakers, cordless telephones, etc.
CAUTION! Avoid direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, shock and
vibration, or dust
!
1-Getting Started

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 9
Power Connector
Fan Exhaust Vents (DO NOT BLOCK!)
RS232 Serial Control Port
The PlatinumRAID interface components
The following figures illustrate the connector locations for the RAID subsystems.
FRONT VIEW
REAR VIEW
1-Getting Started
Voltage, Temperature, and Fan Indicator lights
Front Panel Display
Front Panel Interface buttons
Power Button
Disk Drive Present/Fault Indicator Lights
Disk Drive Trays
System Power, Activity, and Fault Indicator lights
Disk Drive Tray release latch (1 per tray)
Disk Drive Tray Lock (1 per tray)
Ethernet Management Port
FireWire Ports (Pro Models)
External SATA port
USB 2.0 Port (Pro Models)
Disk Drive Activity Indicator Lights (1 per tray)

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 10
Communication and Control
RAID functions including creation, modification, and monitoring can be accomplished through
the front panel, the web based administration user interface, or an RS232 link through a VT-
100 terminal session to access the text-based Setup Menu. The LCD status panel informs you
of the Disk Array’s current operating status at a glance, as shown here:
LED Normal Status Problem Indication
Power LED LED glows bright green This LED does not light up after power switched on
Host Access LED LED blinks amber during host
accessing the RAID subsystem. LED never flickers
Disk Activity LED LED blinks blue during hard
drive read and write activity LED does not light up during activity
Disk Present LED LED glows bright green This LED will blink red if there is a disk error.
System Fault LED LED remains dark This LED will blink red if there is a system error.
Voltage LED LED glows bright green This LED will blink red if there is a voltage error.
Fan LED LED glows bright green This LED will blink red if there is a fan problem
Temperature LED LED glows bright green This LED will blink red if the internal temperature rises
above the Spec setting
Hot plug Drive Replacement
In the event of a drive failure, the RAID subsystem supports the ability to hot-swap drives
without powering down the system. A data module can be removed and replaced without
powering off the unit or taking the system off line. In a fault tolerant array, the RAID
rebuilding will proceed automatically in the background (see Section II-Understanding RAID
for more information.)
A drive failure will illuminate amber the drive indicator light above the failed drive on the
front of RAID subsystem. To replace a drive, please follow these steps:
1. Make sure the drive lock (see page 8, “The PlatinumRAID Interface components”) is in the
up-down position (use a small flathead screwdriver to turn the mechanism.)
2. Press down on the drive release latch (see page 8, “The PlatinumRAID Interface
components”) to release the drive tray
3. Gently pull out the disk drive tray handle and slide out the drive tray.
4. To replace: Slide in the replacement drive tray with the tray handle open. When the tray is
slid all the way into the PlatinumRAID Pro, push the tray handle closed.
IMPORTANT: NEVER remove a drive tray without replacing it. Operating the RAID with a drive
tray missing will disrupt airflow and may cause the PlatinumRAID to fail.
!
1-Getting Started

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 11
Connecting the PlatinumRAID
Connecting the PlatinumRAID requires an available power socket, and a host with one of the
following interfaces:
•AFireWire800port
•AFireWire400port
•AUSB2.0/1.1port
•AnexternalSATAhostbusconnector(anexternalSATAPCIhostbusadapterisincluded
with pro models)
To use the optional management and configuration interfaces, the following may also be
required:
•UsingthebuiltinEthernetremotemanagementrequiresanavailableEthernetjacktoahub
or switch on your network.
•TousetheVT100terminal,a9pin(DB9)serialportwillberequiredonyourhost.Ifthe
host does not have an available serial port, a USB to serial adapter may be used.
Attach the cables as illustrated:

