Newer Technology miniStack NAS User manual

User Manual

2
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Newer Technology miniStack
NAS! This guide will walk you through the setup process step
by step and get you up and running with your new storage
device quickly.
Setup of the Newer Technology miniStack NAS is straightfor-
ward, but you do need to follow this guide for proper setup.
We do suggest reading through the whole manual before
hooking up the miniStack NAS.
Tools required:
A Phillips #1 screwdriver is required to install your hard drive
mechanism inside the miniStack NAS enclosure.
If you do not have the tools required to perform this instal-
lation, we highly recommend the Newer Technology 7 Piece
Tool Set. This set includes the tools required to get into any
basic computer. http://newertech.com/products/7pctoolset.php
This type of box contains general
notes or tips for all systems
This type of box contains notes and
tips for Macintosh systems
This type of box contains notes and
tips for MS Windows systems
ATTENTION!
You will be working in close
proximity to static sensitive
components. Take precau-
tions to not build up static
electricity.
Notes
Throughout this manual, you will see note boxes along the
left margin. These note boxes contain notes, tips, or special
information that may be pertinent to your setup.

3
System Requirements
Macintosh Requirements
Minimum Apple GProcessor, MB RAMt
Mac OS .or later for use via USB .t
Mac OS X .or later & USB .Mac for use via USB .t
Mac OS X .or later & Mbps or /Mbps Ethernett
connection for use as a network disk.
PC Requirements
Minimum Intel Processor II MHz, MB RAM
WinME, Win or WinXP & USB .Hardware for use viat
USB .
WinME, Win or WinXP & USB .Hardware for use viat
USB .
Win SE, WinME, Win or WinXP & Mbps ort
/Mbps Fast Ethernet connection for network disk
use.
Detailed Information
Front LED Status Lights
Red = HDD Access & Power
Amber = Network Access
Green = 100 Mbps connection
Back Panel
Power Switch1.
Power Receptacle2.
Fan Speed Settings (Auto/Low/High)3.
100Base-TX port (RJ-45)4.
USB 2.0 port5.
Security Slot6.
123 4 5 6
Fan settings:
A = Auto
M = Manual
H = High Speed
L = Low Speed

4
Your miniStack
NAS may come
with a hard drive
pre-installed. For
pre-configured units,
these instructions are
provided for infor-
mational purposes
only. Opening the
enclosure of a pre-
configured unit will
void its warranty.
Installing the Hard Drive
1. Lift the top cover offthe body.
2. Connect the cables to your drive and install.
3. Turn the enclosure around and fasten the four screws.
4. Attach the thermal probe with the tape provided to the top
of the drive, somewhere near the spindle motor.
5. Align the top cover with the body and push lightly into
place.
Make sure the
hard drive’s ID
jumper settings are
set to “Master”
Be careful not
to damage any
cables or components
and double check the
connection between
the cables, the bridge
board and your hard
drive before you
closing the case.

5
System Set Up
In NDAS mode, the miniStack NAS is directly attached to a
100MB/s full duplex Ethernet switch. Each user on the net-
work can use the NDAS disk as if it were a local drive.
In USB 2.0 High Speed mode, the miniStack NAS is directly
attached to a single computer using the USB port.
A few tips on how to connect your miniStack NAS:
Make sure all computers sharing the disk are using thet
same driver revision.
Do not cover the Enclosure and leave enough roomt
around it for ventilation.
Do not expose your miniStack NAS to water or humidt
conditions.
Always check for visible damage and defects of powert
and interface cables before using it.
We recommend using the supplied cables.t
The miniStack
NAS can only
be accessed from the
internal LAN. It is not
possible to connect
remotely.
To ensure the
best performance
on the network, only
use network switches
and routers.
Do not connect
the USB and
Ethernet cables
simultaneously!

6
Installation on a PC using USB 2.0
To connect the miniStack NAS via USB 2.0 to a single com-
puter, perform the following steps:
Turn on your Computer and start Windows.1.
Make sure the Ethernet cable is disconnected.2.
Connect the miniStack NAS via USB 2.0 and turn it on.3.
Let Windows search for and install the driver4.
automatically.
Open “My Computer” to see your external hard drive.5.
For factory new drives and more info about formatting,
see the chapter on “Formatting the HDD .“
Unplug Procedure
For the safe removal of your drive and to ensure that no data
is lost, always follow the correct unplug procedure. Other-
wise, there is a risk of data corruption, and you will get an er-
ror message.
Click on the taskbar icon for external hardware.1.
Choose the miniStack NAS and confirm removal.2.
Turn offthe miniStack NAS.3.
If the system
doesn’t recog-
nize the drive,
turn on the power
before connecting the
USB cable.

