ES A08 - A12 - HMN - v1.2 PDF

EonStor A08 / A12 Series
2Gb/s Fibre-to-SATA RAID Subsystem

SCSI-to-SATA RAID Subsystem
Installation and Hardware

Reference Manual
Revision 1.2 (11, 2003)

Printed in Taiwan
Contact Information
Asia Pacific Americas
(International Headquarters)
Infortrend Technology, Inc. Infortrend Corporation
8F, No. 102 Chung-Shan Rd., Sec. 3 3150 Coronado Dr., Unit C
Chung-Ho City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (886)-2-2226-0126 Tel: 408-988-5088
Fax: (886)-2-2226-0020 Fax: 408-988-6288
Sales@infortrend.com.tw sales@infortrend.com
support@infortrend.com.tw support@infortrend.com
www.infortrend.com.tw www.infortrend.com
China Europe (EMEA)

Room 1210, West Wing, Tower One, Infortrend Europe Limited
Junefield Plaza, No. 6 Xuanwumen 5 Elmwood, Crockford Lane
Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing, China Chineham Business Park
100052 Basingstoke, Hampshire
RG24 8WG, UK
Tel: 8610-63106168 Tel: +44-1256-70-77-00
Fax: 8610-63106188 Fax:+44-1256-70-78-89
Sales@infortrend.com.cn sales@infortrend-europe.com
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Copyright© 2003
This Edition First Published 2003
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, transmitted,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or
computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written
consent of Infortrend Technology, Inc.
Disclaimer
Infortrend Technology makes no representations or warranties with respect
to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Furthermore, Infor-
trend Technology reserves the right to revise this publication and to make
changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation to notify
any person of such revisions or changes. Product specifications are also
subject to change without prior notice.
Trademarks
Infortrend and the Infortrend logo are registered trademarks of
Infortrend Technology, Inc. EonStor and other names prefixed with “IFT”
or “ES” are trademarks of Infortrend Technology, Inc.
PowerPC® is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

and Motorola Inc.
Solaris and Java are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

All other names, brands, products or services are trademarks or registered
trademarks of its respective owners.
Warnings and Certifications
FCC (applies in the U.S. and Canada)

Class A statement applies to the series model equipped with Fibre host
interface.
Class B statement applies to the series model equipped with SCSI host
interface.
FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules (47 CFR, Part
2, Part 15 and CISPR PUB. 22 Class B). These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with this user’s guide, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help
This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subjected 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.
Warning:
A shielded-type power cord is required in order to meet FCC emission limits
and also to prevent interference to the nearby radio and television reception.
Use only shielded cables to connect I/O devices to this equipment. You are
cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void you authority to operate the
equipment.
FCC Class A Radio Frequency Interference 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 may accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment
in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the
user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party

responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Warning:
Use only shielded cables to connect I/O devices to this equipment.
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could void you authority to operate the
equipment.
This device is in conformity with
the EMC
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 MODEL VARIATIONS .................................................................................................. 1
Major Component Modules............................................................................................... 2
1.2 ENCLOSURE CHASSIS ................................................................................................. 2
1.2.1 Front Section ............................................................................................................ 2
1.2.2 Rear Section ............................................................................................................. 2
1.2.3 Internal Backplane ................................................................................................... 3
1.3 ES SUBSYSTEM COMPONENTS ................................................................................... 3
1.3.1 Front Panel Overview .............................................................................................. 3
1.3.2 Rear Panel Overview................................................................................................ 4
1.4 FRONT PANEL COMPONENTS ...................................................................................... 5
1.4.1 LCD Panel................................................................................................................ 5
1.4.2 Drive Trays and Enclosure Bay ID Allocation......................................................... 6
1.4.3 Dongle Kits............................................................................................................... 6
1.5 REAR PANEL COMPONENTS ....................................................................................... 7
1.5.1 The RAID Controller Module ................................................................................... 7
1.5.2 Controller Module Interfaces ................................................................................... 7
1.5.3 Power Supply Units .................................................................................................. 8
1.5.4 Cooling Fan Modules ............................................................................................... 9
1.6 ES SUBSYSTEM MONITORING .................................................................................. 10
1.6.1 I2C bus.................................................................................................................... 10
1.6.2 LED Indicators ....................................................................................................... 10
1.6.3 Firmware (FW) and RAIDWatch GUI ................................................................... 10
1.6.4 Audible Alarms ....................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 2 HARDWARE INSTALLATION

2.1 INSTALLATION PRE-REQUISITES ................................................................................. 1
2.2 STATIC-FREE INSTALLATION...................................................................................... 2
2.3 UNPACKING THE SUBSYSTEM..................................................................................... 2
2.4 GENERAL INSTALLATION PROCEDURE ....................................................................... 3
2.5 MEMORY MODULE INSTALLATION............................................................................. 4
2.5.1 Selecting the DIMMs ................................................................................................ 4
2.5.2 DIMM Module Installation Steps ............................................................................. 4
2.6 BBU INSTALLATION .................................................................................................. 5
2.6.1 Installation Procedure.............................................................................................. 5
2.7 INSTALLING THE RAID CONTROLLER MODULE......................................................... 6
2.8 RACKMOUNTING ........................................................................................................ 7
2.8.1 Considerations for Installation Site and Chassis ..................................................... 7
2.8.2 The Slide Rail Kit ..................................................................................................... 8
2.9 HARD DRIVE INSTALLATION ...................................................................................... 9
2.9.1 Hard Drive Installation Pre-requisites..................................................................... 9
2.9.2 Dongle Kit Installation ........................................................................................... 10
2.9.3 Drive Intstallation Without a Dongle Kit ............................................................... 11
2.9.4 Drive Installation with Dongle Kit ......................................................................... 11
2.10 DRIVE TRAY INSTALLATION .................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM MONITORING

3.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................. 1
3.2 SYSTEM MONITORING ................................................................................................ 1
3.3 FIRMWARE ................................................................................................................. 1
3.4 SYSTEM LEDS............................................................................................................ 2
3.4.1 Controller Module LEDs.......................................................................................... 2
3.4.2 LCD Panel................................................................................................................ 4
3.4.3 Drive Tray – Single Controller Model ..................................................................... 5
3.4.4 PSU LEDs ................................................................................................................ 6
3.4.5 Cooling module LEDs .............................................................................................. 6
3.5 RAIDWATCH MANAGER ........................................................................................... 6
3.6 NOTIFICATION PROCESSING CENTER (NPC) .............................................................. 7
3.7 AUDIBLE ALARM ....................................................................................................... 7
3.7.1 Default Threshold Values ......................................................................................... 7
3.7.2 Failed Devices.......................................................................................................... 8
3.8 I2C MONITORING ....................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 4 SYSTEM CONNECTION AND OPERATION

4.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................. 1
4.2 FC HOST CONNECTION PRE-REQUISITES ................................................................... 1
4.2.1 Cabling ..................................................................................................................... 1
4.2.2 FC Lasers ................................................................................................................. 2
4.2.3 SFP Transceivers ..................................................................................................... 2
4.2.4 Fibre Channel Topologies ........................................................................................ 3
4.3 SCSI CONNECTION PRE-REQUISITES ........................................................................... 3
4.3.1 SCSI Interfaces ......................................................................................................... 3
4.4 CONNECTING TO HOST PORTS ..................................................................................... 4
4.4.1 Points of Failure....................................................................................................... 4
4.5 SINGLE CONTROLLER HOST CONNECTION ................................................................. 4
4.5.1 Single Host ............................................................................................................... 4
4.5.2 Dual Hosts................................................................................................................ 5
4.5.3 Fibre Channel Dual Hosts and Fibre Switch ........................................................... 6
4.6 SAMPLE CONFIGURATION: MULTI-PATHING .............................................................. 6
4.7 POWER ON ................................................................................................................. 8
4.7.1 Power On Checklist.................................................................................................. 8
4.7.2 Power On Procedure................................................................................................ 9
4.7.3 ES Power On-Procedure .......................................................................................... 9
4.7.4 Power On Status Check ............................................................................................ 9
4.7.5 LCD Screen ............................................................................................................ 10
4.8 POWER OFF PROCEDURE ............................................................................................. 11
CHAPTER 5 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

5.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................. 1
5.2 REPLACING CONTROLLER MODULE COMPONENTS .................................................... 1
5.2.1 Removing the Controller Module ............................................................................. 2
5.2.2 Replacing the BBU ................................................................................................... 2
5.2.3 Replacing a Failed DIMM Module .......................................................................... 3
5.2.4 Replacing the Controller Module ............................................................................. 3
5.3 REPLACING A FAILED PSU MODULE ......................................................................... 4
5.4 REPLACING A FAILED COOLING FAN MODULE ......................................................... 6
5.5 REPLACING A FAILED HARD DRIVE ........................................................................... 6
5.6 REPLACING A DONGLE KIT ........................................................................................ 7
APPENDIX A SPECIFICATIONS
A.1 FLEXIBLE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS ......................................................................... 1
A.1.1 The RAID Controller Engine ................................................................................... 1
A.1.2 Rear Panel Variations.............................................................................................. 1
A.2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................................... 2
RAID Controller Module Specifications............................................................................ 2
Main Processor .............................................................................................................. 2
Host Channel Interface .................................................................................................. 2
FC protocol .................................................................................................................... 2
Drive Interface ............................................................................................................... 2
RAID Controlling Unit ................................................................................................... 2
RAID Controller Interfaces ............................................................................................ 2
System Environment .......................................................................................................... 2
Power Requirement ........................................................................................................... 3
Dimensions ........................................................................................................................ 3
EMI/EMC .......................................................................................................................... 3
Shock ................................................................................................................................. 3
Vibration............................................................................................................................ 3
Warning Alarms ................................................................................................................ 3
A.3 RAID OPERATION SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................... 4
A.3.1 Configuration........................................................................................................... 4
A.4 DRIVE TRAY SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................... 4
A.5 POWER SUPPLY SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................ 5
A.6 COOLING FAN SPECIFICATION .................................................................................... 5
A.7 MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX B SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

B.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................. 1
B.2 SPARE PARTS ............................................................................................................. 1
B.2.1 General Spare Parts................................................................................................. 1
B.2.2 Other Spare Parts .................................................................................................... 2
B.3 ACCESSORIES AND OPTIONAL ITEMS.......................................................................... 3
APPENDIX C ELECTRICAL INTERFACES AND PINOUTS

C.1 SFP SOCKET CONNECTOR PIN OUTS .......................................................................... 1
C.2 SCSI PORT PINOUTS .................................................................................................. 3
C.3 DB9 AUDIO JACK PINOUTS ........................................................................................ 3
C.4 ETHERNET PORT PINOUTS .......................................................................................... 4
C.5 MAINS POWER ........................................................................................................... 4
Safety Precautions
Precautions and instructions
Prior to powering on the subsystem, ensure that the correct power range
is being used.
The EonStor subsystem comes with 8 or 12 drive bays (slots). Leaving

any of these slots empty will seriously affect the efficiency of the
airflow within the enclosure, and will consequently lead to the system
overheating, which can cause irreparable damage.
If a module fails, leave it in place until you have a replacement unit and
you are ready to replace it.
Airflow Consideration: The subsystem requires an airflow clearance

especially at the front and at the rear.
To handle subsystem modules, use the retention screws, eject levers,

and the metal frames/face plates. Avoid touching PCB boards or
connector pins.
To comply with safety, emission, or thermal requirements, none of the

covers or replaceable modules should be removed. Make sure that
during operation, all enclosure modules and covers are securely in
place.
Be sure that the rack cabinet into which the subsystem chassis is to be
installed provides sufficient ventilation channels and airflow circulation
around the subsystem.
Provide a soft, clean surface to place your subsystem on before working

on it. Servicing on a rough surface may damage the exterior of the
chassis.
If it is necessary to transport the subsystem, repackage all drives and

replaceable modules separately.
ESD Precautions:
Observe all conventional anti-ESD methods while handling system
modules. The use of grounded wrist-strap and an anti-static work pad are
recommended. Avoid dust or debris in your work area.
About This Manual:
This manual
Introduces the EonStor RAID Subsystem series.
Describes all the active components in the system.
Provides recommendations and details about the hardware installation

process of the subsystem.
Briefly describes how to monitor the subsystem.
Describes how to maintain the subsystem.
This manual does not
Describe components that are not user-serviceable.
Describe the configuration options of firmware, using terminal

emulation programs or the RAIDWatch GUI that came with your
subsystem.
Give a detailed description of the RAID processing units, the RAID

controllers embedded within the subsystem.
Who should read this manual?

