CalDigit RAIDShield Manual For CalDigit HDPro (Tower / Rack Mount) CalDigit HDOne CalDigit RAIDCard CalDigit HDElement CalDigit, Inc. 1941 Miraloma Ave, Unit B Placentia, CA 92870 USA www.caldigit.com The information of the products in this manual is subjected to change without prior notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of the vendor, who assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors that may appear in this manual. Copyright © 2008, CalDigit, Inc.
Table of Contents: RAIDShield Icons …………………………………………………………………………. 2-3 About CalDigit RAIDShield …………………………………………………………………………. 4 CalDigit RAIDShield Features …………………………………………………………………………. 4 RAIDShield OS Supported …………………………………………………………………………. 4 Installation Requirements …………………………………………………………………………. 5 Installing CalDigit RAIDShield …………………………………………………………………………. 5 Installation Flowchart ………………………………………………………………………….
RAIDShield Icons RAIDShield icons and their use are listed below. ICON Description Main Menu Icons RAIDShield Server/Client icon – The icon that is on the desktop and notification area. Add / Delete a controller – Select the controller to administer. Create / Delete an Array – Change the arrays within the RAID. Preferences for additional functions for Array operation – Activate, alarms, mode settings, cache settings, password and controller card time. Email – Set the addresses to send e-mail alerts to.
Application Icons A (new) drive with no existing RAID table.
Important Info: This manual is designed and written for users installing and using the CalDigit product & CalDigit RAIDShield software. The intended user should have working knowledge of RAID planning and data storage. Please read this manual thoroughly as it is an important part of your CalDigit product installation package.
Installation Requirements: RAIDShield is designed to be used in conjunction with the RAID controllers.
Installation Flowchart: Before RAIDShield can be installed, make sure the following items are ready: • • • Install the PCI card (eLane-1e, eLane-2e, eLane-1x, eLane-1ex, eLane switch or RAIDCard) Turn on the CalDigit product (except for RAIDCard) Turn on the computer. The set up process follow these steps: • Install the appropriate driver / GUI. (You can download the latest drivers from our support site.) • • • For PC, install the RAIDShield (server or/and client) on your host machine.
Install CalDigit RAIDShield software: Attention: The RAIDShield is a Java based program; therefore, your system must have the most recent Java program. The CalDigit RAIDShield allows user to change the RAID settings on the CalDigit product. This software is available on the provided installation CD and our website. To install this program, please perform the following steps: For Microsoft Windows (MAC Bootcamp): Windows Installation: 1.
For Mac: 1. Turn on the CalDigit product (except for RAIDCard), and then turn on your computer. 2. Insert the provided installation CD into the CD-Rom, Insert the installation disc into the CD-ROM drive, or open downloaded zip folder. 3 Locate the Mac Installer folder, and then run the .mpkg file within the folder. After the installation is completed, please restart your computer. 4. Open the System Profile to verify the RAID Controller Card. 5. CalDigit RAIDShield is also installed.
RAIDShield Server The RAIDShield Server is responsible for communicating with the RAID controller, its purpose is to identify that the RAID controller is connected to the server. (RAIDShield Server must be running in the background at all time) For Mac user: RAIDShield server will automatically load itself and run as a demon program during Mac OS system startup. For Microsoft Windows user: 1. Click on the RAID Shield Server. 2.
For Microsoft Windows Vista: Due to enhanced Windows Vista (Windows 2003 server later version) security features, the CalDigit RAIDShield server will not be allowed to run as startup item. As result, the RAIDShield server cannot properly locate the RAID controller. To solve this problem, please perform the following processes: 1. Shut down the RAIDShield server via Task manager. (You can also remove RAIDShield from startup program list) 2. Manually re-launch the RAIDShield server as administrator. 3.
RAIDShield General Introduction The RAIDShield Client’s user friendly interface can help you to determine the current status of your CalDigit products. Menu Bar: The RAIDShield menu bar allows you to perform some basic commands and controller update on the RAIDShield. Controller List: The RAIDShield controller list provides a quick glace of the current status for all your Caldigit products. For details, please read the Controller Update.
Configuration Icons: The RAIDShield configuration icons provide the most functions on your caldigit products. For details, please read the RAIDShield Client (Basic) & RAIDShield (Advance). Status Tabs: The RAIDShield status tabs provide the current status information on your caldigit products. Array: shows current hard drives status in the CalDigit product. No array present, 8 empty hard drives. One array present, all drives are healthy. One array present, 1 drive needs rebuild.
Snapshot: showing current status of the snapshot on your product. Event: display all events on your CalDigit product. Array Information Window: The RAIDShield array information window provides the current array status information on your Caldigit products. General Information Tabs: The RAIDShield General Information Tabs provides the current status on your Caldigit hardwares. Controller: general information on the controller of your CalDigit product.