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 12
Chapter 2 - Understanding RAID
The PlatinumRAID controller subsystem is a high-performance SATA2 drive bus disk array
controller. When properly configured, the RAID subsystem can provide non-stop service with
a high degree of fault tolerance through the use of RAID technology and advanced array
management features.
The RAID subsystem can be configured to RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 3, and 5. RAID levels other
than 0 are able to tolerate a hard disk failure without impact on the existing data, and failed
drive data can be reconstructed from the remaining data and parity drives. RAID configuration
and monitoring is accessible through the LCD front control panel, serial port, or the built in
web administration interface. The PlatinumRAID Pro features the following high availability
functions:
•RAIDLevels0,1,10,3,5Support
•OnlineCapacityExpansion
•OnlineRAIDLevelMigration
•LogicalDriveCapacityExtension
•ArrayRoaming
•AutomaticDriveFailureDetection
•AutomaticFailedDriveRebuilding
•HotSpareDiskDrives
•InstantAvailability/Background 
Initialization.
This section will help you gain understanding of how these functions can serve your needs best.
RAID
RAID is an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It is an array of multiple
independent hard disk drives that provide high performance and fault tolerance through
support of several levels of the Berkeley RAID techniques. An appropriate RAID level is
selected when the volume sets are defined or created, and is based on disk capacity, data
availability (fault tolerance or redundancy), and disk performance considerations. The RAID
subsystem controller makes the RAID implementation and the disks’ physical configuration
transparent to the host operating system, which means that the host operating system drivers
and software utilities are not affected regardless of the RAID level selected.
2-Understanding RAID
FYI:
The Berkeley RAID levels are a family of disk
array data protection and mapping techniques
described by Garth Gibson, Randy Katz, and David
Patterson in papers written while they were performing
research into I/O subsystems at the University of
California at Berkeley. There are six Berkeley RAID
Levels, usually referred to by the names RAID Level 1,
etc., through RAID Level 6.

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 13
RAID 0 (Striping)
ThisRAIDalgorithmwritesdataacrossmultiplediskdrivesinsteadofjustonediskdrive.RAID
0 does not provide any data redundancy, but
does offer the best high-speed data throughput.
RAID 0 breaks up data into smaller blocks and
then writes a block to each drive in the array.
Pros: Disk striping enhances both read and
write performance because multiple drives
are accessed simultaneously,
Cons: The reliability of RAID Level 0 is less than
any of its member disk drives due to its lack
of redundancy.
RAID 1 (Disk Mirroring)
RAID 1, also known as “disk mirroring”, distributes duplicate data simultaneously to 2 disk drives.
Pros: RAID 1 offers extremely high data reliability
as all the data is redundant. If one drive
fails, all data (and software applications)
are preserved on the other drive.
Read performance may be enhanced as the
array controller can access both members
of a mirrored pair in parallel.
Cons: RAID 1 volume requires double the raw
data storage capacity
During writes, there will be a minor
performance penalty when compared to
writing to a single disk.
RAID 10 (Striped Mirror)
RAID 10 is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID
1, combing striping with disk mirroring. RAID
Level 10 combines the fast performance of
Level 0 with the data redundancy of Leve1 1.
In this configuration, data is distributed across
several disk drives, similar to Level 0, which are
then duplicated to another set of drive for data
protection. RAID 10 provides the highest read/
write performance of any of the Hybrid RAID
levels, but at the cost of doubling the required
data storage capacity.
Pros: Fastest read/write performance of any of the Hybrid RAID levels
High data reliability as all the data is redundant
Cons: Requires double the raw data storage capacity
2-Understanding RAID

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 14
RAID 3
RAID 3 provides disk striping and complete
data fault tolerance though a dedicated parity
drive. RAID 3 breaks up data into smaller
blocks, calculates parity on the blocks, and
then writes the blocks to all but one drive in
the array. The parity data created is then written
to the last drive in the array. If a single drive
fails, data is still available by computing the
inverse operation on the data and parity of the
contents corresponding strips of the surviving
member disk. RAID 3 is best for applications
that require very fast large block data transfer
rates or long data blocks
Pros: Very good large file transfer performance
Fault tolerant
Cons: Not well suited for transaction processing or other I/O request-intensive applications.
RAID 5
RAID 5 is sometimes called striping with parity
at byte level. In RAID 5, the parity information
is written to all of the drives in the subsystems
rather than concentrated on a dedicated parity
disk. If one drive in the system fails, the parity
information can be used to reconstruct the data
from that drive. All drives in the array system
can be used to seek operation at the same time,
greatly increasing the performance of the RAID
system. RAID 5 is the most often implemented
RAID algorithm in RAID arrays.
Pros: Very good general transfer performance
Fault tolerant
Cons: Can be slower then RAID 3 at large size file transfers
RAID Set
A RAID Set is a group of disks containing one or more volume sets. The MicroNet Platinum
RAID supports as follows:
• UptothreeRAIDSetsaresupported.PleasenotethatmultipleRAIDSetsonthesame
disks are not supported.
• FromonetofivedrivescanbeincludedinanindividualRAIDSet.
• AVolumeSetmustbecreatedeitheronanexistingRAIDsetoronagroupofavailable
individual disks (disks that are not yet a part of a RAID set). If there are pre-existing
RAID sets with available capacity and enough disks for specified RAID level desired,
then the volume set will be created in the existing RAID set of the user’s choice.
2-Understanding RAID

