VESS R3000 Series Articles

PROMISE Vess R3000 Series Tutorial Videos

2024-11-20T17:37:14.9330000

Product Introduction

Product Installation and Cabling

Web Configuration

Technical Support Case Registration

R3600 Hard Drives Compatibility list Summary

2024-10-30T18:27:01.4770000

Vess R3600

The R3600 are compatible with various hard drives, including SATA, SAS Hard Drives and SAS, SATA Solid State Drives.

Some supported hard drive models include the Toshiba Enterprise series, Western Digital Ultrastar, HGST Ultrastar and Seagate EXOS for SATA and SAS HDD. micron, Samsung, Toshiba, intel and KIOXIA for SAS and SATA SSD.

The largest capacity compatible with the R3600 is 22TB for WD Ultrastar DC HC570 SATA, SAS / 3.5". For SAS SSD 7.68TB for the KIOXIA PM7-R Series 2.5" and 4TB for Western Digital RED SA500 NAS Serien for SATA SSD.

The R3600 is compatible with a range of interface speeds of 12Gb/s for SAS HDD and 6,12,24 Gb/s for SAS SSD.

R3600 Supports various OS systems, the supported versions include Mac OS 10.12.6 and MacOS Ventura 13.1. On the Windows side, the compatible versions are Windows Server 2008,2012,2016,2019 and 2022. Also VMware and Citrix. Veeam Backup Applications Certified.

For a complete list of compatible drives and specifications, download the full compatibility list :https://www.promise.com/DownloadFile.aspx?DownloadFileUID=7320

Resetting the 'administrator' Password for VR3600 Storage

2024-10-29T13:38:41.9630000

How to reset the Default Password for VR3600 Storage

This feature resets the Administrator’s password to the default factory setting, password. Use this feature when you have forgotten Administrator’s password, or a new Administrator has been appointed.

The reset applies to the Administrator’s login for WebPAM PROe and the CLI. No other user passwords are affected.

To reset the Administrator’s default password:

Verify that the Vess has fully booted.
For one of the RAID controllers, locate the password reset switch. See illustration below.
Insert a pin or a straightened paper clip into the opening and momentarily depress password reset switch.

You only need to press the reset switch on one RAID controller.

The next time the Administrator logs in, use the default password: password.

Important: PROMISE recommends that you change the Administrator’s default password immediately after reset.

Expanding a Pool on Vess R3000 Series

2024-10-29T13:32:17.0830000

1. Click the Pool tab.

2. Open the Pool List submenu under the Overview menu (expanded by default). A list of pools will appear.

3. Select the pool you want, then click the gear icon and choose Expand Pool or select the Expand Pool button at the top.

4. If the original pool was configured on HDD during its creation, select a Media Type: HDD or External Drive.

- HDD: Displays a front view of physical drives, with configured HDDs marked with a blue stripe. SSDs, marked with a gray stripe and block icon, are unavailable.
- External Drive: Shows a list of external drives, with configured drives grayed out as unavailable.

5. In the Selected Drives view for HDDs or SSDs, click available drives in the front view to add them to your pool. For External Drives, click the checkbox in the external drive list to add them.

Note: The selected physical drives must support the pool's current RAID level, and the same RAID level should be used for pool expansion.

6. Once your selections are complete, click Save.

Understanding Sync Modes in the Vess R3000 Series: Configuring NAS Shares and Volumes in Advanced Pool

2024-10-29T13:26:03.2070000

The Vess R3000 Series offers three Sync Modes when creating new NAS Shares and Volumes in Advanced Pool. Each mode determines how synchronous transactions are handled.

1. Standard: In this mode, synchronous share transactions—such as `fsync`, `O_DSYNC`, `O_SYNC`, and others—are written to the intent log.

2. Always: Ensures every share transaction is written and flushed to stable storage before the system call returns. This setting prioritizes data stability but can significantly impact performance. Always is the default sync mode.

3. Disabled: Disables synchronous requests. Share transactions are only committed to stable storage during the next transaction group commit, which may take several seconds. While this mode provides the best performance, it also poses risks.

Caution: Using the Disabled mode can be risky, as it ignores applications’ synchronous transaction requirements (e.g., for databases or NFS operations). Setting this mode on an active root or shared volume may result in unexpected behavior, data loss, or increased vulnerability to replay attacks. Use Disabled only if you fully understand these risks.

To select a sync mode, go to the “Expand Advanced Settings” option in the Web Interface.

Updating Firmware on the Vess R3600 Subsystem

2024-10-29T13:21:29.5330000

To update the firmware on the Vess R3600, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest firmware image file from PROMISE support by visiting the website at http://www.promise.com/support/. Save the file to your Host PC or TFTP server.

2. Before proceeding, ensure that no background activities are running on the RAID subsystem.

3. Access the Administration tab and navigate to the Firmware Update section.

4. Choose a download option:
- Local File through HTTP: Click the "Choose File" button, locate the firmware image file on your system, select it, and click "Open."
- TFTP Server: Enter the TFTP Server host name or IP address, port number, and file name.

