Rocstor COMMANDER 3F series User manual

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secure your future
User Manual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT NOTICES 4
Safety Notices ________________________________________________________ 4
General Notices
Capacity Disclaimer ___________________________________________________ 4
Care and Handling 4
GENERAL 6
Introduction ____ ________________________________________________ 6
Box Contents 8
Minimum System Requirements _____________________________________ 9
Connectors and Commander rear view 9
MUST BE READ FIRST__________________________________________________ 10
QUICK INSTALLATION 12
How to Connect the Interface Cables - Connecting the Drive ___________________ 12
Cable Types: FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB and SATA 13
INSTALLING YOUR DRIVE 15
Commander as a bootable device _________________________________________ 15
Disconnecting Your Drive 15
oPC _______________________________________________________________ 15
oMac 16
Reformatting Your Drive ________________________________________________ 16
oReformatting via PC (Window based computers) 16
oReformatting via Mac _______________________________________________ 16
Important Note 16
How to Daisy-Chain through FireWire ports to your Commander Drive at one time _17
PARTITIONING AND FORMATTING THE COMMANDER DRIVE ON A MAC OS 17
Warning _____________________________________________________________ 17
Important Notes 17
Instructions for Partitioning and Formatting from FAT 32 to HFS+ _______________ 18
PARTITIONING & FORMATTING the COMMANDER on WINDOWS 2000, XP, VISTA, 7 27
Warning _____________________________________________________________ 27
Important Notes 27
Different ways to get to the Control Panel __________________________________ 28
Instructions upon reaching the Control Panel 30

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Instructions for Partitioning and Formatting from FAT 32 to NTFS _______________ 31
TROUBLESHOOTING 37
Troubleshooting for Macintosh computers _________________________________ 37
Troubleshooting for PC Windows based computers 39
KNOWLEDGE BASE 41
Commander HX Unique Features _________________________________________ 42
Specifications
Encryption Technology (Q&A) ____________________________________________43
Introduction to Interfaces (ports) and Cables 48
oUSB (Universal Serial Bus) ____________________________________________ 50
oSATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) ---
oComparison Chart __________________________________________________ 51
Introduction to Formatting 52
oFile Allocation Table (FAT) and FAT 32 __________________________________ 52
oHFS Plus or HFS+ 53
LIMITED WARRANTY 54
TECHNICAL SUPPORT 58
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 58
Trademarks __________________________________________________________ 58
Copyrights 58
CONTACT INFORMATION 59
Corporate Headquarters ________________________________________________ 59
Technical Support / Return Authorization “RMA” 59
Sales Info ____________________________________________________________ 59

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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 Commander 3F Drives.
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 Commander drive.
Do not move or disconnect this device from your computer while it is reading or writing
data. This may cause damage to the Commander drive.
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.
Exposure to strong electromagnetic fields may cause the device to malfunction or data to
be corrupted.
Do not drop or cause shock to your Commander drive.

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Do not spill any liquid or insert any object into the device.
Do not attempt to disassemble and service the Commander 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.

