WiebeTech RT8 User manual

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RAIDTech™
USER’S MANUAL
Revised October 3, 2006
Features
•Simple, hardware-based RAID (levels 0 or 1)
•On-the-fly data protection: RAID 1 makes backing up as
painless as possible. The data is mirrored in real time to
both drives while you work.
•Drive auto-duplication – clone the contents of a source
drive to a target drive. No computer needed!
•Plug and Play with Windows XP and Mac OS X.
RAIDTech works right out of the box with no new drivers
needed.
•Connects via fast FireWire 800 or widely-available USB
2.0. Includes a converter cable for backwards
compatibility with FireWire 400 ports.
•Hot swappable trays allow you to replace a failed drive without shutting off the RAIDTech or
restarting your computer
•LCD screen monitors status of drives, fan, and temperature
•All-metal construction, including the removable trays
•Power supply accepts 100-240VAC for usage anywhere
Contents
Warnings and Notices 2
Hardware Installation Instructions 2
Special RAID Instructions 4
Operation on a Mac 5
Operation on a Windows Computer 5
LCD Messages 6
Questions & Answers 7
Technical Specifications 8

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Warnings and Notices
•The RAIDTech supports drives of various specifications and different capacities. However, we
recommend using drives of the same brand and type for optimal performance. If drives of different
capacities are used, the unit will consider both drives to have the same capacity as the smaller
drive. In RAID 1 mode, trying to duplicate or rebuild from a larger drive to a smaller drive will
cause an error.
•Use only hard drives that are in perfect condition. Avoid using drives that have ever developed
bad sectors during previous usage. This could lead to possible device failure or loss of data.
•Use IDE drives with a minimum capacity of 3.2GB and which are at least Ultra DMA 33/66.
•You should carefully consider and select your RAID type before using this device. Once you have
put data onto the hard drives, changing the RAID type will corrupt or delete that data. You must
reformat the volume after changing the RAID.
•RAID level 0 will allow you to use the full capacity of both drives. However, RAID 0 offers no
protection for the data. If one drive fails in a RAID 0, the data on both drives is irretrievably lost.
Installation Instructions
1.Check the accessories packaged with your RAIDTech. Please contact WiebeTech if any items are
missing or damaged. The box should contain:
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RAIDTech
RAIDTech 1
Removable trays (inside RAIDTech) 2
1394b (FireWire 800) cable 1
FireWire 800 to 400 converter cable 1
USB Cable 1
RS-232 Cable 1
Accessories bag containing screws
and keys 1
Manual and Warranty information (on CD)
2. Consider your RAID configuration. If you purchased the RAIDTech with drives pre-installed and
pre-configured, you can skip to step 6.
The RAIDTech supports both RAID 0 and RAID 1 in hardware. Consider which RAID type best suits your
specific needs.
RAID 0
In this mode, the unit will configure the drives in a “striped” RAID. This will split your data between the
drives, allowing you to use the full capacity of the drives in a single volume.
RAID 1
In this mode, the unit will “mirror” the two drives for best data protection. In this mode, you will work with
a single volume equal in size to the capacity of one drive. When you copy data to the volume, the
RAIDTech will simultaneously write the data to both drives. If one drive were to fail, your data would still
be preserved on the other drive. After replacing a failed drive, the unit will automatically rebuild the RAID
so that your data is once again redundant and secure.