5. Optionally, you can check the "Non-disruptive Image Update (NDIU)" box. This feature updates the RAID controllers and I/O modules one at a time, allowing I/O operations to continue during the firmware update. Note that updates with this option take longer to complete and are only supported by dual controller models.

6. Click the "Download" button. The subsequent screen will display the Flash Image (firmware image file) Version Number and Build Date.

7. Click "Submit" to initiate the firmware update. The progress of the update will be shown.

Important: Do not power off the subsystem during the update and refrain from navigating to other screens until the firmware update operation is completed.

Once the update is finished, a message will prompt you to reboot the subsystem. Click "OK."

- If you selected the Disruptive Flash Method, the RAID subsystem and JBOD expansion units will automatically restart.
- If you chose the Non-Disruptive Flash Method, the system will automatically flash and restart the RAID controllers one at a time.

Automatic Restart: If the NDIU box was not checked, the RAID subsystem and JBOD expansion units will automatically restart. This action temporarily disrupts I/O operations and may cause your WebPAM PROe connection to drop. To reestablish the connection, follow these steps:

1. Wait for a minimum of two minutes.
2. Click "Logout" in the WebPAM PROe Header and then log in again. If you encounter login issues, wait for 30 seconds and try again.
3. In your browser, click "Logout" in the WebPAM PROe Header and then log in again. If you cannot log in immediately, wait for 30 seconds and try again.

FAQ: How many Vess J3600 JBOD can be cascaded with the Vess R3600?

2024-10-29T13:19:33.4700000

The Vess R3600 is a high-performance storage system designed for enterprise-level storage applications. It supports cascading with the Vess J3600 JBOD expansion units to provide additional storage capacity. Below, we will address the frequently asked question regarding the number of Vess J3600 JBOD units that can be cascaded with the Vess R3600.

Q: How many Vess J3600 JBOD units can be cascaded with the Vess R3600?

A: The Vess R3600 storage system is capable of cascading up to twelve Vess J3600 JBOD expansion units.

About the Vess R3600:
The Vess R3600 is a high-performance storage system manufactured by Promise Technology. It is designed to meet the demanding storage requirements of enterprise and data center environments. The Vess R3600 offers scalability, reliability, and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of storage applications.

About the Vess J3600 JBOD:
The Vess J3600 JBOD is an expansion unit specifically designed to work in conjunction with the Vess R3600 storage system. It provides additional storage capacity to the R3600, allowing users to expand their storage infrastructure as needed. The Vess J3600 JBOD supports up to 16 drives per device, enabling users to store large amounts of data.

Cascading Vess J3600 JBOD with Vess R3600:
In the case of the Vess R3600, it supports cascading up to twelve Vess J3600 JBOD units.By connecting multiple Vess J3600 JBOD units to the Vess R3600, users can significantly increase their storage capacity. This is especially beneficial for organizations that deal with large amounts of data and require scalable storage solutions. The cascaded JBOD units work seamlessly with the Vess R3600, appearing as a single logical storage unit.

Benefits of cascading with Vess J3600 JBOD:
- Increased storage capacity: Cascading Vess J3600 JBOD units with the Vess R3600 allows for the expansion of storage capacity, accommodating growing data requirements.
- Simplified management: The cascaded JBOD units appear as a single logical unit, simplifying storage management and administration tasks.
- Improved performance: The combined storage capacity of the cascaded JBOD units enhances overall system performance, allowing for efficient data storage and retrieval.

Conclusion:
The Vess R3600 storage system can cascade up to twelve Vess J3600 JBOD expansion units, enabling users to expand their storage capacity while maintaining performance and manageability. By leveraging cascading, organizations can meet their growing storage needs and effectively store and manage their data.

Vess R3600 Battery Replacement

2024-10-29T13:17:19.1100000

Introduction

Over time wear and tear takes it's toll and things need to be replaced. Batteries are devices that wear out often, how often depending on their chemistry, usage and enviornmental factors.

This KB explains how to replace the battery in a Vess R3600.

You will need a replacement battery and a small Phillips screwdriver.

How to tell that a battery needs replacement

In the WebPAM Devices you can see battery status. In the case the battery is malfunctioning.

Battery Replacement

In the Vess R3600 the battery is located in the Fan Module. The battery for controller 1 is in Fan Module 1 to the left. The battery for controller 2 is located in Fan Module 2 to the right.

We will show Fan Module 2 battery replacement here.

First, remove the two screws holding the fan module in place.

Next remove the fan module my gently pulling back with the power supply handle.

To open the fan module there is one screw on the top and 2 screws on the left side and 2 screws on the right side.

With the cover removed the battery is visible.

Remove the 4 screws, gently poll up to remove the failed battery and gently insert the replacement battery.Reassemble the fan module and insert it into the chassis and install the screws to hold it in place.

