NStor Technologies Disk Array Enclosure User Manual

Preface Features vi Features The following are major features of the nStor CR8e disk array subsystem: RAID Level Support RAID levels 0, 1, 3, 5, 10

Preface Where to Find Answers vii Where to Find Answers When you have questions about your nStor products there are several places you can look to fin

Preface Registering Your Product viii

1 1 Getting Started In this chapter we will provide a description of the components, and the control and onboard monitoring systems found in the CR8e

Getting Started CR8e Subsystem at a Glance 2 CR8e Subsystem at a GlanceChannel Mode LEDPower Supply LEDFan Status LEDStatus Indicator LEDsNote: LEDs

Getting Started CR8e Subsystem at a Glance 3Power Supply #1*“DC Good” LEDPower Supply #2*I/O Interface CardI/O Interface CardCooling Fan #1*Cooling F

Getting Started Components 4 Components This section provides a descriptive overview of each of the major components that comprise the CR8e subsystem

Getting Started Hot Swap Power Supplies 5 If an error occurs, access the Operator Control Panel to determine the cause and locate the failed componen

Getting Started I/O Interface Card 6 I/O Interface Card The I/O Interface card provides the connection from the subsystem’s bus to the host adapter.

Getting Started Configuration Modules 7 Configuration Modules CAUTION: Configuration modules must be installed or replaced by qualified service personne

nStor Corporation, Inc. © 1996-1998 nStor Corporation, Inc., All Rights Reserved.3rd Edition nStor Corporation, Inc. shall not be liable for any dama

Getting StartedControlling and Monitoring8Controlling and MonitoringAn integral part of the CR8e is its control and monitor capabilities. The subsyst

Getting StartedLEDs9An animated icon will appear on the display after 30 seconds of no OCP input activity and provides an “at-a-glance” look at system

Getting StartedLEDs10Power Supply StatusThe Power Supply Status LED indicates the condition of the power supplies. The LED will illuminate steady gree

Getting StartedAlarm Speaker11Alarm SpeakerAn audible alarm will sound when any component’s condition changes to an abnormal state. The Status Indicat

Getting StartedSAF-TE Card12Disk drives, power supplies, cooling fans and temperature are continually monitored and these conditions are then reported

213InstallationSetupThe installation of your nStor CR8e disk array subsystem is essentially a three-step process: the subsystem is setup and its compo

InstallationSystem Requirements14System RequirementsThe nStor CR8e disk subsystem is based on an open architecture design and can be connected to any

InstallationRack-Mount Subsystem Assembly15Rack-Mount Subsystem AssemblyYou can install the CR8e into any standard IAE 19" rack cabinet.CAUTION:

InstallationRack-Mount Subsystem Assembly162 To aide in support bracket installation, remove the rack cabinet side panels.3 Locate the two support bra

InstallationComponent Installation17Component InstallationCAUTION: Disk drives and printed circuit board components are sensitive to electrostatic dis

Regulatory Information FCC Radio Frequency Interference Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B di

InstallationComponent Installation186 Fully seat the drive by applying pressure with your thumb to the front of the drive. 7 Press the Drive Latching

InstallationComponent Installation19Installing the Third Power SupplyIf you will be installing five (5) or more disk drives you will be required to ins

InstallationCabling Configuration20Cabling ConfigurationThe Ultra Wide SCSI mode provides enhanced performances with data transfers up to 40 MBs per se

InstallationGeneral21Because of the enhancements in the CR8e, its possible to extend beyond the limits set forth in the specification. However, a sympt

InstallationUltra Wide SCSI Mode22Ultra Wide SCSI ModeSeveral possible configurations exist for the CR8e in Ultra Wide SCSI mode. However this manual w

InstallationUltra Wide SCSI Mode232 Connect the other end of the data cable to the Channel #0 SCSI connector on the right side or upper I/O Interface

InstallationUltra Wide SCSI Mode24Single-Bus EnclosureWith the Single-Bus module is installed, all of the disk drives in the CR8e enclosure are on the

InstallationUltra Wide SCSI Mode253 Turn on the power to the CR8e. After the power-on self-test has completed, Status and Channel Mode LEDs will be so

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode26Fast Wide SCSI ModeSeveral possible configurations exist for the CR8e in the Fast Wide SCSI mode: dual-bus with one or

