MH-3642RD-U3
3.5” SATA to USB3.0 & eSATA
4Bay RAID Storage Center
Contents
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Getting Started & Notice
About the Storage Center
Hard Drive Installation Guide
Hard Drive Formatting Guide
RAID Mode Guide
Power Synchronization
Limited Warranty
MH-3642RD-U3
4Bay RAID Storage Center
Thank you for purchasing MH-3642RD-U3 4Bay RAID Storage Center from archgon. For
trouble free operation and prolonging device life, please read the following instructions and
note all the precautions.
All data will be deleted when changing HDD mode. Please make sure you have backup data
before adjusting RAID Switch. We strongly suggest you to keep the device in INDIVIDUAL
mode if you are not familiar with JBOD or RAID modes.
Getting Started & Notice
HDD1
USB 3.0
eSATA
HDD2
HDD3
HDD4
Important!
- SATA II interface hosts SATA I, II, III HDD(s)
- USB 3.0 is downward compatible with USB 2.0
- USB & eSATA cannot operate simultaneously! eSATA connection will be prioritized.
- Use eSATA connectivity, make sure eSATA host(PC) supports Port Multiplier, or only
one single drive will be detected.
- Support HDD(s) capacity greater than 2TB(e.g.:3TB) with GPT partition under
W7/Vista, MAC
- Be sure this device works under a well-ventilated environment with temperature
between 0oC - 40oC and humidity less than 80 %.
- Keep the ventilation holes clear in order to retain the best heat dissipation.
- Do not place any liquids or chemical hazards near the product.
- HDDs must be well secured and fixed to the HDD-tray before sliding them into the
storage center. Please refer to Hard Drive Installation Guide for details.
- Do not install or remove HDD while any HDD(s) is working.
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About the Storage Center
Hardware Overview
Power DC input
Receptor for the provided Power Adapter
- 12V DC, 100-240V AC, 50-60Hz
- 4 Amp (by minimum requirement)
PC connection interface
USB 3.0
Connect USB 3.0 Cable to computer
eSATA
Connect eSATA Cable to computer
Note: When eSATA and USB3.0 are connected to the PC at the same time, eSATA
connection will be prioritized.
FAN Speed Control
Rotatory Knob
Tuning FAN speed to reduce noise level or maximize cooling efficiency.
LED Indication:
Power LED
Green
HDD 1 LED
Blue
HDD 2 LED
Blue
HDD 3 LED
Blue
HDD 4 LED
Blue
ON : Power on
OFF: Power off
ON : HDD inserted
Quick Flash: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Constant Flash(3Hz): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Quick Flash: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Constant Flash(3Hz): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Quick Flash: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Constant Flash(3Hz): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
ON : HDD inserted
Quick Flash: Accessing (Read/Write/Rebuild)
Constant Flash(3Hz): HDD error
OFF: HDD not installed/Removed/sleep mode
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Front / Back View
Power LED
HDD1 LED
HDD2 LED
HDD3 LED
HDD4 LED
HDD Tray
Tray lock
Power Jack
Power Switch
RAID Reset
eSATA
Fan Speed Control
Mode Switch
USB3.0
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Hard Drive Installation Guide
Step1: Push the Lockers leftwards to unlock the HDD trays.
Step2: Pull out the HDD trays.
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Step3: Paste the HDD pad(s) inside & center of the tray(s).
Note: Use HDD pad(s) ONLY IF the HDD(s) cannot be stably mounted.
Step4: Install the HDD(s) into the tray(s) and fix 2 screws on both sides per tray. Make sure
screws are firmly fixed to hold the tray(s) and HDD(s) together.
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Step5: Slide HDD trays back to the case.
Step6: Push the Lockers rightwards to lock the HDD trays.
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Hard Drive Formatting Guide on Windows
Partition a volume
A volume must be partitioned before you may begin using the drives under the operating
system. The following sections describe the procedures required to partition a volume.
Note :
- Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the HDD partitioning and
formatting.
- Each HDD has to be partitioned and formatted respectively.
1. Right-click the“Computer” icon and select “Manage” from the pop-up window. From
the Computer Management window select “Disk Management” under Storage to start
formatting.
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2. Right-click “Unallocated” and select “New Simple Volume”. If a New Simple Volume
option is not available, initialize the disk first. To initialize a disk, please check “Initialize a
Disk” at next section for guidance.
Note: In Windows XP, you will probably find “New Partition” instead of “New Simple
Volume”. They are basically the same concept; these two terms can be used
interchangeably.
3. Click “Next” to start the New Simple Volume Wizard.
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4. Specify the partition size. The partition occupies the entire volume by default and then
click “Next”.
5. Assign a drive letter and click “Next”.
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6. Name, format the partition, and click “Next”.
7. Review the file system settings and click “Finish” to create the logical partition.
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Initialize a Disk
If a New Simple Volume option is not available while right-clicking the “Unallocated” box,
then look to the left of the “Unallocated” box. Most likely you would see HDD(s) “Not
Initialized”. Initialize the HDD(s) and make sure you see “Online” before proceeding to HDD
formatting/partitioning.
