Vantec NexStar-HX4 User manual

User’s Manual
Dual/Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA
External Hard Drive RAID/Non-RAID Enclosure w/Fan

Package Contents:
NextStar HX4/HX4R NextStar HX2R
TRADEMARKS
MS-DOS, Microsoft, Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Apple, Macintosh and Mac are trademarks of Apple Computer.
NexStar is a registered trademark of Vantec Thermal Technologies.
*All other third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
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3
5
4
2
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71 NexStar HX4R/HX4
2 USB 3.0 Cable
3 eSATA Cable
4 Power Adapter
5 User’s Manual
6 Installation Screws
7 Foam Spacer
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3
5
4
2
6
71 NexStar HX2R
2 USB 3.0 Cable
3 eSATA Cable
4 Power Adapter
5 User’s Manual
6 Installation Screws
7 Foam Spacer

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
1
1. Introduction
2. Specications/Features
3. System Requirements
4. Parts Layout
5. LED Indicator
6. Installation
7. RAID Mode Guide
8. RAID Rebuild
9. Hardware Formatting Guide
10. Disconnecting the NexStar HX4R
11. Warranty
12. Contact
02
03
04
05
06
07
10
17
18
23
24
24

Introduction
2
1.Introduction:
Introducing the NexStar HX4R / HX2R / HX4 – a quad or dual 3.5”SATA to USB 3.0
& eSATA External RAID / non-RAID Hard Drive Enclosure designed to keep all your
hard drive safe and cool. This enclosure features a hard aluminum shell that eec-
tively draws away the heat while an active controlled 80mm fan on top exhausts
the hot air from the enclosure ensuring your hard drive is protected and cooled.
Integrated with USB 3.0 & eSATA technology; transfer les to and from your
computer at blazing fast speeds. The NexStar HX4R / HX2R / HX4 is also packed
with support for Individual or RAID features making backing up, transfering, and
copying your data quick and easy.

Specications/Features
3
2.Specications/Features:
Features:
• Aluminum Casing Cools Down Your Hard Drive
• Vents To Intake Cool Air
• Maximum Transfer Rates Up to 5 Gbps w/USB 3.0
• Maximum Transfer Rates Up to 3Gbps w/eSATA
• Active Large 80mm Fan To Exhaust Heat
• Easily Add Storage to Any System with USB 2.0, 3.0 or eSATA
• Backwards-Compatible with USB 2.0 or 1.1
• Hot-Swappable: Plug & Play Without Rebooting
• Attractive LED Indicates Power & HDD Activity
NexStar HX4 (NST-640SU3-BK)
• Supports Individual
NexStar HX4R (NST-640S3R-BK)
• Supports Individual, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 3, 5 & 10 Modes
NexStar HX2R (NST-620S3R-BK)
• Supports Individual, JBOD, RAID 0 & 1 Modes
Specications:
• Model: NST-640SU3-BK
• Drive Support: SATA I/II/III Hard Drives
• Drive Size: 3.5”
• Internal Interface: SATA
• External Interface: USB 3.0 & eSATA
• HDD Capacity: Up To 16TB*
• Power Supply: AC Adapter
• Fan: 80mm
• Material: Aluminum & Plastic
• Dimension: 209 x 170 x 181 mm
• Model: NST-620S3R-BK
• Drive Support: SATA I/II/III Hard Drives
• Drive Size: 3.5”
• Internal Interface: SATA
• External Interface: USB 3.0 & eSATA
• HDD Capacity: Up To 8TB*
• Power Supply: AC Adapter
• Fan: 80mm
• Material: Aluminum & Plastic
• Dimension: 209 x 170 x 181 mm
*Check our website www.vantecusa.com for any updates
• Model: NST-640S3R-BK
• Drive Support: SATA I/II/III Hard Drives
• Drive Size: 3.5”
• Internal Interface: SATA
• External Interface: USB 3.0 & eSATA
• HDD Capacity: Up To 16TB*
• Power Supply: AC Adapter
• Fan: 80mm
• Material: Aluminum & Plastic
• Dimension: 209 x 170 x 181 mm

