RTX-IR (RTX400-IR, RTX400H-IR, RTX600-IR, RTX600H-IR & RTX800-IR) iSCSI Gigabit Ethernet to SATA II External RAID System User’s Manual Revised July 29, 2008 RTX-IR User’s Manual -1-
WiebeTech LLC WARRANTY The information in this document is subject to change without notice. We make no warranty of any kind regarding this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Furthermore, we shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damage in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
WiebeTech LLC Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to RAID Chapter 2: Introduction to iSCSI 2.1 What is iSCSI? 2.2 What is the benefit of iSCSI? 2.3 What is iSCSI not? Chapter 3: Pre-Installation 3.1 Install iSCSI Initiator software on your computer 3.2 Check the accessories with your RTX-IR 3.3 Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the parts of your new product Chapter 4: Hard Drive Installation Chapter 5: Configuration 5.1 Connect the RTX to your network (or computer) for configuration 5.
WiebeTech LLC 6.5.5 CHAP account 6.6 Volume Config 6.6.1 Physical Disk 6.6.2 Volume Group (VG) 6.6.3 User Data Volume (UDV) 6.6.4 Cache Volume 6.6.5 Logical Unit 6.7 Enclosure Management 6.7.1 SES Config 6.7.2 Hardware Monitor 6.7.3 S.M.A.R.T. 6.8 Maintenance 6.8.1 Upgrade 6.8.2 Info 6.8.3 Reset to default 6.8.4 Config Import & Export 6.8.5 Shutdown 6.9 Quick Set-up of RAID Chapter 7: Access the RTX using iSCSI Initiator software Chapter 8: Formatting new volume(s) Appendix A.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 1: Introduction to RAID A RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is an array of multiple hard drives that are combined in a way that provides faster performance and/or data safety. Your RTX unit is capable of creating and managing several different varieties of RAID. You may choose your preferred RAID level based on factors such as disk capacity, desired data safety, and desired performance. Summary of RAID Levels The RTX supports RAID Levels 0, 1, (0+1), 3, 5 and 6.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 2: Introduction to iSCSI 2.1 What is iSCSI? iSCSI is a technology that allows a data storage device to be accessed over a TCP/IP network using SCSI protocols. When your computer’s OS receives a request for data access, it generates a SCSI command and then sends an IP packet across a network or direct ethernet connection. A software utility known as an iSCSI Initiator is used to generate the SCSI commands.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 3: Pre-Installation 3.1 Install iSCSI Initiator software on your computer. This is a required step. Any computer must have Initiator software installed before it can connect to an iSCSI device such as the RTX-IR. Both freeware and commercial software utilities are available for this purpose. Note: Initiator software is not required for additional computers that share files with the host computer attached to the RTX.
WiebeTech LLC 3.3 Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the parts of your new product.
WiebeTech LLC WARNING: Do not block the ventilation fan during operation. Overheating may damage the device or hard drives. All RTX TrayFree Bays accept 1TB SATA drives, have power and access LEDs, and connect to the host via a SATA Chapter 4: Hard Drive Installation If you purchased your RTX with pre-configured drives, you may skip to the next section. Install a SATA (Serial-ATA) hard drive into each bay.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 5: Configuration 5.1 Connect the RTX to your network (or computer) for configuration. a. Plug an ethernet cable into the “LAN GUI” port on the rear of the RTX. b. Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to your network. Usually, this means plugging it into a router or hub. In an office environment, you may have a network jack built into your office wall.
WiebeTech LLC 5.2.2 LCD functions: Alarm Mute Reset/Shutdown Quick Install View IP Setting Change IP Config Reset to Default To turn off the alarm sound when an error occurs To reset or shutdown the controller To use “Quick Install” to set up a volume by three steps. Please refer to section 4.3 for configure via the web-based GUI To view current IP address, subnet mask and gateway To set up the IP address, subnet mask and gateway.
WiebeTech LLC 5.2.4 If you are connected to a DHCP-enabled network On DHCP networks, a new IP address is dynamically assigned to the RTX’s LAN GUI port as soon as the network detects it. You can determine this address by checking the LCD interface on the front of the RTX. It will appear in this format: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. Simply type this IP address into a web browser on your computer. This will access the RTX’s GUI, which you will use to configure the unit. 5.2.5 If you are connected to a static network a.
WiebeTech LLC 5.2.7 If you are connecting from home to office RTX-IR can also be used over the internet. If you are connecting to an RTX-IR at your office from home, you will need to contact your IT administrator to set up a VPN client to log in to the office network. Once you have logged in to the office network, you can access the RTX-IR just as if you were actually at your office (see section 5.2.4 or 5.2.5, depending on how your office network is configured). 5.2.
WiebeTech LLC 6.1 GUI indicators The top right hand corner of the GUI window displays several indicators. RAID light: Green indicates the RAID is working properly. Red indicates a RAID error. If no RAID is set up, the light will remain green. Temperature light: Green indicates normal. Red indicates abnormal system temperature, such as overheating. Voltage light: Green indicates normal. Red indicates abnormal voltage status, such as a power surge or a bad power supply. 6.
