4.3.1. Connecting to the Host Computer via FireWire 800 4.3.2. Connecting to the Host Computer via Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4.4. Setting the LCD Display Time & Date 4.5. Formatting and Partitioning Your LaCie Hard Drive 4.5.1. Windows Users 4.5.2. Mac Users 5. Using the LaCie Biggest FW800...
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5.2.4. RAID and Disk Status Messages 5.2.5. RAID and Disk Information Messages 6. Maintaining Your LaCie Biggest FW800 6.1. Removing/Replacing A Drive 6.2. Firmware Updates 7. Technical Information 7.1. File System Formats 7.2. Available Storage Capacity 7.3. Optimizing Data Transfers 8. FireWire Questions & Answers 9. USB Questions & Answers 10. Troubleshooting 11. Contacting Customer Support 11.1. LaCie Technical Support Contacts 12. Warranty Information...
Never place objects containing fluctuations not exceeding ± 10% of the modify it. Never insert any metallic ob- liquids on the LaCie Biggest FW800, as nominal, transient over-voltages accord- ject into the drive to avoid any risk of they may spill into its openings. Doing ing to over-voltage category II).
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CD, DVD or Tape. LaCie offers a complete line of CD, DVD and Tape drives, and if you would like more information on backup, please refer to the LaCie white paper on backup methods and technology.
RAID 5 + hot spare. Featuring intelligent online re- covery, the LaCie Biggest FW800 allows one drive to be designated a hot spare – if one drive fails, the LaCie Biggest FW800 will seamlessly rebuild the failed drive’s data on the hot spare.
TeChNICAl NOTe: Windows 2000 Users! Windows Users ■ In order for the LaCie Biggest FW800 to be rec- USB 2.0 ognized by your computer using the FireWire/ IEEE 1394 interface, you must have Windows Pentium III or higher compatible processor ❖...
Your Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 2.2. Package Content Your LaCie hard drive package should contain the following: LaCie Biggest FW800 RAID subsystem tower and 4 drive trays with SATA hard disks FireWire 800 9-to-9-pin cable FireWire 800/400 9-to-6-pin cable Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable...
Table of Contents LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 2.3. Specifications Host Interface ■ FireWire 400, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 ❖ Weight and Dimensions ■ 25.3 lbs/11.5 Kgw ❖ 152.8 x 206.4 x 268.5 mm ❖ Operation Temperature ■...
CAUTION: Scroll Button – The scroll button is used to Biggest FW800 should be installed in a well- navigate through the information on the LCD ventilated area and in such a way as to maintain Display, and is used to select settings for setting sufficient airflow across the controller chips.
8. FireWire Questions & Answers. Serial/RS-232 Port – The Serial/RS-232 Port is used to connect the LaCie Biggest FW800 to a terminal or a terminal equipped PC with terminal emulation software. The status of the LaCie Biggest FW800 can then be viewed remotely.
Your Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 2.5. Cables and Connectors 2.5.1. FireWire 400 and 800 Cables and Connectors ■ FireWire 400, also known as IEEE 1394, is a high- FireWire 800 Benefits speed serial input/output technology for connecting...
USB 2.0 icon USB 1.1 icon USB 2.0 Cables Your LaCie drive is shipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable, to ensure maximum data transfer performance when connected to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. The cable will also work when connected to a USB port, but drive performance will be limited to USB 1.1 transfer rates.
LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 2.6. Drive Tray Locks The Biggest FW800’s drive trays can be locked into To prevent the unexpected or ac- CAUTION: place with the provided keys to prevent accidental drive cidental pull-out of drive trays, LaCie recom- tray removal and damage.
User Manual page 3. Understanding RAID Your LaCie Biggest FW800 is shipped with a pre- ferent RAID levels: 0, 0 + 1, 5 and 5 + Hot Spare. This configured RAID level of 5, but it supports four dif- section will help you decide which RAID level is right 3.1.
2). In this configuration, you must have an even num- Excellent design for those seeking high perfor- ❖ ber of disks, so in the case of the LaCie Biggest FW800, mance, without achieving maximum reliability you would need to have four hard disks installed.
