Rosewill RC-209-EX User manual

e-SATA 4 Port PCI Adaptor with RAID
RC-209-EX
User Manual

Content
• Feature highlights ..............................................................................
• Package contents ..............................................................................
• System requirement ..........................................................................
• Hardware Description ......................................................................
• Step by step photo installation of Magic Switch ............................
• Hardware installation .........................................................................
• Important message for user ..............................................................
• RAID introduction
• RAID 0 ....................................................................................
• RAID 1 ....................................................................................
• RAID 0+1 ................................................................................
• RAID 5 ............... .....................................................................
• BIOS configuration .............................................................................
• Driver installation
• Quick guide .............................................................................
•Detail guide .............................................................................
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SATA 4 Port PCI Adaptor with RAID RC209

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e-SATA 4 Port PCI Adaptor with RAID RC-209-EX
SiI 3114 SATA PCI Card
Feature
• Silicon Image SiI3114 SATA controller chip
• Compliant with PCI Specification, Rev. 2.3, 32bit, 33/66Mhz
• Provides four independent channels to support up to four Serial ATA drives
• Supports RAID0(striping), RAID1(mirroring), RAID5(Parity RAID),
RAID 0+1(mirroring+striping) and Concatenation modes
• HDDs function normally when not in RAID sets
• Supports SATA up to 150MB/Sec
• Supports Windows® 2000, XP/2003 32/64 bit, Vista 32/64bit
Bus Interface
• PCI Bus 32bit
Connectors
• 4 x internal SATA connectors
• 2 x external eSATA connectors
Package Contents
• 1 x Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter
• 1x Driver CD
• 2x SATA Data Cables
• 2 x SATA Power Cables
• 1x Manual
• 1x Low profile bracket
System Requirements
• Pentium-class computer with one available PCI slot
• Windows® 2000, XP/2003 32/64bit, Vista 32/64bit

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Hardware Description
A SATA Connector (internal)
B SATA Connector (internal)
C SATA Connector (internal)
D SATA Connector (internal)
E SATA Connector (external)
F SATA Connector (external)
G Jumpers
Jumper Settings ( Default mode as below : 2-3 close )
Jumper Settings
JP Description Active port
J1-J4 1-2 close Enable SATA Connector F
2-3 close Enable SATA Connector C
J5-J8 1-2 close Enable SATA Connector E
2-3 close Enable SATA Connector D
Note :
There are six 1.5G SATA channels in RC-209-EX. We named these ports character A through F.
Ports A to D are internal SATA ports and E & F are external e-SATA ports. By changing the jumper
setting on RC-209-EX that allows you to select between external and internal ports to use. By
default, Port A, B, C and D are working.
A.B SATA port
C.D SATA port
e-SATA port
Jumper
3
2
1
J8 J7 J6 J5 J4 J3 J2 J1
E
F
G

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Step by step photo installation of Magic Switch
1. There are six SATA ports in RC-209-EX RAID adapter. We named these ports
character A through F. Ports A to D are internal SATA ports and E to F are
external SATA ports. By changing the jumper setting on RC-209-EX that allows
you to utilize 4 ports of this card. Please reference our photos below for the
proper jumper setting. Port A and B are always active. With different jumper
setting you can active port C, D, E and F by referencing the following photos.
2. Available port setting 3. Active Inactive
*Jumper setting for 1 pin and 2 pin close
– connect pin 1 and 2 on J1, J2, J3 and J4.
*Jumper setting for 2 pin and 3 pin close
– connect pin 2 and 3 on J5, J6, J7 and J8.
3 PIN
2 PIN
1 PIN
for exsample:
2 & 3 PIN close
E F
C
D
BA

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Mode 1 (Default) - ABCD Active
Mode 2 - ABDF Active
Mode 3 - ABEF Active
E F
C
D
BA
2 & 3 PIN close 2 & 3 PIN close
E F
C
D
B A
2 & 3 PIN close 1 & 2 PIN close
E F
C
D
BA
1 & 2 PIN close1 & 2 PIN close

