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Although RocketAIC drives are ready to use right out of the box, HighPoint has provided a range of optional tools and features that enable customers to tailor the drive to best suit their application and host environment. This article provides a summary of several of these key features, and provides links for more information and in-depth guides.
Quick & Intuitive Management Suite
RocketAIC Drives can be managed and monitored using HighPoint’s WebGUI and CLI software utilities:
The WebGUI is available for all OS platforms; Linux, macOS and Windows
The CLI is available for PC-based hardware platforms (Linux and Windows OS)
The WebGUI (Web-Based Graphical Management Interface) is an intuitive graphical user interface designed to work with all modern Web Browsers. Most of its features, especially those related to RAID creation, have default settings that let you breeze through everything with a few simple clicks. However, the WebGUI also provides advanced features that customers may find useful.
CLI (Command Line Interface): The HighPoint CLI (Command Line Interface) is ideal for seasoned administrators and platforms that do not utilize graphical operating systems. For many Linux veterans, it is the tool of choice, as it runs from a terminal window, is universal for any distribution, and does not require a graphical OS.
Special Feature: HighPoint’s Storage Health Inspector Solution (SHI)
SHI provides wealth of information about NVMe storage via SMART (self-monitoring, analysis and reporting technology). SHI is accessible via the WebGUI software, using the dedicated “SHI” tab.
Customers can instantly, check the temperature, endurance rating, and operational status of each RocketAIC SSD. SHI was designed to work in tandem with the WebGUI/CLI’s Event Log and SMTP Email Alert Notification system, which will record and broadcast any warnings or errors reported by SHI.
Redundant Arrays – Advanced Features
RocketAIC Drives are shipped preconfigured as Stripe Arrays. However, customers are free to reconfigure the SSDs into Mirrored (RAID 1) or Security & Speed (RAID 10) arrays.
These type of arrays are known as “redundant” arrays – they provide a layer of security and allow the data to remain accessible in cases were one or more SSDs stops responding or fails.
The WebGUI and CLI management utilities provide several advanced options for redundant arrays, that enable customers to control how the AIC drive reacts in the case of a broken/critical array (due to one or more SSDs having failed or stopped responding).
Auto-Rebuild: When a physical disk fails, the RocketAIC drive will take the unit offline. Once the SSD is replaced, the controller will automatically rebuild the array.
Rebuild Priority: Customers can specify how the host system will allocate resources to the RocketAIC drive in order to complete a rebuild procedure. A total of 5 levels are provided; Lowest, Low, Medium, High, Highest). Medium is the default setting.
Auto resume incomplete rebuilding after power on or reboot system: This option will prompt the RocketAIC to resume building array if the system restarts during a rebuild procedure (f0r example, due to an OS/Software related update).
Global Spare Pool: Customers that elect to configure a new redundant array have the option of assigning unused SSDs to act as a spare disk, by assigning them to the Spare Pool. The Spare Pool is a selection of physical disks (SSDs in the case of a RocketAIC drive) that will be used to rebuild an array in the event of a SSD failure, or in the event an SSD suddenly drops offline. Spares will come into play if a redundant array enters a Critical state.
The WebGUI and CLI’s Add/Remove Spare command is used to assign an SSD to act as a Spare Disk. Spare Disks can be used to manually or automatically rebuild Redundant RAID arrays (Mirrored, Security & Speed Arrays) in the case of an SSD failure. If the Auto-Rebuild feature is enabled (discussed previously), the RocketAIC drive will check the spare pool for an available Spare Disk to initiate the rebuild process.
RocketAIC Drives can support one or More Disk Arrays!
Customers can elect to configure one or arrays using the NVMe SSDs hosted by their RocketAIC drive.
For example, the RocketAIC 7505H’s default stripe array is comprised of all four Samsung 990 PRO SSDs. These can be reconfigured into two smaller Stripe arrays, two Mirrored arrays, or a Stripe array alongside a Mirrored array.
Each array will be recognized as a separate physical disk by the operating system, and can be partitioned and formatted as desired.
Online Array Roaming
RocketAIC drives support HighPoint’s Online Array Roaming capability. This feature can be a useful for trouble shooting and field service, and ensures your data remains intact and accessible even if the drive’s electronic board is damaged.
SSDs hosted by a RocketAIC drive can be moved to another RocketAIC drive of the same class (RA7505H to another RA7505x or RA7540x), without having to start from scratch or recover an array! For more information about HighPoint Online Array Roaming, contact a HighPoint Sales/Support representative.
Enable Audible Alarm
All RocketAIC drives feature a built-in audible alarm system that will emit warnings in the case of an array failure or dropped/unresponsive SSD. The alarm can also be used to notify administrators of any temperature related issues (such an SSD’s operating temperature exceeding the threshold specified by SHI), or any problems with the RocketAIC’s cooling fans (say for example, a fan’s speed suddenly drops below the recommended RPM). The alarm is enabled by default, but can be disabled using the WebGUI or CLI management software.
Please note, when the alarm is disabled, administrators will need to regularly check the WebGUI/CLI’s Event Log or configure Email notification to receive warnings or notifications about any issue related to the RocketAIC drive or hosted SSDs.
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