Understanding RAID LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 3.3. RAID 5 Independent Data Disks With Distributed Parity Blocks Characteristics and Advantages ■ This is the most versatile RAID level and offers high Highest Read data transaction rate I/O transaction rates, which greatly helps applications ❖...
Understanding RAID LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 3.4. RAID 5 + Hot Spare This level is the same as RAID 5, but one disk is des- ignated as a “Hot Spare,” which means that in the event of This diagram represents a a disk failure, the “Hot Spare”...
Step 1 4.1. Setting The RAID Level – The LaCie Biggest FW800 is pre-configured at RAID level Page 20 5, but you have the option of customizing your RAID level in this step. Step 2 4.2.
RAID Level Switch Selectors on the rear panel of settings and the RAID Level Switch Selectors, the LaCie Biggest FW800. The RAID level selectors consist the LCD will display the following two alternat- of two switches, with four possible switch position combina- ing messages: tions: RAID 0, 0 + 1, 5 and 5 + Hot Spare.
Setting Up Your Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 4.1.3. RAID 0 ■ Power off the LaCie Biggest FW800. Move switch 1 and 2 of the RAID Level Switch Se- lectors to the position. Fig. 4.1.3. 4.1.4. RAID 0 + 1 ■...
4.2. Creating an Array To initialize the disks in your array: Make sure the Biggest FW800 is turned off and the power cable is not connected. Ensure that the RAID level is correctly set and configured. Refer to section 4.1.
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If you are resetting the RAID level after having used ImpOrTANT INfO: The initialization pro- the LaCie Biggest FW800 at another RAID level, the cess is a time-intensive process and is dependent LaCie Biggest FW800 will display a warning on the...
LaCie Biggest FW800 to a host computer. This sec- cable. Otherwise, the LaCie Biggest FW800 will tion is divided into the two different interface connec- not be recognized by the host computer.
Connect the 9-pin end (A) of the FireWire 800 cable when the host computer has a FireWire 800 port. into the FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie The FireWire 800/400 9-to-6-pin cable is used Biggest FW800 (Fig. 4.3.1.A/B).
Otherwise, you will be limited to USB 1.1 data Connect the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable into the Hi- transfer rates. For more information about USB, Speed USB 2.0 port on the back of the LaCie Big- please see secions 2.5. Cables and Connectors, gest FW800 (A).
Setting Up Your Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 4.4. Setting the LCD Display Time & Date To change the time and date on the LCD Display, press and hold the Enter/Mute button ( ) for five seconds.
User Manual page 4.5. Formatting and Partitioning Your LaCie Hard Drive Before the LaCie Biggest FW800 array can be fully later uses to locate information. As you format the drive, utilized, it needs to be formatted. During this process, you will have the opportunity to divide the hard drive the array can also be customized with partitions.
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Setting Up Your Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 0 8. Click Next. 9. Click Next. 10. Click Next. 11. Click Next. 12. In this window (Fig. 4.5.1.C), you have the option of selecting the Quick Format option. This allows a much faster format;...
( Journaled). Journaling provides a continuous reads LaCie. record of changes to files on the hard drive. You 5. Select the LaCie drive, and then click on the Parti- will not be able to format in the MS-DOS File tion tab.
LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 5. Using the LaCie Biggest FW800 5.1. Disk Status and Activity Indicators This list is a key to the messages of the Disk Status Indicator and Disk Activity Indicator on each of the in- dividual Drive Bays.
User Manual page 5.2. LCD Display Messages The status of the LaCie Biggest FW800 controller and array can be viewed through the LCD Display. By using the Menu button to scroll through the messages, the following information is available:...
Using the LaCie Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 5.2.2. Rebuild Messages ■ These LCD Display messages may appear during a rebuild phase. LCD Display Message Message Cleared When... Rebuilding data to a new disk Rebuild completed successfully ❖...
Using the LaCie Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 5.2.3. Failure and Error Messages ■ These messages will be displayed in the event of a RAID or disk failure, or an error during a process. RAID Failure Messages...
RAID Configuration Failure Message LCD Display Message Message Cleared When... The setting of the RAID Level The LaCie Biggest FW800 is shut ❖ RAID Level Switch Selectors does not match the down and the RAID Level Switch Unmatched existing RAID level.
LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page Disk Initialization LCD Display Message Message Cleared When... The disks are spinning up. The LaCie Biggest FW800 has com- ❖ Biggest FW800 pleted disk initialization Initialize Disks Ready LCD Display Message Message Cleared When...
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Using the LaCie Biggest FW800 LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page Firmware Version LCD Display Message Message Cleared When... Displays the firmware version. The Menu button is pressed ❖ Firmware Ver: x.xx Fan And Temperature Information LCD Display Message Message Cleared When...
In the event that an individual hard disk fails in the Do NOT attempt to replace a CAUTION: LaCie Biggest FW800, please contact your LaCie re- hard disk yourself. Removing a hard disk from a seller or LaCie Customer Support. Additional, spare Drive Bay will void the warranty.
Mounts any FAT 32 drive of any size ❖ known as FAT 32. This is the file system to use if you are going to be using your LaCie Hard Drive between Mounts NTFS volumes as READ-only ❖ Macs and Windows operating systems.
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Technical Information LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page Windows Users ■ There are basically two file system formats for Win- utility, i.e. Disk Manager), and the individual file size is dows: FAT 32 and NTFS. The following information limited to 4GB.
RAM, or between storage devices. With ers that have host bus adapters that do not conform to external drives, such as the LaCie Biggest FW800, the OHCI standards. data is transferred from the drive to the computer via For the best performance, connect your LaCie Big- the FireWire or USB interface.
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200Mb/s rates, while hard drives typically deliver entire motherboard. data at the 400Mb/s rates. When the devices are daisy- Contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer chained (connected to each other and sharing a single Support for information abut FireWire 800 PCI or PC...
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Contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer Computers running Windows 2000 and Windows Support for information about Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI XP automatically manage Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices or PC Cards, or visit our website: www.lacie.com. and drivers, while Windows 98 SE and Windows Me...
FireWire Questions & Answers LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 8. FireWire Questions & Answers What Does IEEE 1394 Mean? that it can guarantee real-time data delivery, so there is no danger of inaccurately ordered or delayed frames. IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics...
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FireWire Questions & Answers LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page both the computer and consumer electronics industries. connected to a FireWire 800 host port. The 4-pin or 6- Whether connecting game consoles, personal video pin end of the FireWire cable must be connected to the...
USB Questions & Answers LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 9. USB Questions & Answers What Are The Benefits Of The USB Interfaces? performance gains of the new implementation of the USB standard. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 provides the neces- Cross-platform: Use your USB peripherals on both ❖...
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FireWire Questions & Answers LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page port. Speed USB 2.0 is backwards compatible, so you will be able to connect USB devices to Hi-Speed USB 2.0 If you buy a hub, make sure that it supports per-port hubs;...
6.1.. Using the existing disks, I First, power off the LaCie Biggest FW800 and remove all the Drive Bays. Next, set the new RAID want to create a new RAID level with the RAID Level Switch Selectors and power the LaCie Biggest FW800 back on. Gently array.
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I do? I only have two or three The LaCie Biggest FW800 cannot create an array from just two disks. If you only have three disks, disks. Can I still create a you can only create a RAID 5 + Hot Spare array. The three disks must be installed in the bottom three RAID array? Drive Bays, with the top Drive Bay (the Hot Spare location) empty.
If you have asked yourself all of the pertinent ques- computer, including CD/DVD burners tions in the troubleshooting checklist, and you still can’t get your LaCie drive to work properly, contact us via the contacts on page 51. Before contacting us, make sure Information to Include in Email Correspondence ■...
Contacting Customer Support LaCie Biggest FW800 User Manual page 11.1. LaCie Technical Support Contacts LaCie Asia, Singapore, and Hong Kong LaCie Australia Contact us at: Contact us at: http://www.lacie.com/asia/contact/ http://www.lacie.com/au/contact/ LaCie Belgium LaCie Canada Contact us at: Contact us at: http://www.lacie.com/be/contact/ (Français)
Any loss, corruption or destruction of data while us- The LaCie Biggest FW800 was operated/stored in ❖ ing a LaCie drive is the sole responsibility of the user, abnormal use or maintenance conditions; and under no circumstances will LaCie be held liable for The LaCie Biggest FW800 is repaired, modified or ❖...
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