WiebeTech RT5 User manual

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RT5™
Quick Start Guide
Revised May 10, 2007
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Installation 2
Understanding RAID 5
Using the LCD Front Panel Interface 6
Main Menu Options 6
Creating RAID Sets and Volume Sets 6
Creating Hot Spares 7
Changing the Connection Type 7
Quick Volume & RAID Set Setup 7
Special Instructions for drives 500GB and larger 9
Environmental Monitoring 10
System Information 10
Technical Specification 11
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing WiebeTech’s RT5, a high-performance RAID subsystem with the
ultimate in data-protection capabilities! This Quick Start Guide covers the essentials for getting
your RT5 up-and-running quickly. For more comprehensive technical information, see the full
User Manual.

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Installation
Step 1: Unpack
Unpack and install the hardware in a static-free environment. The RT5 is packed inside an anti-
static bag between two foam or plastic sheets. Remove it and inspect it for damage. If the unit
appears damaged, or if any of the contents listed below are missing or damaged, please contact
your dealer or distributor immediately.
Checklist
The RT5 kit should include the following items:
RT5 unit
5 drive trays (inside the unit) - They will be
pre-configured with drives if so ordered
Packet of keys and screws
FireWire 800 to 800 cable
FireWire 800 to 400 cable
USB2.0 cable
RS232 cable
Power cord
User’s Manual (on CD)
Step 2: Identify the parts of the RT5
Front View of RT5: Back View of RT5:
Drive Tray:

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(Example)
If you purchased your RT5 with pre-configured drives, you may skip to step 5.
Step 3: Configure Your Hard Drives
Each drive installed in the RAID subsystem must be configured as a “Master”
drive for your system. If your drive is configured as a “Slave” or “Cable Select”
drive, you must change it to a “Master” drive. Changing jumper settings on the
drive can switch it from slave to master mode.
Step 4: Load the Drives into the Drive Trays
Gently remove one drive tray at a time by pulling out on the lever.
Attach the drive tray’s power cable to the disk drive first, and then
carefully push the tray’s data cable (IDE ribbon cable) into the disk
drive. Be careful not to bend the pins on the drive’s IDE connector.
The connectors are keyed and will only fit one way.
Make sure the connectors are firmly seated. Secure the drive to the tray with the included
screws.
Slide the tray back into the RT5. Once it is seated firmly, lock the tray with the included key.
Repeat these steps for each of the other drive trays.

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Step 5: Connect the RT5 to the Host Computer. Plug the power cable into a grounded
electrical outlet.
Step 6: Power on the RT5
Turn on power to the unit using the switch on the back panel. The host computer does not need
to be on during the initial configuration process.
Step 7: Configure the RT5 (Set up your RAID)
Password: The RT5 may ask for a password before allowing access to the main menu. The
default password is “0000”. For security purposes, it is advisable to change the password upon
first usage. The password feature may be enabled or disabled via the LCD menu system.
The remainder of this guide will help you select and set up your RAID.

