StarTech.com SAT3550ESR User manual

SATA RAID Drive Enclosure
SAT3550ESR Instruction Manual
Actual product may vary from photo
5 Drive 3.5” eSATA to SATA RAID Drive Enclosure

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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 to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off 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 into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
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This manual may make reference to trademarks, registered trademarks, and other
protected names and/or symbols of third-party companies not related in any way to
StarTech.com. Where they occur these references are for illustrative purposes only and
do not represent an endorsement of a product or service by StarTech.com, or an
endorsement of the product(s) to which this manual applies by the third-party company in
question. Regardless of any direct acknowledgement elsewhere in the body of this
document, StarTech.com hereby acknowledges that all trademarks, registered
trademarks, service marks, and other protected names and/or symbols contained in this
manual and related documents are the property of their respective holders.

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Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Host Controller Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
SiI 4726 Manager GUI Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Hardware Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Hard drive installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Connecting the Drive Enclosure to the computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Status Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Elements of the Status window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Basic Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Advanced Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Multiple Volume Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Manage Configuration files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Partition Configured Volumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Administering the SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Configuring the SAFE Volume Rebuild Storage Policy . . . . . . . . . . .21
Email Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Install New Firmware & Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Editing the UserConfig.xml
Monitoring and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Storage Policies Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Instruction Manual
i

Instruction Manual
1
Thank you for purchasing a StarTech.com 5 Drive 3.5” eSATA to SATA RAID Drive
Enclosure. A cost-effective storage solution, SAT3550ESR provides enhanced data
protection, high-performance storage and plug-and-play functionality, making it a simple
solution for professional or home users to replicate data and maintain data security.
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Features
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•Five separate drive bays maximize external storage capacity
•Support for both 2.5” and 3.5” SATA hard drives
•Single rear eSATA interface to host to manage access to each hard drive
•Supports data transfer speeds up to 3 Gbps
•Each hard drive bay is hot swappable
•x86 platform: An Intel Pentium 3 500MHz equivalent or faster
System Requirements
•Mac platform: A Mac G4 500MHz or faster
•CD-ROM drive (driver installation)
•64 MB RAM
•Dual 80mm internal fans for enhanced hard drive cooling
•250 MB of available hard drive space
•SVGA capable monitor
•Mouse/pointing device
•External SATA cable connection between Host computer and SAT3550ESR
•Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 or Mac OS X with latest updates
Package Contents
•1 x External Drive Enclosure •1 x Driver/Application CD
•1 x 2m eSATA Cable •1 x Power Cord
•1 x Instruction Manual
•1 x Screw Kit
•1 x PCI-Express 1x Host RAID
Controller Card

Instruction Manual
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Host Controller installation
In order to provide a software and hardware link between the host computer and the
SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure, it is required that the included PCI Express Host
Controller be installed on the host computer. You may also use another Host Controller,
provided it features port multiplier support, however it is not guaranteed that all host
controllers with port multiplier support are compatible with the drive enclosure.
1. Insert the Driver CD into your CD/DVD-ROM drive
2. Power down the computer, ensuring the system is unplugged and you are grounded.
3. Remove the cover of your system (see your computer's user manual for details, if
necessary) and gently turn your computer onto its side, so that the PCI Express
expansion slot on the motherboard is facing upward.
4. Locate an empty PCI Express slot and remove the metal plate that covers the
corresponding rear bracket. You may need a Phillips screwdriver to perform this step.
Retain the screw! You will need it to secure the card later.
5. Gently insert the card into the empty slot, making sure it is firmly seated.
6. Secure the card to the rear panel, using the screw you removed in Step 3.
7. Power on the computer. Once the operating system is fully booted, insert the Driver
CD (included) into the CD/DVD-ROM drive. You will notice several message
balloons originating in the taskbar, indicating that the required drivers are being
installed for the devices found.
The SiI 4726 Manager GUI provides a convenient way to manage disks installed within
the Drive Enclosure. To install the Sil 4726 Manager GUI:
1. Locate the Setup.exe file, by browsing to the BT3045_Manager\
SiI_4726_Graphic_User_Interface_V4.0.0.9 subfolder.
2. Double-click on the Setup.exe file to begin installation. Follow the on-screen prompts
to complete installation.
Sil 4726 Manager GUI installation
SiI 3132
SATALink
Controller
Once the card has been properly installed,
you can verify that it is detected by the
operating system by browsing to the
device manager (i.e. Start - Control Panel
- System - Hardware - Device Manager):