This manual assumes that its readers are experienced with computer
hardware installation and are familiar with storage enclosures.
Related Documentation
Generic Operation Manual
RAIDWatch User’s Manual
Conventions
Naming
From this point on and throughout the rest of this manual the EonStor series
is referred to as simply the “subsystem” or the “system” and EonStor is
frequently abbreviated as ES.
Warnings
Warnings appear where overlooked details may cause damage to the
equipment or result in personal injury. Warnings should be taken seriously.
Warnings are easy to recognize. The word “warning” is written as
“WARNING”, both capitalized and bold and is followed by text in italics.
The italicized text is the warning message.
Cautions
Cautionary messages should also be heeded for the messages can help you
reduce the chance of losing data or damaging the system. Cautions are easy
to recognize. The word “caution” is written as “CAUTION”, both
capitalized and bold and is followed by text in italics. The italicized text is
the cautionary message.
Notes
These are messages that are used to inform the reader of essential but non-
critical information. These messages should be read carefully and any
directions or instructions contained herein can help you avoid making
mistakes. Notes are easy to recognize. The word “note” is written as
“NOTE”, it is both capitalized and bold and is followed by text in italics.
The italicized text is the cautionary message.
Lists
Bulleted Lists: - Bulleted lists are statements of non-sequential facts. They
can be read in any order. Each statement is preceded by a round black dot
“·”.
Numbered Lists: - Numbered lists are used to describe sequential steps a

user should follow in order.
Software and Firmware Updates

Please contact your system vendor or visit Infortrend’s FTP site
(ftp.infortrend.com.tw) for the latest software or firmware updates. Note
that the firmware version installed on your system should provide the
complete functionality listed in the specification sheet/user’s manual. We
provide special revisions for various application purposes. Therefore, DO
NOT upgrade your firmware unless you fully understand what a firmware
revision will do.
Problems that occur during the updating process may cause unrecoverable
errors and system down time. Always consult technical personnel before
proceeding with any firmware upgrade.
Chapter 1
Introduction
The EonStor (ES) serial ATA (SATA) RAID subsystem series described in
this manual comes in six different models that provide users with flexible
configuration options. The differences between the six models are described
below.
1.1 Model Variations

Three 8-bay models and three 12-bay models, that come with 2Gbps Fibre
channel (FC-2G), 160MB/sec SCSI (SCSI-160) or 320MB SCSI (SCSI-
320) host interfaces, make up the six available models in the 2U version of
ES SATA RAID subsystem series. The six models are shown below:
Model Name Host Channels Controller Board
ES A08F-G1A2 2 x FC-2G IFT-7260S-8F2D (Single Controller)

ES A08U-G1A3 2 x SCSI-160 IFT-7260S-8U3D (Single Controller)
ES A08U-G1410 2 x SCSI-320 IFT-7260S-8U4D (Single Controller)
ES A12F-G1A2 2 x FC-2G IFT-7260S-12F2D (Single Controller)
ES A12U-G1A3 2 x SCSI-160 IFT-7260S-12U3D (Single Controller)
ES A12U-G1410 2 x SCSI-320 IFT-7260S-12U4D (Single Controller)
Table 1-1: Available ES SATA Models
NOTE:
On receiving and unpacking your subsystem, please check the package

contents against the included unpacking checklist. If any modules appear
to be missing, please contact your subsystem vendor immediately.
Introduction 1-1
Major Components
8 drive bays 12 drive bays
ES Models A08F- A08U- A08U- A12F- A12U- A12U-

G1A2 G1A3 G1410 G1A2 G1A3 G1410
RAID
1 1 1 1 1 1
Controller
PSU 2 2 2 2 2 2
Cooling
2 2 2 3 3 3
Module
Enclosure
I2C I2C I2C I2C I2C I2C
Monitoring
LCD Panel 1 1 1 1 1 1
Battery N/A N/A N/A Optional Optional Optional
Table 1- 2: Available ES RAID Subsystem Models
1.2 Enclosure Chassis

The ES’s subsystem enclosure can be divided into a front and rear section.
All major components can be accessed from either the front or the rear
section.
NOTE:
Components accessed through the front panel are referred to as “Front

Panel Components” and Components accessed through the rear panel
are referred to as “Rear Panel Components.”
1.2.1 Front Section

The front section of the subsystem features a 4 x 2 or 4 x 3 layout for eight
(8) or twelve (12) 3.5” drives and a foldable LCD panel.
1.2.2 Rear Section

The rear section of the ES subsystem is accessed through the rear panel and
is reserved for the RAID controller module, power supply units (PSU), and
cooling fan modules.
Introduction 1-2
1.2.3 Internal Backplane
An integrated backplane board separates the front and rear sections of the
ES subsystem. These PCB boards provide logic level signals and low
voltage power paths. They contain no user-serviceable components.
1.3 ES Subsystem Components

All the active components on the ES subsystems can be accessed through
either the front or rear panel. The modular design of the active components
facilitates their easy installation and removal. Hot-swap mechanisms are
incorporated to eliminate power surges and signal glitches that might occur
while removing or installing these modules.
1.3.1 Front Panel Overview

The front panel of the RAID subsystem described in this manual is shown in
Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2. A description of each front panel component is
given below.
Figure 1-1: Front View – 12-bay Models
Figure 1-2: Front View – 8-bay Models
The front panels shown in Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 are designed to
accommodate the following components:
LCD Panel: The LCD Panel shows system information and can be used
to configure and monitor the ES subsystem.
Introduction 1-3
Drive bays with drive tray canisters: The drive bays are used to house
the ES subsystem hard drives.
1.3.2 Rear Panel Overview

The rear panels of the RAID subsystems described in this manual are shown
in Figure 1-3 (12-bay models) and Figure 1-4 (8-bay models). A
description of each rear panel component is given below.
Figure 1-3: Rear View – 12-bay, Single Controller FC Port ES Subsystem
Figure 1-4: Rear View – 8-bay, Single Controller FC Port ES Subsystem
The rear panels shown above are designed to accommodate the following
components:
RAID controller module: The controller module contains a controller

board, a DIMM module and, if installed the optional battery back up
units (BBU).
Power Supply Unit (PSU): The PSU is used to provide power to the
subsystem.
Cooling fan module: The redundant cooling FAN module is used to

ventilate the subsystem and to reduce the temperature within the
subsystem. The 12-bay model has an additional cooling module
installed in the lower module bay.
Introduction 1-4
NOTE:
Each of the power supplies on the sides of enclosure is housed with one
cooling fan in a retrievable canister. When a power supply is removed,
the cooling module is also removed. Therefore, replace the power supply
unit as fast as possible when it becomes necessary. Cooling fan modules
can be independently removed from the chassis without affecting PSU
operation.
1.4 Front Panel Components

1.4.1 LCD Panel
Figure 1-5: Opening Front Handle
The LCD panel shown in Figure 1-5 consists of a 16 x 2 character LCD

screen with push buttons and LED status indicators. The LCD front panel
provides full access to all array configurations and monitoring. After
powering up the subsystem, the initial screen will show the subsystem
model name. A different name may be assigned for the system or different
drive arrays. This will enable easier identification in a topology consisting
of numerous arrays.
Figure 1-6: Front Panel Retention Latch
Introduction 1-5
To access drive bays on the left or right column, first flip the retention
latches on enclosure front handles, and then swing the handles to the left and
right-hand sides. To close the handles, see Figure 1-7, first swing the
handles towards the center to reveal the retention latch, flip the latch, and
then proceed with closing the handles.
Figure 1-7: Closing the front handles
1.4.2 Drive Trays and Enclosure Bay ID Allocation

Eight (8) or twelve (12) drive bays for the installation of standard 1” height,
3.5” disk drives. The drive bays are accessed from the enclosure front and
are easily accessible to the user.
As shown in Figure 1-8 below, the ES subsystem is housed in an enclosure

that is 4 bays wide by 3 bays or 2 bays high. Drive bays (slots) are, when
viewed from the front, numbered 1 to 8 or 1 to 12, from the left to the right,
and then from the top to the bottom.
Figure 1-8: Hard Drive Numbering Sequence
1.4.3 Dongle Kits

The ES subsystems are designed to operate with SATA drives. If users wish
to use parallel ATA (PATA) hard drives in their subsystem, then SATA-to-
PATA dongle kits must be purchased separately and installed
independently.
Prior to purchasing the subsystem, you should have determined whether to

use SATA or PATA hard drives. If you wish to use PATA hard drives, the
subsystem will be shipped with 8 or 12 SATA-to-PATA Dongle kits that
must also be independently installed.
Introduction 1-6
1.5 Rear Panel Components
1.5.1 The RAID Controller Module

The RAID controller module contains a main circuit board, necessary
support interfaces, and a BBU that is optional only for the 12-bay models.
The controller module contains no user-serviceable components. Except
when replacing a faulty unit, installing a BBU, or installing/upgrading the
cache memory inside, the controller module should never be removed or
opened.
WARNING!
Although the RAID Controller can be removed, the only time a user
should touch the controller itself is to replace the memory modules or to
install the BBU. The RAID controller is built of sensitive components and
unnecessary tempering can damage the controller.
1.5.2 Controller Module Interfaces

