Rocstor BIGROC 5C User manual

store your future
BIGROC 5C
User Manual
4-Bay RAID - 1U Rack Mount System
eSATA, 2xFireWire 800, FireWire 400 & USB 3.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT NOTICES.................................................................................................................5
SAFETY NOTICES ..........................................................................................................................5
GENERAL NOTICES........................................................................................................................5
CAPACITY DISCLAIMER...................................................................................................................5
CARE AND HANDLING....................................................................................................................5
PRECAUTIONS FOR THE RAID SYSTEM …………………………………….…………………………..…….…….…..6
GENERAL.....................................................................................................................................8
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................8
BOX CONTENT.............................................................................................................................9
SPECIAL FEATURES......................................................................................................................10
MINIMUM SYSYTEM REQUIREMENTS ..............................................................................................11
CONNECTORS ............................................................................................................................12
SYSTEM VIEWS .........................................................................................................................14
CONNECTING THE BIGROC RAID SYSTEM TO A COMPUTER .....................................................15
CONNECTING MULTIPLE DEVICES ...................................................................................................16
SAFE REMOVAL OF THE RAID SAYSTEM ...........................................................................................17
RAID MODES.............................................................................................................................18
RAID MODE COMPARISON LIST ....................................................................................................18
NUMBER OF DISKS SUPPORTING EACH RAID MODE ...........................................................................18
RAID 0(STRIPING) ....................................................................................................................19
RAID 1(MIRRORING).................................................................................................................20
SPAN .....................................................................................................................................21
RAID 5 .......................................................................................ERROR!BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.2
RAID 10 (1+0).........................................................................................................................23
JBOD .....................................................................................................................................24
POWER ON /OFF LED ..............................................................................................................25
RAID ALERT LED ......................................................................................................................25
HARD DISK DRIVE LED ...............................................................................................................26
EXTERNAL BOOTUP (PC AND MAC)...............................................................................................27
DISK VOLUM OVER 2TB ..............................................................................................................28
GLOSSORY ................................................................................................................................29
eSATA PCI EXPRESS CARD INSTALLATION.................................................................................30
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ..............................................................................................................30
HARDWARE INSTALLATION............................................................................................................30
DRIVER INSTALLATION .................................................................................................................30
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VERIFY DRIVER INSTALLATION .......................................................................................................31
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS CONCERNING RAID SYSTEMS ...........................................................33
SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................................................................36
PARTITIONING AND FORMATTING THE BIGROC 4-BAY DRIVE ON A MAC OS ..........................37
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTITIONING AND FORMATING FAT 32 TO HFS+ (MAC)..........................................38
PARTITIONING AND FORMATTING THE BIGROC 4-BAY DRIVE ON A WINDOWS OS.................47
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTITIONING AND FORMATING FAT 32 TO HFS+ ...................................................50
KNOWLEDGE BASE ...................................................................................................................57
INTRODUCTION TO FORMATTING............................................................................................61
LIMITED WARRANTY ................................................................................................................63
TECHNICAL SUPPORT................................................................................................................67
TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................................................68
COPYRIGHTS .............................................................................................................................68
CONTACT INFORMATION .........................................................................................................69
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NOTES:
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IMPORTANT NOTICES
Safety Notices
•The warranty is void if an unauthorized person attempts and/or repairs the hard disk drive.
•Read all Manuals and instructions carefully before using the device.
•Do not spill any liquid or insert any object into the device.
•Use the device within the specifications indicated, including but not limited to: power
requirements, temperature, humidity, sunlight and magnetism from other devices such as
computers and televisions.
•Please visit the Rocstor website, www.rocstor.com for further information concerning
specifications and use of the device.
General Notices
•Consistently make multiple backup copies of your data for your protection. Hard disk drives
are subject to failure at any time.
•Rocstorage, Inc. shall not be held liable for loss of data or the restoration or recovery of
data on the device. Please view complete Limited Warranty Information in this manual or
on the Rocstor website (www.rocstor.com) for further details.