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 15
Volume Set
A Volume Set is seen by the host system as a single logical device. It is organized in a RAID
level with one or more physical disks. RAID level refers to the level of data performance
and protection of a Volume Set. A Volume Set capacity can consume all or a portion of
the disk capacity available in a RAID
Set. Multiple Volume Sets can exist
on a group of disks in a RAID Set.
Additional Volume Sets created in a
specified RAID Set will reside on all
the physical disks in the RAID Set.
Thus each Volume Set on the RAID Set
will have its data spread evenly across
all the disks in the RAID Set.
• VolumeSetsofdifferentRAID
levels may coexist on the same
RAID Set.
• Themaximumaddressablesizeofasinglevolumesetis2Terabytes.
• UptoeightvolumesetscanbecreatedinaRAIDset
Online Capacity Expansion
Online Capacity Expansion makes it possible to add one or more physical drives to a volume set,
while the server is in operation, eliminating the need to store and restore after re-configuring
the RAID set. When disks are added to a RAID set, unused capacity is added to the end of the
RAID set. Data on the existing volume sets residing on that RAID set is redistributed evenly
across all the disks. A contiguous block of unused capacity is made available on the RAID set.
The unused capacity can create additional volume set. The expansion process is illustrated
as following figure:
Disk 1
200GB
Disk 2
200GB
Disk 3
200GB
Disk 1
200GB
Disk 2
200GB
Disk 3
200GB
Disk 4
200GB
Free Space
200GB
Vol 1 (200GB)
Vol 2 (200GB)
Free Space
400GB
Vol 1 (200GB)
Vol 2 (200GB)
Before Expansion: Disk Array A, 600GB After Disk Expansion: Disk Array A, 800GB
The RAID subsystem controller redistributes the original volume set over the original and newly added disks, using the same
fault-tolerance configuration. The unused capacity on the expanded RAID set can then be used to create additional volume
sets, with a different fault tolerance setting if required.
Array Roaming
The RAID subsystem stores configuration information both in NVRAM and on the disk drives,
and can protect the configuration settings in the case of a disk drive or controller failure. Array
roaming allows the administrator the ability to move a complete RAID set to another system
without losing RAID configuration and data on that RAID set. Should the PlatinumRAID
enclosure cease to function, the RAID set disk drives can be moved to another PlatinumRAID,
inserted in any order, and become instantly available.
A 4 Disk RAIDset may contain two volumes. Volume 1 can be
assigned a RAID 5 level of operation while Volume 2 might be
assigned a RAID 0+1 level of operation.
Free Space
Volume 1
Volume 2
Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Disk 4
2-Understanding RAID
Data Data Data
Data Data Parity Parity
Parity