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Error Condition Indicator
OK Indicator
Key Lock
Drive
Bays
Safety latch
Rear PanelFront Panel (closed)
Power
Button
Hardware Guide
Front Panel (open)
Front Panel
Door
eSATA
port
Power Port

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1. Open the Front Panel Door, exposing the individual Drive Bays.
2. To remove one of the Drive Bays from the enclosure, slide the Safety Latch on the
front panel of the bay, to the left. Gently press the cover of the Drive Bay until you
hear a click, allowing the Retaining Arm to move freely. Grasp the Retaining Arm and
pull the Drive Bay from the enclosure.
3. Align the screwholes provided on the base of the Drive Bay, with the screws provided
on the base of the hard drive. Secure the hard drive to the metal base of the Drive
Bay removed in step 2, using the included screws as necessary.
4. Once the drive has been secured to the Drive Bay, replace the Drive Bay by gently
sliding it into the empty slot, ensuring the Drive Bay is properly resting on the internal
guide rails provided. The SATA data and power connectors located on the back of the
hard drive should be in direct contact with the connectors located internally at the
back of the enclosure.
5. Gently press the Retaining Arm (see step 2) until it locks back in place, now flush with
the other drive bays.
6. Slide the Safety Latch to the right, to ensure that the installed drive is not accidentally
released from the enclosure.
7. Repeat steps 1-6, for the remaining hard drives you wish to install.
8. Once you have secured each hard drive within the enclosure, close the Front Panel
Door. Optionally, you can lock the Front Panel Door in place, using the keys provided,
by turning the lock 1/4 turn in a clockwise direction.
Hard drive installation
Connecting the Drive Enclosure to the computer
To connect the SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure to the host computer : Connect one
end of a standard eSATA cable to the port located on the rear panel of the Drive
Enclosure; connect the remaining end of the eSATA cable to the eSATA port provided by
the the newly installed host controller on the host computer.
To power the SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure: Connect the female portion of the
included power cable to the male power port located on the rear panel of the Drive
Enclosure. Connect the remaining end of the power cable to an available power outlet.
Press and hold the Power button for three seconds, (located on the front of the Drive
Enclosure). Verify that the drives are detected by the operating system (in Windows, for
example, browse to My Computer, where the newly attached drives should appear).

Instruction Manual
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Introduction
Windows
1. Click on the Start button, and select All Programs. Click on Sil 4726 Manager to
launch the configuration program.
2. From the window that opens, you are able to monitor the status of the connected
drives:
Mac OS X
1. Launch the Finder and locate the SiI 4726 program within the Applications - Utilities
- SteelVine folder. Click the SiI 4726 icon to start the SiI 4726 Manager. If the launch
sequence does not locate an active Daemon, a warning will appear; click OK to
advance past the warning.
2. You will be asked to enter the administrator password. Once you have done so, click
OK to proceed.
3. A notice will appear as the launch sequence attempts to start the Daemon. Click OK.
If the Daemon fails to start, an error message will be displayed. Please follow the
recommendations in the error message to correct the problem.
4. The window that will open (Status Window) allows you to monitor the status of the
installed drives.

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Status Window
The Status Window provides basic information pertaining to the installed drives and their
respective configuration:
1
3
4
2
3
4
2
1Serial Number
System Status
Drive Status
Capacity Information
Elements of the Status window
System Status section
Temp : Indicates the current internal temperature of the SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure
Fan Speed : Indicates the system fan status. Use this data to monitor possible
malfunctions
Drive Status section
Box Status
: Indicates the drive status: Normal, Rebuilding, Unplugged, Needs
Rebuild, New Drive, Wrong Slot
Drive S/N : Shows the unique serial number assigned by the disk manufacturer
Exp. S/N : Shows the expected serial number of the hard disk drive. The Daemon
compares the expected and actual drive serial numbers to detect when a
drive’s status changes.