The ES subsystem controllers come with the following interfaces.
Host Interfaces
Subsystem Model Host Channels
ES A08F-G1A2 2 x FC-2G
ES A08U-G1A3 2 x SCSI-160
ES A08U-G1410 2 x SCSI-320
ES A12F-G1A2 2 x FC-2G
ES A12U-G1A3 2 x SCSI-160
ES A12U-G1410 2 x SCSI-320
Table 1- 3: System Host Channels
SCSI-160 and SCSI-320 Host Ports: The SCSI host connects to the ES
subsystem through two 0.8mm VHDCI SCSI connectors, which are located
at the controller’s face plate.
FC Host Ports: The FC host connects to the ES subsystem through two

small form factor pluggable (SFP) sockets, which are located at the
controller’s faceplate.
FC Speed Detection: Speed auto-detection is specified by the Fibre Channel

standard. If a 1Gbps port is connected to a 2Gbps port, it will negotiate
down and run at 1Gbps. If there are two 2Gbps ports on either end of the
link, the link will be run at 2Gbps.
Introduction 1-7
Drive Interfaces
All the series models come with SATA drive channels that are connected
through the back plane to the disk drives.
NOTE:
Unlike other RAID controller products, the subsystem comes with preset
configurations for channel mode and channel IDs settings, and should be
sufficient for most applications.
Ethernet Ports
All the controller modules on the subsystems come with a single RJ-45
Ethernet port. The Ethernet port is used for local or remote management
through the network.
RS-232C (Audio Jacks)
The controller modules all come with one RS-232C (Audio Jack) serial port.
The serial port is used for accessing the controller embedded configuration
utility through a terminal interface.
1.5.3 Power Supply Units

Two 350W redundant hot swappable power supply units (PSUs) are located
at the rear of the enclosure. If one PSU fails, the second PSU will be able to
supply sufficient power to keep the system running. The power switches for
these PSUs are located at the rear of each module. (See Figure 1-3)
Introduction 1-8
The specifications for the PSUs are shown in Table 1-4 below.
Specification Description
Nominal power 350 Watts with active PFC

Input voltage 100~240VAC +10%
Input frequency 47 ~ 63 Hz
Input current 6A @90VAC; 3A @230VAC
Power factor Yes
correction
Hold-up time At least 16ms at 115/230VAC full load after a loss
of AC input
Over temperature Lost cooling or excessive ambient temperature
protection
Over current limit +3.3V 21A < Iout < 40A
+5V 26A < Iout < 50A
+12V 25A < Iout < 48A
Size 248.9(D) x 128.8(W) x 82.1(H) mm.
Operating Min Max Non- Min Max
temperature 0 50 Operating -40 70
Acoustic noise 115V input, full load of +5V; 0.5A of 50 dB
+12V max.
Table 1-4: PSU Specifications
Power Supply LED Indicators
Power Supply Condition Power Supply LED
No AC power OFF
AC present / only standby outputs OFF
Power supply DC outputs ON and ok Green
Power supply failure (over-voltage & fan fail) Red
1.5.4 Cooling Fan Modules

Two (2 for 8-bay models) or three (3 for 12-bay models) pre-installed
cooling fan modules (see Figure 1-9) come with the subsystem. One 12cm
blower housed in each cooling module and can provide 39.5 CFM of airflow
running at the speed of 3100rpm.
Introduction 1-9
Figure 1-9: Top view of a cooling fan module
1.6 ES Subsystem Monitoring

The ES RAID subsystem comes with a number of different monitoring
methods that enable users to constantly be updated on the status of the
system and individual components. The following monitoring features are
included in the subsystem.
1.6.1 I2C bus

The following subsystem elements are interfaced to the RAID controller
over a non-user serviceable I2C bus:
PSU (presence and failure detect)

Cooling FAN Module
Temperature sensors (The temperature of the RAID controller board)
1.6.2 LED Indicators

The following active components all come with LEDs that indicate the
status of the individual component.
RAID Controller
LCD Panel
Cooling FAN Module
PSU Module
Drive Trays
1.6.3 Firmware (FW) and RAIDWatch GUI

Firmware: The firmware is a pre-installed software that is used to configure
the subsystem. The firmware can be accessed either through the LCD
Introduction 1-10
keypad panel or a terminal emulation program running on a management
computer that is connected to the subsystem’s serial port.
RAIDWatch: RAIDWatch is a premier web-based graphics user interface

(GUI) that can be installed on a remote computer and accessed via the web.
The manager communicates with the array via the connection of the existing
host interface or Ethernet link to the array’s LAN port.
1.6.4 Audible Alarms

The ES subsystem comes with audible alarms that will be triggered when
certain active components fail or when certain (controller or subsystem)
thresholds are exceeded. If you hear hastily repeated beep tones from the ES
subsystem it is imperative that you immediately determine and rectify the
problem.
The event notification messages indicate the completion or proceeding on

with array configuration task and are always accompanied by two or three
successive and prolonged beeps.
WARNING!
Failing to respond when a critical alarm is heard can lead to permanent

damage of the ES subsystem. If an audible alarm is heard, rectify the
problem as soon as possible.
Introduction 1-11
Chapter 2
Hardware Installation
The modular design of the ES RAID subsystem simplifies the installation

process. This chapter describes the installation procedures for the
subsystem.
CAUTION!
Please note that the installation instructions described in this chapter

should be carefully followed to prevent any difficulties and damages to
your system.
2.1 Installation Pre-requisites

1. Static Free Installation Environment – The ES subsystem must be
installed in a static free environment to minimize the possibility of
electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage. (See Section 2.2).
2. Component Check – Before the ES subsystem is installed, you should

first, during the unpacking process, check to see that you have received
all the required components. (See Section 2.3) If any of them appears
to be damaged, contact your vendor for a replacement.
3. Memory Modules – Your systems come with a DIMM module installed

in the RAID controller unit. If you wish to replace the pre-installed
memory module, you should remove the RAID controller unit before
replace the original DIMM module. (See Section 2.5.1)
4. Rack Installation – the array can be installed into a 19” industry

standard rack cabinet.
The minimum for installing the array is 490mm in depth. The
array can be installed into a standard 700 or 800mm depth rack
cabinet.
Weight of the system: 24kg without drives
A minimum gap of 25mm clearance between the front of rack (rack
cover) and 50mm between rear of array chassis and rear of the
rack.
Hardware Installation 2-1

5. Dongle Kits- If you wish to use PATA drives in the subsystem, a
SATA-to-PATA dongle kit needs to be installed to each drive tray. (See
Section 2.9.2)
6. Hard drives – SATA or PATA hard drives must be purchased

separately prior to the ES subsystem installation.
7. Cabling – All the FC or SCSI cables that are used to connect the ES
subsystem to the host computers must be purchased separately. (See
Section 4.2.1) The SCSI models come with an external cable in the
accessory kit.
8. SFP Transceivers – If the FC cables, that were previously purchased,

do not come with preinstalled SFP transceivers, these must be
separately purchased and connected to the SFP cables. (See Section
4.2.3)
2.2 Static-Free Installation

Static electricity can damage the electronic components of the system. Most
of the controllers that are returned for repair are the results of improper
installation and ESD damage. To prevent ESD damage to any of the
components, before touching or handling them follow these precautions:
Discharge the static electricity from your body by wearing an anti-static

wristband or by touching a grounded metal surface.
Avoid carpets, plastic, vinyl or styrofoam in your work area.
Handle any components by holding its edges or metal frame. Avoid

touching PCB boards or connector pins.
2.3 Unpacking the Subsystem

Use the unpacking checklist in your package to check packing contents.
Carefully check the items contained in each box before proceeding with
installation.
NOTE:
A detailed packing list can also be found in the Appendix D of this
manual.
Each packed box is separated into upper and lower levels.
Upper Level: The box on the upper level contains:

Eight (8) or twelve (12) drive canisters
Accessories items
Lower Level: The lower box should contain the enclosure chassis with all
the pre-installed components. The pre-installed components should include:
PSU modules
RAID controller module
LCD panel
Cooling fan modules
Enclosure PCBs
Accessory items are placed in a box on the top of the controller module.
They include power cords, screws, Audio Jack cable, a quick installation
guide, and a CD containing the Hardware Manual (this document), Generic
Operation (Firmware) Manual, and the RAIDWatch GUI software.
2.4 General Installation Procedure

Following all the instructions provided below can save subsystem
installation time. Detailed, illustrated instructions for each component are
given in the following sections.
CAUTION!
To ensure that your system is correctly installed, please follow the steps
outlined below. If you follow these steps then the installation will be fast
and efficient. If you do not follow these steps then you may accidentally
install the hardware incorrectly.
1. Change the cache memory DIMM modules – Section 2.5.2.
2. Install the optional BBU – Section 2.6
3. If the controller has been removed for installing/replacing the DIMM or

BBU modules, please refer to Section 2.7 for more details.
4. Rack-mounting the subsystem – Section 2.8 (using the optional slide

rails by Infortrend)
5. Install the dongle kits into the drive trays – Section 2.9.2
6. Install the hard drives into the drive trays – Section 2.9
7. Install the drive trays (with the hard drives) into the subsystem - Section
2.10

2.5 Memory Module Installation
The ES subsystem comes with preinstalled PC-133 SDRAM DIMM’s. If
you prefer SDRAM modules with a different storage capacity, the pre-
installed modules must be removed before installing the new modules.
If you do not wish to change the memory modules, skip this section and
move on to the Section 2.6. If you wish to install new memory modules,
please refer to the installation procedure below.
2.5.1 Selecting the DIMMs

Please contact your supplier or Infortrend’s technical support for an updated
list of DIMM modules that are compatible with the controllers on the
subsystem.
2.5.2 DIMM Module Installation Steps
WARNING!
Prior to change new memory modules, it is necessary to remove the
preinstalled modules. Do this with care. Delicate components can be
damaged during the process.
1. Loosen the controller

module hand screws
and remove the
controller box.
Figure 2-1: Remove the controller module
2. Remove the previously

installed memory
modules from the
controller module.
Figure 2-2: Remove the memory module
3. Install a memory module into the DIMM socket by positioning the

module toward the socket with the notches in the module aligned with
keys in the socket. Check that the module is completely seated and tabs
on the sides of the socket hold the module firmly in place.
4. If you do not wish to install a BBU module, install the controller

module. Controller Module installation instructions can be found in
section 2.7. If you wish to install a BBU module, refer to section 2.6
for installation instructions.

