Highly Reliable Systems. FirstRAID DXR TM. Documentation Supplement V1.1. Copyright 2007 by Highly Reliable Systems. All Rights Reserved.

Highly Reliable Systems FirstRAID DXR TM Documentation Supplement V1.1 Copyright 2007 by Highly Reliable Systems. All Rights Reserved.

READ THIS FIRST Important Quick Start Information for your High-Rely drive This section is in addition to the regular FirstRAID manual. Be sure to read it first before proceeding to read this manual. Many times throughout this document the RAID 5 array consisting of bays 1-3 maybe referred to as a single drive. Particular photos in this manual may not be your exact unit. The information in this manual primarily documents Windows 2000, 2003, or XP systems with some coverage of Vista. Although the High-Rely may work with Windows NT, Linux, Mac OS X and other operating systems, at this time, our tech support can assist with Windows platforms only.

Table of Contents 1. Introduction...4 2.Choosing media sizes....4 3.Connecting a FirstRAID DXR unit to your computer...4 4.Setup and operation...5 1.Inserting and removing media from bay S...5 2.Resetting your FirstRAID DXR...5 3.Restoring S bay data back to the RAID 5 array...6 4.Initialization and failed drives...6 5.Assigning Drive letters...7 5.FirstRAID DXR Technical Information and Operations...7 1.Degradation...7 2.Status and Errors...7 3.Selecting Different RAID types...8

1. Introduction FirstRAID DXR has all the advantages of the FirstRAID (please read the FirstRAID manual) but additionally provides a built-in hardware RAID1 (mirror) between the top three drive RAID 5 volume and the standalone bottom volume. Thus, the bottom standalone drive can be swapped and taken offsite when appropriate without any configuration or notification to the host and the replaced drive will be synced up with the data on the RAID 5 volume automatically. In the standard FirstRAID, the top RAID 5 volume and the standalone present themselves to the host as two volumes. However, the FirstRAID DXR, presents itself as only one volume. As this is actually a mirror, so long as the bottom drive has synced up, the entire RAID 5 array could fail or the stand alone drive and the volume would still be intact and usable as far as the host is concerned. For maximum flexibility, the FirstRAID DXR is also capable of connecting with both esata and USB 2.0. Again, like the standard FirstRAID, the FirstRAID DXR has many, many possible configurations but only one configuration will be discussed here which is the configuration presented above. There is no proprietary information written to either drive by the RAID controller so any off-site media can be read directly by another computer without special hardware or software. 2.Choosing media sizes. The same size computations and logic apply to media choices for the FirstRAID as for the FirstRAID DXR when computing RAID 5 capacity. However, S bay media must be the same or larger than your RAID 5 array because the RAID 5 is always assumed to be the master copy. Any excess size in the S bay over the total capacity of the RAID 5 will be wasted so it is best to choose drives as close to the RAID 5 capacity as possible. RAID 5 activity indicator Status Panel S Bay RAID 1 Status Power indicator 3.Connecting a FirstRAID DXR unit to your computer Because the FirstRAID DXR presents itself as one volume, a multi-drive capable esata controller is not necessary but is still recommended for maximum compatibility and performance. Of course, if you're using the USB 2.0 connection, then such is not necessary. The DXR will automatically sense