1. Right-click the “Not Initialized” block to open pull-down menu.
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2. Select “Initialize Disk”.
3. You will see a pop-up window below. Windows 7 provides options for “MBR” and “GPT”.
If the HDD capacity does not exceed 2TB, then “MBR” option is recommended. On the
other hand, “GPT” is recommended while HDD capacity is over 2TB.
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4. Online status will replace Not Initialized status when a disk is initialized and ready for
disk partitioning and formatting.
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Hard Drive Formatting Guide on Linux
Partition a volume under Linux Ubuntu
A volume must be partitioned before you may begin using the drives under Linux operating
system. The following sections describe the procedures required to partition a volume.
Note :
-
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the HDD partitioning and
formatting.
Each HDD has to be partitioned and formatted respectively.
1. Click the “Disk Utility” icon on the Desktop
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2. You can find the hard disks under Peripheral Devices, choose the hard drive that you
want to format, then select “Format Drive”
3. Select “GUID Partition Table”, if the capacity of your hard disk exceeds 2TB. On the other
hand, select “Master Boot Record” if your hard disk capacity is under 2TB.
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4. Click “Create Partition”, then you can select the size for each partition by sliding the bar
left to right.
5. Choose the file type. Please be advised of the following message under the Type column.
If it says this file system is compatible with Linux system only. Then this hard disk can’t be
recognized by Windows or other OS system.
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6. Click “Create” for creating a new partition
7. Once the new partition is created then you will find “New Volume”.
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8. Once you see “New Volume”, select “Mount Volume”.
9. Select “Mount Point” to access into the folder.
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Hard Drive Formatting Guide on Mac
Partition a volume under Mac OS
A volume must be partitioned before you may begin using the drives under the operating
system. The following sections describe the procedures required to partition a volume.
Note :
-
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the HDD partitioning and
formatting.
Each HDD has to be partitioned and formatted respectively.
1. Right click the “Go” icon and select “Utilities” from the pop-up window.
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2. Select “Disk Utility”
3. Select “Partition” on the top of the window, and then select “1 Partition” from the
Partition Layout.
Note: “1partition” can only be a suggestion since Mac OS software update is not very often.
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4. Select “Options” at the bottom of the window
5. Please select “GUID Partition Table”. Nowadays, most Mac computers are Intel-based, so
if you’d like to make the hard drive works normally or use it as a system drive, please
make sure that you select “GUID Partition Table”.
Note: For Power PC Mac, please select “Apple Partition Map”
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6. Select “Apply” when finished formatting a hard drive
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RAID Mode Guide
Modes
Individual
4 HDDs are accessible as 4 individual hard drives.
Shows 4 individual HDDs
JBOD
4 HDDs are accessible as one independent hard drive.
Sum of 4 HDD capacity
RAID 0
RAID: Block-level striping without parity or mirroring.
Capacity: multiply the smallest capacity by 4
RAID 3
RAID: Byte-level striping with dedicated parity disk
Capacity: multiply the smallest capacity by (4-1)
RAID 5
RAID: Block-level striping with distributed parity
Capacity: multiply the smallest capacity by (4-1)
RAID 1+0
(RAID 1)
RAID 1+0: Mirroring without parity, and block-level striping.
Capacity equals to the smallest HDD multiply 2
Note:
1. HDD1/HDD2 create a set based RAID 1: HDD1/2
HDD3/HDD4 create a set based RAID 1: HDD3/4
Two sets (HDD1/2, HDD3/4) create a set of RAID 0
2.When install only two HDDs, the device will perform RAID1
Capacity: Smaller capacity by 1
RAID Switch
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RAID Mode Setting
RAID mode setting via RAID switch
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the case on.
Check and make sure all HDDs are installed properly and all HDD LED lights on.
Connect the device to PC via either USB or eSATA cable. Make sure HDD LED lights on.
Select HDD Mode by adjusting “Raid Switch” which is located at the back of the device.
Pin and hold “RAID Reset” button for 3 to 5 seconds. Then HDD mode will change
according to the selection.
6. After setting RAID mode, please initialize the HDD again to have the HDD in a working
condition. Please refer to Page.11 for initializing a hard disk.
RAID Reset
RAID Switch
7. Format HDDs before they are ready to use.
Note:
 All data will be deleted while changing HDD Mode. Please make sure to backup data
before changing RAID Switch.
 Refer to Hard Drive Formatting Guide in the above sections for the detailed instructions.
 After setting the RAID mode, you can look over the JMicron HW RAID Manager to check
if you have the correct RAID mode.
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RAID mode Setting via JMicron HW RAID Manager
Note: NO RAID mode setting software for Linux OS.
1. Turn the case on.
2. Check and make sure all HDDs are installed perfectly
3. Connect the case to PC via USB or eSATA cable. Make sure all HDD LEDs lights on.
4. Select “JMicron HW RAID Manager_Win” for Windows OS. Select “JMicron_Mac” for
Mac OS.