Firmware: provide system code / boot code / BIOS / EFI information on the controller. Hardware: Current hardware status of your CalDigit product. CalDigit HDPro (Tower) CalDigit RAIDCard CalDigit HDOne Power: product’s power supply & battery status. CalDigit HDPro (Tower) with battery. CalDigit RAIDCard with battery. CalDigit HDOne.
RAIDShield Client (Basic) The RAIDShield Client allow user to perform most configurations on the controller, such as: add/remove controller, create/delete array, change password, E-mail notification, etc… Adding/Removing Controller: 1. To add a controller, click on ‘Add Controller’. 2. Select the product from the list; enter the password / controller name.
3. Click ‘Add’, and verify the product. 4. To remove a controller, highlight the controller from the list, and click on the ‘Remove Controller’. NOTE: If the array presents while the controller show disconnected, please remove the controller and re-scan it. Creating Array: 1. To create an array for your product, click on the ‘Create Array’. (If an array already existed in the product, user need to delete the old array before creating a new array .) 2. Choose the desired RAID settings for the product.
5. Choose the drives to create arrays 6. Select Optional functions (‘On The Fly Initialization’ & Assign LUN automatically are recommended.) • • • On The Fly Initialization: Recommended initialize method, may take server hours (depends on capacity). Test Mode: Test only. For CalDigit / Customer to perform performance test only. Assign LUN automatically: LUN are auto assigned for multiple CalDigit units. 7. Click the ‘Create Array’ to start the initialization.
Deleting Array: To delete an array for your product, click on the ‘Delete Array’. (If an array already existed in the product, user need to delete the old array before creating a new array .) 1. To delete an array, click on the ‘Delete Array’. 2. Click on the Array Drives, and make sure all the appropriate drives are highlighted. 3. Check the confirm box, and click the ‘Delete Array’ (All data will be erased!!) Changing Password: 1. The default password is: 00000000.
E-Mail Nonfiction: 1. To active the E-Mail nonfiction function, click on the ‘Email’. 2. Enter all the necessary information; and then click on ‘OK’ to confirm. (An e-mail will be sent to the address in the event of errors, alerts and changes to the RAID array.) • • • Mailing List: Enter the E-Mail address (es) of personnel to receive notification e-mail. (Up to 20 addresses) Remove: Delete highlighted e-mail address from the list. Send Test E-mail: send a test e-mail to the highlighted e-mail address.
RAIDShield Client (Advance) The RAIDShield Client allow user to perform most configurations on the product. This section is mainly about the different features in Preference and Advanced. If you are not sure about the setting changes in following sections, please contact the specialists before any modification. False settings may cause data lost and product malfunction.
Preference – MODE / CACHE / MISC: User can enable / disable any MODE, adjust the Cache, and change the password. Preference – MODE: • Disk Lag Proof: Disk lag on a single drive of a RAID set introduces delays in delivering data from an entire RAID set. Disk Lag Proof Mode limits these delays by regenerating data from parity and returns data to the host on time. (This function will cause minor performance loss. Does not support JBOD and NRAID.
Preference – CACHE: • Controller Cache: this feature will speed up the data transfer to and from the disks. (Recommend) • Synchronize Cache: this feature enable cache synchronization. If this feature is disabled, the RAID controller works correctly but does not actually perform any cache flushing. (For video capture, we recommend to disable this feature because the video capture requires constant data input to the RAID storage without the latency from synchronize cache.
Advanced – Slicing / LUN Map / Expansion / Migration / Snapshot / Health Center / Unlock Drives: The Advanced menu provides the methods for changing the details of and maintenance with the array.
Advanced - Slicing: Hard drive slicing, partitions the drives of an array so that it appears as a separate volume without reducing the speed. (This process must be performing in the order at slice 0, slice 1, and slice 2…. An array can have maximum 8 slices) NOTE: if you sliced the array, you will need to assign the LUN map for the sliced arrays. (See next section.) 1. To perform slicing for the RAID array, please select an existing array to slice. 2. Set the slice size for the selected array(s) 3.
Advanced – LUN Map: A LUN is a unique identifier used on a SCSI bus that enables it to differentiate between up to 8 separate devices. Use the LUN map to attach a unique identifier to a slice. NOTE: if you sliced the array, you will need to assign the LUN map for the sliced array. (See above section.) 1. To set the LUN mapping for the CalDigit product(s), select an existing array from the unit. 2. Pick the LUN number, and select the LUN Map. 3.
Advanced – Expansion: Expansion allows the adding of extra drives to an array with the need to rebuild the array. This process can be performed online without the need to stop data transferring. 1. To expand the capacity for the product, select the drives from the icons. 2. Select the number of drives to be added to the array. 3. Check the Confirm box, and Click the Expand Array to complete the process.
Advanced – Migration: Migration allows RAID types to be changed without the need to delete the array and rebuild. This feature is for the situation when new disks have been added and a new array type needs to be created. 1. To perform migration for the product, select the drives to be migrated from an existing array. 2. Specific the RAID types and number of drives. 3. Check the Confirm box, and Click the Migrate to complete the process.