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The RAID type can be changed via a switch on the back of the RAIDTech. The default setting is RAID 1.
Note: if you are installing a drive that contains existing data you wish to preserve, check the “Special
RAID Instructions” section of this manual before proceeding.
Warning: Always back up
data before switching RAID
types. You must reformat your hard
drives afterwards.
3. If using IDE (Parallel-ATA) drives, configure the jumpers on your hard drive. IDE drives must be
set to the Master setting. The specific method differs between manufacturers, so consult the instructions
for your drive (some drives display configuration information on the drive’s label). A few drives have both
“Master with Slave Present” and “Master without Slave” options. Choose the latter in this case. In rare
cases, if the Master setting does not work then try Cable Select.
(Example)
Rear of hard drive
IDE interface Jumper
Pins Power
4. Install your hard drives into the trays. For each tray, connect the power and data cables from the
tray into the back of the drive. Lay the drive into the tray, making sure it lays flat. Make sure the power
connector wires and the data cable are not under the HDD and are tucked down to avoid any hindrance
when inserting or removing the tray. Secure the drive with the included screws by driving them through
the bottom of the tray.
Installing IDE drives Secure drive with screws
Slide the tray into the RAIDTech. If desired, lock it in place with the enclosed key.
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5. Plug in the FireWire or USB cable. One end connects to the back of the unit. Insert the other end
into the corresponding port on the host computer. Note: The RS232 cable is not required for normal
operation. Only connect the RS232 cable when using the RAIDGuide software for Windows.
6. Plug in the power cable. One end connects to the back of the unit. Plug the other end into a
grounded electrical outlet. Turn on the power switch on the back of the unit. Note: Hard drives will need
to be formatted before they can be used.
Special RAID Instructions
Keeping existing data
The RAIDTech allows you to incorporate existing drive data into a new RAID 1 configuration. The data
you wish to keep must all be on one of the drives. This data will be “mirrored” (cloned) to the second
drive to establish a RAID 1. If you wish to do this, the new (2nd) drive you are adding must be newer and
have a capacity at least as large as the old (1st) drive containing the data. If possible, use a new drive
that is the same brand, capacity, and model of the old drive. It is not necessary for the new drive to be
blank, but any data on the new drive will be erased during RAID initialization. Follow these steps:
1. Install the old drive (with the data you wish to keep) into one of the unit’s removable trays. With
the unit’s power turned off, insert the tray into the first (top) position inside the unit.
2. Turn on the unit’s power. Because no secondary drive is installed, RAIDTech’s buzzer will
sound. To switch off the alarm, use a sharp pointed object to turn off the buzzer on the front
panel. The LCD should show “PRI HDD: OK, SEC HDD: OFF”.
3. Insert the new (second) drive and tray into the bottom slot inside the unit. After approximately 10
to 15 seconds, the RAIDTech will automatically begin data reconstruction. The progress will be
displayed on the LCD screen. The amount of time required depends on the capacity of the
drives.
4. After the auto-rebuild function is complete, use a sharp pointed object to re-enable the alarm.
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Usage with Macintosh Computers
Compatibility
The RAIDTech is Plug-and-Play compatible under Mac OS 9.2 and OS X. No additional drivers are needed. The
USB2 port is USB 1.1 compatible. The FireWire 800 ports are backwards-compatible with FireWire 400 ports using
the included converter cable.
Mounting and Ejecting Volumes
On first usage, or after switching RAID types, the hard drives will need to be formatted. This is
easily done using OS X’s Disk Utility. Select the format “Mac OS Extended”. Note: The drives
will appear as one logical volume because of the RAID.
After the hard drives inside the RAIDTech have been formatted, an icon representing the drive’s
volume will appear (mount) on the desktop. You can begin using the volume right away.
Always unmount (eject) the volume before powering down the unit by dragging the volume’s icon
to the trash bin, or by selecting the volume and pressing Command-E. Shutting down the unit
without first ejecting the volume can result in data loss.
Booting from your RAIDTech
Some Macs support booting from a FireWire device. To activate this feature, you must first install OS X on the
external volume. The easiest way to do this is to clone an existing system drive using a utility such as Carbon Copy
Cloner or Super Duper. Next, go to System Preferences ÆStartup Disk. A window will list the available bootable
volumes. Select the volume from which you wish to boot. Another method is to hold down the Option key during
startup. A screen should appear that allows you to select the volume you wish to use. This is useful if you wish to
boot from your RAIDTech only some of the time.
Usage with Windows Operating System
Compatibility
The RAIDTech is Plug-and-Play compatible with Windows XP. No additional drivers are needed. The USB2 port is
USB 1.1 compatible. The FireWire 800 ports are backwards-compatible with FireWire 400 ports using the included
converter cable.
Mounting and Ejecting Volumes
On first usage, or after switching RAID types, the hard drives will need to be formatted. This is easily done using Disk
Management (right-click My Computer then select Manage). Select the format “NTFS”. Note: The drives will appear
as one logical volume because of the RAID. After the volume is formatted, you can find it by double-clicking the “My
Computer” icon. You can begin using it right away.
Eject the volume before powering down the unit by single-clicking the green arrow icon on
the task bar, then selecting “Safely remove….” Windows will indicate when it is safe to
disconnect or turn off the RAIDTech. Shutting down the unit without first ejecting the volume
can result in data loss. (Windows XP)
Booting from your RAIDTech
Some PC motherboards support booting from an external device. To activate this feature, you will need to adjust the
motherboard’s BIOS settings. Check with your motherboard’s manufacturer or owner’s manual for details.
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LCD Messages
Hard drive status is reported as OK, OFF, or FAIL:
(Example)
OK – Indicates that the hard drive is ready for use.
OFF – The hard drive is not installed.
FAIL – Indicates a malfunction.
Possible causes of a failure message include an inability to recognize the drive, a compatibility problem,
or damaged tracks.
When you replace a tray/drive while the unit is on, a buzzer will sound and the LCD will indicate a drive
failure. After a few seconds, the hard drive status will change to “OK” and then the automatic
reconstruction of the data will begin (in RAID 1 mode only). Note: any data already on the new drive will
be erased during reconstruction. The progress of the reconstruction will be displayed as shown below.
After the process is complete, both hard drives should be displayed as “OK”.
If the unit is overheating, the LCD will show a “T” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. You
should immediately stop any active processes, unmount the volumes, and turn off the unit to avoid
possible damage to the unit or drives.
If the cooling fan malfunctions, “F” will be displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. You
should replace the fan as soon as possible to avoid overheating.
In RAID 1 mode, if the two hard drives are of different capacities, you will see a warning message such as
the following:
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Wrong Capacity
PRI > SEC