Capacity Disclaimer
Actual accessible hard drive capacity will indicate up to 10% lower than stated under different
Operating Systems and formatting.
The storage volume is measured in total bytes before formatting. References to round
numbers of gigabytes or terabytes are an approximation only. For example, a disk drive labeled
as having 500GB (gigabytes) has space for approximately 500,000,000,000 bytes before
formatting. After formatting, the drive capacity is reduced by about 5% to 10% depending on
the operating system and formatting used.
Care and Handling
The following instructions concern the proper care and handling of the Bigroc 4-Bay RAID.
Please take a moment to review these instructions.
•As with any storage solution, it is recommended that all data be backed up regularly.
•Ensure that you follow the proper removal procedure to disconnect the RAID.
•Do not move or disconnect this device from your computer while it is reading or writing
data. This may cause damage to the RAID.
•Do not place this device near a heat source or expose it to direct flame.
•Do not place the device near any equipment generating strong electromagnetic fields.
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Exposure to strong electromagnetic fields may cause the device to malfunction or data to
be corrupted.
•Do not drop or cause shock to your RAID.
•Do not spill any liquid or insert any object into the device.
•Do not attempt to disassemble and service the Rocpro drive during the warranty period.
•Please read the Safety Notices and Limited Warranty information in this Manual and on the
Rocstor website (www.rocstor.com) for further details.
PRECAUTIONS FOR THE RAID SYSTEM
The main circuit board of the RAID System is susceptible to static electricity. Proper
grounding is required to prevent electrical damage to the RAID System unit or other connected
devices, including the host computer. Always place the RAID System unit on a smooth surface
and avoid all dramatic movement, vibration and percussion.
•Any loss, corruption, or destruction of data is the sole responsibility of the owner/user(s).
Under no circumstances will the manufacturer be held liable for the recovery, restoration,
loss … of any data.
•Installation of RAID MASTER Software in the host computer is required for proper
operation.
•Do NOT allow water to enter the RAID System unit.
•Installation of additional equipment in the host computer may be required. Visit our
website to download the latest product information updates.
•Do NOT attempt to service this unit yourself. Disassembling the RAID System’s inner parts
will expose you to dangerous voltages or other hazards.
•Do NOT block the ventilation. Proper airflow is required to ensure reliable operation and to
prevent overheating.
•Do unplug the RAID System unit from the electrical outlet when not in use to provide an
ecological friendly environment.
•Use only the power supply cable provided with the RAID System unit.
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Please thoroughly read and follow the instructions provided in this manual. Failure to
do so may result in damage to the RAID System, and any or all of the connected
devices.
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GENERAL
Introduction
Bigroc 5C
4 - Bay Desktop RAID
2xFireWire 800, FireWire 400, eSATA and USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 & 1.1)
The new Bigroc 4-Bay RAID system provides massive storage capacity and advanced RAID
configuration in a compact storage device. The Bigroc delivers extraordinary performance and
reliability for both Mac and PC users. Specifically designed for demanding audio/video
professionals, the new Bigroc contains fast SATA high capacity 3.5” drives in heat dissipating
aluminum case. Silent fans assure quiet operation while providing maximum airflow for cooling
purposes. The tray-less function ensures swift and simple hot-swapping.
Provides JBOD, RAID 0 (Striping), RAID 1 (Mirroring), Span, Clone, RAID 5, RAID 10 (1+0) and
optional Hot-Spare for effective storage management. Supports Automatic Rebuild in Raid
1+HotSpare, Clone + Hot-Spare, and RAID 5+HotSpare.
Choose Rocstor drives and store your future.
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BOX CONTENTS
•4-Bay RAID 1U Rack Mount System
•USB 3.0 cable,
•6-pin to6-pin FireWire 400 (1394a) cable
•9-pin to 9-pin FireWire 800 (1394b) cable
•eSATA cable
•US power cable
•Quick Start Guide
Please keep (store) all package contents and packaging material during the limited warranty
period.