2.6 BBU Installation
NOTE:
The BBU is an optional item on the 12-bay models, and is currently not
available for the 8-bay models.
The BBU is used to maintain the data stored in the cache in the event of
power loss. It is able to support the memory cache for up to 72 hours. If you
are not installing a BBU module then please move on to section 2.7. If you
wish to install a BBU module please follow the instructions given in section
2.6.1.
2.6.1 Installation Procedure

To install the BBU into the controller module, please follow these steps.
1. Make sure that a DIMM module has been installed. The BBU module
is installed directly above the DIMM module. If the BBU is installed
before the DIMM module, it will have to be removed to install a DIMM
module.
2. Remove the two retention screws that are on either side of the DIMM
module, diagonally across from each other.
3. Two spacers should have come with each BBU unit. Install one spacer
into each of the screw holes that previously contained the retention
screws. (See Figure 2-3Figure 2-)
Figure 2-3: Install Spacers
4. Once the spacers have been inserted, connect the BBU connector to the
onboard connector on the side of the controller board. Make sure that
the connector is firmly attached and that the connection is secure. (See
Figure 2-4)

Figure 2-4: Connecting the BBU to the controller board
5. After the BBU connectors have been firmly connected to the controller
board, mount the BBU bracket onto the two spacers. Correctly line the
arms of the bracket with the two spacers such that it is possible to re-
insert the previously removed retention screws. (See Figure 2-5)
6. Once the BBU bracket has been correctly aligned with the spacers, re-
insert the retention screws, through the arms of the bracket, into the
spacers. This will secure the BBU to the controller module. (See Figure
2-5)
Figure 2-5: Mounting the BBU
7. Once the DIMM module and the BBU module have been installed,
install/reinsert the controller module into the subsystem.
2.7 Installing the RAID Controller Module

If on any occasion a controller is removed and then is to be reinstalled,
please follow these steps:
1. Hold the RAID controller unit by its edges and insert it into the
controller bay. Push the unit in until it reaches the end of the controller

bay. The guide rails on the sides of the controller bay should make the
plug-in process an effort-less task. You should be able to feel the
contact resistance of the docking connector when pushing the controller
inwards.
2. Make sure the controller module is completely seated in the controller

slot and then secure the two hand screws on the sides of the module.
(See Figure 2-6) When properly installed, the module’s faceplate
should be aligned with the blanking plate on the lower controller bay.
Figure 2-6: Inserting the Controller Module
2.8 Rackmounting
The subsystem is easily installed into a standard 19” rack cabinet using the
mounting holes on the sides of chassis.
The enclosure chassis can be installed using self-purchased mounting rails,

rear-attached brackets, or Infortrend’s IFT-9272CSlider rails.
2.8.1 Considerations for Installation Site and Chassis
Make sure you have an appropriate site location and cables prepared
with adequate lengths to connect to mains power and other devices
The rails support a cabinet depth of 700 or 800mm.
Two people will be required to install the chassis and disk drives should
only be installed when chassis is properly mounted. Using the slide
rails, one person can install the array. The array can weigh about
24Kgs.
Be careful when using power tools. Chassis finish and cabling can be
accidentally damaged.
The following tools are necessary for mounting the chassis:
• #4 Phillips-head screw driver

• Wrenches may be necessary depending on the rack type
Use the included M5 or M6 screws for securing the chassis through its
front mounting ears.
More details about the use of optional slide rails are given in the
Installation Guide that came with the slide rail package.
2.8.2 Mounting Holes Positions
1. Integrators may design their own brackets or slide rails using the
twenty-two (22) mounting holes on the sides of chassis. The chassis
can be installed into a rack cabinet 700mm or 800mm in depth (length
measured between the front and rear rack poles).
2. There are six (6) mounting holes with six (6) of M4 nuts near the end of
chassis on each side. Shown below are the locations of these mounting
holes (see the arrow marks). Also see the next diagram for another
group of mounting holes on a horizontal line.
Figure 2-7: Enclosure Side Mounting Holes (1)
3. Shown in Figure 2-8: Enclosure Side Mounting Holes (2) are the holes
designed to be used with slide rail options. There are five (5) mounting
holes for #6-32 screws on the sides of enclosure for use with slide rails
either purchased separately from Infortrend or other vendors.
4. You may purchase Infortrend’s slide rail option (P/N: IFT-

9272CSlider). For information on installing the chassis using the slide
rails, please refer to the Rackmounting Guide that came with the kit.

Figure 2-8: Enclosure Side Mounting Holes (2)
5. Use M5 or M6 pan-head screws to secure the chassis to the front

cabinet posts.
Figure 2-9: Front Ear Holes
2.9 Hard Drive Installation

WARNING!
1. Handle hard drives with extreme care. Hard drives are very delicate.
Dropping a drive onto a hard surface (even over a short distance),
hitting or contact with the circuits on the drives by your tools, may all
cause damage to drives
2. Observe all ESD prevention methods when handling drives.
2.9.1 Hard Drive Installation Pre-requisites
CAUTION!
The hard drive and drive trays should only be installed into the subsystem
once the subsystem has been mounted into a rack cabinet. If the hard
drives are installed first then the subsystem will be too heavy to handle
and the possible impact during the installation process might damage
your drives.

Hard drives for the subsystem must be purchased separately. When
purchasing the hard drives, the following factors should be considered:
Capacity (MB / GB) – Use drives with the same capacity. RAID arrays
use a “least-common-denominator” approach. The maximum capacity
of each drive be used by the array is the maximum capacity of the
smallest drive. Choose drives with the same storage capacity.
Profile – The drive trays and bays of the system are designed for 3.5”
wide x 1” high hard drives. It is highly recommended that users do not
try to use drives of any other size.
Drive Type – The subsystem described in this manual can use either
SATA or PATA hard drives. Please ensure that you purchase the
correct hard drives.
2.9.2 Dongle Kit Installation

Single controller subsystems: If you wish to use PATA drives in the
subsystem, separately purchased SATA-to-PATA dongle kits are available
and must be installed into each drive tray prior to the installation of PATA
drives.
NOTE:
Drive trays with a pre-installed dongle board is also available (IFT-
9272ADT1S1P)
1. Installation: The
dongle kit (IFT-
9270AN1S1P-0011)
shown in Figure 2-10 is
mounted onto a metal
base plate that has three
pre-drilled holes
reserved for retention
screws. Figure 2-10: SATA-to-PATA Dongle kit
2. Three corresponding
pre-drilled screw holes
can be found at the back
of the drive tray shown
in Figure 2-11.
Figure 2-11: Empty Drive Tray

3. Place the dongle kit at the back of the drive tray. Hold the dongle kit in
place and turn the drive tray over. Align the holes in the base of the
drive tray with the holes in the dongle kit base tray.
4. Insert the three available retention screws from the bottom of the drive
tray. These screws will firmly secure the dongle kit to the drive tray and
facilitate the installation of the appropriate drive.
2.9.3 Drive Installation without Dongle Kit

1. Place the SATA hard drive into the drive tray (as shown in Figure 2-
12) making sure that the hard drive is oriented in such a way that the
drive’s SATA connector is facing the back of the drive tray.
Figure 2-12: Installing a SATA Hard Drive
2. Adjust the drive’s location until the mounting holes in the drive
canister are aligned with those on the hard drive. Secure the drive with
4 supplied 6/32 flathead screws. (See Figure 2-12)
WARNING!
Only use screws supplied with the drive canisters. Longer screws might
damage the drive.
2.9.4 Drive Installation with Dongle Kit

1. For the PATA drives, connect the hard drive to the dongle kit and
make sure that the dongle kit connector is firmly attached to the hard
drive’s connector (. For the PATA drives, connect the ATA and power
cables from the dongle kit to the hard drive (see Figure 2-13). Make
sure that these connections are secure and will not come loose.

Figure 2-13: PATA Hard Drive Connectors
2. Once the connectors from the dongle board have been firmly attached
to the hard drive, place the hard drive into the drive tray as shown in
Figure 2-14.
Figure 2-14: Inserting the PATA Drive
3. Adjust the drive’s location until the mounting holes in the drive
canister are aligned with those on the hard drive. Secure the drive with
4 supplied 6/32 flat-head screws.
2.10 Drive Tray Installation

Once the hard drives have been installed in the drive trays, the drive trays
can be installed into the subsystem.
1. If a hard drive has been installed, make sure that it has been securely
attached to the drive tray.

Figure 2-15: Front view of an individual drive tray.
2. Open the front flap on the drive tray (see Figure 2-16). To open the
flap, push the clip (shown in Figure 2-15) on the front of the drive tray
in an upward direction. The clip is easily accessible and is easily lifted.
Figure 2-16: Drive Tray Front Flap
3. Line the drive tray up with the slot in which you wish to insert it. Make
sure that it is resting on the rails inside the enclosure. Once the drive
tray is lined up with the slot, gently slide it in. This should be done
smoothly and gently.
4. Close the front flap on the drive tray. Make sure the front flap is closed
properly. Closing the front flap ensures that the SCA connector at the
back of the drive tray is firmly connected to the corresponding
connector on the backplane board. If the front flap is not closed
properly then the connection between the HDD and the subsystem will
not be secure.
WARNING!
All the drive trays (even if they do not contain a hard drive) must be
installed into the enclosure. If they are not installed into the enclosure
then the ventilation required for cooling will not be normalized and the
subsystem will be overheated.

Chapter 3
System Monitoring
3.1 Overview
This chapter provides user information on how to monitor ES RAID
subsystem. LEDs, Audible Alarm, terminal session and GUI software can
all be used to monitor the status of the RAID subsystem.
3.2 System Monitoring

The system can be monitored in four different methods:
Firmware: Using the front LCD keypad panel or the PC Hyper-
Terminal session. (See Section 3.3)
LEDs: These LEDs indicate important system status include drive
trays, LCD panel, controller modules, cooling FAN modules and PSUs
to system administrators. (See Section 3.4)
Software: The GUI software called RAIDWatch for easy monitoring
and managing the subsystem. (See Section 3.5)
Notification Processing Center (NPC): The NPC is a powerful module
that can, itself, be installed redundantly on different hosts. It is used for
event notification over Email, LAN broadcast, and SNMP traps. (See
Section 3.6)
Audible Alarm: An audible alarm will be triggered when certain system
thresholds are violated. The alarm notifies, alerts or warns users about
different events. (See Section 3.7)
3.3 Firmware
The firmware resides in controller flash memory. The system can be
configured and monitored through a firmware embedded utility. Both the
front panel LCD screen and a PC terminal can access it. Use of the
embedded Firmware utility has been fully described in the “Generic
Operation Manual” that came with your system. Please refer to this manual
for further information.
System Monitoring 3-1

3.4 System LEDs
3.4.1 Controller Module LEDs

Controller module LEDs are shown as below:
Figure 3-1: LED Definitions for A08F-G1A2
Figure 3-2: LED Definitions for A08U-G1A3 and A08U-G1410
Figure 3-3: LED Definitions for A12F-G1A2
Figure 3-4: LED Definitions for A12U-G1A3 and A12U-G1410
These figures show the LEDs on the controller’s faceplate that can be
accessed from the rear of the enclosure. Definitions for the different
controller LEDs are given below.
NOTE:
In the models using FC host channels, Fibre channel link status can be
found on the left of the controller faceplate marked A, B and/or C. Other
LEDs are common to all models and can be found towards the center of
the faceplate and these are marked numerically from 1 to 6.
Figure 3-1: LED Definition for A08F-G1A2
Figure 3-2: LED Definition for A08U-G1A3 and A08U-G1410
Figure 3-3: LED Definition for A12F-G1A2

Figure 3-4: LED Definition for A12U-G1A3 and A12U-G1410
LED Name Color Status
1 CONTROLLER Green ON: Indicates controller is active and

READY operating properly.
FLASHING: Controller Initialization is
taking place.
OFF: Controller is not ready for
operation.
2 HOST PORTS Green FLASHING: Activities on the Host Ports.