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Questions & Answers
Q1. What happens if power is shut down while the RAIDTech is auto-rebuilding?
A: In case of power failure or shutdown during the Auto-Rebuild function in RAID 1 Mode, the controller
will remember the rebuilding progress percentage and carry on the operations when the power is
restored.
Q2. When using the RAIDTech, the computer system is unable to read/write properly.
A: Make sure the external cable connector is inserted properly and the cable is functional. Try a different
cable if possible. Also make sure that both drives in the RAIDTech are ready.
Q3. Why does the buzzer alarm sound during RAIDTech operation?
A: Check the LCD to see if all drives are ready and inserted into the right position. Check whether the “F”
or “T” character is displayed on the LCD, indicating a problem with the fan or temperature.
Q4. How can I turn on/off the buzzer?
A: Use a sharp pointed object to turn the buzzer alarm ON or OFF on the front panel.
Q5. Why do the responses of the computer system slow down when RAIDTech is rebuilding at
RAID 1 Mode?
A: The performance of the computer system is related to its CPU (Central Processing Unit), motherboard
design, and peripherals. RAIDTech will slow down the computer’s performance during the rebuilding
process.
Q6. How is the drive capacity configured when replacing with a new disk in RAID 1 mode?
A: RAIDTech is configured to the smallest capacity detected when RAIDTech is installed for the first time.
When a larger capacity drive replaces a smaller one in the RAIDTech, the available capacity of RAIDTech
remains unchanged.
Q7. Why is there an error when I put in the second HDD at RAID 1?
A: 1. The second drive’s capacity must bigger than the first one. Otherwise, the system cannot
rebuild the data to the second drive.
2. If the system error message shows a rebuilding error PRI (s) →SEC (s) or SEC (s) →PRI (s),
it means you have inserted the HD into the system alone, after the two drives had already become a
RAID, therefore the system can not determine if the priority should be PRI →SEC or SEC →PRI. This
time you need to make sure which disk is the source, then put it into RAIDTech by itself. After turning the
RAIDTech on, put another drive into the RAIDTech. It will proceed with the auto rebuilding normally.
Q8. Why doesn’t my operating system connect with RAIDTech external storage?
A: 1. Please make sure your OS is supported (see Technical Specifications) and supports the use of
1394 (FireWire) or USB2.0/USB1.
2. Check the cable connections.
3. Check to see if only one hard disk displays OK on RAIDTech LCD.

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Technical Specifications
Product Name/Code RAIDTech 800 (RT8)
Interface 1394b (FireWire 800) using OXUF922 chipset
USB 2.0
Interface transfer rates FireWire 800: up to 800Mbps
USB 2.0: up to 480Mbps
RAID Levels RAID 0, 1
Hardware RAID processor 8032 microprocessor RAID ASIC
HDD interface 3.5” standard IDE (Parallel-ATA) or SATA (Serial-ATA) drives
Note: must use appropriate tray type
Supports Hot Swapping Yes
Supports Auto-Rebuild Yes
Input Voltage I90-240VAC
Cooling Fan 6cm Ball Bearing Fan
Operating Temperature 50 – 85° Fahrenheit (10 – 30° Celsius)
Operating Humidity 5% to 95%, noncondensing
Operating System Windows XP
Macintosh OS X (10.2.6 or higher required for maximal speed)
Linux distributions supporting FireWire
Shipping Weight 10-13 lbs., configuration dependent
Dimensions 5.8" x 10.6" x 4.5" (147mm x 270mm x 115mm)
Dimensions are exclusive of attached plates, drives, and cables.
Material Aluminum construction
Warranty 1-year limited warranty. See warranty statement for details and limitations.
WiebeTech offers free phone support for 90 days after purchase. For support by
email, contact [email protected].
RAIDTech is a trademark of WiebeTech LLC. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2003, 2006 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.”
RAIDTech 800
Tested to comply
with FCC standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
In the event that you experience Radio Frequency Interference, you should try using a FireWire cable with RFI reducing ferrites on each end.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact [email protected] for technical support. If you are
interested in purchasing more WiebeTech products, check our website or contact [e-mail]. We
appreciate being able to serve you!
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