Capacity Information section
Policy
: Shows the storage policy configured for each volume.
Total : Shows the combined capacity of the volume.
Drive # : Shows capacity information for each hard disk .
Capacity : Shows the full amount of storage space (in GB) available on each hard disk.
Volume : Shows the total volume capacity and the drive capacities assigned to each
volume.
File Menu
Change Password : Opens a dialog to establish a new password.
Scan Devices : Refreshes the status list details presented on the Status window.
Change Connections : Opens a dialog to establish remote connections.
Edit Menu
Configure Box : Opens the Basic Configuration Wizard. From here, you can access the
Advanced Configuration Wizard.
Specify Policy : Opens the Rebuild Policy dialog.
Specify Email Notification : Sends email notification for the selected items.
Event Log : Opens the Event Log viewer.
Specify Firmware : Opens the Firmware Selection dialog.
Toolbar button functions
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Configure Box - Opens the Basic Configuration Wizard.
Specify Policy : Opens the Rebuild Policy dialog
Specify Email Notification : Sends email notification for the selected items
Event Log : Opens the Event Log viewer
Specify Firmware : Opens the Firmware Selection dialog

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The following section details the Basic Configuration Wizard and explains how to
configure volumes (virtual drives).
Basic Configuration Wizard
The SAT3550ESR Basic Configuration Wizard is accessible from the Status window
and allows volume management. The Wizard defines volumes based on a selected
storage policy. An end-user cannot modify volume counts or capacities. To protect
against unintentional changes, the SAT3550ESR prompts for a password for first time
access of the Wizard. The default password is admin. (For additional information on the
default password, please see the section entitled Change Password.)
1
2
3
1Storage Policy - Identifies available storage policies to assign to the
SAT3550ESR configuration.
2Volume List - Shows Volume, Mode (storage policy) and Size details for
created volumes. The total GBs Left field (beneath the volume
list) displays the remaining capacity in GBs, for all installed hard
disks.
3Drive Graph - Displays disk space for each hard disk drive. All space allocated
to the same volume appears in a matching color. A hatch
pattern indicates a proposed configuration and a solid block
represents an existing volume. The Cap field beneath each
drive in the drive graph shows the maximum capacity in GBs for
that hard disk.
Toolbar button functions
Read a configuration from a file
Reads a saved configuration so the end user
can apply the configuration to the SAT3550ESR
Drive Enclosure.

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Write configuration from system to a file
Saves a configuration to a file on the
host computer.
Restore configuration to last commit
Cancels proposed changes
Command buttons on the Basic Configuration Wizard
To Advanced Mode : Opens the Advanced Configuration Wizard
Apply : Submits configuration changes to the Drive Enclosure, and closes the
Configuration Wizard.
Cancel : Aborts the changes and closes the Configuration Wizard.
Volume Configuration
1. Select Configure Box
from the Edit menu or
click the Configure
Box toolbar button
to open the
Configuration
Wizard.
2. When prompted, enter the administrator password. The default password is Admin.
3. Select a storage policy in the
Storage Policy frame, based
on the following definitions:

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***Basic Storage Policy Options:
JBOD (bypass) : Creates a logical volume for each physical hard disk.
SAFE (RAID 1) : Creates two volumes. For each volume, one hard disk is
mirrored onto a second drive. Makes the remaining drive the
Hot Spare for both volumes.
BIG (Span): Concatenates all hard disks into a single volume.
FAST (RAID 0) : Stripes Hard drives to increase storage operation speed.
SAFE and BIG : Concatenates half of the available space on four hard disk
drives and mirrors that half to the second half of the available
space. Makes the remaining drive the Hot Spare.
SAFE and FAST (RAID 1+0) : Creates one volume consisting of four hard
drives (data is written to the mirrored disks in a
striped format). Makes the remaining drive the
Hot Spare.
4. When prompted to acknowledge that the configuration change may result in data loss,
click Yes to accept the configuration.
5. Select Save to Config File from the File menu to save the configuration.
6. Click Apply to create the selected configuration. The Volume display will close
automatically and the Status window will refresh (within a minute or so).
7. Partition the configured volume(s) to complete the implementation. Please refer to the
section entitled Partitioning Configured Volumes for further information.