BUSY
OFF: No activities on the Host Ports.
3 SATA DRIVE Green FLASHING: Activities on the SATA

BUSY Drive Ports.
OFF: No activities on the SATA Drive
Ports.
4 N/A - Note: This LED is currently reserved.
5 CACHE DIRTY Amber ON: Host writes are currently cached in

memory.
If the main power is lost, BBU will support
this LED meaning cached data is held up
by battery.
6 BBU FAULT Amber ON: The BBU is under charge or failed.

Cannot hold charge to sustain cached data.
OFF: The BBU functions normally and is
sufficiently charged to sustain cached data.
FLASH SLOWLY: The BBU is charging.
Note: This LED is only functional on the
12-bay models, and when the model is
installed with a BBU module.
Table 3-1: Controller module LED Definitions

LED Name Color Status
A CH0 LINK Green ON: Channel 0 link has been established.

OFF: Channel 0 link has not been
established or has been cut off.
B CH1 LINK Green ON: Channel 1 link has been established.

OFF: Channel 1 link has not been
established or has been cut off.
C N/A - Note: This LED is currently

reserved.
Table 3-2: Controller module LED Definitions (For Fibre channel models only)
LAN Port LEDs
Online Status LAN Activity
Figure 3-5: LAN Indicators
Name Color Status
Online Status Green ON: Indicates currently connected to LAN
LAN Activity Green Blinking: Indicates active transmission
Table 3-3: LAN Port LED Definitions
3.4.2 LCD Panel

The LCD panel located on the front aluminum foldable handle, comes with
three statuses LEDs. The LEDs are marked from top to bottom “PWR”,
“BUSY” and “ATTEN” and are clearly seen in Figure 3-6 below. The
definitions of these LEDs are shown in Table 3-4.

Figure 3-6: LCD Panel
Name Color Status
ON: Power On
POWER Blue
OFF: No Power
ON: Host/Drive Channel Busy

BUSY White
OFF: No Activity
ON: Illuminates when there are component

ATTENTION Red failure/status events reported by the firmware.
OFF: No status events reported by the firmware
Table 3-4: CD Panel LED Definitions
The mute button can be used to stop the alarm until the next controller event
occurs.
3.4.3 Drive Tray – Single Controller Model
Figure 3-7: Drive Tray Indicators
• Status – A blue light indicates the drive is ready. A blinking blue light
indicates when data is being written to or read by the drive in the tray.
• HD Failed - Red light indicates a hard drive failure.
Unlike SCSI or Fibre drives, slot numbers indicated the drive locations of
this system. The first drive slot is slot 1. When notified by drive failure
message, users should check drive tray indicators to find the location of the
failed drive. Replacing the wrong drive can fatally fail a logical array.

3.4.4 PSU LEDs
PSU LED
Figure 3-8: PSU LED
Each PSU comes with a single LED at the back (See Figure 3-8). The LED
is located just above the power switch on the right hand side. When the
RED LED lit, it indicates that the PSU has failed. When the LED is
GREEN indicates that the PSU is functioning properly.
3.4.5 Cooling Module LEDs
FAN LED
Figure 3-9: Cooling FAN Module LEDs and cooling FAN locations
Each cooling FAN modules has one red LED on the back. The LED
corresponds to the single fan in the cooling FAN module (see Figure 3-9).
When the LED is ON, indicates that the fan has failed. When the LED is
OFF, it indicates that the fan is functioning properly.
3.5 RAIDWatch Manager

The RAIDWatch Manager enables users to manage and maintain the RAID
controllers using their web browsers. The Ethernet port at the back of each
controller modules enables users to use a LAN cable to connect to the
subsystem.
Detailed installation instructions for the RAIDWatch Manager are given in
the RAIDWatch User’s Manual.
NOTE:
The RAIDWatch User’s Manual can be found on the CD-ROM that came
with the system. To access the RAIDWatch User’s Manual please refer to
this file.

3.6 Notification Processing Center (NPC)
The NPC is a powerful module that runs as a background Disk and
Executive Monitor (DAEMON) independent from RAIDWatch that can,
itself, be installed redundantly on different hosts. It is used for event
notification over Email, LAN broadcast, and SNMP traps. It helps to
prevent blind time and keeps a user constantly informed as to the status of
the storage management subsystem. The NPC functionality can be activated
and the instructions are given in the RAIDWatch User’s Manual.
3.7 Audible Alarm

Whenever any of the threshold values assigned to the different controllers
are violated or when an active device in the ES subsystem fails an audible
alarm will be triggered. To determine what has triggered the alarm, users are
encouraged to read the error message on the LCD screen or on the PC
terminal.
WARNING!
If an alarm is triggered it is necessary for the user to determine the
problem. If the audible alarm is ignored or not taken seriously and the
problem is not rectified, unexpected damages might occur.
3.7.1 Default Threshold Values

The following table, Table 3-5, shows the default threshold values for the
subsystem. If any of these values are surpassed the alarm will sound:
Upper Threshold Lower Threshold
+3.3V +3.6V +2.9V
+5V +5.5V +4.5V
+12V +13.2V +10.8V
CPU Temperature 90ºC 0ºC
Board Temperature 80ºC 0ºC
Table 3-5: Default Threshold Values

The controller self-monitoring thresholds in Table 3-5 are the default
threshold values. Users can change the controller’s preset values. To see
how to change these values please refer to the Generic Operation Manual
that came with your system. The enclosure’s monitoring values are not
user’s options.
3.7.2 Failed Devices

If any of the following devices fails the audible alarm will be triggered.
• RAID Controller Modules
• Cooling Fan Modules
• PSU Modules
• BBU Modules
• Hard Drives
NOTE:
If the temperature should exceed a preset threshold, the controller’s

charger circuits will stop charging. You will then receive a message that
says “Thermal Shutdown/Enter Sleep Mode.” However, when temperature
falls back within normal range, battery will resume the charging operation.
3.8 I2C Monitoring

The presence detection and the general working status of cooling fan, and
other modules are monitored through an I2C serial bus. If any of these
modules fails, the failure will be detected and the user notified through the
various methods described above.

Chapter 4
System Connection and Operation
4.1 Overview
This chapter describes the operation of the subsystem series. This includes
connecting to different external devices and different configuration options.
This chapter gives a short introduction to Fibre channel and SCSI channel
topologies, SFP connectors, lasers… etc. It also shows how the different
models can be integrated into a storage network and a complete description
of the power on and power off procedure is given.
4.2 FC Host Connection Pre-Requisites
NOTE:
The topics covered in section 4.2 only pertain to the FC models. If you
have purchased a SCSI model please go to section 4.3 for sample
topologies.
4.2.1 Cabling
The FC Standard allows for optical connections. Optical cables can be used
over long distances and have been shown to be more reliable. Due to the
extremely high data transfer rates; optical cables are preferred for 2Gbps
fiber connectivity. Optical cables are less susceptible to EMI.
WARNING!
All Cables must be handled with care. They must not be bent; and to
prevent interference within a rack system the routing path must be
carefully planned.
System Connection and Operation 4-1

4.2.2 FC Lasers
WARNING!
Lasers can cause eye damage. Operating the Fibre models of the
subsystem requires purchasing separate SFP transceivers and cables.
Pay attention to the warning messages that came with your cabling items
and never look at lasers without knowing if they are on or off.
Wavelengths: - The lasers on fibre channel fiber optic cables emit either
short wave (SW) beams (770nm – 860nm) or long wave (LW) (1270 nm -
1355 nm) beams. Cables that use either of these wavelengths can be used on
the subsystem.
Laser Types: - two types of laser devices can be used in fiber cables: Optical
Fibre Control (OFC) and non-OFC lasers. The OFC lasers are high-powered
and can be used over long distances.
Safety features: - OFC lasers, due to their high power output, usually come
with a safety mechanism that switches the laser off as soon as it is
unplugged. Non-OFC lasers do not (due to their low power) come with
these safety features but they can still inflict damage.
4.2.3 SFP Transceivers

Once you have purchased your FC cables, it may be necessary to connect
them to SFP transceivers. These transceivers transmit electrical signals into
laser beams. They should typically have at least 2Gbps bi-directional data
links, a laser transmitter (for fiber optic cables), LC connector and a metal
enclosure to lower the EMI.
NOTE:
LC connectors are small form factor, fiber-optic connectors based on a
1.25-mm ceramic ferrule and the familiar latching mechanism of the RJ-
45 modular plug and jack.
Other beneficial features for a typical SFP transceiver include a single

power supply and lower power dissipation. It is also preferable that these
transceivers are hot-swappable. It is also important that any transceiver you
use meets the Fibre Channel performance and reliability specifications.
NOTE:
SFP Modules are user-supplied items and must be purchased separately.

Please contact your system vendor or Infortrend’s technical support for a
list of compatible modules.

4.2.4 Fibre Channel Topologies
The Fibre Channel Standard has been designed to support three separate
topologies. They are point-to-point, fibre channel arbitrated loop (FC-AL)
and fabric switch topologies.
• Point-to-Point: Point-to-point topology is the simplest topology that

can be used. It is a direct connection between two fibre channel devices.
• FC-AL: This is the most common topology currently in use. Fibre

channel devices are all connected in a loop or a star-like configuration
using FC hubs. Each device is assigned an arbitrated loop physical
address (AL_PA). The FC-AL is able to support 127 devices on a single
loop.
• Fabric: The fabric topology can support up to 224 Fibre channel

devices. This topology allows many devices to communicate at the
same time. To implement this topology a Fibre switch is required.
The ES FC models are able to support all three topologies discussed above.
4.3 SCSI Connection Pre-Requisites

4.3.1 SCSI Interfaces
SCSI stands for "small computer systems interface". It supports a number of
devices, such as RAID, hard drives, CDROM drives, scanners, and other
peripherals. SCSI was designed from the ground up to be a high-level,
expandable, high-performance interface. Over the years, it has been THE
best computer peripheral interface where speed is concerned.
Today, SCSI standards are developed, maintained and approved by a

number of related organizations. Below is the brief introduction of two SCSI
standards are being used by ES SCSI models.
SCSI-160 is a continuous superset of Ultra2. Except for the doubling data

rate, the Ultra160 models operate using the same back-planes, connectors,
cables, and other accessories. Although not recommended, mixing Ultra2
and Ultra160 devices will not cause a bus failure. Ultra160 devices will
operate at the speed up to 160MB/second and Ultra2 80MB/second. ES
Model ES A08U-G1A3 and ES A12U-G1A3 support Ultra160 SCSI.
SCSI-320 is the latest iteration of the SCSI drive interface standard. It

enables maximum data transfer rates of up to 320MB/sec per channel, which
is twice as fast as the Ultra160 standard. It also adds packetized commands,
which will make command overhead comparable to fibre, thus further
reducing the gap. ES Models ES A08U-G1410 and ES A12U-G1410
support Ultra320 SCSI.