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Understanding RAID
A RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is an array of multiple independent hard disk
drives that provide high performance and/or fault tolerance. The RT5 RAID subsystem controller
implements several types of RAID technology. You may select your desired RAID level when
volume sets are defined or created. This decision is based on disk capacity, desired data safety,
and desired performance.
Summary of RAID Levels
The RT5 supports RAID Levels 0, 1, (0+1), 3, and 5. RAID level 5 is most commonly used by
customers seeking an optimal balance of speed and data safety. The following table provides a
summary of RAID levels.
RAID Features and Performance
RAID
Level
Description
Min.
Drives
Max.
Drives
Data
Reliability
Data Transfer
Rate
I/O Request Rates
0 Also known as striping. Data is
distributed across multiple drives
in the array. There is no data
protection
1 5 No data
Protection
Very high Very high for both
reads and writes
1 Also known as mirroring. All data
is replicated on N separate disks.
N is almost always 2.
This is a high availability solution,
but due to the 100% duplication, it
is also a costly solution.
2 2 Higher than
RAID 0, 3, 5.
This offers the
highest level
of data
protection.
Reads are
higher than a
single disk;
Writes are
similar to a
single disk
Reads are twice as
fast as a single
disk.
Writes are similar
to a single disk.
0+1 Also known Block-Interleaved
Parity. Data and parity information
is subdivided and distributed
across all disks. Parity must be
equal to the smallest disk capacity
in the array. Parity information is
normally stored on a dedicated
parity disk.
3 5 Higher than
RAID 0, 3, 5
Transfer rates
are more like
RAID 1 than
RAID 0
Reads are twice as
fast as a single
disk.
Writes are similar
to a single disk.
3 Also known Bit-Interleaved Parity.
Data and parity information is
subdivided and distributed across
all disks. Parity must be equal to
the smallest disk capacity in the
array. Parity information normally
stored on a dedicated parity disk.
3 5 Lower than
RAID 1, 10;
Higher than 0
or a single
drive
Reads are
similar to RAID
0; Writes are
slower than a
single disk
Reads are similar
to RAID 0.
Writes are slower
than a single disk.
5 Also known Block-Interleaved
Distributed Parity. Data and parity
information is subdivided and
distributed across all disks. Parity
must be equal to the smallest disk
capacity in the array. RAID 5 is
considered by many to be the best
blend of speed and redundancy.
3 5 Lower than
RAID 1, 10;
Higher than 0
or a single
drive
Reads are
similar to RAID
0; Writes are
slower than a
single disk
Reads are similar
to RAID 0.
Writes are slower
than a single disk.

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Using the LCD front panel interface
The front panel keypad and liquid crystal display (LCD) is the primary user interface for the
RAID subsystem. All configuration and management of the controller and disk arrays can be
performed from this interface. More information on using the LCD to configure the RT5 can be
found in chapter 4 of the full user’s manual.
The four buttons near the LCD on the front panel perform the following functions:
Key
Function
Up Arrow Use to scroll the cursor Upward / Rightward
Down Arrow Use to scroll the cursor Downward / Leftward
ENT Key Submit Selection or confirm a selected item
ESC Key Return to Previous Screen (Exit a selection configuration)
Use the up and down arrow buttons to move left and right and highlight a menu item. Press ENT
to select the highlighted item. Press UP/DOWN to browse the selection. Press ESC to return to
the previous screen.
Main Menu Options
Select an option and the related information or submenu items display beneath it. The
submenus for each item are explained in section 4.8.3 of the full user manual. The configuration
utility main menu options are:
Configuring RAID Sets and Volume Sets
The simplest way to configure your RT5 is to use “Quick Volume and RAID Set Setup”. This is
the method covered later in this Quick Start Guide. Manual configuration is more complex but
allows more configuration possibilities. Manual configuration is explained in the full user
manual. Whichever method you choose, you will follow these basic steps:
1. Designate hot spares (optional)
2. Create the RAID set using the available physical drives
3. Define volume sets using the space in the RAID set
4. Initialize the volume set and use the volume set in the host OS.
Option
Description
Quick Volume And RAID Set Setup Create default configurations based on the
number of physical disks installed
RAID Set Functions Create a customized RAID set
Volume Set Functions Create a customized volume set
Physical Drive Functions View individual disk information
RAID System Functions Setting the RAID system configurations
Views System Events Record all system events in the buffer
Clear Event Buffer Clear all event buffer information
Hardware Monitor Show all system environment status
System Information View the controller information

