Netstor NA211A-G3 User manual

First edition, May. 2019
User Manual
NA211A-G3
External PCIe 3.0 expansion chassis 3-slots with built-in 300W power supply

5. PCIe Card Hardware Configuration
6. Installation of PCIe Add-on
Cards in NA211A-G3
1. Overview
2. Package Checklist
3. Panel Layout
8. Fan Speed Adjustment
3
3
4
4. LED Status on Host card and Target card 5
6
7
7. Installation of Netstor PCIe 3.0 ×4
Host Card in Computer 10
11
9. Operation and Verification 12
14
9.2 macOS
12
9.1 Windows Operating System

1. Overview
Based on the latest PCIe Gen3 technology and architecture, the revolutionary design
of NA211A-G3 allows different combinations of high-performance PCIe add-on cards
to work with any host computer with PCIe slot to meet professionals’ requirements for
any demanding configuration at work. This user’s manual will help you set up the
Netstor NA211A-G3 enclosure.
2. Package Checklist
Before installing the unit, verify the package contains the following items.
D
E
External PCIe 3.0 ×4 data cable (1.5-meter) × 1
C
PCIe 3.0 ×4 host card × 1
B
Power cord × 1
Carry bag × 1
Enclosure x 1
A
3
Notify your sales representative if any of the above items is missing or damaged.
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3. Panel Layout
4Go Top ↑
2. External PCIe 3.0 ×4 Port
。For connecting to the host computer
3. PCIe Expansion
4. Thumbscrew for loosening/tightening
the top cover
5. Power cord receptacle
1. Power-on LED button
1
2
5
3
4
。Press and hold the LED button for three seconds until it
shows blue light for powering on the NA211A-G3.
As the unit is at the powered on status, press and hold
the LED button for three seconds until it shows no light
for powering off the Netstor unit.

4. LED Status on Host card and Target card
5Go Top ↑
LED3 ~ LED5 show solid green light: PCIe x4 connection between
computer and NA211A-G3 is linked
LED3 ~ LED5 no light: PCIe connection between computer and
NA211A-G3 is NOT linked
SW1 switch:
When SW1 switch is turned to the left position, the NP963AG3 card
will be set as the host card. The LED1 will show red light to indicate
the NP963AG3 card is configured as the host card.
As SW1 switch is turned to the right position, the NP963AG3 card
will be set as the target card. The LED1 will show blue light to indicate
the NP963AG3 card is configured as the target card.

5. PCIe Card Hardware Configuration
6Go Top ↑
Slot 1 : PCIe 3.0 ×4 target card
(This is the upstream slot. Note the target card cannot be moved)
Slot 2 : PCIe x8 slot (open-type; supports PCIe card x16/x8/x4/x1)
Slot 3 : PCIe x8 slot (closed-type; supports PCIe card x8/x4/x1)
Slot 4 : PCIe x8 slot (open-type; supports PCIe card x16/x8/x4/x1)
slot 4
slot 3
slot 2
slot 1

To set NA211A-G3 as Gen3 mode, turn SW2 switch to right position. (default)
To set NA211A-G3 as Gen2 mode, turn SW2 switch to left position.
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6. Installation of PCIe Add-on Cards
in NA211A-G3
Before card installation in NA211A-G3, read through the following
notice and instructions.
Computer’s PCIe slot to be linked with NA211A-G3 must be identified
first for the correct connection between host computer and NA211A-G3.
Two conditions A and B for connection are listed below:
A. If computer’s PCIe slot to be linked with NA211A-G3 is PCIe 3.0 ×4, then
you don’t need to make any change to the switch setting on NA211A-G3
slot board because NA211A-G3 is already set to work with computer’s
PCIe 3.0 ×4 slot by default.
B. If computer’s PCIe slot to be linked with NA211A-G3 is PCIe 2.0 ×4, then
you will need to set NA211A-G3’s slot board to PCIe Gen2 to let Netstor
unit be compatible with tower Mac Pro or host computer.
SW2

Before proceeding to card installation procedure, disconnect NA211A-G3 from
power source for prevention of electric shock or damage to PCIe add-on card.
1. Loosen the thumbscrew and remove the top cover of the enclosure.
8Go Top ↑
Step 1
2. Three PCIe slots at rear panel of NA211A-G3 are pre-covered by removable
L-shape metal brackets. Loosen the screw of the removable L-shape metal
bracket for the PCIe add-on cards installation.
Step 2

9Go Top ↑
3. Insert PCIe add-on cards in the proper PCIe slots within the enclosure and
tighten them with screws on PCIe add-on cards’ brackets.
4. Put the top cover back to enclosure and tighten and thumbscrew.
Step 3
Step 4