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 16
Hot Swappable Disk support
Your PlatinumRAID has a built in protection circuit to support replacement of disk drives
without having to shut down or reboot the RAID. In case of drive failure, the failed drive
can be removed from the PlatinumRAID and replaced with a new drive without disrupting
dataflow to the host computer.
Instant Availability/Background Initialization
RAID 0 and RAID 1 volume set can be used immediately after the creation, whereas RAID 3
and 5 volume sets must be initialized to generate parity information. PlatinumRAID features
both foreground and background initialization modes for RAID 3 and RAID 5 volumes- In
background mode, the initialization proceeds as a background task and the volume set is
fully accessible for system reads and writes without requiring a reboot and waiting for the
initialization completion. Furthermore, the RAID volume set is also protected against a single
disk failure while initialing. Background initialization takes longer to complete and host disk
access will be slower during the initialization process. Foreground Initialization must be
completed before the volume set ready for system accesses, but the format is faster.
Online RAID Level and Stripe Size Migration
Users can migrate both the RAID level and stripe size of an existing volume set, while the
PlatinumRAID is online and the volume set is in use. Online RAID level/stripe size migration
can prove helpful during performance tuning activities as well as at the addition of physical
disks to the RAID subsystem. For example, in a system using two drives in RAID level 1, you
could add capacity and retain fault tolerance by adding one drive. With the addition of third
disk, you have the option of adding this disk to your existing RAID logical drive by migrating
from RAID level 1 to 5. The result would be parity fault tolerance and double the available
capacity without taking the system offline.
Hot Spare Drives
A hot spare drive is an unused online available drive, which is ready for replacing a failed
disk drive. In a RAID level 1, 10, 3, or 5 RAID set, any unused online available drive installed
but not belonging to a RAID set can be defined as a hot spare drive. Hot spares permit you
to replace failed drives automatically without powering down your PlatinumRAID. When
your PlatinumRAID detects a drive failure, the system will automatically and transparently
rebuild using any available hot spare drive(s). The RAID set will be reconfigured and rebuilt
in background, while the RAID subsystem continues to handle system requests. During the
automatic rebuild process, system activity will continue as normal, but system performance and
fault tolerance will be affected.
Hot-Swap Disk Rebuild
A Hot-Swap function can be used to rebuild disk drives in arrays with data redundancy such as
RAID level 1, 10, 3, and 5. If a hot spare is not available at time of drive failure, the failed disk
drive must be replaced with a new disk drive so that the data on the failed drive can be rebuilt. If
a hot spare is available, the rebuild starts automatically when a drive fails. The RAID subsystem
automatically and transparently rebuilds failed drives in the background with user-definable
rebuild rates. The RAID subsystem will automatically restart the system and the rebuild if the
system is shut down or powered off abnormally during a reconstruction procedure condition.
Please note that the system may no longer be fault tolerant during degraded operation or the
rebuild process- Fault tolerance will be lost until the damaged drive is replaced and the rebuild
operation is completed.
2-Understanding RAID

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 17
Chapter 3 - Configuration Methods
1. Overview
Following the hardware installation, the RAID subsystem must be configured and the volume
set units initialized before they are ready to use. This can be accomplished by one of the
following methods:
• Frontpaneltouch-controlkeypad
• Terminalsessionconnectedthroughthecontroller’sserialportortelnet
• Webbrowser-basedRAIDmanagement
These user interfaces can access the built-in configuration and administration functions
that reside in the controller’s firmware. They
provide complete control and management of the
controller and disk arrays, requiring no additional
hardware or software.
2. Using the front panel touch-control keypad
The front panel keypad and liquid crystal display (LCD) are the primary user interface for
the RAID subsystem. All configuration and management (with the exception of firmware
upgrades) of the controller can be performed from this interface. The LCD provides a system
of screens with areas for information, status indication, or menus. The LCD screen displays up
to two lines at a time of menu items or other information.
The four function keys at the button of the front panel perform the following functions:
Key Function
Up Arrow Use to scroll the cursor Upward / Rightward
Down Arrow Use to scroll the cursor Downward / Leftward
ENT Key Submit Selection Function (Confirm a selected item)
ESC Key Return to Previous Screen (Exit a selection configuration)
The main menu can be activated by hitting the ENT key. Use the up and down arrow but-
tons to highlight a menu item. Press ENT to select the highlighted item. Press the UP/
DOWN to browse the selection. Press ESC to return to the previous screen.
Note:
The PlatinumRAID allows only one
method to access menus at a time.
3-Configuration Methods

