Vantec NexStar - HX4R User manual

User’s Manual

Package Contents:
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA
External Hard Drive RAID Enclosure w/ Fan
1 NexStar HX4R Enclosure
2 USB 3.0 Cable
3 eSATA Cable
4 Power Adapter
5 User’s Manual
6 Installation Screws
7 Foam Spacer
1
3
5
4
2
TRADEMARKS
MS-DOS, Microsoft, Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 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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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 – a quad 3.5”
SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External 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. Inte-
grated with USB 3.0 & eSATA technology;
transfer les to and from your computer
at blazing fast speeds. The NexStar HX4R
is also packed with support for Individual,
JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 modes making
backing up, transfering, and copying your
data quick and easy.

3
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan
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
• Supports Individual, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 3, 5, & 10 Modes
• 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 12TB*
• 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

Syetem Requirements
4
3.System Requirements:
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7
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

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2
3
4
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9
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Parts Layout
5
4.Parts Layout:
Power LED
HDD1 LED
HDD2 LED
HDD3 LED
HDD4 LED

LED Indicator
6
5.LED Indicator:
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan
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

Installation
7
5.1.Hardware Installation:
Installing the hard drive:
(1) Push lock to the left to unlock
the HDD tray.
(2) Take out the HDD tray
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
6.Installation:
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan

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.
Installation
8
(3) Carefully install the hard drive
into the tray. Be sure the fasten the
(4) Reinsert the HDD tray into the
case.
(5) Push lock to the right to lock
the HDD tray.

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:
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan
RAID Mode Conguration
10
RAID Modes:
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 drive capacity
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
RAID Switch Settings:
ONON
ONON
ONON
Normal
RAID 3
RAID 0
JBOD
RAID 5
RAID 10 (1)
Power on the NexStar HX4R.
Check and make sure all HDDs are installed and all
LEDs light up.
Connect the NexStar HX4R to the computer via
USB 3.0 or eSATA cable.
Locate the RAID switch and select the designated
HDD mode to congure the NexStar HX4R.
Push and hold the“Reset” button for 3-5 seconds.
The Hard Drive Mode will change according to the
selection.
After setting up RAID, please initialize the HDD
again to have the HDD workable.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

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.
11
Individual(Normal) Drive Mode:
This mode enables each Hard Drive to be seen
as separate single drives with separate Hard
Drive capacities.
( gure 7-A)
( gure 7-A)
( gure 7-B)
( gure 7-B)
ON
Normal
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
RAID Mode Conguration
NOTE:

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 Drive 1
through 4 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.
( gure 7-C)
( gure 7-C)
( gure 7-D)
( gure 7-D)
12
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
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.
RAID 0 Mode (Striped):
This mode splits data evenly across the four Hard
Drives resulting in capacity that is the sum of 4
times the smallest volume. Data access speed
is increased however at the cost of no data
redundancy.
Four equal 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.
( gure 7-E)
( gure 7-E)
( gure 7-F)
( gure 7-F)
13
RAID 0 Mode
ON
RAID 0
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 Mode Conguration

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 10 (1) Mode (Mirror):
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 the smaller of the four hard drives. 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.
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.
( gure 7-G)
( gure 7-G)
14
ON
RAID 1 (10)
RAID Mode Conguration

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)
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).
( gure 7-H)
( gure 7-H)
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
( gure 7-I)
( gure 7-I)
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:
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).
( gure 7-J)
( gure 7-J)
16
ON
RAID 5
( gure 7-K)
( gure 7-K)
RAID Mode Conguration

8.RAID Rebuild:
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan
RAID Rebuild
17
NOTE:
1. Rebuild speed around 250GB/HR
2. Anytime when a HDD failure is detected, the LED blinks at a constant pace.
3. Online: Power cable is connected to the device, USB or eSATA cable is connected to the computer.
Oine: Only power cable is connected to the device.
RAID rebuild can only be performed under RAID 3, 5, and 10 conguration. Please follow the
following steps to start rebuilding.
1. Power o the NexStar HX4R.
2. Remove failed hard drive.
3. Install a functional hard drive.
4. Turn on the power and the NexStar HX4R will automatically start rebuilding.
LED Conguration on Rebuild Process
RAID 3/5: LED blinks irregularly
RAID 10:
HDD 1/2: LED 1/2 blinks irregularly on rebuild
HDD 3/4: LED 3/4 blinks irregularly on rebuild
LED Activity Chart: this chart describe LED activity under RAID rebuild process
Constant On
Blinks Irregularly
RAID Rebuild
Operations HDD1 LED HDD2 LED HDD3 LED HDD4 LED
RAID 10
Rebuild Complete
(Online)
Rebuild Complete
(Oine)
HDD 1/2
HDD 3/4
RAID 3
RAID 5

Hard Drive Formatting Guide
18
9.Hard Drive Formatting Guide
Quad 3.5” SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External RAID Hard Drive Enclosure w/ Fan
• You may format your Hard Drive by using the USB connection.
• Please make sure your External Enclosure is turned on and connected to the PC
before formatting the Hard Drive.
In order to use a disk volume larger than 2 TB’s, you will need an operating system that supports GUID
Partitioning Table. Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP 64bit, Mac 10.4, and Mac 10.5 all have this
capability through the GPT. The GUID partitioning scheme has the ability to partition both internal and
external drives far beyond 2 TB’s in size.
STEP1: Right-click “My Computer” and select “Manage”.
STEP2: Select “Disk Management”and you will see your Hard Drive shown as “Unallocated”
(Disk number may vary)