StarTech.com SAT3520U3SR 2 Bay USB 3.0 RAID 3.5in HDD Enclosure
Instruction Manual
Introduction
The SAT3520U3SR USB 3.0 to Dual Bay 3.5" SATA External RAID Enclosure turns two 3.5" SATA (SATA I, SATA II, SATA III) hard drives into an external RAID array through a USB 3.0 connection. Large capacity drives (tested with up to 4TB per bay) can be used to greatly enhance your computer's storage/backup capabilities. Built-in support for multiple RAID modes (RAID 0, 1, JBOD) enables the enclosure to fit the role you most need; whether it's greater capacity or data redundancy. The drives can also be configured for non-RAID operation, so both drives remain independent. Compliant with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 specification, which can provide up to 5 Gbps of data bandwidth (10x more than USB 2.0), large amounts of data can be transferred or streamed faster than before. Backward compatible with USB 2.0 however, this enclosure can still be used on older systems. The SAT3520U3SR is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.
Packaging Contents
- 1x Dual Drive Enclosure
- 1x USB 3.0 Cable
- 1x Screw Kit
- 1x Plastic Stand
- 1x Universal Power Adapter
- 3x Power Adapter Plug (NA/EU/UK)
- 1x Instruction Manual
System Requirements
- USB 3.0 enabled computer system with available USB port
- AC electrical outlet
- Microsoft® Windows® XP/ Server 2003/ Server 2008 R2/ Vista/ 7/ 8 (32/64-bit), or Apple® Mac OS® X, or Linux®
Front View
The product is a black and silver 2-bay 3.5-inch SATA HDD enclosure with a brushed aluminum front panel. The front features a power button and two drive activity LEDs labeled 'HDD I' and 'HDD II'. The front panel of the enclosure displays a power button with an illuminated blue indicator light, and two drive activity LEDs labeled 'HDD I' and 'HDD II'.
Back View
The rear panel of the enclosure includes a USB 3.0 Type B connector for host connection, a DC power connector for the external power adapter, a main power on/off switch, and a fan on/off switch. Regulatory compliance logos such as CE and FC are also visible.
Installation
WARNING! Hard drives and storage enclosures require careful handling, especially when being transported. If you are not careful with your hard disk, lost data may result. Always handle your hard drive and storage device with caution. Be sure that you are properly grounded by wearing an anti-static strap when handling computer components or discharge yourself of any static electricity build-up by touching a large grounded metal surface (such as the computer case) for several seconds.
- Remove the four screws holding the rear panel in place (2x top edge, 2x bottom edge) then slide the entire rear panel assembly out from the enclosure. Illustration showing the removal of four screws from the rear panel of the enclosure. The rear panel assembly is then depicted being slid out from the main enclosure body.
- Place the first 3.5" SATA hard drive into the top drive bay, then slide it toward the rear panel until the drive interface is firmly connected to the SATA connector. Repeat this step with the second 3.5" SATA hard drive, using the remaining bay.
- Secure the SATA drives to the frame, using the provided screws.
- Select the operating mode for the enclosure using the Jumper located on the inside of the rear panel assemble (see section "RAID Mode" for details). A close-up view of the internal rear panel assembly reveals a set of jumpers and a reset button. A blue circle highlights the jumper block used for selecting the RAID mode.
- Once you have set the Mode Jumper to the desired RAID mode, connect the external power adapter to the rear panel assembly. Turn the enclosure on.
- Wait at least several seconds for the enclosure to fully power up then press the Reset Button, located near the jumpers, to set the RAID mode.
- Wait several seconds for the enclosure to initialize the RAID mode, then turn the enclosure off, and disconnect the external power adapter.
- Reassemble the enclosure by sliding the rear panel assembly back into the enclosure casing.
- Fasten the rear panel by replacing the 4 screws removed in Step 1.
