Synergy Global Technology RAC281 User manual

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SCSI Ultra 320 to SATA II
RAID Controller
User Manual
Version 3.0 (JAN. 2006)
www.RackmountMart.com
email : [email protected]
SYNERGY GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY INC 1-888-865-6888
RAC281
RAC361

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Preface
About this manual
This manual is designed for
RAC281/RAC361
controller user to operate the disk
array system as easy as possible. Information contained in this manual has been
checked for accuracy, but no product warranty is given with this content due
to each operation environment is different. Information and
specification are
subject to change without further notice.
The RAM size of RAC281 & RAC361 recommends 512MB or more. Please
refer to the certification list of RAM in Appendix A.
Thank you for using
Synergy Global Technology Inc.
products; if you have
any question, please e-mail to
“[email protected]”
. We will answer
your question as soon as possible.
Copyright@2008,Synergy Global Technology Inc. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 RAID introduction..........................................5
1.1 Features........................................................................... 5
1.2 Terminology ..................................................................... 6
1.3 RAID levels ...................................................................... 8
Chapter 2 Getting started...............................................9
2.1 Before starting.................................................................. 9
2.2 Storage introduction......................................................... 9
2.3 Management methods ................................................... 10
2.3.1 Web GUI ...................................................................................................10
2.3.2 RS-232 serial port.....................................................................................10
2.3.3 Remote control – secure shell .................................................................10
2.4 Enclosure ....................................................................... 11
2.4.1 LCM........................................................................................................... 11
2.4.1 System buzzer..........................................................................................13
Chapter 3 Web GUI guideline.......................................14
3.1 S-series GUI hierarchy................................................... 14
3.2 Login .............................................................................. 15
3.3 Quick install.................................................................... 16
3.4 System configuration ..................................................... 17
3.4.1 System name............................................................................................18
3.4.2 IP address.................................................................................................18
3.4.3 Password ..................................................................................................19
3.4.4 Date...........................................................................................................19
3.4.5 Mail...........................................................................................................20
3.4.6 SNMP.......................................................................................................20
3.4.7 Event log ...................................................................................................21
3.5 Volume configuration ..................................................... 21
3.5.1 Volume relationship diagram .................................................................. 22
3.5.2 Physical disk ............................................................................................ 22
3.5.3 Volume group .......................................................................................... 24
3.5.4 User data volume .................................................................................... 27
3.5.5 Cache volume.......................................................................................... 29
3.5.6 Logical unit number .................................................................................30
3.5.7 Examples ..................................................................................................31
3.6 Enclosure management ................................................. 40
3.6.1 SAF-TE configuration ...............................................................................41
3.6.2 Voltage and Temperature ....................................................................... 42
3.6.3 Hard drive S.M.A.R.T. function support.................................................. 43
3.6.4 UPS.......................................................................................................... 43
3.7 System maintenance ..................................................... 45
3.7.1 Upgrade ................................................................................................... 45
3.7.2 Info ........................................................................................................... 46
3.7.3 Shutdown ................................................................................................. 46
3.8 Logout ............................................................................ 46
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Chapter 4 Advanced operation....................................47
4.1 Rebuild........................................................................... 47
4.2 VG migration and expansion.......................................... 48
4.3 UDV Extension............................................................... 50
4.4 Snapshot/Rollback (optional) ......................................... 51
4.4.1 Create snapshot volume ......................................................................... 52
4.4.2 Auto snapshot.......................................................................................... 53
4.4.3 Rollback ................................................................................................... 54
4.5 Disk roaming .................................................................. 54
Appendix............................................................................55
A. Certification list............................................................... 55
B. Event notifications.......................................................... 56
C. Known issues................................................................. 60
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Chapter 1 RAID introduction
1.1 Features
RAC281controller is a high-performance RAID controller.
•Backplane solution
oRAC281: U320 SCSI (x2) -to- SATA II (x8) RAID controller.
oRAC361: U320 SCSI (x2) -to- SATA II (x16) RAID controller.
RAC281controller has the features listed below:
•RAID 6 ready.
•Snapshot-on-the-box / rollback (optional).
•SATA II support with SATA I backward compatible.
•N-way mirror.
•On-line volume expansion and RAID level migration.
•Global/dedicated cache configurable by volume.
•S.M.A.R.T. enabled.
•Support SAF-TE.
•Support Microsoft VDS (Virtual Disk Service; optional).
•Disk roaming.
•MPIO ready (initiator driver support is needed).
When properly configured, our RAID controller can provide non-stop service with
a high degree of fault tolerance through the use of RAID technology and
advanced array management features.
RAC281 controller connects to the host system through an SCSI interface. It
can be configured to any RAID level. It provides reliable data protection for
servers and offers a new technology to implement the RAID 6 function. The
RAID 6 function allows two HDD failures without impact on the existing data.
Data can be reconstructed from the remaining data and parity drives.
Snapshot-on-the-box is a point-in-time volume replication. It makes consistent
and instant copies of data volumes without any system downtime. It can keep up
to 32 snapshots for all data volumes. Rollback feature is provided so users can
easily restore the previously-snapshotted data easily while continuing using the
volume for further data access. The data access is just regular as before
including read and write without any impact on end users. The "on-the-box"
terminology implies the fact that it does not require any proprietary agents
installed at host side. The snapshot is taken at volume level. It will not consume
any host CPU cycles thus the server is dedicated to the specific application. The
snapshot copies can be taken manually or by schedule such as hourly and daily.