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SPECIAL FEATURES
•Supports current SATA II compliant HDDs, fully backward compatible with SATA 1.0 and
SATA 1.0a compliant HDDs
•Connects flexibly via an eSATA, USB 3.0 (2.0), 1394a or 1394b port
•Provides JBOD, RAID 0 (Striping), RAID 1 (Mirroring), Span, Clone, RAID 5, RAID 10 (1+0)
Supports Automatic Rebuild in Raid 1+HotSpare, Clone + Hot-Spare, and RAID 5+HotSpare.
•Configures RAID modes via switches; no IT expertise required.
•Monitors system status via LED indicators
•Features a tray-less function and user-friendly design enables effortless HDD hot-swapping
•Maximizes airflow with silent fans and mechanical designs
•Supports hot-plug and HDD hot-swap
•Supports both online and offline rebuild
Any loss, corruption, or destruction of data is the sole responsibility of the user of the
RAID System. Under no circumstances will the manufacturer be held liable for the
recovery or restoration of any data.
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MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Mac Users: Window Users:
3.5” SATA compatible hard drive is required for the RAID System unit. Once the HDDs
are formatted, the actual available storage capacity can vary depending on the
selected operating environment (normally 5-10 % less).
* Many computers do not come with factory installed FireWire 800 or eSATA ports. Therefore,
you may need to purchase a PCI, PCI-X or PCI-Express card to use these ports. Rocstor offers a
variety of accessories to work with PC Windows or Mac based Computers. Please visit us at
www.ROCSTOR.com
Hardware: eSATA* or FireWire
*
(400 or
800) or USB 2.0 port(s.)
Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows
XP, 2003, Vista, Widows 7, 8
CPU: 266 MHz (Vista 800 MHz)
RAM:1 GB RAM
Hardware: eSATA* or FireWire
*
(400 or
800) or USB 2.0 port(s.)
Mac: PowerPC or Intel processor running
Mac OS 10.5 and later
RAM:1 GB RAM
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CONNECTORS
•FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) port x2
•FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) port x1
•USB 3.0 port x1
•eSATA port x1
SYSTEM VIEWS
Front View
The status indication of each LED indicator is listed under the LED INDICATORS section below.
Rear View
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INSERTING/REPLACING THE HARD DRIVES IN THE RAID SYSTEM
Place the system with its front view facing you. Open the front panel door.
Insert the hard drive(s) as indicated in the image below:
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Closing the front panel:
To remove the hard drive(s) simple pull the lever above the hard drive slot; the hard drive will
slide out and ready to be removed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: all hard drives installed MUST be RAID compatible hard drives, with
same capacities and speeds of 7,200 R.P.M. or higher and preferably from the same
manufacturer of hard drives.
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CONNECTING THE RAID SYSTEM TO A COMPUTER
Complete the following steps to connect the RAID System to a host computer.
The RAID System should only be connected to a host computer via one interface only.
Connect the AC/DC power adapter.
Insert both ends of the USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire 400, or Fire Wire 800 cable(s) into the
corresponding port of the RAID System and the host.Use only ONE connection cable.
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You are now ready to begin using your RAID System!
Due to compatibility issues, if you use the eSATA interface to do the data transfer, the
Silicon Image eSATA host controller is highly recommended.
Connecting Multiple Devices
Using FireWire 400 or 800, you can connect other computer hardware or digital devices to your
RAID System. This connection is called “Daisy chain.” Items which may be connected might be
such as digital video camera, another HD or DVD writer. However, you must use the same
interface in order for Daisy Chain to work. The computer will not recognize the different
interfaces if they are all used at the same time. In addition, if a mix of connections is used, the
resulting speed will be limited to the lowest one available.
When only one of the FireWire connectors is plugged in, the other FireWire connector
will be viewed as a “daisy chain” port. When only one of the USB or eSATA connectors
is plugged in, the connector will be viewed as it’s originate port, either USB or eSATA
respectively.