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The following section details how to use the Advanced Configuration Wizard to apply
more than one storage policy to volumes in the SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure.
While the Basic Configuration provides six predefined storage policies to quickly
configure the Drive Enclosure, the Advanced Configuration Wizard allows you to
configure up to ten volumes, each with different storage policies and capacities.
The Advanced Configuration Wizard is an extension of Basic mode that allows you to
create two volumes (virtual drives) on each physical hard disk.
Storage
Policy
Drive
Graph
Volume
List
Advanced
Controls
Elements of the Advanced Configuration Wizard
Storage Policy : Displays available storage policies that you can assign to volumes. The
options are enabled after you create a new volume or select an existing
volume to edit.
Volume List : Displays Volume, Mode (storage policy) and size details for currently
configured volumes. Select a volume to edit or delete. The Total GBs left
field beneath the volume list displays the remaining capacity in gigabytes
for all hard disks.
Drive Graph : Displays disk space for each installed hard disk. All space allocated to the
same volume appears in a matching color. A hatch pattern indicates a
proposed configuration and a solid block indicates an existing volume.
Advanced Controls : Permit volume creation and modification on each hard disk:
The
Hot Spare check box indicates space on this drive is allocated
as rebuild space for the selected SAFE volume.

The Use check box indicates drive membership within a volume.
The
Slider specifies capacity allocated to a volume.
Text Field displays the capacity specified by manipulating the slider.
The
Cap field displays the maximum capacity for the hard drive
Vol# shows the virtual volume with which each hard disk drive is
associated
Toolbar button functions
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12
Read a configuration from a file
Reads a saved configuration into the Advanced
Configuration Wizard so you can apply the
configuration to the Drive Enclosure. Available
in Basic and Advanced modes.
Write system configuration to a file
Saves a configuration to a file on the host
computer. Available in Basic and Advanced
modes.
Restore configuration to last Commit
Cancels proposed changes. Available in
Basic and Advanced modes.
Create a new volume
Creates a new volume on which to set the storage policy
and capacity. You can create up to 2 volumes on each
hard disk drive (10 total).
Edit selected volume
Permits the storage policy and capacity of an existing
volume to be modified.
Delete selected volume
Deletes the volume that is currently selected in the
volume list.
Delete all volumes
Deletes all configured volumes.
Copy configuration
from other device in the
system
Copies the configuration of another SAT3550ESR to the
current SAT3550ESR.
Command buttons on the Advanced Configuration Wizard
To Basic Mode : Opens the Basic Configuration Wizard.
Update Volume : Applies the selected storage policy to a specific portion of a hard disk,
as a proposed configuration.
Cancel : Aborts the pending changes and returns the Wizard to the point where you can
perform different advanced configuration functions.