WiebeTech LLC • o o o o Logout Info Reset to default Config import & export Shutdown 6.3 Quick Install WiebeTech does not recommend using the Quick Install option to set up your RTX-IR. For quick set-up of a RAID, refer to section 6.9. 6.4 System Config The System Config menu gives access to a number of options used to configure the RTX-IR system properties.
WiebeTech LLC An RTX-IR configured for DHCP. Some of the information has been obscured for security reasons. 6.4.3 Language The Language option allows you to change the language of the GUI menu. To change the language, click the drop down menu, select your choice, and then click the “Confirm” button. 6.4.4 Login Config The login configuration features are “Auto Logout” and “Login Lock.” Auto Logout allows you to set a time of 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour to automatically log the user out of the GUI.
WiebeTech LLC 6.4.6 Date The Date option allows you to change the date and time settings of the RTX-IR. The default settings are the Asia/Taipei time zone: To change the date or time, click in the field that you wish to change and highlight or delete the information, then type the new information and click confirm. To change the time zone, click the drop down box and then scroll up or down until you reach the correct time zone, then choose that time zone and click confirm.
WiebeTech LLC Click confirm to update the time settings. A dialog box will appear to inform you that the changes have been made. The updated settings will reflect the time settings of the NTP: 6.4.7 Mail RTX-IR can be configured to send email to up to 3 addresses when events, warnings, and errors occur. Contact your IT administrator to set up an email address for RTX-IR and to input the proper SMTP settings. 6.4.
WiebeTech LLC 6.4.9 System Log Server The System Log Server option allows configuration for error, warning, and information reporting via a certain port on the server. Enter the server IP in the first line and the port used in the second line (default 514). The facility can be changed between User and Local1 through Local7 using the dropdown box. Select the check boxes for Info, Error, and Warning that pertain to the information that you want to be reported. 6.4.
WiebeTech LLC • • • • • • • • Name: LAN1/LAN2. LAN1 corresponds to the port labeled CH-1 on the back of the RTX-IR, while LAN2 corresponds to the port labeled CH-2. DHCP: Yes/No – Click on the button below “Yes” or “No” to configure the IP settings for each data port. Refer to section _____ for more information. IP address: Displays the IP address currently in use by each data port. Netmask: Displays the subnet mask being used by each data port.
WiebeTech LLC To use CHAP, you will need to turn on CHAP authentication (see section 6.5.3) and then set up a CHAP account. After clicking on the CHAP account option, you will see the following screen: Click Create to create a new user. This brings up a screen with fields for User, Secret, and Confirm. Enter a user name in the first field, and a 12-16 character password to use as the secret in the second and third fields. Click the Confirm button.
WiebeTech LLC The following diagram explains the architecture of RAID using RTX-IR and the relationship between physical disks (PDs), volume groups (VGs), user data volumes (UDVs), and logical unit numbers (LUNs). One VG (Volume Group) consists of a set of UDVs (User Data Volume) and owns one RAID level attribute. Each VG can be divided into several UDVs. The UDVs from one VG share the same RAID level, but may have different volume capacity.
WiebeTech LLC Status: Displays general operational status of the disk. Possible states are Good, Defect, and Fail. • 1: Displays the RAID status of the disk. Possible states are: o RD – RAID Disk. The drive is part of a RAID that is currently online. o FR – Free disk. The drive is available for use in a volume group, or to be marked as a spare. o DS – Dedicated spare. The drive is a dedicated spare of a specific volume group. This option cannot be selected until at least one volume group has been created.
WiebeTech LLC The selected PDs will now be displayed in the VG creation screen. Click next to proceed. This brings you to a confirmation screen. Verify that the RAID level is correct and all of the disks you selected are displayed under “RAID PD slot,” then click confirm to create the VG. The VG will now display on the main VG screen. The VG screen displays the following information: • No: The VG number. Click the button underneath the number of a VG to view more information. • Name: The name of the VG.
WiebeTech LLC After a VG has been created, you can create associated UDVs. You must create at least one UDV to access the drives of the RTX-IR with a computer. To begin this process, click Create. This brings up a screen displaying the following: • • • • • • • • Name: Enter a name for the UDV VG name: Choose the VG that you wish to add the UDV too. CV no.: Cache Volume number – if you have created multiple caches, you can select between them. Normally the default option is preferred.
WiebeTech LLC • • • • • • 3: Displays the RAID activity of the UDV. “I” indicates that the UDV is initializing a RAID, “R” indicates that the UDV is rebuilding a RAID, and “M” indicates that the UDV is under migration between RAID types. R %: Displays progress of the activity indicated in column “3.” Note: Initializing a RAID5 may take several hours. RAID: The RAID level of the UDV. This was chosen during the VG creation. #LUN: Number of LUNs that the UDV is using.
WiebeTech LLC Click Confirm after selecting your desired settings. The main Logical Unit Screen will now display the LUN you have just created: 6.7 Enclosure Management Enclosure management gives access to the following menu options: SES config, Hardware Monitor and SMART. 6.7.1 SES Config SCSI Enclosure Services, or SES, is a command set that is used to manage and sense the state of the power supplies, cooling devices, displays, indicators, and individual drives of a SCSI device.
