Thecus N299 User manual

Thecus N299
User’s Manual

2
Copyright and Trademark Notice
Thecus and other names of Thecus products are registered trademarks of Thecus
Technology Corp. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Apple, iTunes and Apple OS X are registered
trademarks of Apple Computers, Inc. All other trademarks and brand names are
the property of their respective owners. Specifications are subject to change
without notice.
Copyright © 2007 Thecus Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
About This Manual
All information in this manual has been carefully verified to ensure its correctness.
In case of an error, please provide us with your feedback. Thecus Technology
Corporation reserves the right to modify the contents of this manual without
notice.
Product name: Thecus N299
Manual Version: 1.1
Release Date: November 2007
Limited Warranty
Thecus Technology Corporation guarantees all components of Thecus N299 are
thoroughly tested before they leave the factory and should function normally
under general usage. In case of any system malfunctions, Thecus Technology
Corporation and its local representatives and dealers are responsible for repair
without cost to the customer if the product fails within the warranty period and
under normal usage. Thecus Technology Corporation is not responsible for any
damage or loss of data deemed to be caused by its products. It is highly
recommended that users conduct necessary back-up practices.

8
Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview
Thank you for choosing the Thecus N299 IP Storage Server. The Thecus N299 is
an easy-to-use storage server that allows a dedicated approach to storing and
distributing data on a network. Data reliability is ensured with RAID features that
provide data security and recovery. Two Gigabit Ethernet ports enhance network
efficiency, allowing the N299 to take over file management functions. The N299’s
user-friendly GUI supports multiple languages, and its built-in media server and
optional wireless connectivity via USB dongles allow users to share and enjoy
their digital media in virtually any room of the house.
Product Highlights
File Server
First and foremost, the N299 allows you to store and share files over an IP
network. With a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, you can centralize your
files and share them easily over your network. With the easy-to-use web-based
interface, users on your network can access these files in a snap.
To learn about the Web User Interface, go to Chapter 5: Using the N299 >
Web User Interface.
Media Server
The N299 can also act as a convenient media server, allowing you to enjoy and
share photos, music, and movies via the uPnP AV streaming protocol.
To set up the Media Server, refer to Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup >
Media Server.
FTP Server
With the built-in FTP Server, friends, clients, and customers can upload and
download files to your N299 over the Internet with their favorite FTP programs.
You can create user accounts so that only authorized users have access.
To set up the FTP Server, refer to Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup > FTP
Server.
iTunes® Server
Digital music is one of the hottest trends, and with the built-in iTunes® server,
you can share your digital music files with every iTunes-equipped PC on your
network. The iTunes Server is also incredibly easy to set up!
To set up the iTunes Server, refer to Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup >
iTunes Server.
Photo Gallery
Got a lot of photos? Share them effortlessly with the N299’s built-in Photo Gallery.
Users can create albums and upload photos in a snap, and the N299 will even
auto-create thumbnails.
To find out how to share photos with the N299, refer to Chapter 5: Using the
N299 > Using Photo Gallery.

9
Backup Server
Don’t leave precious data to chance. With advanced backup capabilities, you can
easily upload mission critical files to the N299, and even automate your backup
tasks for true peace-of-mind.
To find out how to backup your files with the N299, refer to Chapter 5: Using
the N299 > File Backup.
Download Manager
Tired having downloads take up all of your bandwidth when you need it most?
With the N299’s Download Manager, you can let the N299 complete your BT,
HTTP, and FTP during off-peak hours. With the N299 lower power requirements,
you can even save money off your monthly power bill.
To set up the Download Station, refer to Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup
> Download Manager.
Printer Server
With the N299’s Printer Server, you can easily share an IPP printer with other PCs
connected to your network.
To set up the Printer Server, refer to Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup >
Printer Server.
IP Cam Surveillence Server
Keep an eye on things with the built-in IP Cam Surveillence Server. Just plug in a
compatible webcam and the N299 can send snapshots to an account that you
specify. Best of all, your PC doesn’t even have to be turned on!
To set up the IP Cam Surveillence Server, refer to Chapter 4: Additional
Feature Setup > IP Cam Surveillence.
Package Contents
Your N299 package should contain the following items:
•Thecus N299 NAS Device
•Accessory Pack:
oPower cord ble
oRJ-45 Ethernet ca
ohard disk screws
rews
ohard disk tray sc
oInstallation CD Guide
oQuick Installation
Warranty card
o
Please check to see if your package is complete. If you find that some items are
missing, contact your dealer.