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RAC281
controller is the most cost-effective disk array controller with
completely integrated high-performance and data-protection capabilities that
meet or exceed the highest industry standards, the best data solution for small
to medium size business user.
1.2 Terminology
This document uses the terms as follows:
RAID RAID is the abbreviation of “Redundant Array of Independent
Disks”. There are different RAID levels with different degree
of the data protection.
PD The Physical Disk belongs to the member disk of one specific
volume group.
VG Volume Group. One VG consists of a set of UDVs and owns
one RAID level attribute.
UDV
User Data Volume. Each VG could be divided into different
UDVs. The UDVs from one VG share the same RAID level,
but may own the different volume capacity.
CV
Cache Volume. Each UDV will be associated with one specific
CV to execute the data transaction. Each CV could own the
different cache memory size.
LUN Logical Unit Number. LUN is the logical volume, which the
Caution
RAC281 series controller does not design SCSI terminator on
system. It must add external SCSI terminators.
Caution
Snapshot/rollback features need 512MB RAM or more. Please
refer to a certification list for RAM in Appendix A.

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users could access by using the SCSI commands.
GUI Graphic User Interface.
RAID width,
RAID copy,
RAID row
(RAID cell in
one row)
RAID width, copy and row are used to describe one VG.
E.g.:
1. One 4-disk RAID 0 volume: RAID width= 4; RAID
copy=1; RAID row=1.
2. One 3-way mirroring volume: RAID width=1; RAID
copy=3; RAID row=1.
3. One RAID 10 volume over 3 4-disk RAID 1 volume:
RAID width=1; RAID copy=4; RAID row=3.
WT Write-Through cache write policy. Each data is synchronized
in both data cache and the accessed physical disks.
WB Write-Back cache write policy. Will speed up system write
performance but needs to bear the risk where data may be
inconsistent between data cache and the physical disks in one
short time interval.
RO Set the volume to be Read-Only.
DS Dedicated Spare disks. The spare disks only belong to one
specific VG. Others could not use the spare disks for any
rebuilding purpose.
GS
Global Spare disks. If some VGs are using the global spare
disks to do rebuilding, they could get the spare disks out from
the common spare disks pool for such requirement.
DC Dedicated Cache.
GC Global Cache.
DG DeGrade mode.
S.M.A.R.T. Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology.
WWN World Wide Name.
HBA Host Bus Adapter.

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MPIO Multi-Path Input/Output.
SAF-TE SCSI Accessed Fault-Tolerant Enclosures.
1.3 RAID levels
Describe RAID levels as follows:
RAID 0 Disk striping. RAID 0 needs at least one hard drive.
RAID 1 Disk mirroring over two disks. RAID 1 needs at least two hard
drives.
N-way
mirror Extension to RAID 1 level. It has N copies of the disk.
RAID 3 Striping with parity on the dedicated disk. RAID 3 needs at
least three hard drives.
RAID 5 Striping with interspersed parity over the member disks. RAID
3 needs at least three hard drives.
RAID 6 2-dimensional parity protection over the member disks. RAID
6 needs at least four hard drives.
RAID 0+1 Mirroring of the member RAID 0 volumes. RAID 0+1 needs at
least four hard drives.
RAID 10 Striping over the member RAID 1 volumes. RAID 10 needs at
least four hard drives.
RAID 30 Striping over the member RAID 3 volumes. RAID 30 needs at
least six hard drives.
RAID 50 Striping over the member RAID 5 volumes. RAID 50 needs at
least six hard drives.
RAID 60 Striping over the member RAID 6 volumes. RAID 60 needs at
least eight hard drives.
JBOD The abbreviation of “Just a Bunch Of Disks”. JBOD needs at
least one hard drive.