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Mode 4 - ABCE Active
Note: There are six SATA ports in Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter. We named these ports
character A through F. Ports A to D are internal SATA ports and E & F are external SATA ports. By
changing the jumper setting on the Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter that allows you to select
between external and internal ports to use. By default, Port A, B, C and D are working.
Hardware Installation
1. Turn Off the power to your computer and any other connected peripheral devices.
2. Unplug the power cord form the back of the computer.
3. Remove your computer’s cover.
4. Remove the slot bracket from an available PCI slot.
5. To install the card, carefully align the card’s bus connector with the selected PCI slot on the
motherboard. Push the board down firmly, but gently, until it is well seated.
6. Replace the slot bracket’s holding screw to secure the card.
Device Connection
The Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter is a four channel Serial ATA controller that supports up
to four Serial ATA hard disk drives. It is recommended to use identical hard drives for all RAID
configurations.
1. Install your hard disk drive(s) in chassis.
2. Connect the Serial ATA hard disk drive to the system power supply using the included Serial
ATA power cable.
3. Connect one end of the Serial ATA cable to the hard disk drive.
4. Attach the other end of the Serial ATA cable to the Serial ATA controller on the Serial ATA
4-Channel RAID adapter.
5. Follow the same instructions to connect up to four hard drives. Device connection is now
complete.
6. Replace the computer cover and reconnect the power cord.
E F
C
D
BA
1 & 2 PIN close 2 & 3 PIN close

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Important message for user
1. Backup all your data in HD before setting any RAID.
2. New HD connecting to RC-209-EX is recommended to “initial” and “format” before setting a
RAID. Otherwise, PC might find nothing in the system.
3. If you want to boot from correct HD either from motherboard HD or RC-209-EX HD, please
change from BIOS “booting sequence”.
4. Although SATA HD is a “hot swap” design, it is strongly recommended that all users turn off
the power before you add any HD to PC.
5. If you want to use RC-209-EX as a un-RAID card, please do not enter the RAID BIOS and set
any RAID set at the beginning of booting. You can jump to P11 “Driver installation” directly to
complete the install. The only different is ignoring the step of RAID setting and the driver
setting is the same as a RAID card.
RAID Arrays
RAID Arrays are setup in the Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter’s BIOS.
RAID 0 (Striping)
This RAID array to be used on New/Blank hard drives. Striping will destroy existing data on the
hard drive. Auto Configuration is recommended. For applications that require custom chunk
size, Manual Configuration is offered.
Auto configuration (recommended)
The default chunk size is 64k when selecting Auto configuration.
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.

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2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID0, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select Auto configuration, then press Enter.
6. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
7. When asked Are You Sure (Y/N)?, press Y to accept.
8. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.

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9. When asked Are you sure to exit (Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
10. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
Manual configuration
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID0, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select Manual configuration then press Enter
6. Select chunk size from 8k, 16k, 32k, 64k or 128k, then press Enter.
7. Select the first drive, press Enter.
8. Select the second drive, press Enter.
9. If applicable select the 3rd and 4th drives pressing enter after each selection.
10. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
11. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
12. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
13. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
14. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
RAID 1 (Mirror)
For New/Blank Hard Drives
Recommended for all fresh HD without data.
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. At the next screen select RAID1 then press Enter.
4. Select Auto configuration, then press Enter.
5. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
6. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
7. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
8. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
9. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
For Existing Hard Drives with Data
Recommended for one/two original HD with data to mirror with one/two fresh empty HD
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. At the next screen select RAID1 then press Enter.
4. Select Manual configuration, then press Enter.
5. Select the Source drive, press Enter.

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6. Select the Target drive, press Enter.
7. Select Create with data copy, then press Enter.
8. Select online copy, then press Enter.
Note : Selcting Online Copy builds the mirror while in Windows. Selecting Offline Copy builds
the mirror before exiting the RAID BIOS.
9. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
10. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
11. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
Note : If during boot the RAID BIOS reports an RAID1 set is in Rebuild status, The rebuild will
continue after boot sequence is complete, disregard the message, continue booting, and let
the Mirror rebuild.
Creating a SPARE Drive
This function is used when you want to backup your data by adding a new HD to RC-209-EX.
You can transfer original data to the new adding HD by the following.
When a hard drive failure occurs in a mirror set, the auto-rebuild feature enables a drive
designated as SPARE to become the new member of the mirror set. After you process this
function, your mirror will be rebuilded.
1. During boot press Ctrl+S or F4 to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. Select Create RAID Set then press Enter.
3. Select SPARE DRIVE then press Enter.
4. Select the single hard drive then press Enter.
5. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
6. Press Ctrl+E to exit.
7. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N), press Yto exit.
The SPARE drive will not been by Windows, however, it remains in the background waiting to
rebuild the mirror in the event of a hard drive failure.
Rebuilding a Failed Mirror Set
This function is used when any HD in mirror is failure. Your data is still safety. System will notice
and help you rebuild mirror by replacing new HD to the broken part.
When a failure to one member occurs, you will be notified either by the RAID BIOS during boot
or by the SATARAID5 GUI while in Windows. The steps below will guide you in rebuilding a failed
mirror set.
1. Replace the failed drive with one of equal or greater capacity, then start the computer.
2. During boot press Ctrl+S or F4 to enter the RAID BIOS.
3. Select Create RAID Set then press Enter.