Advanced – Snapshot: The snapshot function mirrors the data from one slice onto another thereby backing up the data. 1. To perform the snapshot function for the product, select the desired action from the list. • • • • Create Shot: Creates a snapshot of the selected slice (8 shots maximum). Delete Shot: Delete the selected shot. Split Shot: Splits the selected shot. The shot is split and read as two separate shots. Resynchronize Shot: Resynchronize an existing shot. 2.
Advanced – Health Center: User can perform verify, rebuild or condition on the product in this section. 1. To rebuild / verify / refresh array data and parity for the product, select the drives / array. 2. To start rebuilding, select the Rebuild parity data icon, and then click OK to start the rebuilding process. 3. To verify the data within the array, select the Verify parity data icon, and then click OK to start the process. 4.
Advanced – Unlock Drives: User can changes the locked drive(s) status on the product in this section. 1. To unlock the locked drives on the product, click on the drive icons, and select the locked drives from the array. 2. Check the Confirm box, and click OK to unlock the selected drives. This process will automatically trigger the rebuild process. (The rebuild % progress bar will be available on the main windows of RAID Shield.) NOTE: if you are using RAID 5 setting, your array allows ONE drive failure.
Controller Update User can update the System Code / Boot Code / BIOS / EFI through RAIDShield. 1. To perform the updates for the product, please select the product from the list. Click on the Controller > Update, and then choose the firmware that you wish to update. 2. Locate the update file through the browser, and perform the update. Please make sure to select the correct device.
Glossary • BIOS An acronym for Basic Input/Output System. It is the boot firmware program on a PC, and controls the computer or the hardware device (like our CalDigit RAID controller) from the time you start it up until the operating system takes over. When you turn on a PC, the BIOS first conduct a basic hardware check, and then it loads the operating system into your computer's random access memory, or RAM.
Choosing the RAID Levels CalDigit products can support the following RAID levels: 0, 1, 0+1, 5, 6 and JBOD. The choice for RAID levels depends on the application you are using for. RAID Level 0 offers highest transfer rates, and is ideal for large blocks of data where speed is of importance. Computer Aided Design, Graphics, Scientific Computing, Image and Multimedia applications are all good examples. RAID 0 provides no fault tolerance.
RAID 0: RAID 0 links each drive in the array as one huge drive. Storage capacity is determined by the smallest drive in the array. That capacity is then applied to format all other drives in the array. If using a 40 GB, 60 GB, and 50 GB drive in a RAID 0 array, your system will see one huge drive of 120 GB (40 GB×3). RAID 0 offers double or more performance under sustained data transfers when one drive per ATA port is used.
RAID 1: RAID 1 is commonly referred to as Disk Mirroring, Disk Shadowing or Disk Duplexing as all data is duplicated across both disks. RAID 1 can only be performed with two hard drives (with four drives, RAID 0+1 is configured automatically). As data is identical on both disks, storage capacity is that of the smaller disk. RAID 1 has poor performance for write operations but very high performance for read intensive operations.
RAID 0+1: RAID 0+1 combines mirroring and striping functions on a minimum of four hard disks. Mirroring provides full redundancy and protects data in case of multiple drive failure (providing that data on one of each mirrored pair of drives is intact). RAID 0+1: Combination of striping and mirroring Characteristics: This configuration provides optimal speed and reliability. Requires even number of disks (minimum 4 disks).
RAID 5: RAID 5 uses a mathematical expression that compares data from two drives and calculates a third piece of data called “parity”. Should one of the drives fail, parity data can be used to rebuild the failed data. Under RAID 5, parity data is stored across all drives in the array. This maximizes the amount of storage capacity available from all drives in the array while still providing data redundancy. Data on RAID 5 is block-interleaved.
RAID 6: RAID 6 is stripes blocks of data and parity across an array of drives like RAID 5, except that is calculates two sets of parity information for each parcel of data. The goal of this duplication is solely to improve fault tolerance; RAID 6 can handle at most one fault. Performance-wise, RAID 6 is generally slightly worse than RAID 5 in terms of writes due to the added overhead of more parity calculations, but may be slightly faster in random reads due to spreading of data over one more disk.
Enhanced JBOD: JBOD (“Just a Bunch of Disks”) reports the individual drives. The operating system will see each drive in the JBOD mode as a individual drive. There is no RAID protection in the JBOD mode. The JBOD mode allows the user to connect more hard drives without taking up IDE connections on the motherboard. JBOD: Spanned disk array without fault tolerance Characteristics: Recommended use: JBOD reports individual disks. For most uses not requiring fault tolerance, RAID 0 is better.
Important Note: Always back up your important data! Having another copy of your important work is highly and always recommended. Troubleshooting In the event that your CalDigit product is not working properly, please refer to the 3 items below to find out where the problem is coming from. If the steps below do not solve the situation, please check the FAQ on our website www.caldigit.com. One of these FAQ should provide the solution to your specific problem.
