The HighPoint RocketRAID 600L Series HBA (Host Bus Adapter) is a line of 6Gb/s SATA PCI-Express 2.0 RAID HBAs designed to provide cost-effective SATA 6Gb/s solutions without compromising performance or reliability. These second-generation SATA 6Gb/s host controllers utilize a PCI-Express 2.0 x4 host bus interface and support both non-RAID and RAID configurations for the fastest SATA 6Gb/s devices available today.
Function Description:
The primary function of the RocketRAID 600L series HBA is to manage and control SATA storage devices, enabling the creation of various RAID configurations. Powered by HighPoint's industry-proven RAID Technology, these HBAs allow users to quickly and easily configure RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD arrays through intuitive BIOS and web-based management interfaces. This capability enhances data redundancy, improves storage performance, or combines multiple drives into a single logical unit, depending on the chosen RAID level. The series supports 6Gb/s SATA devices, ensuring compatibility with modern high-speed SSDs and HDDs.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Interface: PCI-Express 2.0 x4 host bus interface. This ensures a high-bandwidth connection to the host system, crucial for 6Gb/s SATA performance.
- SATA Speed: 6Gb/s SATA support, compatible with the latest SATA III devices.
- RAID Levels: Supports RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 5 (striping with parity), RAID 10 (striped mirrors), and JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks).
- Controller Family: RocketRAID 600L Series HBA.
- Specific Models and Port Configurations:
- RocketRAID 640L: Features 4 internal SATA ports.
- RocketRAID 642L: Equipped with 2 internal SATA ports and 2 external eSATA ports.
- RocketRAID 644L: Provides 4 external eSATA ports.
- RocketRAID 644LS: Includes 1 Mini-SAS port, offering a compact solution for connecting multiple SATA drives via a single cable.
- LED Indicators: Includes connectors for Active LED (A1) and Fail LED (F1) pins, which can be connected to chassis LEDs for system status monitoring.
- Alarm Buzzer: Features a BEEP1 connector for an alarm buzzer, providing audible alerts for critical events.
- I2C Connector: J1 connector for I2C communication (N/A for specific functions listed).
- Compliance:
- FCC Part 15 Class B: Complies with regulations for digital devices, ensuring minimal radio frequency interference.
- European Union Compliance: Meets European Standard EN55022 (1998) Class B and EN55024 (1998) for information technology equipment.
Usage Features:
- Easy Installation: The HBA is designed for straightforward hardware installation. Users need to open the system chassis, locate an unused PCI-E (2.0/1.0) (x4, x8, x16) slot or (3.0) (x16) slot, remove the slot cover, gently insert the HBA, and secure its bracket. After installation, hard disks or disk enclosures are connected using SATA cables.
- BIOS Utility: Upon powering on the system after installation, the adapter BIOS posts, scanning for devices and displaying information about each disk. Users can access the RocketRAID 600L series BIOS Utility by pressing "Ctrl + H" when prompted, allowing for initial RAID configuration and management.
- Driver and Software Installation (Windows):
- After booting into Windows, the system automatically detects the card and initiates the "Found New Hardware Wizard."
- Insert the HighPoint software CD.
- Run "RunSetup.exe" from the CD to launch the HighPoint software Install program.
- Click "Install Driver" to install the Device Driver for the RocketRAID 600L series HBA.
- Alternatively, users can manually update the driver by right-clicking the "RAID Controller" entry in Device Manager, selecting "Update Driver Software," and browsing to the driver location:
\Driver\RR64xL\Windows.
- Reboot the system after driver installation.
- Web-based Management Interface (WebGUI): The RocketRAID 600L series HBAs are managed through a web-based interface. After driver installation, users can install the HighPoint RAID Management software by clicking "Install WebGUI" from the installation program or by browsing to the setup program located at
\Management_Software\RocketRAID_45xx27xx26xx6xx\*.exe on the software CD. Once installed, the software can be launched via a desktop shortcut, providing a graphical interface for advanced RAID management, monitoring, and configuration.
- Driver and Software Installation (Linux, FreeBSD, and OS X): For these operating systems, detailed installation steps are provided in the README file and Installation Guide located within the driver folder on the software CD.
- Low Profile Bracket: The kit includes a low profile bracket, making the HBA suitable for installation in smaller form factor systems.
- SATA 6G Cable: A SATA 6G cable is included in the kit, ensuring users have the necessary connectivity for their drives.
Maintenance Features:
- LED Monitoring: The Active LED and Fail LED pins allow for external chassis LED connections, providing visual cues for the operational status and any potential failures of the RAID array or connected drives.
- Alarm Buzzer: The BEEP1 connector for an alarm buzzer provides an audible warning system for critical events, enabling quick identification of issues that may require attention.
- Web-based Management Utility: The HighPoint RAID Management WebGUI offers comprehensive tools for monitoring the health and status of the RAID arrays and individual drives. This includes features for checking drive status, array rebuild progress, and event logs, facilitating proactive maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Customer Support: HighPoint Technologies offers customer support for any problems encountered while utilizing the RocketRAID series HBA. Support resources include a web support portal (
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/websupport/) and the official company website (http://www.highpoint-tech.com). Online help for the Web RAID Management Utility is also available at http://www.highpoint-tech.com/help/.
- Firmware Updates: While not explicitly detailed in this excerpt, typically, RAID controllers like the RocketRAID series receive firmware updates to improve performance, fix bugs, and add new features. These updates are usually available through the manufacturer's website.
- Error Correction and Reporting: The RAID technology inherently provides data protection (e.g., parity in RAID 5, mirroring in RAID 1) that helps in data recovery in case of drive failure. The management software reports errors and events, aiding in timely maintenance actions.
Need help?
To Next Page
General