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Chapter 2 Getting started
2.1 Before starting
Before starting, prepare as follows.
Review the “Certification list” in Appendix A to confirm that the
hardware is fully supported.
Read the latest release notes before upgrading. Release notes will
accompany with firmware.
A server with a SCSI HBA.
SCSI cables and terminators.
CAT 5, CAT 5e, or CAT 6 network cables for management port.
Prepare storage system configuration plan.
Management port network information. If using static IP, please
prepare static IP addresses, subnet mask, and default gateway.
2.2 Storage introduction
Storage has two ”ends” in the connection. These ends are the initiator and the
target. The initiator: Requests, or initiates, any SCSI communications. It requests
all SCSI operations like read or write. An initiator is usually located on the
host/server side (an SCSI HBA).
Figure 2.2.1
The target is the storage device itself or an appliance that controls and serves
volumes or virtual volumes. The target is the device that performs the SCSI
command or bridges it to an attached storage device. The targets can be disks,
tapes, RAID arrays, tape libraries, etc.
SCSI device 1
(target)
Host
(initiator)
SCSI
HBA
SCSI
Terminator
SCSI device 2
(target)
Daisy-chain

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2.3 Management methods
There are three management methods to manage S Series controllers, describe
on the following:
2.3.1 Web GUI
RAC281 controllers support graphic user interface to manage the system. Be
sure to connect LAN cable. The default IP is 192.168.0.1; so open the browser
and type:
http://192.168.0.200
Click any function at the first time; it will pop up a dialog to authenticate.
Login name: admin
Default password: 1234
2.3.2 RS-232 serial port
Use NULL modem cable to connect console port.
Default baud rate: 115200, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity.
Terminal type: vt100
Login name: admin
Default password: 1234
2.3.3 Remote control – secure shell
ssh (secure shell) is required for RAC281 controllers to remote login. The ssh
client software is available at the following web site:
SSHWinClient WWW: http://www.ssh.com/
Putty WWW: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/
Host name: 192.168.0.1
Login name: admin
Default password: 1234
Tips
It does not support telnet to connect for remote control, only
ssh. Using ssh, the IP address has to be setup and the
password is required for login.

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2.4 Enclosure
2.4.1 LCM
There are four buttons to control LCM (LCD Control Module), including: c(up),
d(down), ESC (Escape), and ENT (Enter).
After booting up the system, the following screen will be shown:
ENHANCE
RAC2 81
←
Press “ENT”, the LCM functions “Alarm Mute”, “Reset/Shutdown”, “Quick
Install”, “View IP Setting”, “Change IP Config” and “Reset to Default” will be
rotate by pressing c(up) and d(down).
The following table is function description.
Alarm Mute Mute alarm when error occurs.
Reset/Shutdown Reset or shutdown controller.
Quick Install Three steps to create a volume. Please refer to section
3.3 for operation in web UI.
View IP Setting Display current IP address, subnet mask, and gateway.
Change IP
Config Set IP address, subnet mask, and gateway. There are 2
selections, DHCP (Get IP address from DHCP server) or
set static IP.
Reset to Default Reset to default will set password to default: 1234, and
set IP address to default.
Default IP address: 192.168.0.1
Default subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 192.168.0.254

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The following is LCM menu hierarchy.
[Alarm Mute] [cYes Nod]
[Reset] [cYes Nod]
[Reset/Shutdown] [Shutdown] [cYes Nod]
Volume Size
(xxxxxx M)
Adjust Volume
Size
Bus ID
(x) Adjust Bus ID
SCSI ID
(xx) Adjust SCSI ID
LUN
(x) Adjust LUN
[Quick Install]
RAID 0
(RAID 1/RAID 3/
RAID 5/RAID 6)
xxxxxx MB
Apply The
Config [cYes Nod]
[IP Config]
[Static IP]
[IP Address]
[192.168.000.001]
[IP Subnet Mask]
[255.255.255.0]
[View IP Setting]
[IP Gateway]
[192.168.000.254]
[DHCP] [cYes Nod]
[IP Address] Adjust IP
address
[IP Subnet
Mask]
Adjust Submask
IP
[IP Gateway] Adjust Gateway
IP
[Change IP
Config] [Static IP]
[Apply IP
Setting] [cYes Nod]
ENHANCE
Technology
cd
[Reset to Default] [cYes Nod]
Caution
Before power off, it is better to execute “Shutdown” to flush
the data from cache to physical disks.

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2.4.1 System buzzer
The system buzzer features are describing on the following:
1. The system buzzer will alarm 3 seconds when system boots up
successfully.
2. The system buzzer will alarm continuously when there are error level
events happened in the system. The alarm will be stopped after
pressing mute.