whichever port you plug into and operate from that port (USB or esata). However, even though both connectors are present, it will only function correctly through one port at a time. Thus only one of either type maybe plugged in at one time. As the FirstRAID DXR is configured from the factory, it presents all drives to the host as a single drive. Because of this, a multi-drive (PM or Port multiplier aware) capable esata controller is not necessary. However, cards other than our tested High-Rely esata controllers may present other problems. This document will not explore all possibilities of configurations of the FirstRAID DXR. But, if you set the DXR to JBOD mode, your host's controller will need to be multi-drive capable. This means it must be able to see multiple drives through a single esata channel (connection). 4.Setup and operation. 1. Inserting and removing media from bay S. All the rules for removing S bay media safely still apply in the FirstRAID DXR as in the FirstRAID. However, in the FirstRAID DXR, the bottom power indicator has been changed to indicate the RAID status of the S bay. If the light is on steady, then the S drive is synced to the RAID 5 array. Thus, if all writing activity has ceased from the host to the FirstRAID DXR (follow safely remove procedure outline in the FirstRAID manual) and the bottom indicator is solid, you may remove the S bay media and replace it with another media and know that the media you removed is complete. BUT, DOING SO WITHOUT THESE CONDITIONS PRESENT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OR INACCURATE DATA ON YOUR S BAY MEDIA THAT YOU JUST REMOVED. The contents of the replacement media will be overwritten with the current contents of the RAID 5 array when the replacement media is installed into the FirstRAID DXR. HOWEVER, WHILE THE HOST HAS NO PART OR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS, THIS WILL NOT OCCUR UNLESS THE HOST IS ON, BOOTED AND THE DXR IS ON AND CONNECTED TO THE HOST. It may appear that copying has begun if the replacement drive is smaller in capacity than RAID 5 array (master). But in this case, copying will not occur. This is evident by checking the Trouble/off-line indicator in the rear. If this light remains lit more than 1 minute beyond the time the replacement drive was inserted, the DXR is unable to use the replacement drive for some reason either a failure of some sort or the replacement is smaller than the master. Assuming no problems and copying has started, during this time, the activity lights on the FirstRAID's status panel will be active and the bottom RAID status indicator will be flashing. The replacement drive will not be synchronized to the RAID 5 array until the bottom indicator stops flashing and remains on steady. Depending on the size of your drive, this could take many hours (about 1 hour per 25 GB). If your host activity to the FirstRAID is high, it will take longer because the FirstRAID DXR will grant priority to hosts disk requests before it's own internal copying. 2. Resetting your FirstRAID DXR The DXR thinks it simply has two drives and will present them as one to the host although one is the RAID 5 array and the other is the S bay. If both drives (RAID 5 array and S bay) are operating and synced, the DXR will update both the RAID 5 array and the standalone bay (S) with new data from the host whenever the host does so. However, once the S bay drive is removed, the DXR will consider the RAID 5 array as master and any new media inserted into the S bay will be overwritten with a copy of the RAID 5 data. Hence, be sure the S bay media is always larger than the capacity of the RAID 5

array. The FirstRAID DXR must be connected to your host computer and your host computer must be on for FirstRAID DXR to resync the S drive with the RAID 5 array which will then happen automatically. To reset your FirstRAID, assuming the RAID 5 array is operational as indicated by the FirstRAID status panel, remove the S bay media then turn off the FirstRAID DXR. Wait 1 minute and turn it back on (without the S bay media installed). The will cause the FirstRAID DXR to see the RAID 5 as it's master disk so that when the S bay media is reinserted, it will begin copying the RAID 5 data to the S bay media. After one minute, reinstall the S bay media. 3. Restoring S bay data back to the RAID 5 array. In the event that your RAID 5 array becomes corrupted or is erased, you will need to resync data from one of your S bay medias back to the RAID 5 array. This is done by changing FirstRAID DXR to think the S bay is the master. To do this, with power off, turn off all of the RAID 5 drives (bays 1-3). Insert the S bay media to restore to the RAID 5 array and turn the bay on. Next turn on the power to the FristRAID DXR. Again, be sure the FirstRAID DXR is connect to a booted host. Wait 2 minutes. The FirstRAID, will see the S bay as the only media and will assign it master. Now, turn off the FirstRAID DXR. Turn on bays 1-3. Power on the FirstRAID DXR again. After a few minutes, the FirstRAID DXR should begine to image data from the S bay to the RAID 5 array. This will be noted by activity on the FirstRAID's RAID Status panel and the S bay's media activity indicator while the host is not accessing it. Once the RAID 5 arrays is in sync, the S bay media maybe replaced as normal. esata connector esata Link indicator Initialize/change mode button RAID type (SAFE) Figure 1. FirstRAID DXR Back Interface Panel USB Link indicator USB connector Power indicator Trouble - off-line As can be seen in Figure 1, the DXR rear panel has many settings. The RAID type should always be set in the SAFE position. Any other settings should be made under the guidance of our Technical Support department. 4. Initialization and failed drives. If a drive fails in the RAID 5 array, replace the drive as indicated in the FirstRAID manual. If only one drive in the RAID 5 array failed, no other action is necessary. Because the DXR feature is RAID 1 (mirror), there is no drive initialization required between the RAID 5 array and the standalone. All that