RAID Mode
The enclosure can be configured to operate in one of three modes (Normal/JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1). Switching between the different modes is accomplished through the jumper and reset button located on the inside of the enclosure.
| Mode | Jumper Position | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Jumpers on pins 1-2 and 3-4. | Normal (JBOD) leaves the hard drives as independent disks. The operating system will treat them each separately. Different sized hard drives can be used in this mode. |
| RAID 0 | Jumpers on pins 1-2 and 5-6. | RAID 0 (Stripe) combines both hard drives into a single large disk array. Data is split in half evenly across each disk simultaneously. Read/write performance is increased as a result as is disk capacity, but failure of any one disk will result in permanent and total data loss. Identical hard drives must be used in this mode. |
| RAID 1 | Jumpers on pins 3-4 and 5-6. | RAID 1 (Mirror) writes the same data to both hard drives, creating mirror copies. This provides redundancy in case one drive fails, but only provides one drive worth of storage space. Identical hard drives must be used in this mode. |
Changing Modes
- Disassemble the enclosure so you can access the internal jumper and reset button on the drive bay cage.
- Set the jumper to the desired mode.
- Power on the enclosure and press the reset button.
Rebuild Mode
In RAID1 mode, if one of the drives fails the HDD LED will not light up. Replacing the drive, will cause the enclosure to automatically enter rebuild mode when connected to a host computer. The HDD LEDs will flash at different rates to indicate that the RAID1 array is being rebuilt. Depending on the size of the drives, this may take several hours to a full day or more.
Using the Storage Device
Windows XP/Vista/7/8
If you are using brand new hard drives that do not contain any data, or after changing between RAID Modes, then you will first need to prepare the hard drive for use before you can write data to them. From the main desktop, right-click on "My Computer" ("Computer" in Vista/7/8), then select Manage. In the new Computer Management window, select Disk Management from the left window panel.
Screenshots illustrating the process within Windows Disk Management. The first shows a hard drive listed as 'Unallocated', with an option to create a 'New Partition'. The second screenshot displays the same drive after partitioning, now labeled as 'New Volume (E:)' and marked as 'Healthy'. If you are installing a hard drive that already has data on it, then after plugging it in, the drive should automatically show up with a drive letter assigned within My Computer.
Specifications
| Number of Drive Bays | 2 |
|---|---|
| Host Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Chipset ID | Asmedia ASM1051 Silicon Image Sil5923 |
| External Connectors | 1 x USB 3.0 type B female 1 x DC Power |
| LEDs | 1 x Power 2 x Drive Power/Activity |
| Compatible Hard Drive Type | 3.5" SATA hard drives |
| Fans | 1 x 50mm |
| Maximum Data Bandwidth | USB 3.0: 5 Gbps |
| Raid | 0, 1, JBOD |
| Enclosure Material | Aluminum and Plastic |
| Power Adapter | 12V DC, 3000mA, center positive |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C ~ 70°C (32°F ~ 158°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -20°C ~ 70°C (-4°F ~ 158°F) |
| Humidity | 10% ~ 90% RH |
| Dimensions | 192.0mm x 75.0mm x 125.0mm |
| Weight | 1280g |
| Compatible Operating Systems | Windows XP/ Server 2003/ Server 2008 R2/ Vista/ 7/ 8 (32/64-bit), Mac OS X (*USB 2.0 mode only), Linux |
Technical Support
StarTech.com's lifetime technical support is an integral part of our commitment to provide industry-leading solutions. If you ever need help with your product, visit www.startech.com/support and access our comprehensive selection of online tools, documentation, and downloads.
For the latest drivers/software, please visit www.startech.com/downloads
Warranty Information
This product is backed by a two year warranty. In addition, StarTech.com warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for the periods noted, following the initial date of purchase. During this period, the products may be returned for repair, or replacement with equivalent products at our discretion. The warranty covers parts and labor costs only. StarTech.com does not warrant its products from defects or damages arising from misuse, abuse, alteration, or normal wear and tear.
Limitation of Liability
In no event shall the liability of StarTech.com Ltd. and StarTech.com USA LLP (or their officers, directors, employees or agents) for any damages (whether direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental, consequential, or otherwise), loss of profits, loss of business, or any pecuniary loss, arising out of or related to the use of the product exceed the actual price paid for the product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. If such laws apply, the limitations or exclusions contained in this statement may not apply to you.
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