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Creating Hot Spares
A useful feature of the RT5 RAID subsystem is its ability to set up hot spares. A hot spare drive
is an unused but available online drive, ready to replace a failed hard drive. In a RAID level 1,
0+1, 3, or 5 RAID set, any unused, available drive installed but not belonging to a RAID set can
be defined as a hot spare. When the RAID subsystem detects a drive failure, the system will
automatically and transparently rebuild using hot spare drives. The RAID set will be
reconfigured and rebuilt in the background, while the RAID subsystem continues to handle
system requests. During the automatic rebuild process, system activity will continue as normal;
however, the system performance will be affected, and fault tolerance will be lost until the
rebuild operation is completed.
Important
The hot spare must have at least the same capacity as the drive it replaces. Drives of
insufficient capacity will be failed immediately by the RAID subsystem without starting the
Automatic Data Rebuild.
Recognizing a Drive Failure
A drive failure can be identified by an amber LED which illuminates on the front of the unit.
Changing the Host Connection Type
To switch the connection type you must change the IDE Host channel. The default value is 0
(FireWire/USB), but you may change it to 1 (SATA) if you wish to access your RT5 via its
eSATA port. Go to Volume Set Functions Modify Volume Set Attribute RAID Set Name
(the default is Volume Set #00) IDE Host Channel. Change the host channel to 1 for SATA
or 0 for FireWire. Hit [Esc] to exit, confirm the modification, and then restart the unit.
Quick Volume and RAID Set Setup
In Quick Volume And RAID Setup Configuration, the RAID set you create is associated with
exactly one volume set, and you can modify the RAID level, stripe size, and capacity. In this
setup, you designate Hot Spares and RAID level at the same time.
Note: when using drives 500GB or larger, this method will reduce the usable capacity.
For this configuration, see the special instructions that follow this section.
The Quick Volume and RAID Setup option creates a RAID set with the following properties:
•All of the physical disk drives are contained in a RAID set.
•The RAID levels associated with hot spare, capacity, and stripe size are selected during the
configuration process.
•A single volume set is created and consumes all or a portion of the disk capacity available
in this RAID set.
The volume set default settings will be:

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The default setting values can be changed after configuration is complete.
Follow the steps below to create RAID sets using Quick Volume and RAID Setup Configuration:
Step
Action
1
Choose Quick Volume and RAID Setup from the main menu. The available RAID levels and
associated Hot Spare for the current volume set drive are displayed.
2
RAID Level
: Try to use drives of the same capacity in a specific array. If you use drives with
different capacities in an array, all the drives in the array are treated as though they have the
capacity of the smallest drive in the array.
The number of physical drives in a specific array determines the RAID levels that can be
implemented with the array.
•RAID 0 requires one or more physical drives,
•RAID 1 requires at least 2 physical drives,
•RAID 1+ Spare requires more than 2 physical drives,
•RAID 3 requires at least three physical drives,
•RAID 5 requires at least three physical drives,
•RAID 3+ Spare requires at least four physical drives, and
•RAID 5 + Spare requires at least four physical drives.
Use UP/DOWN to select the RAID for the volume set and press ENT to confirm it.
3
Available Capacity
: Set the capacity size for the volume set.
The selected capacity for the current volume set is displayed. Use UP/DOWN to create the
current volume set capacity size and press ENT to confirm it. The available stripe sizes for the
current volume set are displayed.
4
Select Stripe size
: This parameter specifies the size of the stripes written to each disk in a RAID
0, 1, 3, or 5 Volume Set. You can set the stripe size to 4 KB, 8 KB, 16 KB, 32 KB, 64 KB, or 128
KB. A larger stripe size provides better-read performance, especially if your computer does mostly
sequential reads. However, if you are sure that your computer does random read requests more
often, choose a small stripe size. Use UP/DOWN to select stripe size and press ENT to confirm it.
5
When you are finished defining the volume set, press ENT to confirm the Quick Volume And
RAID Set Setup function.
6
Fast Initialization
: Press ENT to define fast initialization and ESC to normal initialization. In the
Normal Initialization, the initialization proceeds as a background task, the volume set is fully
accessible for system reads and writes. The operating system can instantly access the newly
created arrays without requiring a reboot and waiting until the initialization is complete. In Fast
Initialization, the initialization process must be completed before the volume set ready for system
accesses.
7
The controller will begin to Initialize the volume set you have just configured. The LEDs will not
blink during this process. After a moment (depending on the size of the drives), the LCD will
show a progress meter. For RAID level 5, be prepared for initialization to take several hours.
8
If you need to add additional volume sets, use the Create RAID Volume Set function from the
main menu.
Note: Newly-created volume sets must be formatted using the host computer prior to use.
Parameter Setting
Volume Name Volume Set # 00
IDE Host channel/IDE Drive Select 0/0-Master
Cache Mode Write Back
Tag Queuing Yes
IDE Xfer Mode Depends on your host adapter setting