is necessary is that they are synced. Other RAID settings on the DXR function may require initialization. 5. Assigning Drive letters Because the FirstRAID DXR is one volume, and drive swaps are invisible to the host, there are not multiple drive letter issues with media as in a standard FirstRAID or other High-Rely systems. The HRDM2 utility should have no use. 5.FirstRAID DXR Technical Information and Operations 1. Degradation The FirstRAID has two in-stream RAID controllers cascaded. Thus, it is possible to run at two levels of degradation. The first level of degradation occurs whenever you swap the media out of the S bay the RAID 1 controller rebuilds the data on the new S drive. The second level occurs if there is a fault on the RAID 5 array. Once the correction is made (drive is replaced) on the RAID 5 array, the RAID 5 controller will rebuild that drive in the array. Thus, it is possible for both rebuilds to occur at the same time. There is nothing wrong with this but performance will be noticeably slower during this phase. 2. Status and Errors In addition to the regular FirstRAID indicators, the FirstRAID DXR has several indicators on its rear panel. Also, the indicator below the S bay is used to indicate whether or not the S bay drive is operational and synced. Please see figure 1 above. ESATA link indicator lit when an esata connection is made to the host. RAID type should always be set to safe. Changing this will cause DATA LOSS! USB Link indicator lit when a USB connection is made to the host. Power indicator lit when unit is powered on. Trouble / Alarm indicator lit when volume is off-line. This occurs when the RAID 5 array and the stand alone drive are both off-line or non-functional.

RAID status indicator: State Off Flashing On Meaning Device is unplugged or has no power. Device is off-line or rebuilding. Device is on-line and usable. 3. Selecting Different RAID types Although not included in our technical support service, the FirstRAID DXR supports other RAID configurations as well. These are engaged by changing the RAID Type selector on the back of the FirstRAID DXR. RAID Type Setting GUI Big JBOD FAST SAFE Description All settings established by a separate Windows program which is not available at this time. The drives are spanned or joined meaning that both drives appear as a single volume to the host and each drives entire capacity is added together (sizes can vary with no waste). The drives will become a set and data loss will occur if they are separated under this configuration. When first picking this setting, the drives will be initialized (erased). This could take up to 10 hours before the volume appears on-line. Both RAID status indicators will blink while the drives are initializing but the Trouble light should not be lit. The drives are presented to the host as individual drives. The drives are striped (RAID 0) meaning the capacities of the smallest drive in the set of two are multiplied by 2 and presented to the host as one volume. Data is split between both drives resulting in higher speed accesses and throughput. When first picking this setting, the drives will be initialized (erased). This could take up to 10 hours before the volume appears on-line. Both RAID status indicators will blink while the drives are initializing but the Trouble light should not be lit. This is the factory default setting and is supported by High-Rely's Technical support department. The drives are mirrored (RAID 1) and presented to the host as a single volume. One drive can fail and be replaced without disturbing the availability of the volume to the host.

SAFE 33 SAFE 50 1/3 of the drives capacities will be mirrored (RAID 1) and presented as a volume to the host. The remaining space will be spanned and presented to the host as another volume. The drives will become a set and data loss will occur on the spanned volume if they are separated under this configuration. When first picking this setting, the drives will be initialized (erased). This could take up to 10 hours before the volume appears on-line. Both RAID status indicators will blink while the drives are initializing but the Trouble light should not be lit. Sames as SAFE 33 but the allocation will be 50% to the mirror. Note: Even if power is removed between RAID type changes, the type will only change and initialization will begin (if applicable) once the Initialize/Change Mode button is pressed.

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