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode272 Connect the other end of the first data cable to the Channel #0 SCSI connector on the right side or upper I/O Interf

Power Cord Selection This subsystem is intended for indoor use only. This subsystem is intended to be plugged into a 6A branch circuit in Europe

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode28Two Dual-Bus EnclosuresWith this configuration you will have a total storage capacity of up to 290 GB (using 18 GB dis

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode296 Connect the other end of the jumper cable to the Channel #0 SCSI connector on the left side or lower I/O Interface

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode30Single-Bus EnclosureWith the Single-Bus module is installed, all of the disk drives in the CR8e enclosure are on the

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode313 Turn on the power to the CR8e. After the power-on self-test has completed, Status and Channel Mode LEDs will be sol

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode32Two Single-Bus EnclosuresThis configuration is similar to the “Single-Bus Enclosure” except that the capacity is expan

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode334 Connect the other end of the jumper cable to the Channel #0 SCSI connector on the left side or lower I/O Interface

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode34A Dual-Bus Enclosure with Two Single-Bus EnclosuresWith this configuration you will be able to expand the capacity of

InstallationFast Wide SCSI Mode356 Connect the other end of the first jumper cable to the Channel #0 SCSI connector on the left side or lower I/O Inter

InstallationOther Configurations36Other ConfigurationsThere are many possible combinations of controllers and cabling schemes when configuring the CR8e

337Using the CR8eIn this chapter you will find information on the subsystem’s enclosure notifications systems, and the proper use and operation of the O

i Contents Preface v Welcome vFeatures viWhere to Find Answers viiRegistering Your Product vii 1 Getting Started 1 CR8e Subsystem at a Glance 2Compon

Using the CR8eFirmware Error Conditions38Firmware Error ConditionsNOTE:None of the following error conditions will compromise the data integrity on th

Using the CR8eLED Descriptions39All drive LEDs will illuminate solid green regardless of the error conditions. The CR8e needs to be serviced if this e

Using the CR8eOperator Control Panel40Operator Control PanelIn this section you will find an explanation of the Operator Control Panel screen displays,

Using the CR8ePower Supply Error Conditions41Power Supply Error ConditionsDuring normal operation, anytime one of the required number of power supplie

Using the CR8eMain Menu42Main MenuFrom the Main Menu selection the following options are available: Turn off the audible alarm Select the hardware m

Using the CR8eMain Menu43Component Status The Component Status menu provides a view of the power supplies and fans installed in the CR8e and their cur

Using the CR8eMain Menu441 To view the current enclosure configuration, access the Main menu and choose Hardware Menu. 2 Use the up/down arrow buttons

Using the CR8eMain Menu451 To view the POST results, access the Main menu and choose Hardware Menu. 2 Use the up/down arrow buttons to select Post Res

Using the CR8eOptions Menu46Options MenuFrom the Options Menu the following are available: SCSI ID Menu Heat Threshold SAFTE Chain ID Change Passc

Using the CR8eOptions Menu474 Use the up/down arrow buttons to make your SCSI ID group selection and press the Enter button.Note the flashing set of ID

Contents ii 2 Installation 13 Setup 13System Requirements 14Guidelines 14Rack-Mount Subsystem Assembly 15Component Installation 17Cabling Configurati

Using the CR8eOptions Menu48NOTE:When the SAF-TE card is set to off bus, LEDs and other error reporting are not driven by the subsystem’s off bus SAF-

Using the CR8eHeat Threshold49Heat ThresholdNOTE:The Heat Threshold value is pre-set at the factory and should not be changed unless directed by nStor

Using the CR8eSAFTE CHAIN ID50SAFTE CHAIN IDThis option allows the administrator to establish the intercabinet SAF-TE communication to support a maste

Using the CR8eChange Passcode51Change PasscodeThis option allows the administrator to create or change a passcode that will protect access to all the

Using the CR8eUnlock Options52Unlock OptionsThis option allows the administrator to unlock the items found under the SCSI ID Menu, Heat Threshold, and

453TroubleshootingThis chapter provides solutions for some of the problems you may encounter while using the CR8e subsystem.Common Enclosure ProblemsS

TroubleshootingCommon SCSI Bus Problems54Common SCSI Bus ProblemsSCSI Bus problems can usually be attributed to cabling issues or faulty I/O Interface