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Special instructions for initializing five 500GB drives:
To initialize a 2.5 Terabyte RT5, you cannot use the Quick Volume & RAID Set Setup, because it will limit the
capacity. Set up the RAID set and the volume set manually using the following instructions:
•At the “Ready” screen, press enter to go to the main menu. The first menu choice is “Quick Volume and
RAID Set Setup,” but you do not want to select this. Instead, use the up and down arrow buttons to scroll
through the main menu options.
•First, you must create the RAID set. (RAID Set Function Create RAID Set)
•It will ask you which drive channels you would like to be a part of the RAID Set. Hit ENTER on channels 1-5
to include all drives.
•Hit ENTER once more to create the RAID Set.
•Now press ESC until you return to the main menu.
•Next, you must create a volume set. (Volume Set Function Create Volume Set)
•Select RAID set # 00 and press ENTER. (This is the default name for the RAID set you created earlier.)
•Set the desired RAID level (typically level 5), and then press ESC (not Enter) to continue.
•Verify the capacity. The total capacity should be approximately 2000GB (for RAID 5). Press ENTER twice.
•You will be asked whether you prefer “FGrnd” or “BGrnd” initialization. Choose “FGrnd” by pressing ESC.
•Press ESC until you return to the “Ready” screen.
•After approximately one to two minutes, the LCD will show a progress meter: “Initialize 0.1% Complete.”
•Let the RT5 sit for about 12 hours while it initializes. When finished, it should say “Initialize Complete.”
•The final capacity after initializing RAID 5 and formatting should be about 1.87 TB (instead of 1.65 TB using
quick setup).
Special instructions for initializing five drives larger than 500GB:
Because the RT5 has a volume size limit of 2200GB, you will need to create two volume sets to access all of the
capacity. You cannot use Quick Volume & RAID Set Setup. Set up the RAID set and the volume sets manually
using the following instructions:
•At the “Ready” screen, press enter to go to the main menu. The first menu choice is “Quick Volume and
RAID Set Setup,” but you do not want to select this. Instead, use the up and down arrow buttons to scroll
through the main menu options.
•First, you must create a RAID set. (RAID Set Functions > Create a New RAID Set)
•It will ask you which drive channels you would like to be a part of the RAID set. Hit ENTER on channels 1-5
to include all drives.
•Hit ENTER once more to create the RAID set.
•Now press ESC until you return to the main menu. (Ready screen)
•Now, you must create two volume sets. This is different than the previous setups, so read ahead before
continuing. Go to Volume Set Functions > Create RAID Volume Set.
•Select RAID set # 00 and press ENTER (This is the default name for the RAID set you created earlier).
•Use the up and down arrows to check various settings before continuing. The RAID type should be RAID 5.
Verify that the IDE Drive Select is set to Master, and the host channel should be set to 0.
•Press ESC (not Enter) to continue.
•Select the capacity of the first volume set using the up/down buttons. It must less than 2200GB. Press
ENTER twice.
•You will be asked whether you prefer “FGrnd” or “BGrnd” initialization. Choose “FGrnd” by pressing ESC.
•You are now ready to create the second volume set. (Volume Set Functions > Create RAID Volume Set).
•Select RAID Set # 00 and press ENTER. (This is still the same RAID Set you created earlier.)
•Scroll down to the “IDE Drive Select” setting, and set it to Slave. Also, make sure the RAID type is set to
RAID 5 and the host channel is set to 0.
•Press ESC (not Enter) to continue.
•The default capacity will be the remaining capacity on RAID Set # 00. Choose it by pressing ENTER.
•You will be asked whether you prefer “FGrnd” or “BGrnd” initialization. Choose “FGrnd” by pressing ESC.
•Press ESC until you return to the “Ready” screen.
•After approximately one to two minutes, the LCD screen will display a progress message: “Initialize 0.1%
Complete”. You may also notice a slight flickering of the LCD screen.
•Let the RT5 sit overnight while it initializes. When finished, it should say, “Initialize Complete”.