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4. Select SPARE DRIVE then press Enter.
5. Select the replacement drive then press Enter.
6. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Y to confirm.
7. Press Ctrl+E to exit.
8. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit.
RAID 0+1 (Mirroring+Striping)
This RAID array to be used on New/Blank hard drives, do not use existing hard drive(s) with data.
To create a RAID 0+1 set at least four hard drives are required.
Auto configuration (recommended)
The default chunk size is 64k when selecting Auto configuration.
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID10, then press Enter.
4. Select Auto configuration, then press Enter.
5. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
6. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
7. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
8. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
9. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
Manual configuration
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID10, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select Manual configuration then press Enter.
6. Select chunk size from 8k, 16k, 32k, 64k or 128k, then press Enter.
7. Select the first drive, press Enter.
8. Select the second drive, press Enter.
9. Select the third drive, press Enter.
10. Select the fourth drive, press Enter.
11. Select Create without data copy then press Enter.
12. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
13. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Y to accept.
14. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
15. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
16. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.

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RAID 5 (Parity)
This RAID array to be used on New/Blank hard drives. Striping will destroy existing data on the
hard drive. Auto Configuration is recommended. For applications that require custom chunk
size, Manual Configuration is offered.
Auto configuration (recommended)
The default chunk size is 64k when selecting Auto configuration.
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID5, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select Auto configuration, then press Enter.
6. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
7. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
8. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
9. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot
10. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
Manual configuration
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select RAID5, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select Manual configuration then press Enter.
6. Select chunk size from 8k, 16k, 32k, 64k or 128k, then press Enter.
7. Select the first drive, press Enter.
8. Select the second drive, press Enter.
9. Select the third drive, press Enter.
10. If applicable select the 4th drive pressing enter after each selection.
11. Input the RAID size, press Enter.
12. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Y to accept.
13. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
14. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
15. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.

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CONCATENATION
This RAID array allows you to use one, two, three or four hard drives to a array. It does not
provide any data protection or performance improvement but can be useful for utilizing leftover
space on disks.
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. At the next screen select Create RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select CONCATENATION, then press Enter.
4. Select the number of drives then press Enter.
5. Select the first drive, press Enter.
6. If applicable select the 2nd, 3rd, 4th drive pressing enter after each selection.
7. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto accept.
8. Press Ctrl+E to exit the BIOS.
9. When asked Are you sure to exit(Y/N)?, press Yto exit and reboot.
10. Continue with FDISK and FORMAT steps as if you were installing a conventional hard drive.
Deleting RAID Arrays
1. As the BIOS boots press Ctrl+S or F4 when prompted to enter the RAID BIOS.
2. Select Delete RAID Set, then press Enter.
3. Select the RAID set then press Enter.
4. When asked Are You Sure(Y/N)?, press Yto confirm.
Resolving Conflicts
When a RAID set is created, then metadata written to the disk includes drive connection
information. If, after a disk failure, the replacement disk was previously part of a RAID set (or used
in another system), it may have conflicting metadata. If so, this will prohibit the RAID set from
being either created or rebuilt, in order for the RAID set to function properly, this old metadata
must be first overwritten with the new metadata. To resolve this, from the main BIOS window
select Resolve Conflicts, then press Enter, the correct metadata, including the correct drive
connection information, will be written to the replacement disk.
Low Level Format
Low Level Format is build into the RAID BIOS to make it more convenient to erase the entire
contents of a hard disk drive, including data, drive and partition information. The Low Level
Format utility works on single hard drive only, before the RAID set is configured.

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Logical Drive Info
This menu item allows the display of the assignment of physical drives within a logical set(RAID0,
RAID1, etc.). This is display only function.
BIOS Configuration
The Serial ATA 4-Channel RAID adapter BIOS will appear every time your system starts up. If the
BIOS doesn’t show, please try your controller in another PCI slot. During this (POST) process, the
BIOS will show up and indicate the devices attached to it.
Driver Installation
Quick guide:
1. If you want to add RC-209-EX to an existing OS, set up RC-209-EX into a PCI slot. Enter the
OS and install RC-209-EX with driver disk. In this case, PC is booting up by an existing HDD
connecting to motherboard. After RC-209-EX is installed complete, you can add HDD and set
the RAID by RAID BIOS.
2. If you want to add RC-209-EX to a new PC without any OS, you need to boot the OS from HD
connecting to RC-209-EX instead of motherboard.
Please follow below steps a~f to complete the installation.
a. Put the driver (the driver must fit the OS you want to install to the HDD) into a floppy disk
and keep it in the floppy drive.
b. Plug the HDD. Turn on PC, enter and complete the RAID set. After you complete, save and
left the setting.
c. Inset Windows installation disk and start the windows installation.
d. Press F6 at the beginning as the blue screen scanning.