NOTE:
1. SCSI-160 is also known as Ultra160; SCSI-320 is also known as

Ultra320.
2. When connecting to SCSI devices, use the cable provided in the ES
subsystem packaging. You can connect up to 15 devices on each SCSI
channel.
4.4 Connecting to Host Ports
4.4.1 Points of Failure

The primary concern for configuring host-side topologies is that points of
failure are avoided. It is often applied that host computers are equipped with
two HBAs (Host Bus Adapters) so that disconnection of single host cable
will not bring the system down. The Fibre models do not have by-pass
circuits with its host ports. It is therefore preferable to connect the FC
RAID subsystems to the host computer(s) through either Fibre channel
hub(s) or Fibre switch(es).
4.5 Single Controller Host Connection

4.5.1 Single Host
Figure 4-1: Single FC Controller connected to a single Host Computer
Figure 4-2: Single SCSI Controller connected to a single Host Computer
In the examples shown in Figure 4-1 and Figure 4-2, both the host ports are
connected to a single host computer. This provides path redundancy. If one

of the host channels should be disconnected for some reason, or the cable
connecting one of the host ports to the host computer is damaged, data flow
should be routed through the second path, from the subsystem, to the host
computer.
NOTE:
To create dual redundant data paths on the host side, it is necessary for
third party fail-over software to be installed on the host computer.
4.5.2 Dual Hosts
Figure 4-3: Single FC controller connected to two Host Computers
Figure 4-4: Single SCSI controller connected to two Host Computers
In the examples shown in Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-4, the host ports are
connected to different host computers. This provides both path and host
computer redundancy. If one of the host channels should be disconnected
for some reason, or the cable connecting one of the host ports to the host
computer is damaged, the second path can be used to transmit data, from the
subsystem, to the host computer. Similarly, in the clustered hosts
configuration, the same array can be accessed through different data paths
and downtime will be minimized.

4.5.3 Fibre Channel Dual Hosts and Fibre Switch
Figure 4-5: Single Controller Dual Host Fibre Switch Topology
In the configuration shown in Figure 4-5, both host ports are connected to a
single fibre switch, which is in turn connected to two host computers. Aside
from having path redundancy you also have redundant host computers. If
one of the host computers should fail or it’s functioning interrupted, a
clustered host can still accessed the same array and ensure that the data on
the subsystem is readily available to the network.
4.6 Sample Configuration: Multi-Pathing

A multi-path topology, an example of which is shown in Figure 4-6,
ensures there is no single point of failure with I/O connectivity. All cabling
components are configured into redundant pairs as will be discussed below.
Note that all series models are equipped with single RAID controller. If the
RAID controller fails, the array will no longer be accessible.

Figure 4-6: Sample Configuration: Multi-Pathing
Host • One or more dual-ported computers. Each have two

Computer(s) host adapter cards.
• Redundant paths for connecting to the array ensure

that host can still see data when one data path fails.
• Note that access to the same array by different host

computers can cause contention or data
inconsistency.
• Management software is necessary for access locking

or re-directing data flow in the event of data path
failure.
Logical LD0 and LD1: logical groups of drives

Drives
The same logical drive can be made available on
different host ports or multiple IDs on the same
host port.
FC Hubs or Connection through different switches physically

Switches separates the access routes to the array, and guarantees
there is no single point of failure.

ID/LUNs on LD0 and LD1 are made available as separate channel
Host Ports IDs on each host port. The host side management
software should then choose to access certain array
through specific ID and let the other ID assigned to the
same array stays idle.
In the event of data path failure, the once inactive IDs

can be used to access the array.
Multiple Target IDs can be manually selected on each host port. And
that multiple IDs can be associated with single array or any of the
logical units (logical volume or partitions of the logical
configurations).
4.7 Power On
When all the components have been installed in the ES subsystem, drives
installed, and the host channels have been connected to the host, the
subsystem can be powered on.
4.7.1 Power On Checklist

BEFORE powering on the ES subsystem, please check the following:
1. Memory Modules – Memory modules have been correctly installed on

the controller boards.
2. BBU Modules – If installed (12-bay models only), that the BBU

modules have been installed correctly.
3. Hard Drives – Hard Drives have been correctly installed on the drive
trays.
4. Drive Trays – ALL the drive trays, whether or not they have a hard
drive, have been installed into the subsystem.
5. Cable Connections – The host ports on the subsystem have been

correctly connected to host computer(s).
6. Power Cables – The power cords have been connected to the PSU
modules on the subsystem and plugged into the mains.
7. Ambient Temperature – All the subsystem components have been

acclimated to the surrounding temperature.

4.7.2 Power On Procedure
When powering on the ES subsystem, please follow these steps.
1. Power on Fibre channel connection devices

These devices include the hubs, switches and any other such device that
has been connected to the ES subsystem. Please refer to the related
documentation that came with your Fibre channel device to see the
power on details.
2. Power on the ES subsystem

The ES subsystem should only be powered on after all the Fibre
channel connection devices have been powered on first. The power-on
procedure for the ES subsystem is described below.
3. Host Computers
The host computers should be the last devices that are turned on.
4.7.3 ES Power On-Procedure

To power on the subsystem, turn the two power switches, on the rear panel
of the subsystem, on (see Figure 4-7). Each switch controls a single PSU,
therefore make sure that both switches are turned on.
Figure 4-7: ES Subsystem Power Switches
CAUTION!
Although the PSUs are redundant and a single PSU can provide sufficient
power to the system, it is advisable to turn both the power switches on. If
only one PSU is operating and fails, the whole system will crash.
4.7.4 Power On Status Check

Once the ES subsystem has been powered on, the status of the entire
subsystem should be checked to ensure that everything is running smoothly
and that there are no complications or malfunctions.

1. Controller Module LEDs – The controller ready, FC Host Ports Active
(FC models), SATA Device Ports Active LEDs should all flash green.
2. Drive Tray LEDs – The LEDs of all the drive trays (that contain hard
drives) should be lit constant blue showing that drives have successfully
spun up, and drives are ready for I/Os.
3. LCD Panel LEDs – The blue LED on the LCD panel should come on
indicating that power is being supplied to the system.
4. Firmware and RAIDWatch – The overall status of the system may be

checked using the terminal interface or the RAIDWatch GUI.
5. Audible Alarm - If any errors should occur during the initialization

process, the onboard alarm should be sounded in a hastily repeated
manner.
Drive tray LEDs should normally start flashing, indicating the RAID control
unit is attempting to access the hard drives.
NOTE:
The subsystem has been designed to run continuously. Even if a
component failure occurs the fault can be corrected online.
4.7.5 LCD Screen

When powering on the subsystem the following messages should appear on
the front panel LCD screen. Wait for the front panel LCD to show
“READY” or “No Host LUN” before the host boots up. Refer to Figure 4-
8 on how to read the screens.
Model Name Indicates Firmware Version
ES-A12F V3.31
Ready
Status/Data Transfer Indicator
Figure 4-8: The LCD Start-Up Screen
The LCD screen startup sequence is shown and described in the sequence
below.

Initializing…. This screen appears when the PSUs are
Please Wait...
turned on.
Power on Self
Test, Please Wait... Proceeding with controller self test.
Power on Self
Test Completed Self-test completed.
ES-A12F v3.31
This screen appears after the initialization
Modem Not Config
process. It clearly shows the model name.
ES-A12F v3.31
128MB RAM, Wait… Verifying installed cache memory.
ES-A12F v3.31
No Host LUN System is ready. You can now start to
configure the subsystem.
4.8 Power Off Procedure

If you wish to power down the ES subsystem, please follow these steps:
NOTE:
If you wish to power down the ES subsystem, please ensure that no time-
consuming processes, like a “Regenerating logical drive parity” or a
“media scan,” are running.
1. Stop IO access to the system
Stop all IO accesses from the host computers to the ES subsystem.

Please refer to the related documentation of your host applications and
operating system.
2. Disconnect the host

The host must be disconnected from the subsystem. To do this,
disconnect the cables from both the host and the ES subsystem.
3. Flush the cache
Use the “Shutdown Controller” function to flush all cached data. This
prepares the RAID subsystem to be powered down.
4. Turn off the power
Turn off the power switches at the power supply modules. Once the
RAID subsystem has been powered down, other devices that are
connected to the subsystem may be powered down.

Chapter 5
System Maintenance
5.1 Overview
Constant monitoring and maintenance of your ES subsystem will minimize
the chance of system downtime and preserve the working integrity of the
system for a longer period of time. If any of the subsystem plug-in modules
fails, they must be replaced as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Do not remove a failed component from the subsystem until you have a
replacement on hand. If you remove a failed component without replacing
it, the internal airflow will be disrupted and the system will overheat
causing damage to the subsystem.
All the following components can be replaced in case of failure:
1. Controller Modules – Section 5.2
2. PSU Modules – Section 5.3
3. Cooling Fan Modules – Section 5.4
4. Hard Drives – Section 0
5. Hard Drive trays – Section 0
6. Dongle kit – Section 5.6
5.2 Replacing Controller Module Components

The controller module should never be removed unless the following
replaceable components need to be accessed:
• BBU (optional for the 12-bay controller modules)

• Cache memory DIMM Modules
• Controller module itself
System Maintenance 5-1

If any of these components fails, contact you vendor immediately for a
replacement. To replace any of these components, the controller module
must first be removed from the ES subsystem.
5.2.1 Removing the Controller Module

To remove the controller module:
1. Because the subsystem is equipped with single RAID controller, the

subsystem must be either powered off (if possible) or in case of
controller module failure, turned off the controller.
2. Disconnect all cables that are connected to the controller module you
wish to replace. These include the cables connecting to the host,
Ethernet cables connected to the LAN port and the serial cable
connected to the RS-232C audio jack.
3. Once all the cables have been disconnected, remove the retention
screws from the sides of the controller module.
4. After both screws have been loosening, the controller module can be
eased out of the controller module bay in the subsystem.
5. Carefully pull the controller module out of the subsystem chassis.
5.2.2 Replacing the BBU

To replace a failed BBU:
1. Remove the controller module from the subsystem. (See Section 5.2.1
Removing the Controller Module)
2. After the controller module has been removed from the chassis,
disconnect the BBU cable from the connector on the side of the
controller board.
3. Once the cable has been disconnected, remove the retention screws
from the arms of the BBU. These retention screws are attached to
spacers installed to the controller’s main circuit board.
4. When the failed BBU has been removed from the controller module, re-
install the new BBU. To re-install the new BBU, refer to the BBU
installation instructions in Section 2.6.
5. After the new BBU has been installed, re-install the controller module
back to the subsystem. (See Section 2.7)

5.2.3 Replacing a Failed DIMM Module
To replace a failed DIMM module:
Remove the controller module from the subsystem chassis (see Section
5.2.1 Removing the Controller Module). If your system comes with a
BBU module, remove the BBU module is a must. (See Section 5.2.2
Replacing the BBU).
WARNING!
A DIMM module should NOT be removed or installed while a BBU is
connected. Doing so will cause serious damage to controller circuits.
1. After the controller module and the BBU module (if previously
installed) have been removed, pull down the white clips on either side
of the DIMM module to a 45-degree angle. This should dislodge the
DIMM module.
2. Re-insert the new DIMM module.
3. Once the new DIMM module has been installed, re-install the BBU
module (see Section 2.6) and the controller module (see Section 2.7)
back to their original locations.
5.2.4 Replacing the Controller Module

If the controller module itself has failed, that means the whole system must
be shut down. To replace a failed controller module:
1. Remove the controller module from the ES subsystem (see Section

5.2.1 Removing the Controller Module), the BBU module (see Section
5.2.2 Replacing the BBU) (if it was installed) and the DIMM module
(see Section 5.2.3 Replacing a Failed DIMM Module).
2. After these three items have been removed, install the DIMM module
and the optional BBU module onto the new controller module.
3. Once the DIMM module and the optional BBU module have been
installed on the new controller module, install the new controller
module into the ES subsystem (see Section 2.7).
4. Re-attach all the cables that were removed. These include the cables
that are used to connect to the host, any Ethernet cable that was
previously attached to the LAN port and the serial cable that was
attached to the RS-232C audio jack.
5. Power up the system.