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Chapter 3 Web GUI guideline
3.1 S-series GUI hierarchy
Quick Install ÆStep 1 / Step 2 / Step 3 / Confirm
System Config
System name ÆSystem name
IP address ÆDHCP / Static
Password ÆOld password / Password / Confirm
Date ÆDate / Time / Time zone / Daylight saving
Mail ÆMail-from address / Mail-to address / SMTP relay /
Authentication / Send test mail
SNMP ÆSNMP trap address / Community
Event log ÆMute / Clear
Volume config
Physical disk ÆFree disc / Global spares / Dedicated spares / More
information
Volume group ÆCreate / Delete / More information / Rename /
Migrate
User data volume ÆCreate / Delete / Attach LUN / Snapshot / More
information / Rename / Extend / Set read/write
mode / Set priority / Resize Snapshot space / Auto
Snapshot
Cache volume ÆCreate / Delete / More information / Resize
Logical unit ÆAttach / Detach
Enclosure management
SAF-TE config ÆEnable / Disable
Voltage &
Temperature
ÆAuto shutdown
S.M.A.R.T. ÆS.M.A.R.T. for physical disks
UPS ÆUPS Type / Shutdown Battery Level / Shutdown
Delay / Shutdown UPS
Maintenance
Upgrade ÆBrowse the firmware to upgrade
Info ÆSystem information
Shutdown ÆReboot / Shutdown
Logout

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3.2 Login
RAC281 series controller supports graphic user interface to manage the system.
Be sure to connect LAN cable. The default IP is 192.168.0.200; so open the
browser and type:
http://192.168.0.200
Click any function at the first time; it will pop up a dialog to authenticate.
Login name: admin
Default password: 1234
After login, the selections listed on the left can be operated.
Figure 3.2.1
There are three indicators at the top-right corner.
1. Voltage light: Green is normal. Red represents abnormal voltage
status. Please refer to section 3.6.2 for more detail.
2. Temperature light: Green is normal. Red represents abnormal
temperature.
3. RAID light: Green means RAID works fine. Red represents RAID
failed happens.

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3.3 Quick install
It is easy to use “Quick install” function to create a volume. Depend on how
many physical disks or how many residual spaces on created VGs are free, the
system will calculate maximum spaces on RAID levels 0/1/3/5/6. “Quick install”
function will occupy all residual VG space for one UDV, and it has no space for
snapshot. If snapshot function is needed, please create volumes by manual, and
refer to section 4.4 for more detail.
Step 1: Select “Quick install” then choose the RAID level to set. Please refer to
Figure 3.3.1. After choosing the RAID level, click “ ”, it will be linked
to another page required to set up the “Bus ID” / “SCSI ID” / “LUN”.
Figure 3.3.1
Step 2: Please select a number for each of them. Be careful to avoid the conflict
of SCSI ID at the same SCSI bus. In this page, the “Volume size” can be
changed. The maximum volume size is shown. To re-enter the size be sure it
has to be less or equal to maximum volume size. Then click “ ”.
Step 3: Confirm page. Click “” if all setups are correct. Then a page
with the “User data volume” just been created will be shown as Figure 3.3.2.
Done. It can be used as a disk.

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Figure 3.3.2
(Figure 3.3.2: A RAID 0 user data volume with the UDV name “QUICK20680”, named by the
system itself, with the total available volume size 608256MB.)
3.4 System configuration
“System config” selection is for the setup of “System name”, “IP address”,
“Password”, “Date”, “Mail”, “SNMP” and view “Event log”.

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Figure 3.4.1
3.4.1 System name
Select “System name” to change system name. Default system name
composed by model name and serial number of this system, e.g.: S120-000001.
Figure 3.4.1.1
3.4.2 IP address

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Select “IP address” to change IP address for remote administration usage.
There are 2 selections, DHCP (Get IP address from DHCP server) or set static IP.
Figure 3.4.2.1
3.4.3 Password
Select “Password” is for changing administrator password.
Figure 3.4.3.1
3.4.4 Date
Select “Date” to set up the current date and time before using.
Figure 3.4.4.1

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3.4.5 Mail
Select “Mail” to enter at most 3 mail addresses for receiving the event
notification. Some mail servers would check “Mail-from address” and need
authentication for anti-spam. Please fill the necessary fields and select “Send
test mail” to check whether the email works fine.
Figure 3.4.5.1
3.4.6 SNMP
Select “SNMP” to set up SNMP trap for alert via SNMP. It allows up to 3 SNMP
trap addresses can be set for receiving SNMP trap. Default community setting is
“public”.
Figure 3.4.6.1