7
Installation on a Mac using USB 2.0
To connect the device via USB 2.0 High Speed to a single com-
puter, see following instructions:
Turn on your computer and start Mac OS.1.
Make sure the Ethernet cable is disconnected.2.
Connect the miniStack NAS and turn it on.3.
No driver installation required.4.
The external drive will mount and show up on your5.
desktop.
For factory new drives and more info about formatting,
see the chapter on “Formatting the HDD .“
Unplug Procedure
For the safe removal of your drive and to ensure that no data
is lost, always follow the correct unplug procedure. Other-
wise, there is a risk of data corruption, and you will get an er-
ror message.
Drag the external hard drive icon into the trash bin.1.
Turn offyour device.2.
If the system
doesn’t recog-
nize the drive,
turn on the power
before connecting the
USB cable.

8
Chapter 4 - NDAS Setup
Driver Installation
Driver installation on a PC
Insert the driver CD and select your Operating System.1.
If installation does not start automatically, browse and2.
double-click on the ‘NDASSetup’ file.
Follow the installation wizard and install the driver.3.
Accept any warning of missing signature or logo4.
testing.
Restart your system when prompted to do so.5.
Driver installation on a Mac
Insert the driver CD.1.
Browse for the Install Package four your OS version and2.
double-click it.
Follow the Installer steps to install the driver.3.
After finishing the installation, restart your computer.4.
Registering a new device
Registering a new device on a PC
Click on the NDAS Device Management icon on the1.
taskbar.
Select ‘Register a New Device’.2.
Depending on your setup under Options/Advanced/3.
Menu, you can use the registration wizard or do it
manually.
Enter a name for your miniStack NAS or use the default4.
name.
Add your5.
NDAS
device
ID and if
you also
want to
write to
the disk,
enter the
Write Key
(last 5
digits).
Without the
Write Key, the
miniStack NAS can
only be accessed as
“Read Only.”
The device ID
and Write Key
do not contain the
letter O. Please use the
number 0 for all 0’s.
Write down
your ID number
and do not lose it. If
for some reason, you
can not find your ID
number, write down
the serial number and
contact your vendor.
After adding
a new device,
the Found New
Hardware Wizard may
appear. Let is search
for and install the driv-
ers automatically.

9
Registering a new device on a Mac
Locate the ‘NDAS Utility’ found inside your Applications1.
folder under Utilities and open it.
Under Management, select ‘Register a New Device’.2.
Enter a name for your miniStack NAS or use the default3.
name.
Add your NDAS device ID and if you also want to be4.
able to write to the disk, enter the Write Key (last 5
digits).

10
Mounting and using your miniStack NAS
Mounting the miniStack NAS on a PC
Click on the NDAS Device Management icon on the1.
taskbar.
Select your miniStack NAS, which should now be listed.2.
Mount the drive using either Read Only or Read &3.
Write.
The drive is now available under My Computer.4.
Mounting the miniStack NAS on a Mac
Open the NDAS Utility and select your miniStack NAS.1.
Under ‘Configuration’, mount the drive using either the2.
Read Only or Read & Write mode.
The drive will now appear on your desktop.3.
Read & Write
mode will be
disabled if the Write
Key was not entered
during the registration
process.
If a Mac is con-
nected using the
Read & Write mode,
other computers can
only connect using
the Read Only mode.
If a PC is connected
using the Read & Write
mode, the Mac can
only connect using
the Read Only mode.