Instruction Manual
13
Command buttons on the Advanced Configuration Wizard - Cont’d
Apply : Submits configuration changes to the Drive Enclosure, closes the Wizard, and
displays the updated configuration on the Status Window.
Cancel : Aborts the in-progress changes and closes the Wizard.
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The Advanced Configuration Wizard allows many combinations of storage policies and
capacities. This procedure shows how to modify a basic SAFE configuration so that it
contains several volumes, each with different storage policies. This example illustrates
one possible combination that allocates all of the system’s available capacity to:
One 50-gigabyte (GB) SAFE volume on drives 0 and 1, with no reserved space for a Hot
Spare.
One FAST volume that uses the remaining capacity on drives 0 and 1.
One BIG volume that uses all of the capacity on drives 2, 3, and 4.
The same sequence of steps applies to any configuration you choose to implement; only
the storage policy and capacity allocation vary for different configuration options.
NOTE: Before reconfiguring an existing SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure with a
new configuration, backup the data. Use the Disk Management utility provided
by your OS to delete all partitions -
except the unallocated, un-initialized disk
that represents the SteelVine processor. Once the configuration and partitioning
of the new volumes has taken place, it is safe to restore the backed up data to
the new configuration. See the section entitled Partitioning Configured
Volumes for details.
1. Click the Configure Box toolbar button to open the Basic Configuration Wizard.
2. Click To Advanced Mode to open the Advanced Configuration Wizard.
3. Select Delete all volumes from the toolbar.
Click Delete All
Volumes
4. When prompted to confirm the deletion of the volumes, click Yes.
Click Create a
new volume
5. Select Create a new volume from the toolbar.

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Select SAFE (RAID1) as the Storage Policy. Click on the Use check boxes underneath
Drives 0 and 1. Move the slide to 50.
Safe
Mode
Uncheck
Hot Spare
Move
Slider
7. Click Update Volume.
8. When prompted whether to create a Hot Spare for the SAFE volume, click No. In
some configurations, you may want the added redundancy of a Hot Spare. The goal
of this example is to use all available system capacity to deliberately avoid the Hot
Spare.
Cross-
hatches
identify
allocated
space for
updated
volumes
Light, solid
colors
identify
unallocated
disk space
9. Click the Create a New Volume toolbar button.
10. Select the FAST radio button in the Storage Policy section.
11. Select the Use check box beneath both Drive 0 and Drive 1.

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12. Move the slider beneath Drive 0 all the way to the right to allocate the remaining
capacity on the two drives to the FAST volume. If you wish, you can allocate less than
the total remaining capacity to the new volume. However, doing so makes the
unallocated capacity unavailable and unused.
13. Click Update Volume.
14. Click the Create a New Volume toolbar button.
15. Select the BIG radio button in the Storage Policy section.
16. Select the Use check box beneath Drive 2, Drive 3, and Drive 4 to allocate all of the
remaining system capacity to the BIG volume.
17. Click Update Volume.
Please note: Only the last Volume listed (in the above example, Volume 2) can be
edited. In order to edit Volume 1, Volume 2 must be deleted. In order to
edit Volume 0, all Volumes must be deleted and the end-user will need to
start with a New Volume.
18. Click the Write Configuration for System to a File toolbar button to save the
configuration.
19. Click Update Volume to create the multi-volume configuration, close the Wizard, and
will display the volumes in the Status window (within a minute or so):
11. Partition the configured volumes to complete the implementation. See the section
entitled Partitioning Configured Volumes for details.

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The Basic Configuration Wizard provides menus and icons to manage configuration
files.
The Read Config File command from the File menu in the Basic Configuration Wizard
imports a configuration file so that the end-user can restore a previously saved
configuration (storage policy).
The Save to Config File command from the File menu in the Basic Configuration
Wizard exports an SAT3550ESR Drive Enclosure configuration to a file.
Each of the procedures in the Basic Configuration chapter prompts you to save a
configuration file.
Import a configuration file
Please note: A configuration file must be saved and available, prior to being able to
import it. Please see the section entitled Save a Configuration File for details.
1. Select Configure Box from the Edit menu or click the Configure Box toolbar button
in the Status window to open the Basic Configuration Wizard.
2. Select Read Config File from the File menu in the Basic Configuration Wizard.
3. Navigate to the required file and click Open to import it. The Basic Configuration
Wizard provides notice of a successful import and graphically displays the imported
volumes.
4. Click OK to implement the imported configuration.

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Save a Configuration File
1. Select Configure Box from the Edit menu or click the Configure Box toolbar button
in the Status window to open the Basic Configuration Wizard.
2. Select Save to Config File from the File menu in the Basic Configuration Wizard.
3. Navigate to the appropriate directory, specify
a file name in the File Name text box, and
click the Save button.