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SAFE REMOVAL OF THE RAID SYSTEM
Safe removal of the RAID System from the host controller is highly recommended, especially
when switching interfaces. In order to safely remove your RAID System from the host
controller, you would need to eject the device on your host controller system.
If using a MAC System, safe removal of the RAID System from the host for all
interfaces is necessary.
If using a PC System, safe removal of the RAID System from the host depends on the
interface. Most current USB and FireWire host controllers handle USB and FireWire
devices as external devices; thus, it is highly recommended that the RAID System be
safely removed from the host if you are using either one of the interfaces. However, if you are
using the eSATA interface, safe removal of the RAID System from the host is unnecessary
because most hosts do not support it.
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RAID MODES
A Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks (RAID) is a system that utilizes
multiple hard drives to share or replicate data among the disks. The benefit, depending on the
selected RAID Mode (combinations of disks), is one or more of the following: increased data
integrity, fault-tolerance, and throughput or capacity when compared to single drives.
Deleting the current partition prior to changing RAID modes is highly recommended.
Identical RAID Compatible hard drives with the same capacity and speeds (Not less
than 7,200rpm - from the same manufacturer is recommended) must be utilized.
RAID Mode Comparison List
RAID mode
Size
Safe
Fast
RAID 0 (Striping)
RAID 1 (Mirroring)
RAID 5
RAID 1+0 (10)
NUMBER OF DISKS SUPPORTING EACH RAID MODE
RAID Modes Number of Disk in RAID
RAID 0 (Striping)
2 to 4
RAID 1 (Mirroring)
2
Span
2 to 4
Clone
2 to 4
RAID 5
3 or 4
RAID 1+0
4
JBOD
1 to 4
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RAID 0 (Striping)
RAID 0 (Striping) is a performance-oriented, non-redundant data
mapping technique. It combines multiple hard drives into a single
logical unit. Instead of seeing several different hard drives, the
operating system sees only one large drive. Striping splits data
evenly across two or more disks simultaneously, dramatically
increasing performance.
Striping can be implemented in disks of differing sizes, but the storage space added to the array
by each disk is limited to the size of the smallest disk. Although Striping is an easily
implemented simple configuration, Striping should never be used for mission critical
applications. The speed of operation is excellent in comparison to other RAID modes.
In Striping mode, it is not possible to see the HDDs as more than one unit. If you
choose to insert all 4 HDDs, it will still be viewed as one single storage unit. When you
choose to insert only two HDDs, there is not limitation on the order of drive insertion or
the slot number.
In Striping mode, if one disk in the RAID System fails, all data in installed disks will be
lost.
When operating under Striping mode, it is not recommended to do HDD Hot Swap. Any
attempt to do so may result in complete loss of all data.
Always maintain a Backup of your files/data
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RAID 1 (Mirroring)
RAID 1 (Mirroring) consists of at least two drives storing duplicate
copies of the same data. In this mode, the data is simultaneously
written to two disks. Thus, the storage capacity of a two-disk array
is combined into a single disk and the capacity is limited to the size
of the smallest disk. The speed of operation is slower in
comparison to other RAID modes.
During rebuild, the first HDD inserted into one of the HDD slots is recognized by the RAID
System as the source HDD. To rebuild existing data from a source HDD to a backup HDD (target
HDD), the source HDD must first be inserted into one of the HDD slots. After the host detects
the source HDD, the target HDD should then be inserted in one of the other HDD slot. The RAID
System will then recognize the target HDD and the rebuild process will begin when the HDD LED
starts blinking.
In Mirroring mode, only 2 HDDs are allowed for the function to perform properly.
There is no limitation on the order of insertion or the slot number. However, if all 4
HDDs are inserted, the RAID System can only do Mirroring in the HDDs positioned in
HDD 1 and HDD 2. It is not possible to process two sets of HDDs at the same time.
In Mirroring mode, if one of the disks fails, either source or backup, the data is still
available. However, if the source disk fails during the rebuild process, the data in both
disks will be lost.
It is NOT recommended to do Hot Swap for the source disk during the rebuild process
because the data in both disks will be lost.
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