Syetem Requirements
4
3.System Requirements:
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8
1. For USB 2.0 speeds, the system must
support USB 2.0 specications
2. For USB 3.0 speeds, the system must
support USB 3.0 specications
3. For eSATA Speeds, the System Must
Support eSATA Specications
4. Port Multiplier Is Required For eSATA
Mac OS 10.6 & greater
1. For USB 2.0 speeds, the system must
support USB 2.0 specications
2. For USB 3.0 speeds, the system must
support USB 3.0 specications
3. For eSATA Speeds, the System Must
Support eSATA Specications
4. Port Multiplier Is Required For eSATA

Parts Layout
5
4.Parts Layout:
1
2
3
4
5 8
9
76
Power LED
HDD1 LED
HDD2 LED
HDD3 LED
HDD4 LED
NexStar HX4 (NST-640SU3-BK)
NexStar HX4R (NST-640S3R-BK)
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
76
Power LED
HDD1 LED
HDD2 LED
NexStar HX2R (NST-620S3R-BK)
(HX4R only)
(HX4R only)

LED Indicator
6
5.LED Indicator:
General Operation:
Power LED
HDD 1 LED
HDD 2 LED
HDD 3 LED
HDD 4 LED
Green
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
ON : Power on
OFF: Power o
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
Power LED
HDD 1 LED
HDD 2 LED
Green
Blue
Blue
ON : Power on
OFF: Power o
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Flash Randomly: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Flash Consistently (3 ashes per second): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
NexStar HX4 (NST-640SU3-BK)
NexStar HX4R (NST-640S3R-BK)
NexStar HX2R (NST-620S3R-BK)

Installation
7
5.1.Hardware Installation:
Installing the hard drive:
WARNING: All data will be deleted on each hard drive during Hard
Drive Mode change. Please back up your hard drive(s) before adjust-
ing RAID mode. New hard drives must be formatted before use. *Refer
to page 12 for RAID Mode Conguration.
6.Installation:
(1) Push lock to the left to unlock the HDD tray.
NexStar HX4 / HX4R NexStar HX2R
(2) Take out the HDD tray
NexStar HX4 / HX4R NexStar HX2R

Installation
8
NOTE:
If necessary, please use the hard drive foam
spacer if the hard drive cannot be mounted
stably. Refer to image for foam spacer
placement.
(3) Carefully install the hard drive
into the tray. Be sure the fasten the
screws rmly to the tray.
(5) Push lock to the right to lock the HDD tray.
NexStar HX4 / HX4R NexStar HX2R
(4) Reinsert the HDD tray into the case.
NexStar HX4 / HX4R NexStar HX2R

NOTE:
For new hard drives, you will need to initialize and
partition your hard drive before it will appear in
Windows Explorer or on your Mac desktop. Please
refer to your hard drive manufacturer’s documentation
or read the”Creating a New Partition”section of this
manual.
NOTE:
If you can see the USB icon in the system tray, but there
is no any disk appear in your computer, please conrm
your hard disk is partitioned.
Installation
9
Connecting the NexStar to your computer:
USB 3.0
eSATA
Connect the type (B) USB connector to the
NexStar and the type (A) USB connector to an
available USB port on your system.
Connect the power cable to the NexStar and
plug the cable into an available outlet.
Turn on the NexStar via the power switch.
Your operating system should detect
the NexStar and automatically install the
necessary drivers. Once your operating system
nishes setting up the NexStar , it will mount
your hard drive. On Mac OS systems, the
new volume should appear on desktop. On
a Windows PC, the new volume will appear
under My Computer.
Your NexStar External Hard Drive is now ready
for use.
Connect the eSATA to the NexStar and to an
available eSATA port on your system.
Connect the power cable to the NexStar and
plug the cable into an available outlet.
Turn on the NexStar via the power switch.
Your operating system should detect
the NexStar and automatically install the
necessary drivers. Once your operating system
nishes setting up the NexStar, it will mount
your hard drive. On Mac OS systems, the
new volume should appear on desktop. On
a Windows PC, the new volume will appear
under My Computer.
Your NexStar External Hard Drive is now ready
for use.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