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 18
3. VT-100 user interface
Your PlatinumRAID may be controlled by establishing an terminal session via an RS232 serial
connection to a VT100 compatible terminal or emulation software, or via a Telnet session. All
RAID subsystem monitoring, configuration and administration functions are available through
terminal control. By Default, PlatinumRAID’s serial port is set to 115,200 Baud, 8 data bits,
N Parity, 1 stop. There are a wide variety of
Terminal Emulation packages, but for the most
part they should be very similar; Please see
appendix C for common configurations.
The following table describes the navigation convention for the VT-100 terminal RAID
configuration utility:
Key Function
Arrow Keys Move cursor
Enter Key Submit selection function
ESC Key Return to previous screen
LKey Line draw
XKey Redraw
4. Web browser-based RAID management
The PlatinumRAID controller firmware includes a complete HTML-based weblet application
that allows all configuration and monitoring to be performed across any IP based network,
and utilizes standard web browsers for interfacing.
To ensure proper communications between the RAID subsystem and Web browser-based RAID
management,Pleaseconnectastandard,Cat5EthernetcabletotheRJ45networkjackonthe
back of your PlatinumRAID and attach to your existing network. In order to access the web
administration utility please note the IP address displayed on the LCD screen. You may launch
your firmware-embedded TCP/IP & Web Browser-based RAID manager by entering http://[IP
Address] in your web browser. The RAID subsystem controller default User Name is “admin”
and there is no password assigned from the factory. Please refer to Chapter 6, section 6.2 for
more information on proper network settings.
The following table describes the navigation convention for the Web configuration utility:
Key Function
Mouse pointer Move cursor
Click Links Submit selection function
3-Configuration Methods
Note:
You may connect a terminal while the
RAID subsystem is powered on

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 19
1. Overview
The LCD front panel is your primary method for control and monitoring of your
PlatinumRAID. Utilizing the LCD, you can:
• CreateRAIDset,
• ExpandRAIDset,
• Definevolumeset,
• Addphysicaldrive
• Modifyvolumeset
• ModifyRAIDlevel/stripesize,
• Definepass-throughdiskdrives,
• Modifysystemfunctionand
• Designatedrivesashotspares.
2. Main Menu Options
Select an option and the related information or submenu items display beneath it. The sub-
menus for each item are explained on the section 4.8.3. The configuration utility main menu
options are:
Ch Option Description
1 Quick Volume And RAID Set Setup Create a default configuration which is based on the
number of physical disks installed
2 RAID Set Functions Create a customized RAID set
3 Volume Set Functions Create a customized volume set
4 Physical Drive Functions View individual disk information
5 RAID System Functions Setting the RAID system configurations
6 Views System Events Record all system events in the buffer
7 Clear Event Buffer Clear all event buffer information
8 Hardware Monitor Show all system environment status
9 System Information View the controller information
3. Configuring RAID Sets and Volume Sets
You can configure RAID sets and volume sets using either the Quick Volume And RAID Set
Setup (Choice 1 above) or with the RAID Set Functions/Volume Set Functions (Choices 2 and
3 above.) Each configuration method requires a different level of user input. The general flow
of operations for RAID set and volume set configuration is as follows:
Step Action
1Designate hot spares/pass-through (optional).
2Choose a configuration method.
3Create RAID set using the available physical drives.
4Define volume set using the space in the RAID set.
5Initialize the volume set and use volume set in the HOST OS.
Chapter 4 - Getting a Fast Start
4-Getting a Fast Start

PlatinumRAID Pro Owner’s Manual 20
4. Designating Drives as Hot Spares
To designate drives as hot spares, press ENT to enter the Main menu. Select the RAID Set
Functions option and then press ENT. All RAID set functions will be displayed. Select
the Create Hot Spare Disk option and then press ENT. The first unused physical device
connected to the current controller appears: Scroll to the unused physical devices and select
the target disk to assign and press ENT to designate it as a hot spare.
5. Using Quick Volume and RAID Set Setup
Using Quick Volume And RAID Setup, the RAID set you create is associated with exactly one
volume set, and you can modify the RAID level, stripe size, and capacity. Designating Drives
as Hot Spares will also combine with RAID level in this setup.
The volume set default settings will be:
Parameter Setting
Volume Name Volume Set # 00
SCSI Channel/SCSI ID/SCSI LUN 0/0/0
Cache Mode Write Back
Tag Queuing Yes
Max Sync Rate 150
SATA Mode Reserved (SATA II+NCQ)
The default setting values can be changed after configuration is complete.
4-Getting a Fast Start