11
If a Mac is con-
nected using the
Read & Write mode,
other computers can
only connect using
the Read Only mode.
If a PC is connected
using the Read & Write
mode, the Mac can
only connect using
the Read Only mode.
Using and sharing miniStack NAS disk on the network
Now that you have successfully installed the miniStack NAS,
you can use it like any other hard drive on your system. It will
behave very similarly to a standard USB disk in comparison.
You may drag and drop files into the miniStack NAS, you can
create new folders, copy, paste, move or delete files or use
it as your backup device. To share and access the drive, you
have the following options to limit or allow the access.
Read Only:t
Users can only read from the disk.
Read & Write:t
Users can read and write to the disk and can also
delete any files created by someone else.
No ID number:t
Without driver and without an ID number, the device
can neither be found nor accessed on the network.
No Write Key:t
Without the Write Key, the disk can only be
mounted using the Read Only mode.
Unmount:
To eject the disk, close all open folders and files, then select
Unmount to eject it. The device will still be registered and you
can mount it again anytime you need it.
Changing Modes:
To change from Read & Write mode to Read Only as an ex-
ample, first Unmount the device, then mount it again using
the new mode.
Tip: For best performance, use only network switches and routers but
no hubs. When you write to the disk, limit the access for as few users as
possible, to speed up the transfer rate.
If the disk is con-
nected directly
to the computer using
USB, full access is
granted, regardless of
the driver setup used
on the network.

12
NDAS Device Management on a PC
Click on the NDAS Device Management icon located on the
taskbar. All registered NDAS devices will be displayed on the
menu.
Register a New Device:
Registers a new NDAS device to your computer.
Refresh Status:
Updates status of your NDAS devices.
About:
Displays NDAS software version information.
Options:
Advanced options for language settings, error messages,
menu dialogs and support for suspend and hibernation.
Device Functions:
To view the present status and function of a certain device,
place the cursor on your NDAS disk. You will be able to see
the current state such as Disconnected, Connected, Mounted
(RW), Mounted (RO) or Deactivated.
Mounted (RW) stands for Read & Write mode, Mounted (RO)
stands for Read Only mode.
If you want to
use suspend
or hiberna-
tion mode with a
connected NDAS
device, enable it first
under Options and
Advanced.
To change a
device name
or remove the
Write Key, select your
NDAS device and
go to Properties for
further commands.
To deactivate
your device or
reset the con-
nection, select your
NDAS device, go to
Properties and select
the Advanced tab for
further commands.

13
Device Status Modes
Color Icon Disk Icon Mode/Meaning
Green ■Read Only [Mounted (RO)]
Users can only read from disk.
Blue ■Read & Write [Mounted (RW)]
Users can read and write to disk
White ■Connected
Disk is ready to be mounted
Black ■
Disconnected
Device is registered but not
connected or mounted.
Red %
Deactivated
Device is registered but no
attempts will be made to com-
municate with your device
Yellow
Bound Non-Primary
Used for bound NDAS devices
except the primary device
NDAS Utility for Mac OS X
Locate the‘NDAS Utility’found inside your Applications folder
under Utilities and open it. All registered NDAS devices will be
listed here.
To uninstall the
entire Device
Management
tool, first eject and
remove all NDAS
devices, then use
the Add or Remove
Programs utility in
your Control Panel
to remove the NDAS
Software.
To access the
Configuration
and mount a
device, select the hard
disk itself, as shown in
this screenshot.

14
Configuration:
Selection to Mount and Unmount the device using either
Read Only or Read & Write mode.
+ Sign:
Register a New Device.
Management:
Both the above can be done using the Management menu on
top of your screen.
Device Name:
NDAS device name
Remove Write Key:
If there is an existing Write Key, it can be removed by clicking
this button. The device can then only be mounted using the
Read Only mode.
To uninstall the
NDAS Utility,
first eject all
devices and remove
them, then insert the
driver CD, open the
corresponding folder
for your OS and start
the ‘NDAS Uninstaller’.
To remove the
Write Key, se-
lect the NDAS
device itself, as shown
in this screenshot.
Without the
Write Key, the
Read & Write
mode will be disabled.