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This will let PC boot from a HDD controller instead of motherboard HDD.
e. Keep the floppy in floppy drive and follow the installation. Press “S” when the screen shows
as the following picture.
Choose the correct OS which you are going to install when system asks you.

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If below screen happens, please choose “Standard PC with C-Step i486”.
Keep the floppy disk in floppy drive. PC will notice you as below if you take them off from
the drive.

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The installation of RC-209-EX by floppy drive will be completed and the system will detect
the HD which now plug on the card.
After you install RC-209-EX successfully by floppy disk, installation will lead you back to the
same screen as below and then press “enter” to left the setting.
f. Once the system can find the HD connecting to RC-209-EX, you can follow the normal
steps to complete the Windows installation.

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3. If you want to create a mirror with a HDD with existing OS and a fresh HDD, the data on
existing HDD will copy to fresh HDD and boot as RAID 1. In addition, based on the above
situation, if a bootable HDD on the RC-209-EX is desired. It means in this case you will boot
our computer from RC-209-EX instead of motherboard. Please follow the following
instructions.
a. Install RC-209-EX to an existing OS HD connecting to motherboard.
b. After RC-209-EX install complete, turn off PC. Take the original HDD off from motherboard
and connect to RC-209-EX. Take another fresh HDD to connect to RC-209-EX for setting
mirror.
c. Turn on PC and enter RAID BIOS to set mirror. Choose “Manual” and then select the
original HDD as the data source to complete mirror. The copy will take a long time
depending on your HD capability. After data copy complete, save and left RAID BIOS.
Important message: If you choose the wrong HDD source at the step of “manual”, all your data
will be lost.
d. Reboot your PC and now you can enter your OS with RAID 1. (Please change the booting
sequence in CMOS if necessary)
Detail guide
For Windows® 2000
For New Installation
A new installation requires a floppy disk for the driver installation. To make this floppy disk, copy
the contents of the “RC-209\Driver\RAID5” folder, found on the driver CD, onto a blank floppy
disk then follow the directions below.
1. Setup the RAID Array prior to Windows installation.
2. Follow Windows® 2000 installation procedure.
3. Restart the computer when prompted by the installation.
4. At the Windows® 2000 Setup screen, press F6 to install the RAID driver.
5. When prompted, press Sto specify the location of the driver.
6. Insert the floppy disk, then press Enter.
7. Select Silicon Image SiI 3114 Soft Raid 5 Controller for Windows 2000, then press Enter.
8. Press Enter again to finish driver installation, then follow the on-screen instructions to
complete the Windows installation.
For An Existing Installation
1. Setup the RAID Array prior to driver installation and boot up to Windows.
2. At Found New Hardware Wizard, click Next.
3. Select Search for a suitable driver for my device(recommend) then click .

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4. Insert the driver CD, check CD-ROM drives, uncheck the other boxes, click Next, then click
Next again.
5. If the Digital Signature Not Found message appears, click Yes. Our driver has been
thoroughly tested for stability and compatibility.
6. Click Finish.
7. Repeat steps 2-6.
For Windows® XP/Server 2003
For A New Installation
A new installation requires a floppy disk for the driver installation. To make this floppy disk, copy
the contents of the “RC-209\Driver\RAID5” folder, found on the driver CD, onto a blank floppy
disk then follow the directions below.
1. Setup the RAID Array prior to Windows installation.
2. Follow Microsoft’s Windows installation procedure.
3. Restart the computer when prompted by Windows’ installation.
4. At the Windows Setup screen, press F6 to install the RAID driver.
5. When prompted, press Sto specify the location of the driver.
6. Insert the floppy disk, then press Enter.
7. Select Silicon Image SiI 3114 Soft RAID 5 Controller for Windows XP/Server 2003, then
press Enter.
8. Press Enter to finish driver installation, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete
the Windows installation.
Note : If the Security Alert warning pops up, click Yes. Our driver has passed Microsoft
compatibility testing, this message appears during new installation.
For An Existing Installation
1. Setup the RAID Array prior to driver installation and boot up to Windows.
2. At the Found New Hardware Wizard :
XP(w/SP1 or earlier)/Server 2003: continue to step #3
XP(w/SP2 or later)/Server 2003(w/SP1 or later) : select No, not this time, then click Next.
3. Insert the driver CD, select Install the software automatically (Recommended),
and click Next.
4. Click Finish.
5 Repeat steps 2-4.