Front Panel
The N299’s front panel displays the unit’s array of status LEDs, and is also where
you’ll find the power button and USB port. See the table below for a detailed
explanation of each:
Item Description
Power LED •Solid blue: N299 is powered on
System Status LED
•Blinking orange: system is starting up
•Blinking red: system error
•Off: system startup complete; system operating normally
•Solid blue: HDD 1 detected
•Blinking blue: Active HDD 1 data transfer
•Solid red : HDD 1 error detected
HDD1 LED
•Blinking red: HDD 1 capacity is nearly full (90% or more)
* If RAID is configured, capacity is based on the entire RAID
system.
•Solid blue: HDD 2 detected
•Blinking blue: Active HDD 2 data
HDD2 LED transfer
is configured, capacity is based on the entire RAID
•Solid red : HDD 2 error detected
•Blinking red: HDD 2 capacity is nearly full (90% or more)
* If RAID
system.
One-Button USB
Copy •rt
time
M)
One-Button Copy
Push once to copy entire USB volume to the N299. A sho
beep will sound to acknowledge that files are now being
copied. Files are stored in a folder named by current
stamp: (YearMonthDayHHM
10
WAN LED ctivity
•Solid green: network link
•Blinking green: network a
•Solid green: network link
LAN LED
•Blinking green: network activity
USB LED •Uo
LED
SB Device Connection
Blinking blue (5 seconds): USB device connected
successfully.
*For universal USB memory card readers, the USB
will blink blue when one or more card is mounted
successfully.

11
Rear Panel
he rear panel of the N299 houses the USB and Ethernet connections, as well as
wer connector. See the table below for descriptions of each:
T
the po
Item Description
Power Connector •ded power cord to this connectorConnect the inclu
WAN Port •WAN port for connecting to an Ethernet network through a
switch or router
LAN Port •LAN port for connecting to an Ethernet network through a switch
or router
USB Ports
•USB 2.0 ports for storage expansion
on failure
•D
SB device read/write error
oBlinking red (5 seconds): USB device connecti
ata Transfer
oBlinking blue: Active data transfer
oBlinking red: U
SB Port •USB 2.0 port for USB storage expansion. U
Power Button •Power on/off N299
There are two USB ports at the back panel
of N299, you can use either one, but not
two at the same time.
NOTE

Chapter 2: Getting Started
Overview
Your N299 is designed for complete ease-of-use. To help you get started, the
following chapter will help you get your N299 up and running in no time. Please
read it carefully to prevent damaging your unit during installation.
Before You Begin
Before you begin, be sure to take the following precautions:
1. Read and understand the Safety Warnings outlined in the beginning of
the manual.
2. If possible, wear an anti-static wrist strap during installation to prevent
static discharge from damaging the sensitive electronic components on the
N299.
3. Be careful not to use magnetized screwdrivers around the N299’s
electronic components.
4. The N299 uses its chassis to dissipate heat. Please leave your N299 in a
well-ventilated area to prevent overheating.
Hard Disk Installation
The N299 supports standard 3.5” (SATA) hard disks. To install a hard disk into
the N299, follow the steps below:
1. Remove two screws located on the back of the unit using a Philips
screwdriver.
2. Unscrew four mounting screws.
3. Lift up the hard disk tray by pulling up the top panel of the N299.
4. Carefully insert a standard 3.5” SATA hard disk into the tray, and secure
the hard disk with screws from the included accessory pack.
5. If you are installing two hard disks, please insert the second hard disk at
the bottom of the tray and secure it with screws from the included
accessory pack.
6. Carefully lower the hard disk tray back into the N299.
7. After making sure the tray is in place and the connectors are aligned,
secure the hard disk tray with screws.
NOTE
If your hard disk was previously part of a RAID 1 array, it will automatically rebuild.
If you replace all the drives with higher capacity drives, you need to go to the
Administrator login and format the drives.
12