TroubleshootingCommon SCSI Bus Problems55SCSI Bus Symptom Probable Cause SolutionSCSI Bus hangs, SCSI Bus excessive retries, and/or drives drop offline

TroubleshootingCommon Problems and Interpreting the LED Indications56Common Problems and Interpreting the LED IndicationsLED Status Reason SolutionSta

557MaintenanceIn this chapter you will find the maintenance procedures to replace individual components, as well as the entire subsystem enclosure.Repl

Contents iii Replacing a Fuse 62Replacing the CR8e Cabinet 63 A Glossary 65 B Technical Information 69 Specifications 69Connectors and Jumpers 70Conn

MaintenanceReplacing a Power Supply585 Insert the drive into the drive bay by aligning its rails into the drive bay slots, component side toward the r

MaintenanceReplacing a Power Supply59NOTE: When locating the failed power supply, the “DC Good” LED will be OFF.2 Using a flat-blade screwdriver, loose

MaintenanceReplacing the Cooling Fans60Replacing the Cooling FansCAUTION: Cooling fans must be replaced by qualified service personnel only.NOTE: There

MaintenanceReplacing an I/O Interface Card615 Remove the new cooling fan from the shipping carton and inspect the shipment. Save the packaging materia

MaintenanceReplacing a Fuse623 Loosen the two thumb screws that secures the card.4 Insert the new I/O Interface card and tighten the thumb screws. Do

MaintenanceReplacing the CR8e Cabinet633 Using the tip of your finger nail, ease the holder away from the unit.4 Once removed, separate the fuse from t

MaintenanceReplacing the CR8e Cabinet648 If you have a third power supply installed in the old subsystem, remove it and install the PSU into the new e

A65GlossaryThe following terms are used throughout this manual and may be helpful background information on the technology.Asynchronous OperationsOper

Glossary66Disk Mirroring Data written to one disk drive is simultaneously written to another disk drive. If one disk fails, the other disk can be used

Glossary67Partition An array virtual disk made up of logical disks rather than physical ones. Also called logical volume.Physical Drive A physical arr

Contents iv

Glossary68SAF-TE Is the acronym for SCSI Accessed Fault-Tolerant Enclosures. It is a monitoring and communication specification developed by Conner (nS

B69Technical InformationSPECIFICATIONSCR8eOperating Environment 40°F to 94°F (+5°C to +34°C)Relative Humidity Operating/Non-Operating 5% - 95% (non-c

Technical InformationConnectors and Jumpers70CONNECTORS AND JUMPERSThis section provides information about the connector pinouts on the termination in

Technical InformationConnectors71+DB(15) 4 7 – DB(15) 38 8+DB(P1) 5 9 – DB(P1) 39 10+DB(0) 6 11 – DB(0) 40 12+DB(1) 7 13 – DB(1) 41 14+DB(2) 8 15 – DB

Technical InformationJumpers72JumpersCAUTION: Jumper configuration to be performed by qualified service personnel only.Disconnect the AC power cord prio

Technical InformationJP2 (SCSI-to-SCSI Configuration)73JP2 (SCSI-to-SCSI Configuration)CAUTION: Jumper configuration to be performed by qualified service

Technical InformationJP4 (SCSI ID Settings)74JP4 (SCSI ID Settings)CAUTION: Jumper configuration must be performed by qualified service personnel only.T

Technical InformationJP5 (SCA Remote/Delay start)75JP5 (SCA Remote/Delay start)CAUTION: Jumper configuration to be performed by qualified service person

Technical InformationJ15 (FAN) and J17 (OEM FAN)76J15 (FAN) and J17 (OEM FAN)CAUTION: Jumper configuration to be performed by qualified service personne

77AActivity LEDs 10Animated icon 41Audible Alarm 3BBackplane 72CCables 20Cabling Configuration 20Change Passcode 51Channel Mode LED 9Component I

v Preface Welcome Congratulations on the purchase of your new CR8e from nStor Corporation. The nStor CR8e provides a superior fault-tolerant network

Index78Fan Status LED 10Fast SCSI 20Dual-Bus Module (Single Cabinet) 26Dual-Bus Module (Two Cabinets) 28Dual-Bus Module Cabinet w/Two Single-BusMo

Index79Registration viiReplacing a Drive 57Replacing a Fuse 62Replacing a Power Supply 58Replacing the Cooling Fans 60Replacing the CR8e Cabinet

Index80