7.RAID Mode Guide:
RAID Mode Conguration
10
RAID Switch Settings:
Power on your computer system.
Connect the NexStar HX4R/HX2R to the computer via USB 3.0 or eSATA cable.
Power on the NexStar HX4R/HX2R, please wait 20-30 seconds let all the Drives spin up to speed.
Check and make sure all HDDs are installed and all LEDs light up.
Locate the RAID switch and select the designated RAID mode to congure the HX4R/HX2R.
Push and hold the“RESET” button for 15-20 seconds. The RAID Mode will change to the selection.
After setting up the RAID, please initialize, partition and format the drive(s).
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
HX4R RAID Modes:
Note: White color is the switch (Example: RAID 3 is ON, ON, OFF, ON)
Individual
JBOD
RAID 0
RAID 10 (1)
RAID 3
RAID 5
Shows all hard drives as separate individual Hard Drives
Just a bunch of drives, Read/Write to each HDD independently
Sum of 4 hard drives
RAID: Read/Write on each HDD simultaneously
Capacity: Multiply the smallest capacity by 4
RAID: Mirroring on each hard drive simultaneously
Capacity equals to the smallest HDD multiply by 2
Note:
1. HDD1/HDD2 create a set of RAID 1: HDD1/2
HDD3/HDD4 create a set of RAID 1: HDD3/4
Two sets (HDD1/2, HDD3/4) create a set of RAID 0
2. When two hard drives are installed, the device will perform
RAID 1 conguration. Total capacity equals capacity of smaller
drive
RAID: Byte-level striping with dedicated parity
Capacity: Multiply the smallest capacity by (4-1)
RAID: Block-level striping with distributed parity
Capacity: Multiply the smallest capacity by (4-1)
Pg. 11
Pg. 12
Pg. 13
Pg. 14
Pg. 15
Pg. 16
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
HX2R RAID Modes:
Note: White color is the switch (Example: RAID 1 is ON, OFF, ON, ON)
Individual
JBOD
RAID 0
RAID 1
Shows all hard drives as separate individual Hard Drives
Just a bunch of drives, Read/Write to each HDD independently
Sum of 2 hard drives
RAID: Read/Write on each HDD simultaneously
Capacity: Multiply the smallest capacity by 2
RAID: Mirroring on each hard drive simultaneously
Capacity equals to the smaller of the two HDD
Pg. 11
Pg. 12
Pg. 13
Pg. 14
ONON
ONON
ONON
ONON

11
Individual(Normal) Drive Mode:
This mode enables each Hard Drive to be seen as separate single drives with separate
Hard Drive capacities.
RAID Mode Conguration
If you are using Indvidual Drive Mode with
eSATA interface, your eSATA port on the system
must support Port Multiplier to see more than
one drive.
NOTE:
NexStar HX4R
Volume A Volume B
Drive B
Volume C Volume D
Drive A Drive C Drive D
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Volume A Volume B
Drive B
Volume C Volume D
Drive A Drive C
Drive D
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Equal Disks Unequal Disks
ON
Normal
NexStar HX2R
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Equal Disks Unequal Disks
Volume A Volume B
Drive A Drive B
Volume A Volume B
Drive A Drive B
ON
Normal

NOTE:
All data previously stored on the hard drive will
be lost! Please back up all data to a separate
storage before continuing.
JBOD Mode:
This mode concatenates a series of physical drives as a single large volume; Hard
Drives are combined into a storage capacity that is equal to the sum of each of the
physical hard drives.
Switching to this mode will prompt to initialize and format the hard disks. If you
choose to add a second hard disk at a later time, you will need to format the entire
array of disks again.
12
RAID Mode Conguration
Drive B
250GB
JBOD
1000GB
JBOD
1500GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GB
Drive D
250GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Drive B
250GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GBDrive D
750GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Equal Disks Unequal Disks
ON
JBOD
NexStar HX4R
NexStar HX2R
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Equal Disks Unequal Disks
JBOD 1000GBJBOD 1500GB
Drive A
500GB
Drive B
500GB
Drive A
1000GB
Drive B
500GB
ON
JBOD
ON

