Step 1.1 RAIDZONE Hardware Overview

Every RAIDZONE disk array subsystem consists of one or more RAIDZONE PCI controller cards, and one or more SmartCan disk enclosures.

The first thing we should note is that the door of a RAIDZONE SmartCan enclosure opens from the top (i.e. the door's hinge is at the bottom). You open the door by pushing in on the upper right corner of the door, which releases a fastener. Opening the door by pulling on it can damage the fastener.

All RAIDZONE SmartCans can be connected directly to a RAIDZONE PCI card. The RAIDZONE SmartCan2 has a second connector that allows it to be connected to another SmartCan2, so that only the first in a set of multiple SmartCan2's needs to be connected to a RAIDZONE PCI card.

There are a variety of models of the RAIDZONE PCI card available. You can get a card with an external connector, one with a single internal connector, or one with two or more internal connectors. Before you start the installation, make sure you have a card that matches your intended configuration.

If you are connecting an external RAIDZONE disk array to your computer, you will usually only need to install one RAIDZONE PCI card with an external connector in your computer, then connect it with a RAIDZONE external cable to the connector on your disk array case.

If you are installing one or more SmartCans internally in your computer case, it makes sense to do a little bit of space planning first. In many situations today, you will be installing the RAIDZONE components into a computer case that hasn't got very much room to spare. By deciding where to put everything before you start, you can ensure that you don't "paint yourself into a corner" by putting the RAIDZONE controller in a slot where it can't be connected to the SmartCan(s).

Our goal in this step is to determine where all of the RAIDZONE components will go in your computer case before you start installing any of them. The two main decisions you need to make at this point are which PCI bus slot you will use for the RAIDZONE controller, and where in your computer case you will install the RAIDZONE SmartCan enclosure(s). Here are the main factors that need to be kept in mind:

1. The internal RAIDZONE cable is about 18 inches long. This means you need to locate the RAIDZONE controller card in a PCI slot that is near the first SmartCan enclosure.
2. Each RAIDZONE disk array enclosure requires a set of three contiguous half-height drive bays that are accessible from the front of your computer.
3. Each SmartCan enclosure must either be connected to a RAIDZONE controller card or connected to another SmartCan. If you intend to daisy-chain SmartCans to one another, make sure that a SmartCan2 with two connectors on the back is installed in the location closest to the RAIDZONE controller card.
4. There will be a cable running between the RAIDZONE controller card and the SmartCan enclosure, and perhaps others between drive enclosures. Make sure you have sufficient space to route these cables.

Keeping these factors in mind, decide first where you will install the RAIDZONE SmartCan enclosures. Then select the best PCI slot for your RAIDZONE controller, from the point of view of cable length and ease of installation. In most cases, the PCI slot closest to the middle of your computer case will be the best choice.

Once you've made your preliminary choice of locations, take the actual cables you will be using to connect the RAIDZONE controller and the SmartCans, and test to make sure that they can be routed in your case without any problems. When the cabling works, this planning step is complete.

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