1. Open the cover of computer chassis.
2. Locate one available PCIe 3.0/2.0 ×4/x8/x16 slot on the motherboard
within the computer.
3. By default, Netstor host card’s SW1 switch is set to the left position for
being a host card. Double check whether host card’s SW1 switch is still
as default as the left position. Note after powering on, the LED1 on
host card will show red light to mean it’s the correct configuration.
4. Install Netstor PCIe 3.0 ×4 host card in the available PCIe 3.0/2.0
×4/x8/x16 slot in computer. Use the screwdriver to tighten the screw to
host card’s bracket in order to have the host card fastened to the
computer chassis.
5. Restore computer chassis’ cover.
10 Go Top ↑
7. Installation of Netstor PCIe 3.0 ×4
Host Card in Computer
Before the installation of Netstor host card in host computer, make sure
the computer is at the powered off status.

11 Go Top ↑
8. Fan Speed Adjustment
To adjust the fan speed of 8x8 cm cooler on NA211A-G3, pull the fan cooler
module out. Above cooler’s connector, there are four sets of jumpers labeled
6V, 8V, 10V, 12V from top to bottom. The default setting is jumper being
placed over pin 7 and pin 8 for 6V for medium fan speed. The fan speed
increases from 6V to 12V (12V: full speed). If all pins are open (no jumper
placed over pins), the fan will not spin.
Pin No.
6V
8V
10V
12V
2 1
4 3
6 5
8 7

1. Connect NA211A-G3 chassis with power source, and then connect Netstor chassis
and host computer with the included external PCIe 3.0 ×4 data cable.
2. Firstly press and hold Netstor chassis’ front LED button for three seconds
until it shows blue light for powering on the NA211A-G3, and then power
on the host computer.
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9. Operation and Verification
External PCIe 3.0 x4 data cable
three seconds
9.1 Windows Operating System
2.
1.

3. Verify the third-party PCIe cards installed in NA211A-G3. At Windows’ desktop,
right click This PC, and select Manage. As window of Computer Management
pops up, click Device Manager in the left column, click View at the top menu bar,
and select Devices by connection.
4. Click ACPI x64-based PC, select Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System, and click PCI
Express Root Complex. Open the PCI Express Root Port, and the third-party PCIe
cards installed in NA211A-G3 will be shown, meaning that the PCIe cards within
the Netstor chassis are recognized correctly by the host computer.
5. After the Windows drivers for the third-party PCIe cards within NA211A-G3 are
installed on the Windows operating system, the PCIe cards in Netstor unit will
work properly with the host computer.
Follow the procedure below to turn off the system:
Firstly shut down the computer; after the computer is powered off, press and
hold Netstor chassis’ front LED button for three seconds until it shows no light
for powering off the NA211A-G3.
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2. Firstly press and hold Netstor chassis’ front LED button for three seconds until it
shows blue light for powering on the NA211A-G3, and then power on the tower
Mac Pro.
3. Verify the third-party PCIe cards installed in NA211A-G3. At macOS’s desktop,
click the Apple icon on top left of the screen, select About This Mac, click
System Report, and the System Information pane will pop up.
4. At System Information pane, click PCI in the left column, and all the third-party
PCIe cards installed in the NA211A-G3 chassis will be shown in the information area.
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1. Connect NA211A-G3 chassis with power source, and then connect Netstor chassis
and tower Mac Pro with the included external PCIe 3.0 ×4 data cable.
9.2 macOS
External PCIe 3.0 x4 data cable

15 Go Top ↑
Follow the procedure below to turn off the system:
Firstly shut down the computer; after the computer is powered off, press and
hold Netstor chassis’ front LED button for three seconds until it shows no light
for powering off the NA211A-G3.
If you have any questions, please contact your regional distributor,
or Netstor Technology, Taiwan.
Netstor Technology Co. Ltd.
www.netstor.com.tw
6F, No. 1, Alley 16, Lane 235, Baoqiao Rd., Xindian District,
New Taipei City 231-45, Taiwan, R.O.C.
[e-mail]
[phone]
6. After the Windows drivers for the third-party PCIe cards within NA211A-G3
are installed on the Windows operating system, the PCIe cards in Netstor
unit will work properly with the host computer.
5. Verify the drivers for the third-party PCIe cards in Netstor unit are installed on
macOS. As seeing all the PCIe cards are listed in PCI section at the last step,
there will be a section Driver Installed indicating the status of PCIe cards’ drivers.
If it shows “No” for the status, find and install the Thunderbolt-aware driver for
the PCIe card, and then the status will become “Yes” to mean the driver of the
PCIe card is installed properly.