WiebeTech LLC The Hardware Monitor displays information about the voltages and temperatures of the RTX-IR. Auto shutdown feature: When this checkbox is enabled, the RTX-IR will automatically shut down if any of the voltages or temperatures displayed stray outside of the minimum or maximum values. Auto shutdown is enabled by default to protect the hardware of the RTX-IR. 6.7.3 S.M.A.R.T. S.M.A.R.T.
WiebeTech LLC The upgrade function allows you to upgrade the firmware of the RTX-IR. DO NOT USE THIS FUNCTION WITHOUT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION FROM WIEBETECH TECHNICAL SUPPORT. Doing so could result in malfunction of your RTX-IR. 6.8.2 Info Click on Info to display system information: 6.8.3 Reset to default The Reset to Default option allows you to restore settings to the factory defaults. After clicking Reset to Default, you will need to click Confirm to verify. 6.8.
WiebeTech LLC f. You should wind up back at the main UDV screen. The RAID will begin initializing, and progress will be displayed in the R% column. Depending on the RAID type and size, the initialization could take several hours. The R% number will disappear when the initialization has finished. Note: If you selected RAID 0, you may not see a progress meter because it initializes almost instantaneously. g. Select the check box next to the UDV you just created and then click Attach.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 7: Access the RTX using iSCSI Initiator software The process for using initiator software to access your RTX varies depending on the software used. Read the documentation accompanying the software for details. However, the general steps are as follows: a. Launch the Initiator application b. Type in the IP address of the Giga LAN connection on the RTX (determined in step 6). This will be a different IP address than the one used to access the GUI. c.
WiebeTech LLC Chapter 8: Formatting new volume(s) If you did not purchase the RTX with preconfigured drives, you will need to format the new volume(s) before using them. This is typically done using tools built in to your computer’s operating system. (For example, Disk Utility for Mac OS X or Disk Management for Windows.) Consult your computer’s operating manual for details. NOTE: When formatting a volume larger than 2TB in Windows Vista, you may be prompted to select either MBR or GPT for initialization.
WiebeTech LLC Appendix A. Certification list RAM (RAM Spec: 184pins, DDR333(PC2700), Reg.(register) or UB(unbuffer), ECC or Non-ECC.
WiebeTech LLC Appendix B. Event notifications PD/S.M.A.R.T. Events Level Type Disk inserted Disk removed S.M.A.R.T. threshold exceed condition Info Info Warning Description Info: Disk is inserted. Info: Disk is removed. Warning: S.M.A.R.T. threshold condition exceeded.
WiebeTech LLC Info Error Error Error Info Warning Info Warning Info Info Fan restore Fan Fail Fan non-exist AC Loss Mgmt Lan Port Active Mgmt Lan Port Failed RTC Device OK RTC Access Failed Reset Password Reset IP Info: Fan has been restored. Error: Fan has failed. Error: System cooling fan is not installed. Error: AC loss for the system has been detected. Info: Management LAN Port is active. Warning: Failed to manage the system via the LAN Port. Info: RTC device is active.
WiebeTech LLC Warning Warning Warning Warning Info Error Info Info Info Info Info Info Info Info Info Info UDV IO Fault VG Failed UDV Failed Global CV Adjustment Failed Global Cache Global CV Creation Failed UDV Rename VG Rename Set VG Dedicated Spare Disks Set Global Disks UDV Read-Only WRBK Cache Policy WRTHRU Cache Policy High priority UDV Mid Priority UDV Low Priority UDV RTX-IR User’s Manual initialization. Error: IO failure for stripe number in UDV .
WiebeTech LLC Appendix C: Working with Volumes over 2TB in size Although the RTX can create data volumes larger than 2TB, operating systems cannot usually access such volumes. This is because most systems support only 32-bit LBA (Logical Block Addressing). Newer operating systems (Windows Server 2003, Vista, Mac OS 10.5.x) should be able to use 2TB+ volumes without difficulty.
WiebeTech LLC Appendix D: Warnings and Notices • 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. • The RTX supports SATA hard drives of various specifications and different capacities. However, we recommend using drives of the same brand and type for optimal performance.
WiebeTech LLC Appendix E: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q. I created one volume, but my computer sees two of them. Why? A. There may be two LUNs assigned to that volume. To check this, use the GUI. Navigate to Volume Config and then Logical Unit. If there are two LUNs for the same volume, click the checkbox for one of them and click on “detach.” Note: You may still see two volumes until you restart your computer.
WiebeTech LLC Appendix F: Technical Specifications Product name/code: Raid Levels Supported: Host Interfaces: Data Interface Speeds: Drive Types Supported: TrayFree™ Technology: Online Auto-Rebuild: Shock Absorbing Bays: LED Indicators: Security: Controller Display: Operating System Requirements: Operating Temperature: Operating Humidity: Power Switch: Power Supply: Cooling Fan: Safety Certification: External Material: Shipping Weights: Dimensions: Warranty: RTX400-IR, RTX400H-IR, RTX600-IR, RTX600H-IR