NOTE:
All data previously stored on the hard drive will
be lost! Please back up all data to a separate
storage before continuing.
RAID 0 Mode (Striped):
This mode splits data evenly across the Hard Drives resulting in capacity that is
the sum of the drives times the smallest volume. Data access speed is increased
however at the cost of no data redundancy.
For equal capacity hard drives: The capacity is equal to the sum of all hard drives.
Switching to this mode will prompt to initialize and format the hard disks.
13
RAID Mode Conguration
NexStar HX4R
NexStar HX2R
Drive B
250GB
RAID 0
1000GB
RAID 0
1000GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GB
Drive D
250GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Drive B
250GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GBDrive D
750GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Equal Disks
Striping
Unequal Disks
Striping
RAID 0 Mode
ON
RAID 0
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Port 1 Port 2
NST-620S3R-BK
Equal Disks Unequal Disks
RAID 0
1000GB
RAID 0
1000GB
Drive A
500GB
Drive B
500GB
Drive A
1000GB
Drive B
500GB
Striping Striping ON
RAID 0
ON

NOTE:
All data previously stored on the hard drive will
be lost! Please back up all data to a separate
storage before continuing.
RAID 10 (1) Mode (Mirror):
RAID 1(with 2 Drives):
This mode allows the device to automatically copy data to 2 sets of 2 hard drives. It stores all data in
duplicate to protect against data loss due to drive failure.
RAID 10(with 4 Drives):
This mode allows the device to automatically copy data to 2 sets of 2 hard drives running RAID 0. It
stores all data in duplicate on the two sets of RAID to protect against data loss due to drive failure.
It provides the highest level of data protection for critical data that you cannot aord to lose if a hard
drive fails. The capacity is equal to two times the smallest drive size. Switching to this mode will prompt
to initialize and format the hard disks. This will not work to create a mirror set from existing hard drives
with data. During a mode change if you have 2 drives in the HX4R, it will set the mode to RAID 1, for 4
drives in the HX4R, it will set the mode to RAID 10.
NOTE:
If one drive fails, the SAFE volume is still usable, but it is in a vulnerable state because its mirrored hard
drive is inaccessible. When the oine drive comes back online, the appliance begins a rebuild process
immediately to restore data redundancy. Although the volume remains available during the rebuild
process, the volume is susceptible to data loss through damage to the remaining drive until redundancy
is restored at the end of the rebuild and verication process. Host access takes precedence over the
rebuild process. If you continue to use the SAFE volume during the rebuild, the rebuild process will take
a longer time to complete, and the host data transfer performance will also be aected.
14
RAID Mode Conguration
ON
RAID 1 (10)
ON
RAID 1
ON
NexStar HX4R NexStar HX2R

NOTE:
NOTE:
All data previously stored on the hard drive will
be lost! Please back up all data to a separate
storage before continuing.
RAID 3 Mode (Byte-Level Striping)
HX4R Only
This mode performs a byte-level striping
with a dedicated parity disk. This mode is
generally used when application requires
highest transfer rates in long sequential read
and writes. Capacity is equal to the smallest
multiplied by (4-1).
15
Drive B
250GB
RAID 3
750GB
RAID 3
750GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GB
Drive D
250GB
Parity Disk
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Drive B
250GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GBDrive D
750GB
Parity Disk
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Equal Disks
Striping Striping
Unequal Disks
This mode runs the risk of loosing your entire collection of data should the parity disk and a single disk
become lost.
ON
RAID 3
RAID Mode Conguration

NOTE:
All data previously stored on the hard drive will
be lost! Please back up all data to a separate
storage before continuing.
Drive B
250GB
RAID 5
750GB
RAID 5
750GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GB
Drive D
250GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Drive B
250GB
Drive A
250GB
Drive C
250GBDrive D
750GB
Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4
NST-640S3R-BK
Equal Disks
Striping Striping
Unequal Disks
RAID 5 Mode:
HX4R Only
This mode uses block-level striping
with parity data distributed across
all disks. The capacity is equal to the
smallest disk multiplied by (4-1).
16
ON
RAID 5
RAID Mode Conguration