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GENERAL
Introduction
COMMANDER F Series (Desktop) Encryption
FireWire 800 (400) and USB 3.0 (2.0)
Commander line has the world’s most technologically advanced
encrypted desktop external hard drive in the market today.
Commander 3F is made with more than 1.5 Lb (~0.75 Kg) of
recycled aluminum, making this enclosure extremely ruggedized.
The exclusive shock-absorbent mechanism (patent pending)
within the enclosure keeps the hard drive suspended within the
casing, while dissipating the heat produced by the hard drive,
keeping it at the ideal temperature.
The built-in power supply will offer the user the flexibility they require by eliminating carrying
extra non-standardized and sometimes bulky adaptors and cables. The power supply contained
in the Commander line is Auto-Switchable 240VA/100VA (will work internationally) and uses
any standard computer cable, no matter what country you are in. Commander contains no fan,
making this device the quietest desktop external hard drive.
Commander external hard drives deliver extraordinary performance, transfer speeds, and
reliability for both Mac and PC users. Specifically designed for demanding security concerned
professionals, the Commander 3F contains a fast SATA high-capacity 3.5″drive in a stylish and
unique aluminum case that can be stacked or mounted vertically. With its built-in power supply
and fan-less and quiet operation, the Commander 3F can be easily moved from one desktop
environment to another using the provided carrying case, with 4TB single hard drive
introduction making this device the most versatile portable drive in the world today.
Commander F has been integrated with one of the most secure encryption hardware-based
chipsets in the world. It contains Advanced Encryption Standard Algorithm
AES-256 bit key strength, real-time encryption. There is virtually zero time in
encrypting and decrypting the data. In either CBC or ECB modes, the
encryption chip bears certifications of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST), and FIPS Level 2 for Cryptographic Module. It is
authenticated by digital key token, which is inserted for authentication and
removed soon after the device is authenticated and ready for use.
Choose Rocsecure drives and store your future.

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Box Contents
External hard disk drive
Stand for vertical mounting
USB cable (USB 3.0 to USB 3.0 or USB 3.0 to USB 2.0)
9-pin to 9-pin FireWire 800 (1394b) cable
AC power cord
Three (digital) key tokens
Installation user Guide
Carrying case

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Minimum System Requirements
Mac Users: Window Users:
**You may also connect Commander F series to a computer with FireWire 400; in this case you
need a special cable or an adaptor from a 9 pin FireWire 800 connector of the Commander F to
the 6Pin connector of FireWire 400.
Connectors
FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) port x2
(You may connect FireWire 800 to a FireWire 400 port via a special cable {also read page 12})
Standard AC power input connection
Digital key token
ON/OFF power switch
USB 3.0 port x1
Hardware: FireWire 800* (0r 400**) or
USB 3.0 (2.0) port(s.)
Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows
2000, Me, XP, Vista, Windows 7
Recommended memory: 512 MB RAM
Hardware: FireWire 800* (0r 400**) or
USB 3.0 (2.0) port(s.)
Mac: PowerPC or Intel processor running
Mac OS 9, X, Leopard, Snow Leopard,
Lion
Recommended memory: 512 MB RAM

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MUST BE READ FIRST
Commander 3F9 uses the most advanced encryption chip. It encrypts and decrypts all the data that is
being read and written simultaneously in real-time. It uses a digital key token to authenticate and
authorize to access data in the device.
This device contains three (3) digital key tokens that bear the mini USB form factor; the three (3) digital
keys provided with each device are unique and have the same key codes.
Each Commander works only with the similar digital key tokens that it has been formatted with.
You must keep at least one of the digital key tokens in a safe place.
If you lose all of your digital key tokens, you lose your data.
Rocstor does not keep a note of any key codes nor will be able to copy any digital Keys.
oIn the future, you may order your device with as many keys with similar key codes as you prefer
(extra digital keys bear additional costs). Rocstor is not able to reproduce or copy digital keys
once it leaves the factory.
Any set of digital keys can be formatted with as many Commander Products as you prefer. That
means if you have two (2) or more (or even twenty [20]) Commander Devices you can format all of
them with one set of digital keys. Digital key(s) with the same key code in this scenario are one set of
keys that would authenticate all of the Commander devices.
The key token works with the hard drive. If at any time if your device ports becomes defective but
your hard drive is in working condition (not damaged), the hard drive can be instead into another
similar enclosure and it will operate with your digital key that it had been formatted with originally.
If you lose one or even two digital keys, you may conduct the following tasks:
Purchase another set of digital keys from Rocstor.
You may purchase as many digital key tokens with the same key codes as you prefer
(recommendation: not to exceed 11 pieces of digital keys with the same key codes).
Once you have the new set of digital key tokens in your possession, you may proceed with the
following tasks:
oUsing one of the original keys (may be the last key in your possession) that authenticates your
drive, back up your data into another external hard drive or into a specific file made in your
computer hard drive designated for these data transfer.