OWC ThunderBay 4 Guide

THUNDERBAY 4
Assembly Manual & User Guide

Introduction......................................................................1
1.1 Minimum System Requirements
1.1.1 Mac Requirements
1.1.2 PC Requirements
1.1.3 Supported Drives
1.2 Package Contents
1.3 About This Manual
1.4 Front View
1.4.1 Front Features
1.5 Rear View
1.5.1 Rear Features
1.6 Usage Notes
Device Setup ...................................................................4
2.1 Hard Drive Installation
2.2 Quick Start
2.3 Software RAID
2.4 Changing Drives & Drive Failure
Support Resources .......................................................6
3.1 Troubleshooting
3.2 About Data Backup
3.3 Online Resources
3.4 Contacting Technical Support
CONTENTS
OWC ThunderBay 4 Table of Contents

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 Introduction
1
1.1 Minimum System Requirements
1.1.1 Mac Requirements
• Any Mac with a Thunderbolt™3 port
• Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 Macs require the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
• macOS 10.12 or later
1.1.2 Windows Requirements
• Any PC with a Thunderbolt 3 port
• Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 PCs require the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
• Windows®10 or later (Boot Camp is not supported)
1.1.3 Supported Drives
• 3.5 inch SATA drives and 2.5 inch SATA drives
1.2 Package Contents
1.3 About This Manual
The images and descriptions may vary slightly between this manual and the unit shipped. Functions and features may
change depending on the rmware version. The latest product details and warranty information can be found on the
product web page. OWC’s Limited Warranty is not transferable and subject to limitations.
Thunderbolt cable
OWC ThunderBay 4 Keys Power cable
Note: drive mounting screws are included with empty enclosures, but not pictured.
INTRODUCTION

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 Introduction
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1.4 Front View
1.4.1 Front Features
• Locking faceplate — Use the included keys to lock or unlock and remove the faceplate.
• LED indicators — See the chart below for LED details.
1.5 Rear View
1.5.1 Rear Features
1. Kensington®Security Slot — Connect a security tether here.
2. Thunderbolt 3 ports — Attach the included Thunderbolt cable to one of these ports and to your computer, or to another
Thunderbolt device. Use the other Thunderbolt 3 port to add more Thunderbolt devices to the chain.
3. ON/OFF switch — Turn the power on and o using this switch.
4. DisplayPort — Connect a DisplayPort-compatible display here.
5. Power input — Connect the included power cable here.
2
1
LED COLOR POWER ON SLEEPING DRIVE
ACTIVITY
DRIVE BAD/
BAY EMPTY
Power Blue /
Amber
Solid blue with active
data connection Amber N/A N/A
Drive
(A, B, C, D) Green None Active None Active Flash
Green Not Active
1
2
3
4
5

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 3Introduction
1.6 Usage Notes
• Although the ON/OFF switch controls power to the device, the OWC ThunderBay 4 requires an active data signal for powered
operation. As long as the ON/OFF switch is in the ‘ON’ position, the ThunderBay 4 will turn on when it receives a data signal
through the Thunderbolt cable. If there is no Thunderbolt cable connected, or if the computer is o or in a sleep or hibernation
mode, the ThunderBay 4 will turn o and its power LED will turn orange to indicate that it is not receiving a data signal.
• In order to use any Thunderbolt devices chained through the ThunderBay 4, the ON/OFF switch of the ThunderBay 4 must be
in the ‘ON’ position.
• For the safe removal of your drives and to ensure that no data is lost, always eject or unmount the drives from your operating
system before unplugging the ThunderBay 4 or removing the drives.
• Thunderbolt device chains can support up to six Thunderbolt devices.
• By using the DisplayPort feature, the overall performance of the drive may decrease somewhat, as the DisplayPort shares
bandwidth with the Thunderbolt 3 ports. The same is true if you connect a display to one of the available Thunderbolt 3 ports
(this can be done with either a native Thunderbolt 3 display or with a Thunderbolt 3 display adapter.
• Thunderbolt 3 is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt, but speeds can be impacted depending on
where in the chain a device is connected. If mixing Thunderbolt 3 with Thunderbolt 2 and/or Thunderbolt devices, use the
device order shown at right, if possible. Computer > Thunderbolt 3 devices > Thunderbolt 2 devices > Thunderbolt devices