5. Select the “Basic RAID Configuration icon” under Basic mode for RAID mode setting.
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6. Select the RAID mode that you want to apply
7. Press Apply
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8. After configuration is set, you will find the disk(s) not initialized. Right click the icon to
initialize disk(s). For more details about initializing disk(s), please refer to page 18 for
guidance.
9. Format HDDs before they are ready to use.
Note:
 Refer to Hard Drive Formatting Guide in the above sections for the detailed instructions.
 No matter how many hard disks you install, once you apply RAID configuration, the
computer will recognize this device as one individual disk, leaving the other HDD(s) idle.
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RAID Rebuild
RAID rebuild can only be performed by RAID3/5/10 configuration. Please follow the steps
below for RAID rebuild.
Step 1: Power Off,
Step 2: Remove failed HDD.
Step 3: Install a functional HDD.
Step 4: Turn on the power, and it’ll start rebuilding
- LED Configuration on Rebuild process
RAID 3/5: 4 LED blinks irregularly
RAID 1+0: HDD1/2: LED 1/2 blinks irregularly during rebuild
HDD3/4: LED 3/4 blinks irregularly during rebuild
LED Activity Chart: this chart describe LED activity under RAID rebuild process
● Constant On
◎ Blinks Irregularly
(HDD1)
(HDD2)
(HDD3)
LED 1
LED 2
LED 3
(HDD4)
LED 4
RAID 3
◎
◎
◎
◎
RAID 5
◎
◎
◎
◎
HDD1/2
◎
◎
●
●
HDD3/4
●
●
◎
◎
●
●
●
●
RAID 1+0
Rebuild Complete(Online)
Rebuild Complete(Offline)
Note:
1. Rebuild speed 250GB/hr
2. The LED blinks at a constant pace when it detects a HDD failure.
3. Online: Power cable is connected to the device, USB or eSATA cable is connected to PC.
Offline: Only power cable is connected to the device.
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Power Synchronization
This RAID Storage Center is able to detect the status of PC and turn on & off automatically.
a. PC power off
PC Power off
Power LED on, HDDs off, 4HDD LEDs off, Fan off
b. PC hibernates(sleep mode)
Note: When a system reaches sleep mode, the monitor and peripheral turns off while the
motherboard is still power on. In this case, HDD and LED will be still on.
PC Hibernates
Power LED on, HDDs off, 4HDD LEDs off
Note:
- To enhance power synchronization feature, do not turn off the main power of this device.
- Fan stops within 90 seconds after power synchronization initiated.
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Note
HDD Modes
 Reset the device is necessary when changing HDD Mode. Press “Raid Reset” button only
when the device is powered on & connected to a running PC. HDD pre-installation is
mandatory.
 Make sure to backup data before changing HDD mode since such practice requires HDD
reformatting and all data will be deleted.
 Detailed procedures to perform HDD Mode change as follows.
a. Install four HDDs into the storage center.
b. Connect the storage center to PC and have both devices powered on.
c. Adjust RAID switch correctly.
d. Pin and hold “RAID reset” button for 3 to 5 seconds to observe rapid blinking of four
HDD LEDs. The HDD mode adjustment completes when LED rapid blinking stops.
e. Initialize and format HDD(s) to complete operation.
 When using four HDDs with unequal capacity, users may experience capacity reduction
under RAID 0/3/5 and RAID1+0 configuration. Therefore, it is recommended to use HDDs
with equal capacity in order to utilize the application.
HDD
 Installing HDD(s) exceed 2TB is possible. However, make sure this device is operating
under Vista, Windows 7, Linux and Mac OS and activate GPT (GUID Partition Table) mode
when formatting this device to have it work correctly.
 Do not install or remove HDD while any HDD(s) is working.
USB & eSATA
 The equipped USB3.0 port is downward compatible with USB2.0
 eSATA host(PC) needs to support Port Multiplier function in order to have Individual
Mode(Single) operable thus 4 HDDs correctly recognized.
 If eSATA host(PC) doesn’t support hot swappable, and plug and play function, then please
pay attention to the sequence of powering on the storage center as follows
a. Connect eSATA cable when the storage center and PC are powered OFF.
b. Power on the storage center first and observe HDD Link LED(s) are light on
c. Power on PC
 Do not connect both USB & eSATA simultaneously! eSATA connection will be prioritized.
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Limited Warranty
Archgon warrants MH-3642RD-U3 is free from defects in materials or workmanship
under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase.
The limited warranty does not cover upon occurrence of the following events
1. Damages from misuse, accident or any man-caused damages
2. The disassembly or the re-equipping causes the damage arbitrarily.
3. Improper maintenance, leading to product failure or damage
4. Unsuitable physical or operating environment beyond product specification,
leading to product failure or damage.
＊ For further questions, please write an e-mail to [email protected]
www.archgon.com
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