Cable Connections
Make the following connections on the Thecus N299 and then power up the unit:
1. Connect an Ethernet cable from your network to the WAN port on the
back panel of the N299.
2. Connect the provided power cord into the universal power socket on the
back panel. Plug the other end of the cord into a surge protected socket.
3. Press the power button on the front panel to power on the N299.
4. Make sure system is running properly by checking all front panel LEDs for
any error indications.
Installation Wizard
The handy Thecus Setup Wizard makes configuring N299 a snap. To configure the
N299 using the Setup Wizard, perform the following steps:
1. Insert the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive (the host PC must be
connected to the network).
2. The Setup Wizard should launch automatically. If not, please browse your
CD-ROM drive and double click on Setup.exe.
NOTE
For MAC OS X users, double click on Thecus Setup Wizard 1.1.6.dmg
3. Complete the Setup Wizard
a. Device Discovery
The Setup Wizard will start and automatically detect all Thecus Storage
devices on your network.
13

b. Login
Login into N299 with administrator’s account and password.
c. Network Setting
Name your N299 system and configure the network IP address. You
can choose either fixed IP or DHCP.
14

d. Change Admin Password
e. Start Browser
Access the current N299 administrator Web User Interface pressing the
“Start Browser” button.
15

f. RAID and FW installation
Please config the RAID first then carry on with FW installation to
complete setup procedure.
NOTE The Thecus Setup Wizard is designed for installation on systems running Windows
XP/2000 or Mac OSX or later. Users with other operating systems will need to install
the Thecus Setup Wizard on a host machine with one of these operating systems
before using the unit.
16

First Time Setup
Once the hardware is installed, physically connected to your network, and
powered on, you can now configure the Thecus N299 so that it is accessible to
your network users. Follow the steps below for initial software setup.
Step 1: Initial Login
Make sure your network is connected to the Internet and access the N299 Login
webpage:
1. Type in the default IP address http://192.168.1.100 in your browser’s
address line. If you have changed the N299’s IP address, type this in
instead.
To access any IP address, your computer must be configured with the correct IP
settings. The IP address should be 192.168.1.x, where x is a number between 1 and
254.
NOTE
2. The Login screen appears.
3. To gain initial access to the system type in the factory default
administrator user name and password, which are as follows:
User Name: admin
Password: admin
4. Press Login.
5. The About screen from the Status menu appears showing product
information.
Step 2: System Check and Configuration
Once logged in, you are greeted with the Web Administration Interface, where
you can check the N299’s status, as well as configure its operating parameters.
1. In the Status menu, choose the System item to go to the System
Status screen. Check that the basic system information such as CPU
loading and Fan RPM are all OK.
2. In the Status menu, choose the Info item to go to the System
Information screen. Change the System Description to describe your
system and press Apply. This information appears on the Login page.
3. In the System menu, choose the Administrator Password item. The
screen that appears lets you change the administrator password for the
system. Press Apply to confirm your settings.
4. In the System menu, choose the Time item and the Time screen appears.
Set the date, time and time zone and press Apply.
Step 3: Configure Network Settings
After setting the N299’s basic configuration options, the next step is to configure
its network settings.
1. In the Network menu, choose the WAN item and the Network
Configuration screen appears.
17

2. Set host name and specify the domain name.
3. Enable DHCP for setting the IP automatically or Disable DHCP to enter
your own IP settings.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the LAN item under the Network menu to
configure the LAN port.
5. In the Network menu, choose the Service item and the Service
Support screen appears.
6. Enable or Disable each protocol according to your requirements. Press
Apply to confirm the setting.
• For normal usage, enabling all protocols is recommended.
• For added security, disable WebDisk support and enable Secure WebDisk
support.
• If DHCP is enabled in the Network Settings screen, UPnP is automatically
enabled.
NOTE
For details on configuring your network settings, refer to Chapter 3: System
Management > Network Management.
Step 4: Select RAID Level
Once the network is configured, you should then select the appropriate RAID level
and build your RAID array.
1. From the Storage menu choose RAID item and the RAID Information
screen appears. Press the Config button and the RAID Configuration
screen appears.
2. Select your desired RAID mode.
If security is your primary concern, for 2 disks, choose RAID 1. If capacity is your
primary concern, choose JBOD or RAID 0. See Appendix C for more information.
NOTE
3. Check the hard disks you wish to create a RAID on. Specify a stripe size—
64K is a normal setting.
4. Press the Create button to build the RAID storage volume. Configuring
RAID is usually only required for initial setup.
Building a RAID storage space may take time, depending on the size of hard drives
and RAID mode.
NOTE
Step 5: Create Local Users and Groups
After your RAID is built, you can begin to create local users and groups for the
N299.
1. From the Accounts menu, choose Users item and the Local User
Configuration screen appears. Click Add to add a new user.
2. Enter a name and password for each user in the Name and Password
boxes and re-enter the password in the Confirm Password box.
18