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 Device Setup
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If you purchased the ThunderBay 4 with drives, they have been installed prior to shipment — please skip to Section
2.2, Step 4. If you are installing your own drives, follow the steps in Section 2.1 to install 3.5 inch hard drives into your
ThunderBay 4 enclosure, or to replace existing 3.5 inch drives. Note: it is possible to install 2.5 inch SATA drives using the
ne-threaded screws that are included (16 in total), and the four screw holes on the bottom of each drive tray (highlighted
in step 5 below).
2.1 Hard Drive Installation
Follow these steps to install hard drives into your ThunderBay 4 enclosure, or to replace existing drives. Repeat steps 1
through 8 as necessary for each drive you are installing.
1. Insert one of the included keys into the lock on the upper left of the faceplate.
2. Turn the key clockwise, then pull it towards you. The faceplate will swing open, as shown.
3. Once the faceplate has swung open as far as it will go, pull up to remove it.
4. On the drive tray you wish to remove, turn the thumbscrew counter-clockwise until you no longer feel resistance. Then hold
onto the thumbscrew and pull the drive tray out.
5. Set the drive tray as shown on your work surface. If you are replacing an existing hard drive, unscrew it from the drive tray at this
time. Note: the highlighted screw holes are for 2.5 inch drives. The holes for 3.5 inch drives are highlighted in green (Step 7).
6. Place the hard drive inside the drive tray as shown. The label should face up and the SATA connectors should be on the far rear
corner of the drive.
7. Fasten the drive into the drive tray using six of the included screws (three per side).
8. Slide the drive tray back into the rails in the ThunderBay 4 and push until it is seated fully, then push in on the thumbscrew and
turn it clockwise until it stops turning. If you encounter resistance, do not force the drive tray. Remove it, check to make sure
that there are no obstructions and that the drive tray is lined up correctly, then slide it in again.
2.2 Quick Start
1. Install hard drives into the ThunderBay 4 according to the instructions in Section 2.1.
2. Connect the power cable to the back of the ThunderBay 4 and a power outlet, then make sure the ON/OFF switch is set to the
‘ON’ position.
3. Connect a Thunderbolt cable between the ThunderBay 4 and a computer. When you do this, the ThunderBay 4 will turn on and
the drives will be available for use on the computer.
4. If the ThunderBay 4 was purchased with drives, or if you are using new drives that have not been used before, the drives will
need to be formatted before they can be used. Go to www.owcdigital.com/format for drive formatting options. Once the
formatting is nished, the drives are ready to use.
DEVICE SETUP
1234
5 6 78

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 Device Setup
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2.3 Software RAID
While the OWC ThunderBay 4 has no built-in RAID capabilities, it is possible to use software to congure the drives
inside the ThunderBay 4 as members of a RAID array. Mac OS X (10.10 and earlier) and Windows both oer software
RAID capabilities natively through their disk management applications, and there are third-party applications that oer
expanded RAID support, including SoftRAID for the Mac. To learn more about SoftRAID options for the ThunderBay 4,
please visit: www.softraid.com
2.4 Changing Drives & Drive Failure
You can add or remove any drive without needing to turn o the device or to unmount any of the other drives. Each drive
operates independently of the others and is not aected by the addition or removal of another drive unless you set them
up as members of a RAID array using software.
By itself, the ThunderBay 4 does not monitor drive health or alert you to a drive failure. You can monitor the health of your
drives through software in order to determine when a drive has failed or is in a pre-failure state. To replace a failed drive, simply
remove the drive from its bay and replace it with another drive, following the steps in Section 2.1. The ThunderBay 4 does not
need to be turned o during this process.