15
Driver Upgrade
It is recommended that all users use the same driver revision.
Before upgrading the driver, please follow these guidelines:
If possible, first backup all your data.1.
Disable all NDAS devices.2.
Uninstall the present driver.3.
Install the new driver.4.
Register the NDAS devices again.5.
Mount the NDAS devices.6.
You should now be able to use the NDAS devices again.7.
PC Command Line Utility
For advanced users on a PC, there is an option to run the NDAS
software from a command line interface.
Open the command line and type following: cd C:\Pro-1.
gram Files\NDAS\System (Folder may vary depending
on driver being used)
Type ndascmd.exe, which will load the command line2.
interface for the NDAS software
The Syntax for the interface should be as follows:
ndascmd <command> [parameters]
The supported commands are following:
register <name> <device id with-•
out dash> [write key]
unregister <device number>•
list devices•
list logicaldevices•
mount <logical device number> [ro|rw]•
unplug <logical device number>•
unmount <logical device number>•
activate <device number>•
deactivate <device number>•

16
Chapter 5 - Formatting the HDD
BEAWARE THAT THIS WILL DESTROY ALL YOUR EXISTING DATA ON THE DRIVE!
PC running Win98SE or WinME
MS-DOS command “fdisk” (press Enter to confirm)
Type “fdisk” and press Enter1.
Select ”Y” and press Enter2.
Enter “5” to change the drive3.
Select the drive you want to format4.
Choose “1” and follow the on-screen instructions5.
For best
compatibility
between different
Operating Systems,
use the FAT32 file
system. FAT32 can
be accessed on most
systems but the file
size for a single file is
limited to 4GB.
DO NOT format
the drive when
other computers
have the NDAS
device mounted.
It is recommend-
ed to format the
hard drive using the
interface you will most
likely be accessing the
drive with.

17
PC running Win2000 or WinXP
Disk Management Program
Right click on “My Computer” and choose “Manage”1.
Select “Disk Management”2.
Choose the drive you want to format and right click on3.
it for further commands (Choose New Partition)
Follow the Partition Wizard to setup your disk4.
It is recommended that you format the hard drive using the
interface you will most likely be accessing the drive with.
Note: DO NOT perform disk operations (format, partition, chkdsk)
when other computers have the miniStack NAS mounted.
It is important that your miniStack NAS is listed as a Basic Disk and
not a Dynamic Disk.
If the NTFS file
system is used,
the drive will only
be recognized on
Win2000 and WinXP.
Mac OS X can see the
drive and read data
from it but can not
write to it.
For Win2000
and WinXP, the
NTFS file format is
recommended.
Formatting on
Win2000/XP
using FAT32,
the biggest single par-
tition you can create
will be 32GB. To create
larger partitions, use
the DOS command
under WinME or use
third-party software.

18
Mac OS
Mac OS 9 does not support creating multiple partitions on an
external drive. To do that, you would need to purchase addi-
tional third-party software, connect the drive to the internal
IDE bus or upgrade to OS X.
For Mac OS X, use the Disk Utility to format and create parti-
tions on your external disk.
Open Disk Utility (located in Applications > Utilities)1.
Choose your external drive and setup your disk from2.
the list on the left, and format using either the “Erase”
tab or the “Partition” tab.
It is recommended that you format the hard drive using the
interface you will most likely be accessing the drive with.
Note: DO NOT perform disk operations (format, partition, etc.)
when other computers have the miniStack NAS mounted.
If native Mac
file system is
used, the drive
will only be recog-
nised on Mac systems.
To access the drive
on both PC and Mac,
format the drive using
MS-DOS (FAT32)
If you can not
see the drive,
make sure the
jumper settings of
your hard drive are
correct, there are no
extension conflicts
and the power is
turned on!

19
Appendix
Technical Questions
For RMA and other questions, please contact your vendor or
check out their online support area!
If you lose your device ID number, please write down the se-
rial number and contact your vendor.
For NDAS mode, the drivers need to be loaded on each com-
puter that wants access to the miniStack NAS. However, if you
are using Windows Sharing, only one computer needs the
software installed. The other computers will not need it.
To disconnect the miniStack NAS, we always recommend us-
ing the option in your Device Management (Device Utility for
Mac) if connected via Ethernet. You can use the ‘Unplug or
Eject Hardware”icon in your taskbar (Eject for Mac) to stop the
disk before disconnecting it from the Device Management.
Close all windows that may be accessing the miniStack NAS.
Fan Setting
There are 3 modes available for you to select the desired cool-
ing. Automatic (Auto), Manual Low (M/L), Manual High (M/H).
We recommend you leave your unit on the Auto setting.
When this mode is selected, the miniStack NAS automatically
adjusts the fan speed up and down as necessary to keep the
hard disk cool.

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®2007 Newer Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Revision 1a, 5/7/07 - MCS