5.3 Replacing a Failed PSU Module
The PSUs are preinstalled components and accessed through the rear panel.
If a PSU fails, contact your vendor and a failed unit must be replaced as
soon as possible.
WARNING!
Although the PSU modules are fully redundant, it is not advisable to run
the ES subsystem with a single PSU module for an extended period of
time. If the second PSU module fails the sub-system will be shut down.
To replace a PSU please follow these steps:
1. Turn off the PSU. The power switches are located on the right side of
each power supply module. (See Figure 5-1)
2. Once the power switches have been turned off, remove the power
cables that connect the ES subsystem to the mains. The power cable
socket is found on the left-hand side of each power supply module.
3. After the power cable has been removed from the socket, remove the
retention screw on the upper right hand side of the PSU. (See Figure 5-
1) The screw is located right below the ejection handle, besides the
LED indicator, and can be hidden from sight.
Remove the retention screw
Figure 5-1: Removing the PSU Retention Screw
4. Pulling the ejection handle downwards disengages the module from

chassis. Note that you may have to use one hand to pull the handle and
while place another hand on enclosure chassis to balance the un-mating
force. (See Figure 5-2).
WARNING!
When a PSU is pulling out of the chassis, the relevant fan module, right
below the PSU, is removed from the chassis at the same time. The
replacement procedure recommended to be completed within 5 minutes to
prevent the subsystem from overheating.

Pull the handle downwards
Figure 5-2: Dislodging the PSU
5. After the PSU module has been dislodged from the enclosure, you can
gently pull the PSU module out of the enclosure. (See Figure 5-3)
6. Once the faulty PSU has been removed, insert the new PSU module
into the subsystem. Make sure the ejection handle is in its downright
position so that the saddle notches on the lower edges of the handle can
lock on to the edge metal brackets along the chassis inner walls. Push
the PSU into the slot and pull the handle upwards to secure the module.
Use the ejection handle

to secure the module
Figure 5-3: Installing the PSU into the subsystem
7. If properly installed, the back end of the module should be aligned with
the enclosure’s rear panel. To firmly secure the PSUs into place,
reinsert the retention screw.
8. Reconnect the power cable that is used to connect the PSU module to
the mains.
9. Turn the PSU module on.

5.4 Replacing a Failed Cooling FAN Module
The cooling fan modules are accessed through the rear panel. If one of the
cooling FAN modules fails it must be replaced as soon as possible. To
replace the cooling FAN module, please follow these steps:
WARNING!
1. Although the cooling fan modules are fully redundant, it is not
advisable to run the ES subsystem with a single cooling fan module
for an extended period of time. If the only remaining cooling fan fails
the system is at risk of sustaining irreparable damage.
2. Keep a failed module in enclosure bay until a replacement unit is in

hand.
1. Two retaining latches are used to secure the cooling fan module to the
enclosure chassis. Pull the latches toward the center of the module to
release it from the chassis. You may then hold the handle at the bottom
and pull the module out of the chassis. (See Figure 5-4).
Release the module

using the retention
Figure 5-4: Removing the Cooling FAN Module
2. Once the malfunctioning cooling fan module has been removed, gently
slide the new cooling fan module into the ES chassis.
3. The retaining screws will hold the module in place.
5.5 Replacing a Failed Hard Drive

To replace a hard-drive please follow these steps.
1. Carefully verify the location of the failed drive.

2. To access drives on the side columns, flip the retention latches on the
front handles and swing them to the sides. Remove the drive tray from
the ES enclosure by flipping its tension clip and lifting the front flap
bezel.
3. Open the front flap. To open the front flap, lift up the clip at the front
of the drive tray. This will dislodge the hard drive from the enclosure
and the hard drive can be carefully withdrawn.
Do not run the system with the front flap open.
4. Remove the retention screws on the sides of the drive tray from the
hard drive and then remove the hard-drive from the drive tray.
5. For the systems using PATA hard drives, once the hard drive has been
removed from the drive tray, disconnect the drive from the dongle
board.
6. Install the new hard drive. Please refer to the complete hard drive
installation procedure in Chapter 2.
5.6 Replacing a Dongle Kit

If a dongle kit is found faulty or malfunctioning in some way it needs to be
replaced. To replace the dongle kit, please follow the instructions below.
1. Remove the drive tray from the drive bay in the subsystem.
2. After the drive tray has been removed, remove the hard drive from
the drive tray.
3. After the hard drive has been removed, turn the drive tray over and
remove the three retention screws that hold the dongle kit in place.
4. Once the retention screws have been removed, re-install the new dongle
kit using the instructions given in Chapter 2.
5. Once the new dongle kit is installed on the drive tray, re-install the
hard drive.
6. After the hard drive has been placed in the hard drive, re-insert the
drive tray into the ES subsystem.

Appendix A
Specifications
A.1 Flexible Configuration Options

A.1.1 The RAID Controller Engine
The ES series described in this manual comes powered by a single RAID
controller. All series models come with either two SFP sockets or two
VHDCI SCSI connectors that are used to connect the subsystem to a host
computer. The 8-bay models have a dummy plate in place of the drive bays
on the bottom row of the chassis.
The major functions of the RAID controller unit are: main processor,
hardware XOR engine, Qlogic 2312 or LSI 53C1010R or LSI53C1030T I/O
channel processors, Marvell Serial ATA chipsets, flash, NVRAM, DUART,
cache memory and cache interface. Logics of other support interfaces, e.g.,
hot-swap mechanisms… etc. are provided by the enclosure. Although it is a
single controller model, the controller is hot-swappable via the connectors
on the back-end PCB that provide pins of different pin lengths.
A.1.2 Rear Panel Variations

The rear panels on the 8-bay and 12-bay models do not appear the same.
The 8-bay models have a pre-attached sheet placed over the bottom
controller bay. The 12-bay models have an extra cooling fan module
installed to the lower controller bay. The dummy plate should never be
removed as it is used to normalize the chassis airflow.
Specification A-1
A.2 Technical Specifications
RAID Controller Module Specifications
PowerPC 750CXe 400MHz with 256KB of internal L2

Main Processor
running at the processor’s core speed
Two FC-2G Fibre channels
Host Channel
- OR -
Interface
Two SCSI-160 SCSI channels
- OR -
Two SCSI-320 SCSI channels
Point-to-point, FC-AL, and switched fabric; no by-pass
FC protocol
onboard, by-pass circuits should be provided externally
Drive Interface Eight (8) or Twelve (12) 1.5Gbps Serial ATA channels
Architectural Features:
RAID
133MHz Hardware XOR engine; 133MHz
Controlling
memory bus; dedicated for dual-PCI bandwidth.
Unit
133MHz, ECC, 128MB to 1GB SDRAM DIMM
memory support
Optional Li-Ion battery module for up to 72 hours
of backup time using a 512MB memory (optional
for the 12-bay models only)
4MB onboard flash memory for controller
firmware with a real time clock (noting controller
event time of occurrence and for scheduling
maintenance tasks by future firmware)
SFP, LC type connector sockets for optical fiber
RAID
connection
Controller
Interfaces - OR -
VHDCI 0.8mm dual stack mini-SCSI connectors
RJ-45 Ethernet connector receptacle
Audio jack serial port
LCD keypad panel on the front foldable handle
Other signals routed through hot-pluggable FCI
connectors to back-end PCBs
System Environment
Relative 5 ~ 95% (non condensing – operating and non-

Humidity operating)
Operating: 0º to 40ºC
Temperature
Non-operating: -40º to +65ºC
0 ~ +40ºC (95% RH @ +40ºC), 12hrs/step, 10 cycles
Thermal Cycle
(Op) and –40 ~ +65ºC (95% RH @ +65ºC), 48hrs/step,
1cycle (Non-operating)
Operating: 0 ~ 10,000 ft
Altitude
Non-operating: 0 ~ 40,000 ft
Specification A-2
Power Requirements
90VAC @ 8AC
Input Voltage
260VAC @ 4AC with PFC (auto-switching)
12V – 24A
DC Output
5V – 25A
3.3V – 20A
Frequency 47 – 63Hz
Power 350W
Capacity
Dimensions (8-bay and 12-bay models)
Height 88 mm
Width 446.2 mm
Length 486.5 mm
EMI/EMC
• FCC Class-A (Fibre) Class-B (SCSI)

• CE
• UL
Shock
Half-sine Operating: 5G peak, 11ms duration,
Non-operating: 15G, 11s, half-sine
Vibration
Operating 5~500Hz, 0.2G, X/Y/Z
Non- 5~500Hz, 1G, X/Y/Z

operating
Warning Alarms
• Audible Alarms
• System LEDs
• Local and remote Event notification via the RAIDWatch manager,
manager screen, Event Monitor, terminal sessions and LCD screen
events
Specification A-3
A.3 RAID Operation Specifications
Specification
0, 1(0 + 1), 3, 5, 10, 30, 50, JBOD, and Non-
RAID Levels
RAID disk spanning
Host O/S
Host O/S Independent
Compatibility
FC-2G
– OR -
Host Interface SCSI-160
- OR –
SCSI-320
Host Channels Pre-configured host channels
Drive Interface Support 8 or 12 channels of 1.5Gbps SATA
All drive channels are pre-set and cannot be
Drive Channels
changed.
Write-through or write-back; variable
Cache Mode
optimization parameters per array
Up to 1GB SDRAM with/without ECC, non-
Cache Memory
registered
Up to 32 per host ID, a maximum up to 1024
Number of LUNs
depending on system configuration
Multiple Target
Yes
ID’s/host Channel
Aliases for target IDs Yes
Firmware on Flash
Yes
Memory
Drive Hot-swapping Yes; w/ transparent reset of hung drives
A.4 Drive Tray Specifications
Specification
Tray Pitch 27.6mm
Tray Width < 110mm
Tray Carrier Depth 180mm
Tray Plastic Depth 30mm
Total Depth 210mm (= 180mm + 30mm)
Specification A-4
A.5 Power Supply Specifications
Specification
Dimensions 248.9mm (D) x 128.8mm (W) x 81.6mm (H)
Dual-redundant configuration. Independent AC
Module deployment
input and power switch on each power supply
Nominal Power 350W
DC output 12.0V: 24A
5.0V: 25A
3.3V: 20A
Input Frequency 47 ~ 63Hz
AC Input 90VAC @ 8AC – 260VAC @ 4AC with PFC
Power factor
Yes
correction
Hold-up time At least 16ms at 115/230VAC full load after a
loss of AC input
Over-current and over-voltage protection; auto-
Over temperature
shutdown on lost cooling or excessive ambient
protection
temperature
Cooling Fans Two fans for each unit (inside PSU)
A.6 Cooling Fan Specifications
Specification
Dimensions 120mm x 120mm x 32mm (H)
Vendor’s model name Delta – BFB1212VH DC brush-less blower
Speed 3100 rpm
Max. air flow 39.55CFM
Input power 15W
Acoustic noise 56.5dB-A
Operating temperature -10 ~ +60ºC
Storage temperature -40 ~ +75ºC
Specification A-5
A.7 Management
Specification
Text-based firmware-embedded utility over
RS-232C through the included serial cable
Configuration LCD keypad panel
The RAIDWatch manager program using
In-band or Ethernet connection
Performance
Yes
Monitoring
Remote control and Yes (via RAIDWatch GUI manager and its sub-
monitoring module, NPC)
Yes (via Java-based RAIDWatch manager,
Event Broadcast/Alert
NPC, and Event Monitor)
Remote Event
Yes (Via RAIDWatch’s sub-module, NPC)
Notification
In-band over SCSI/Fibre, Out-of-band via
Hardware Connection
Ethernet or serial port
Configuration Data stored on disks for logical
Configuration on Disk drive assemblies to exist after controller is
replaced.
Voltage, temperature, BBU, fan, fan speed, disk
drive, and power supply status.
Faults are indicated via Alarm, module LED