3. Press the Apply button for each user and they will be added to the user
list.
4. From the Accounts menu, choose Groups item and the Local Group
Configuration screen appears. Click Add to add a new group.
5. Enter a group name in the Group Name box and click Apply to add the
group to the group list.
For more on managing users, go to Chapter 3: System Management > User
and Group Management.
Step 6: Create Folders and Set Up ACLs
Once users are introduced into your network, you can begin to create various
folders on the N299 and control user access to each using Folder Access Control
Lists.
1. From the Storage menu, choose the Folder item and the Folder screen
appears. Press the Add button and the Add Folder screen appears.
2. Enter the name and description of the folder and choose whether it is
browseable. Press Apply to create the folder.
3. On the Folder screen press ACL (Access Control List) to configure which
users have access to this folder.
4. On this screen, configure access to this folder for users and groups. Select
a user or a group from the left hand column and then choose Deny
Access, Read Only, or Writable to configure their access level. Press
Apply to confirm settings.
You must set the ACL for each folder for access by specific users and groups;
otherwise the folder is inaccessible to all users and groups.
NOTE
For more information on managing folders, see Chapter 3: System
Management > Storage Management > Folder Management.
To find out about configuring Folder Access Control Lists, see Chapter 3: System
Management > Storage Management > Folder Management > Folder
Access Control List (ACL).
Step 7: Start Services
Finally, you can start to setup the different services of the N299 for the users on
your network. You can find out more about each of these services by clicking
below:
Windows Networking Media Server
Apple File Protocol (AFP) Download Manager
FTP Server Printer Server
iTunes® Server IP Cam Surveillance Server
Photo Gallery
19

Chapter 3: System Configuration
Overview
The N299 provides an easily accessible web management interface. With it, you
can configure and monitor the N299 anywhere on the network.
Web Administration Interface
Make sure your network is connected to the Internet. To access the N299 Login
Page:
1. Type the N299’s IP address into your browser. (Default IP address is
http://192.168.1.100)
NOTE Your computer’s network IP address must be on the same subnet as the N299. If
the N299 has default IP address of 192.168.1.100, your managing PC IP address
must be 192.168.1.x, where x is a number between 1 and 254, but not 100.
2. Login to the system using the administrator user name and password. The
factory defaults are:
User Name: admin
Password: admin
If you changed your password in the setup wizard, use the new password.
Once you are logged in as an administrator, you will see the Web
Administration Interface. From here, you can configure and monitor virtually
every aspect of the N299 from anywhere on the network.
Menu Bar
The Menu Bar is where you will find all of the information screens and system
settings of the N299. The various settings are placed in the following groups on
the menu bar:
Menu Bar
Item Description
Status Current system status of the N299.
Storage Information and settings for storage devices installed into the
N299.
Network Information and settings for network connections and services,
as well as various services of the N299.
Accounts Allows configuration of users and groups.
System Various N299 system settings and information.
Language Choose your preferred language here.
20

Clicking on any of these items will display the dropdown menu selections for each
group.
In the following sections, you will find detailed explanations of each function, and
how to configure your N299.
Language Selection
The N299 supports multiple languages. On the menu bar, click Language and
the Change Language screen appears. This screen allows you to select
preferred language for the N299. The N299’s interface supports the following
languages:
•English
•Simplified Chinese
•Traditional Chinese
•German
•French
•Italian
•Japanese
•Korean
•Spanish
Press Apply to confirm your
selection.
Language Package Upload and Management
You can also upload additional language packs as they become available. To do
this, press Upload and the Language Package Upload/Management and
User Upload Language Package List screens appear.
To upload a language package, click Browse and browse for the language
package location. Select the language package file and click Open. Then, click
Apply to upload the language package to the N299. Once uploaded, the language
package will appear in the User Upload Language Package List.
User Upload Language Package List
Item Description
Product Name of language package.
Version Language package version number.
Description Language package description.
Remove Package Click Remove to remove the selected language package.
21

Status Menu
The Status Menu on the menu bar allows you to see various aspects of the N299.
From here, you can discover the status of the N299, and even find out other
details like firmware version and up time.
Product Information
Once you login, you will first see the
basic Product Information screen
providing Manufacturer, Product
No., Firmware Version, and Up
Time information.
To access this screen again, navigate
to Status > About.
System Status
From the Status menu, choose the
System item, and the System
Status screen appears. This screen
provides basic system status
information.
System Status
Item Description
CPU Loading (%) Displays current CPU workload of the N299.
Fan RPM Displays current RPM of the internal fan.
Fan Speed Control You may select a desired fan speed from here. Normal and
High fan speeds are available. Click Apply to save your
changes.
Up Time Shows how long the system has been running.
22