OWC ThunderBay 4 with Thunderbolt 3 Support Resources
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3.1 Troubleshooting
Begin your troubleshooting by verifying that the power cable is connected to the ThunderBay 4 and to a power source. If
the power cable is connected to a power strip, make sure that the power switch on the strip is turned on. Then, verify that
both ends of your cables are properly plugged into the computer and the ThunderBay 4.
If the ThunderBay 4 is still not working properly, try connecting to another computer or using another Thunderbolt cable.
Remember that the ThunderBay 4 needs an active data signal in order for the power to remain on. If it is disconnected
from the computer, or if the computer goes to sleep or turns o, the ThunderBay 4 will go to sleep. If you are still
experiencing problems, consult Section 3.4 for OWC technical support contact information.
3.2 About Data Backup
To ensure that your les are protected and to prevent data loss, we strongly suggest that you keep two copies of your
data: one copy on your OWC ThunderBay 4 and a second copy on your internal drive or another storage medium, such
as an optical backup, or on a second external storage unit. Any data loss or corruption while using the ThunderBay
4 is the sole responsibility of the user, and under no circumstances may OWC, its parent, partners, aliates, ocers,
employees, or agents be held liable for loss of the use of data including compensation of any kind or recovery of the data.
3.3 Online Resources
To access our online knowledge base, please visit: www.owcdigital.com/support/faq
3.4 Contacting Technical Support
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Phone: M–F, 8am–5pm Central Time
[phone] (N. America) | [phone] (Int’l)
Chat: M–F, 8am–8pm Central Time
www.owcdigital.com/support
Email: Answered within 48 hours
www.owcdigital.com/support

Changes:
The material in this document is for information purposes only and subject to change without notice. While reasonable eorts have been made in the
preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, OWC, its parent, partners, aliates, ocers, employees, and agents assume no liability resulting
from errors or omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. OWC reserves the right to make changes or revisions in
the product design or the product manual without reservation and without obligation to notify any person of such revisions and changes.
FCC Statement:
Warning! Modications not authorized by the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device.
NOTE: 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 communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference with radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit dierent from that to which the receiver is connected.
Health And Safety Precautions:
• Read this user guide carefully and follow the correct procedures when setting up the device.
• Use proper anti-static precautions while performing the installation of your hard drives into this drive enclosure. Failure to do so can cause
damage to your drive mechanisms and/or the hard drive enclosure.
• Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the device. To avoid any risk of electrical shock, re, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions, never
insert any metallic object into the device. If it appears to be malfunctioning, contact OWC technical support.
• Never expose your device to rain, or use it near water or in damp or wet conditions. Never place objects containing liquids on the drive, as they
may spill into its openings. Doing so increases the risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting, re or personal injury.
General Use Precautions:
• Do not place objects on top of the device.
• To avoid damage, do not expose the device to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 40° C (41° F to 104° F).
• Always unplug the device from the electrical outlet if there is a risk of lightning or if it will be unused for an extended period of time. Otherwise,
there is an increased risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting or re.
• Do not use the device near other electrical appliances such as televisions, radios or speakers. Doing so may cause interference which will
adversely aect the operation of the other products.
• Do not place the device near sources of magnetic interference, such as computer displays, televisions or speakers. Magnetic interference can
aect the operation and stability of hard drives.
• Protect your device from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device, increasing the risk of damage
or malfunction.
• Do not block any ventilation openings on the device. These help to keep the device cool during operation. Blocking the ventilation openings may
cause damage to the device and cause an increased risk of short-circuiting or re.
For up-to-date product and warranty information, please visit the product web page.
Copyright and Trademarks:
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of OWC.
© 2018 Other World Computing, Inc. All rights reserved.
OWC, the OWC logo, and ThunderBay are trademarks of New Concepts Development Corporation, registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Apple, Boot Camp, Mac, macOS, and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. USB Type-C and USB-C are
trademarks of USB Implementers Forum. Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S.
and/or other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
OWCMANTB43R1 02/21/18 DM