Note that the battery may not be fully charged when installed, check WebPAM for battery status.

Restart the Corresponding Controller
- After reassembling, restart the controller corresponding to the replaced battery.
- For example, if Battery #1 was replaced, restart Controller #1 using WebPAM.
Controller Initialization
- The restart will trigger the controller to reinitialize the battery and ensure it is recognized and functioning correctly.

Vess R3000 Series Power Consumption

2024-10-29T13:12:28.6530000

Vess R3000 Series Power Consumption

R3600i
System Status	Input Voltage	Frequency	Current (A)	Power Consumption (W)	Thermal Output
					(BTU/Hr)
Operation	110V	60Hz	2.538	276	941.988
	230V	50Hz	1.257	274.3	936.1859

R3600ti
System Status	Input Voltage	Frequency	Current (A)	Power Consumption (W)	Thermal Output
					(BTU/Hr)
Operation	110V	60Hz	2.867	312	1064.856
	230V	50Hz	1.321	286.6	978.1658

R3600xi
System Status	Input Voltage	Frequency	Current (A)	Power Consumption (W)	Thermal Output
					(BTU/Hr)
Operation	110V	60Hz	2.64	285	972.705
	230V	50Hz	1.291	281.2	959.7356

R3604fi
System Status	Input Voltage	Frequency	Current (A)	Power Consumption (W)	Thermal Output
					(BTU/Hr)
Operation	110V	60Hz	2.762	303	1034.139
	230V	50Hz	1.36	297	1013.661

Making a Serial Connection on VessR3600 Series

2024-10-29T13:11:35.6700000

Before you begin, be sure the RJ11-to-DB9 serial data cable is connected between the Host PC and the Vess R3600 enclosure, and that both machines are booted and running.

Then do the following actions:

1. Change your terminal emulation program settings to match the following specifications:

Bits per second: 115200
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Flow control: none

2. Start your PC’s terminal VT100 or ANSI emulation program.

3. Press Enter once to launch the CLI.

Logging Into the CLI

At the Login prompt, type the user name and press Enter.

The default user name is administrator.

At the Password prompt, type the password and press Enter.

The default password is password.

The CLI screen appears.

Conducting Redundancy Check on VessR3600

2024-10-29T13:08:59.3100000

Redundancy Check is a routine maintenance procedure for fault-tolerant disk arrays (those with redundancy) that ensures all the data matches exactly. Redundancy Check can also correct inconsistencies.

Starting, Stopping, Pausing and Resuming Redundancy Check

To make Redundancy Check settings:

1. Click the Administration tab.

2. Click the Background Activities tab.

The list of background activities appears.

3. Use the check boxes to select the pools to run Redundancy Checks. Note that you can also enable/ disable Auto Fix and Pause on Error for each pool.

4. To begin Redundancy Check on existing pools, click the Start button. To Pause a Redundancy Check for a pool, click on the Gear icon for the pool and select Pause; click Resume to continue the Redundancy Check. To Stop a running Redundancy Check, click on the Gear icon, select Stop. Stopping Redundancy Check requires confirmation by typing “Confirm” in the Confirmation pop up menu and clicking on the Confirm button.

How to save OPAS via USB flash drive or a Service Report via WebPAM ProE on the Vess R3000 Series

2024-10-29T02:13:50.4500000

An OPAS (Service Report) is a detailed document that captures the configuration and status of all components in your RAID system. Support technicians or field engineers may request this report for diagnosis and troubleshooting.

To generate the Service Report through the WebPAM PROe GUI:

1. Access the Management Portal
- Enter your RAID system’s management IP in your browser.

2. Log In
- Username: administrator
- Password: (default is `password`)
- Click Login.

3. Navigate to the Dashboard
- Once logged in, switch to the Dashboard.

4. Generate the Service Report
- Click Generate Service Report in the header at the top of the interface (next to the Events/Alarm icon, which looks like a download icon).
- The system will compile information for the report. This may take a few minutes, depending on the report’s size.

5. Save the Report
- The Vess system generates the report in `.zip` format by default. Depending on your browser settings, you’ll either be prompted to choose a save location, or the file will be saved automatically in your Downloads folder.

Generating a Service Report via USB Flash Drive

Note: Use this method if you don’t know the management portal IP or cannot easily access the GUI

1. Prepare the USB Flash Drive
- Format the USB flash drive to FAT32.

2. Insert the USB Drive
- Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the left front side of the unit.

3. Check the LED Indicator
- The USB LED will flash green as the system begins collecting logs.
- If the LED flashes red, there has been a failure.Ensure the USB drive is inserted correctly or try another drive formatted to FAT32.
- When the beep sound stops and the LED turns solid green, the log collection has completed successfully.

-If USB is formatted with NTFS , It will fail to collect OPAS and show in red LED

Here is an example of OPAS via a USB flash drive

This links to a Promise KB article on how to attach files to a web support case:

https://kb.promise.com/thread/how-to-attach-files-to-your-web-case/