System Information
From Status menu, choose the Info
item, and the System Information
screen appears. You can change the
system information that appears on
uPnP devices screens (i.e. Network
Neighborhood) on Windows-based
systems by entering the new
information here and pressing Apply
to confirm.
System Information
Item Description
System Description Shows the system description that would also appear on the
Login page.
Printer Status
In order to use the Printer Server, you must first install the Printer Server module
located on the installation CD. Once installed, the Printer Status option will appear
on the Main Menu. See Chapter 4: Additional Feature Setup > Print Server for more
details.
NOTE
From the Status menu, choose the Printer item, and the Printer Information
screen appears. The Printer Information screen provides the following information
about the USB printer connected to the USB port.
Printer Information
Item Description
Manufacturer Displays the name of the USB printer manufacturer.
Model Displays the model of the USB printer.
Status Displays the status of the USB printer.
Printer Queue Click to remove all documents from printer queue
If a corrupt print job is sent to a printer, printing may suddenly fail. If your print
jobs seem to be locked up, pressing the Remove All Documents button to clear
the print queue may resolve the issue.
For information on how to set up the Printer Server, refer to Chapter 4:
Additional Feature Setup > Printer Server.
23

Storage Management
The Storage Menu displays the status of storage devices installed or connected
to the N299, including disk and RAID information.
Disk Information
From the Storage menu, choose the
Disks item and the Disk
Information screen appears. From
here, you can see various items
about installed SATA hard disks.
Blank lines indicate that a SATA hard
disk is not currently installed in that
particular disk slot.
SATA Information
Item Description
Disk Slot Indicates disk location.
Capacity (MB) Shows the SATA hard disk capacity.
Model Displays the SATA hard disk model name.
Firmware Shows the SATA hard disk firmware version.
Status Indicates the status of the disk. Can read OK, Warning, or Failed.
Total Shows the total SATA hard disk capacity.
File System Check Click Apply to run a file system check on installed hard disks.
NOTE
Some services will scan the content directories, and this will keep the hard disk
drive from spinning down.
RAID Information
From the Storage menu, choose the
RAID item and the RAID
Information screen appears.
RAID Information
Item Description
RAID Level Shows the current RAID configuration.
Total Capacity Shows total capacity of the RAID configuration.
Status Indicates status of the RAID. Can read either Healthy or Failed.
Used Percentage Displays percentage of used RAID capacity.
Stripe Size Shows the current disk stripe size.
Remaining Time Indicates time remaining until the RAID is finished building.
To configure your RAID settings, press the Config button to go to the RAID
Configuration screen.
24

RAID Configuration
On the RAID Information screen,
press the Config button to go to the
RAID Configuration screen. In
addition to RAID disk information and
status, this screen lets you make
RAID configuration settings.
For more information on RAID, see
Appendix C: RAID Basics.
RAID Level
You can set the storage volume as either None, JBOD, RAID 0, or RAID 1.
RAID configuration is usually required only when you first set up the device. A
brief description of each RAID setting follows:
RAID Levels
Level Description
None There is no existing storage volume.
JBOD The storage volume is a single HDD with no RAID support. JBOD
requires a minimum of 1 disk.
RAID 0 Provides data striping but no redundancy. Improves
performance but not data safety. RAID 0 requires a minimum of
2 disks.
RAID 1 Offers disk mirroring. Provides twice the read rate of single
disks, but same write rate. RAID 1 requires a minimum of 2
disks.
If the administrator improperly removes a hard disk that should not be removed
when RAID status is degraded, all data will be lost.
WARNING
Disk Settings
Using Disk Settings,you can select stripe size, choose which disks are RAID
disks.
Disk Settings
Item Description
RAID Check the boxes of the hard drives you wish to add to the
storage volume.
Stripe Size This sets the stripe size to maximize performance of sequential
files in a storage volume. Keep the 64K setting unless you
require a special file storage layout in the storage volume. A
larger stripe size is better for large files.
Create RAID Press this button to configure a file system and create the RAID
storage volume.
Remove Click to remove the RAID volume. All user data, snapshot, and
Target USB data will be removed.
25