indicators, LCD display, RAIDWatch Manager,
Failure Indicators
or terminal session.
Thermal detect with BBU module. Controller

can commence an auto-shutdown on overheated
or module failure conditions.
Specification A-6
Appendix B
Spare Parts and Accessories
B.1 Overview
Active components, such as PSUs and fan modules, in the ES subsystem can
be replaced online. If any of these components fail then they can, if
configured in a redundant pair, be hot-swapped. The different spare parts for
the ES subsystem can be ordered separately. This Appendix lists the model
names for the available and compatible spare parts and accessories items.
Please use these model names provided, if you need to order any individual
parts.
B.2 Spare Parts

The active components and their model names are listed in the table below.
B.2.1 General Spare Parts

The spare parts shown in the table below are common to all the models
described in this series.
Model Name Description
IFT-9272CDTray HDD Tray
IFT-9272CPSU Power Supply Unit
IFT-9272CFanMod Cooling Fan Module
Spare Parts and Accessories B-1

B.2.2 Controller Modules
IFT-9272AFGCM08 Controller module for A08F, including IFT-

7260S-8F2D
IFT-9272AFGCM08M1 Controller module for A08F, including IFT-

7260S-8F2D
Preinstalled with a 128MB DIMM
IFT-9272AFGCM12 Controller module for A12F, including IFT-

7260S-12F2D
IFT-9272AFGCM12M1 Controller module for A12F, including IFT-

7260S-12F2D
IFT-9272AUGCM08 Controller module for A08U, including IFT-

7260S-8U3D
IFT-9272AUGCM08M1 Controller module for A08U, including IFT-

7260S-8U3D
IFT-9272AUGCM12 Controller module for A12U, including IFT-

7260S-12U3D
IFT-9272AUGCM12M1 Controller module for A12U, including IFT-

7260S-12U3D
IFT- 9272AU4GCM08 Controller module for A08U, including IFT-

7260S-8U4D
IFT- Controller module for A08U, including IFT-

9272AU4GCM08M1 7260S-8U4D
IFT- 9272AU4GCM12 Controller module for A12U, including IFT-

7260S-12U4D
IFT- Controller module for A12U, including IFT-

9272AU4GCM12M1 7260S-12U4D

B.3 Accessories and Optional Items
The accessories and their model names are listed in the table below.
IFT-9270CUHCab External SCSI round cable for host connection

(SCSI models) – mini-SCSI- to-SCSI 68-pin
connectors
IFT-9270ASCab RS-232C serial cable; audio jack to DB-9
IFT-9272CSlider Slide rails, optional
IFT-9270ABT BBU Module (optional for 12-bay models)
IFT-9011 Null Modem
IFT-9270AN1S1P-0011 Dongle board; SATA-to-ATA
IFT-9272ADT1S1P HDD tray pre-installed w/ a dongle board

Appendix C
Electrical Interfaces and Pinouts
C.1 SFP Socket Connector Pin Outs

Each of the SFP host or expansion ports is comprised of a case bottom, an
EMI case, and a 20-pin host connector. These port sockets receive Small-
Form-Factor fiber optic and copper-based transceivers. You may contact
our technical support for an updated list of SFP transceiver modules that
have been tested to comply with the sockets.
Figure D-1: SFP Socket Connector Pin-Outs
Electrical Interfaces and Pinouts C-1

Pin Pin Name Pin Description
Transmitter Ground (Common with Receiver
1 VeeT
Ground)
2 TXFault Transmitter Fault. Not supported
Transmitter Disable. Laser output disabled on

3 TX Disable
high or open.
4 MOD_DEF(2) Module Definition 2. Data line for Serial ID.
5 MOD_DEF(1) Module Definition 1. Clock line for Serial ID.
Module Definition 0. Grounded within the

6 MOD_DEF(0)
module.
7 Rate Select No connection required
Loss of signal indication. Logic 0 indicates
8 LOS
normal operation.
Receiver Ground (Common with Transmitter
9 VeeR
Ground)
10 VeeR
Ground)
11 VeeR
Ground)
12 RD- Receiver inverted DATA out. AC coupled
Receiver Non-inverted DATA out. AC

13 RD+
coupled
14 VeeR
Ground)
15 VccR Receiver Power Supply

16 VccT Transmitter Power Supply
17 VeeT
Ground)
Transmitter Non-Inverted DATA in. 100 ohm
18 TD+ termination between TD+ and TD-, AC
Coupled thereafter.
19 TD- Transmitter inverted DATA in. See TD+
20 VeeT
Ground)
Table D-1: SFP Pinouts Definitions

C.2 SCSI Port Pinouts
* NC=No Connection, * GND=Ground,
* TPWR=Terminator Power
Pin Name Pin Name

1 SD12+ 35 SD12-
2 SD13+ 36 SD13-
3 SD14+ 37 SD14-
4 SD15+ 38 SD15-
5 SDP1+ 39 SDP1-
6 SD0+ 40 SD0-
7 SD1+ 41 SD1-
8 SD2+ 42 SD2-
9 SD3+ 43 SD3-
10 SD4+ 44 SD4-
11 SD5+ 45 SD5-
12 SD6+ 46 SD6-
13 SD7+ 47 SD7-
14 SDP0+ 48 SDP0-
15 GND 49 GND
16 DIFSENS 50 GND
17 TPWR 51 TPWR
18 TPWR 52 TPWR
19 NC 53 NC
20 GND 54 GND
21 SATN+ 55 SATN-
22 GND 56 GND
23 SBSY+ 57 SBSY-
24 SACK+ 58 SACK-
25 SRST+ 59 SRST-
26 SMSG+ 60 SMSG-
27 SSEL+ 61 SSEL-
28 SC_D+ 62 SC_D-
29 SREQ+ 63 SREQ-
30 SI_O+ 64 SI_O-
31 SD8+ 65 SD8-
32 SD9+ 66 SD9-
33 SD10+ 67 SD10-
34 SD11+ 68 SD11-
Table D-2: SCSI Port Pinouts Definitions
C.3 DB9 Audio Jack Pinouts
Figure D-2: RS-232C (Audio Jack) Pinouts

CN1 Pin Number Pin Name CN2 Pin Number
1 Ground 5
2 Brown 3
3 Black 2
Pin 4 and Pin 6 are Pin 7 and Pin 8 are

For CN 2
short short
Table D-3: Audio Jack Pinouts Definitions
C.4 Ethernet Port Pinouts
Pin Pin Name Pin Pin Name
1 LAN_TXP 7 LAN_RXP
2 LAN_TXN 8 LAN_RXN
3 CT 9 Pulled High for Pin 10
4 N1 10 LAN_LEDG (Link OK)
5 N1 11 Pulled High for Pin12
6 CT 12 LAN_LEDY (Data transfer)
Table D-4: Ethernet Port Pinouts Definitions
C.5 Mains Power

IEC type receptacle.

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EonStor A08 / A12 Series

2Gb/s Fibre-to-SATA RAID Subsystem

Installation and Hardware

Revision 1.2 (11, 2003)

China Europe (EMEA)

PowerPC® is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

Solaris and Java are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Warnings and Certifications

FCC (applies in the U.S. and Canada)

FCC Class B Radio Frequency Interference Statement

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subjected to

FCC Class A Radio Frequency Interference Statement

The changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party

CHAPTER 2 HARDWARE INSTALLATION

CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM MONITORING

CHAPTER 4 SYSTEM CONNECTION AND OPERATION

CHAPTER 5 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

APPENDIX B SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

APPENDIX C ELECTRICAL INTERFACES AND PINOUTS

The EonStor subsystem comes with 8 or 12 drive bays (slots). Leaving

Airflow Consideration: The subsystem requires an airflow clearance

To handle subsystem modules, use the retention screws, eject levers,

To comply with safety, emission, or thermal requirements, none of the

Provide a soft, clean surface to place your subsystem on before working

If it is necessary to transport the subsystem, repackage all drives and

Introduces the EonStor RAID Subsystem series.

Describes all the active components in the system.

Provides recommendations and details about the hardware installation

Briefly describes how to monitor the subsystem.

Describes how to maintain the subsystem.

This manual does not

Describe components that are not user-serviceable.

Describe the configuration options of firmware, using terminal

Give a detailed description of the RAID processing units, the RAID

Who should read this manual?

RAIDWatch User’s Manual

Numbered Lists: - Numbered lists are used to describe sequential steps a

Software and Firmware Updates

1.1 Model Variations

Model Name Host Channels Controller Board

ES A08F-G1A2 2 x FC-2G IFT-7260S-8F2D (Single Controller)

ES A12U-G1410 2 x SCSI-320 IFT-7260S-12U4D (Single Controller)

Table 1-1: Available ES SATA Models

On receiving and unpacking your subsystem, please check the package

ES Models A08F- A08U- A08U- A12F- A12U- A12U-

Battery N/A N/A N/A Optional Optional Optional

Table 1- 2: Available ES RAID Subsystem Models

1.2 Enclosure Chassis

Components accessed through the front panel are referred to as “Front

1.2.1 Front Section

1.2.2 Rear Section

1.3 ES Subsystem Components

1.3.1 Front Panel Overview

Figure 1-1: Front View – 12-bay Models

Figure 1-2: Front View – 8-bay Models

1.3.2 Rear Panel Overview

Figure 1-3: Rear View – 12-bay, Single Controller FC Port ES Subsystem

Figure 1-4: Rear View – 8-bay, Single Controller FC Port ES Subsystem