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Environmental Monitoring
The Hardware Monitor Information provides the temperature, fan speed (chassis fan) and
voltage of the RAID subsystem. The temperature items list the current states of the controller
board and backplane. All items are unchangeable. The warning messages will indicate through
the LCM, LED and alarm buzzer.
Item Warning Condition
Controller Board Temperature > 60°Celsius
Backplane Temperature > 60°Celsius
Controller Fan Speed < 1900 RPM
Power Supply +12V < 10.5V or > 13.5V
Power Supply +5V < 4.7V or > 5.3V
Power Supply +3.3V < 3.0V or > 3.6V
CPU Core Voltage +1.5V < 1.35V or > 1.65V
To view the RAID subsystem controller’s hardware monitor information, press ENT to enter the
main menu. Press UP/DOWN to select the Hardware Information option, and then press ENT.
All hardware information will be displayed. Press UP/DOWN to browse all the hardware
information.
Note: There are a variety of failure conditions that cause the RAID subsystem monitoring LED to
light. The following is a summary of the LED indicators:
LED Normal Status Problem Indication
Power LED Bright Green This LED does not light until power is
switched on
Temperature LED LED lights up bright green Blinks red if the internal temperature
rises above the Spec setting
Fan LED LED lights up bright green Blinks red if there is a fan problem
HDD LED Indicator LED lights up bright green when HDD
is ready Blinks red if there is a disk error
Host Access LED Blinks green when host computer is
accessing the RAID subsystem LED never flickers
System Information
Choose this option to display Main processor, CPU Instruction cache and data cache size,
firmware version, serial number, controller model name, and the cache memory size. To check
the system information, press ENT to enter the main menu. Press UP/DOWN to select the
Show System Information option, and then press ENT. All major controller system information
will be displayed. Press UP/DOWN to browse through all the system information.

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Technical Specifications
Product name/code:
RT5
Raid Levels Supported:
0, 1(0+1), 3, 5, JBOD, (+Spare)
Host Interfaces:
2 - 1394b (FireWire 800): up to 800Mbs
1 - USB 2.0: up to 480Mbs
1 - SATA 3.0GHz (up to 300MB/sec)
Data
Interface
Speeds:
SATA 1.5GHz (up to 150MB/sec)
Drive Types Supported:
3.5” IDE hard drives up to 750GB+
Single Capacity Limitations:
2 TeraBytes
Hot
-
Swappable Trays
:
Yes
Automatic Data Reconstruction:
Yes
Monitoring Software
:
RAIDGuide GUI software (Windows only)
System Detection
:
Hard Disk failure sensors
Temperature alert
Cooling fan failure sensor
Controller Display
:
LCD screen with yellow backlight/control panel
Operating
System
Requirements:
Windows 2K, XP, Server 2003, Vista
Mac OS 10.2.6 or later
Linux distributions that support FireWire
Operating Temperature:
50 – 85°Fahrenheit (10 – 30°Celsius)
Operating Humidity:
5% to 95%, noncondensing
Power Switch:
2 position: On / Off
Power Supply:
100-240V, 200 Watts
Cooling Fan:
8cm Ball Bearing Fan
Safety Certification:
CE/FCC
External Material:
Aluminum case
Shipping Weights:
17lbs, sans drives
22lbs, with drives
Dimensions:
(162mm x 270mm x 228 mm)
Warranty:
1-year limited warranty. See warranty statement for details and limitations.
WiebeTech offers free phone support for 90 days after purchase (1-866-
744-8722). After 90 days, email support is available at
[email protected].
RT5 is a trademark of WiebeTech LLC. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2007 WiebeTech LLC. All rights reserved.
FCC Compliance Statement: “This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This
device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.”
In the event that you experience Radio Frequency Interference, you should take the following steps to resolve the problem:
1) Ensure that your unit is plugged into a grounded electrical outlet.
2) Use a data cable with RFI reducing ferrites on each end.
3) Use a power supply with an RFI reducing ferrite approximately 5 inches from the DC plug.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact s[email protected] for technical support. If you are
interested in purchasing more WiebeTech products, check our website or contact [email protected]. We
appreciate being able to serve you!
RT5
Tested to comply
with FCC standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE