Firmware Version 7.1
NEXSAN UNITY™NV10000 Storage System
Quick Start Guide
UNITY NV10000 Storage System
This document provides installation steps for racking, cabling, and setting up the Nexsan UNITY™ NV10000 Storage System, and cabling all Nexsan storage components for power and data/host connectivity.
For additional documentation, please visit https://www.nexsan.com/support/
Taking delivery
Your Unity shipment includes the UNITY NV10000, and one or more Unity Storage Expansions, depending on your configuration. Check to ensure no damage has been sustained to the packaging in transit. If anything appears damaged, you should file a claim with your reseller.
Hardware overview
The main components of the UNITY NV10000 are shown in the following front and rear view diagrams:
| Item a | Name Power button | Description Enables power to entire unit (both A and B nodes). |
| b | Status LEDs | See page 6 of this guide for LED indication descriptions. |
| c | Drive bays | Twenty-four 2.5″ Hot-swappable NVMe drive bays. |
| d | Tray handles | For secure insertion and removal of entire unit to and from rack. |
| 1 | Power supply unit | AC 1300W 1+1 redundant power supply 80+ Platinum. |
| 2 | Internal cooling fan vents | Positioned over rear chassis for optimal cooling. |
| 3 | LAN ports | 2 x 10GbE SFP+ ports. |
| 4 | LAN ports | 2 x 1GbE RJ45 ports. |
| 5 | VGA port | For VGA display or monitor. |
| 16 7 | PCIE slots (2) | 1 x PCIe Gen3 x16 (upper slot), 1 x PCIE Gen3 x8 (lower slot). Can support the following SAS HBA, Network Interface Card (NIC) and Fibre Channel (FC) connections: · Dual/Quad SAS HBA · Dual port 25G, 40G NIC · Dual port 100G NIC (upper slot) · Dual port 16G/32G FC |
| USB 3.0 ports (2) | Can support USB-enabled devices such as keyboard, mouse, r USB/SATA DVD drive, or flash drive. | |
| 18 | Audio jack | For COM port. |
| 9 | Dedicated IPMI LAN port | Intelligent Platform Management Interface, for remote access, · arlitanaa and MarlaClarnalle |
Prepare for installation
A Carefully read safety notices on page 8.
B Ensure ahead of time that you have a suitable rack; see Rack and enclosure specifications onpage 8.
C Ensure that you have a Phillips screwdriver.
D Have someone assist you during installation.
CAUTION: Acclimate new disk drives to room temperature for two hours before you install them.
Unpack the UNITY NV10000
A Remove all the components from the packaging. Reach under the chassis to pull it free from the foam insert.
Do NOT lift the UNITY NV10000 chassis from its packaging using the controller handles or the attached rails.
B Place the components on an anti-static surface until you are ready to use them.
UNITY NV10000 package contents
- One Unity Storage System
- 2 outer-rack rail assemblies (inner-chassis rails are already installed)
- 4 mounting screws with 4 washers to attach outer-rack rails to the rack (1 on the front and 1 on the back for both the left and right rail assemblies)
- 2 long screws to secure the chassis to the rack from the front (attached to the chassis)
- Up to twenty-four NVMe SSD drives. (Check that the components included in your shipment correspond to your packing slip.)
- Four SAS cables, HD Mini SAS to HD Mini SAS. (May be optional, check shipment components and packing slip.)
- Network cable for internode communication
- Two power cords
- One electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap
CAUTION: Physical installation requires two people.
Example rack positions for components:
- UNITY NV10000 on top, Unity Storage Expansion below
Example of UNITY NV10000 with U2G460
Step 1: Install the outer-rack rails on the rack
A Attach the RIGHT and LEFT outer-rack rails to the rack by inserting the hooks included on the rails into the holes provided on the rack.
The hooks should be located in the BOTTOM holes of the rack units selected.
B Extend rail assemblies to fit the depth of the rack. Pull on the rear of the assembly until the hooks reach the back of the rack.
C Push the safety lock forward to secure the bracket. Check that the safety lock is disengaged before mounting. Then push the lock forward to secure.
Screw each of the rails to the bottom hole of the rack using the mounting screws provided.
Step 2: Install the inner chassis rails on the chassis (if necessary)
A Extend the inner rail toward the front of the rail assembly as far as possible, then depress the locking tab to pull it completely out.
B Place the inner rail on the side of the chassis aligning the hooks of the chassis with the rail extension holes.
C Slide the extension toward the front of the chassis.
D If desired, secure the chassis with screws.
E Repeat steps A-D for the other inner rail
Step 3: Install the UNITY NV10000 on the rack
A Lift the UNITY NV10000 chassis from each side— not from the front and back.
B Line up the inner-chassis rails with the front of the outer-rack rails.
C Slide the inner-chassis rails into the outer-rack rails, keeping the pressure even on both sides; you have to depress the locking tabs as you insert them.
D Push the UNITY NV10000 completely into the rack; you should hear the locking tabs click into position.
E Tighten the thumbscrews that hold the front of the UNITY NV10000 to the rack.
Step 4: Install the NVMe SSDs
CAUTION: Put on the ESD wrist strap before starting:
A Slip the wrist loop over your hand (left or right), then tighten the loop against your wrist.
B Attach the clip end of the anti-static wrist strap to a properly grounded metal surface.
Installation order:
- Install the NVMe SSDs in the slots as indicated on the label on the drives.
To install the drives:
A Slide the release button on the front of the drive carrier and open the handle.
B Insert the hard-drive carrier into the drive bay until the carrier contacts the backplane.
C Close the hard-drive carrier handle to lock the drive in place.
D Repeat these steps for each drive.
Install the Unity Storage Expansion
Unpack and install any Unity Storage Expansion included in your Unity shipment.
For detailed instructions, refer to the appropriate Nexsan Unity Storage System Quick Start Guide included in the Unity packaging.
Connect the UNITY NV10000
This section describes the steps for connecting the network and power cables, and for connecting a
Unity Storage Expansion(s) to the UNITY NV10000.
Step 1: Connect network cable to IPMI
A For remote access, monitoring and hardware management, plug an Ethernet cable into the dedicated IPMI LAN port on the back panel, bottom right.
B Repeat this step on the second controller. For controller connectivity with the Unity Storage System, see Step 5: Connect to Unity Storage Expansions.
Step 2: Connect peripherals & monitor
A Connect input devices such as keyboard and mouse using the USB ports.
B If required connect monitor to VGA port.
NOTE: This step is only required for initial system setup.
Step 3: Connect the network cables
A For management access on the nx99 interface, plug an Ethernet cable into the on-board BOTTOM RJ-45 port on controller 1, as shown.
B For data access on nx0, plug one or two SFP+ cable(s) into the on-board 10GbE port(s).
C Repeat this step on the second controller.
D Plug a short Ethernet cable into the on-board UPPER RJ-45 port and connect it to the same port on the peer controller.
Step 4: Connect your power supply
A Each UNITY NV10000 PSU must be connected to your storage rack’s source of power, for continuous power and controller connectivity.
B Using the two supplied power cords, connect each PSU to main power, making sure to fold down the power cord-retaining clip over each one.
Step 5: Connect to Unity Storage Expansions
The UNITY NV10000 can connect to one direct Unity Storage Expansion, or with multiple expansions connected to each directly attached Unity Storage Expansion.
If you are adding multiple Unity Storage Expansions, power them on from last to first.
A Cross-connect from the Add-on SAS OUT ports on each storage system controller to the SAS IN ports on the first expansion controllers, as shown in UNITY NV10000 connected to U2G460(x2) on page 5.
CAUTION: Do not connect to the Unity Storage Expansion from the on-board SAS ports on the UNITY NV10000.
B Connect any additional storage expansions using the daisy chain method, also as shown.
For details about connections and about cascading to more Unity Storage Expansions, please see the
Nexsan Unity Storage Expansion Reference Guide: https://www.nexsan.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/12/Nexsan_Unity_Storage_Expansion_Reference_Guide_v70.pdf
Step 6: Connect to hosts
Under the required LUN (Logical Unit Number) mask configuration, when connecting the UNITY NV10000 to a Fibre Channel switch, each host has at least one connection to that switch, creating multiple paths to the LUN. For a given LUN, all the paths on the owning controller are optimized and all the paths on the other controller are non-optimized. File systems can be accessed from the virtual network interface, bound to the owning controller dynamically.
Power on Unity components
Power on the Unity components in this sequence:
- Power on your Unity Storage Expansion.
- Power on the UNITY NV10000.
IMPORTANT: If a drive carrier activity LED does not light up, check to make sure the corresponding drive is properly seated in the chassis.
Step 1: Power on your Unity Storage Expansion
A Press and hold the power button located on the right front panel of the chassis until the power LED lights up 
.
Step 2: Power on the UNITY NV10000
A Press and hold the power button located on the left front panel of the chassis until the power LED lights up .
B Verify that the power LEDs 
on the frontleft control panel are illuminated to ensure that the controller nodes are receiving powand the power modules are functioning properly.
C Verify that the drive carriers LEDs are illuminated in green.
Monitor the Unity Storage System
This section describes the front panel LEDs that help you to monitor the Nexsan Unity Storage System.
Control panel LEDs
The control panels located on the front left side of the Unity system have several LEDs. These LEDs provide you with critical information related to the corresponding node.
| LED | Indication |
 |
Power Indicates power is being supplied to the system’s power supply module. This LED is illuminated in yellow when the system is operating normally. When the LED is blinking, the system is in standby mode (system has AC power but is off). |
 |
System Fault Critical system failure is detected when this LED is illuminated in red. Failure events include processor, memory, voltage regulator, thermal, fan failure, NMI, etc. |
Drive carrier LEDs
Each drive carrier has two LEDs. If a drive fails, replace the drive as described in the Nexsan Unity Storage Expansion Reference Guide at www.nexsan.com/ (see Support > Unity >Documents & Downloads).
| LED | Indication |
| Green | A steady green LED indicates the drive is powered on. If this LED is not lit, the drive is not getting power. If this LED is flashing, the drive is being accessed (read or write). |
| Red | A steady red LED indicates a drive failure. |
Configure the Management Interface (nx99)
Configure network settings for the management interface (nx99) using the nxadmin CLI (Command Line Interface.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended to configure the management interface (nx99) on a different subnet from the primary data network interface (nx0).
In a flat network environment, it is acceptable to configure both interfaces on the same subnet.
Configure the Management Interface (nx99) using the nxadmin CLI
A Connect to the UNITY NV10000 using input devices, see Step 2: Connect peripherals & monitor on page 4.
B When connected, type nxadmin to log on.
C Type the default nxadmin password: PASSWORD (all upper-case).
D Type setip.
E Type IP addresses for the management interface; use the Tab key to navigate between fields.
NOTE: Do not set the network settings for the primary data network interface (nx0); you configure this interface in the Unity System Configuration wizard.
F Tab to the <Validate> option and press Enter.
G Once validation completes, tab to the <OK> option and press Enter.
Set up the UNITY NV10000
Start the initial setup
A Open Google Chrome.
B In the address bar, type the UNITY NV10000 Management Virtual IP address in the browser address bar and press ENTER.
C Read the terms of the license agreement.
D Click the I accept the terms of the license agreement check box and click the Next button to continue.
Set the password for the Unity Administrator
The UNITY NV10000 is shipped with the built-in Unity Administrator account, nxadmin.
- Enter the new password and retype it to confirm, then click the Set Password button.
The Unity System Configuration wizard opens.
Step 1: Configure Unity System properties
Enter the Unity System information.
A Enter a Unity System Name.
B Optionally, select a Server Time Zone.
C Optionally, select Unity CallHome settings.
D Click the Next button to continue.
Step 2: Configure network settings
A Enter IP addresses for the Primary Data Network Interface (nx0).
In the examples shown, with the exception of the subnet mask, the last digit of the network addresses increments from 0 to 10 (or 190 to 200). This practice is a useful standard if you
need to manage multiple systems.
B Verify the Management Interface (nx99) IP addresses, ideally on a separate subnet.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended to configure the two management interfaces on separate subnets. In a flat network environment, it is acceptable to configure both interfaces on the same subnet.
C Verify the Gateway and DNS addresses for all network interfaces.
NOTE: The Default Gateway address should be in the same domain as the Primary Data Network (nx0).
D Click the Next button to continue.
Step 3: Configure IPMI settings
This step prompts you to configure the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) settings. To enable IPMI for Unity, you must connect a network cable to the dedicated IPMI GbE LAN port on the back top left of each controller of the Unity Storage System enclosure. Enter IP addresses for Controller 1, Controller 2, and the IP Subnet and IPMI Gateway.
E Enter and confirm the IPMI password.
F Click the Next button to continue.
Step 4: Allocate storage
This step prompts you to allocate RAID storage
A Click Allocate to assign the storage system to the
UNITY NV10000.
B Click Configure to specify RAID settings.
Recommended RAID set levels, number of RAID sets, hot spares, and volume names are preconfigured.
C Click the Apply button to apply the RAID settings and then repeat for the second controller.
D Click the Next button to continue.
Step 5: Verifying configuration settings
In this step, review the summary of the settings you have set up.
- To change a configuration setting, click the step identifier at the top of the System Configuration wizard panel to go back to a specific step. For example, if you want to change the Unity System name, click the Step 2 icon.
- To finalize the Unity Storage System setup, click Create.
Step 6: Applying configuration settings
The System Configuration wizard applies your settings, displaying the progress as the wizard configures Unity.
- To change a configuration setting, click the step identifier at the top of the System Configuration wizard panel to go back to a specific step. For example, if you want to change the Unity System name, click Step 2.
- When Unity System configuration is complete, youcan open the Add Storage Pool wizard, OR
- Click No I’m finished to close the wizard.
Unity opens and displays the dashboard, where you can view Cluster Status, Events, Storage System statistics, Storage Pools, File Systems, and LUNs.
What’s next
Please see the Unity Setup Guide included with your
Unity System for basic setup instructions for:
- Authentication
- Adding a storage pool, file system and LUN
- Mounting an iSCSI LUN on a Windows client
- Mapping a CIFS file system to a Windows client
Safety notices
- This equipment must be installed and operated in compliance with local laws and regulations.
- Ensure that the ambient temperature at the installation is between 5°C (41°F) and 30°C (86°F). If the temperature at the site is not actively regulated, ensure that daily and seasonal temperature changes will not result in the ambient temperature going outside these limits.
- Always fully stabilize racks with wall anchors or stabilizing legs, or both, before mounting Nexsan storage enclosures on the rack.
- Situate the rack so that full air flow at both the front and the rear of Nexsan storage enclosures is possible.
- Ensure that the floor beneath the mounting rack has enough load-bearing capacity to support the rack and all mounted components.
- Always fully secure all rack-mounting hardware when installing Nexsan storage enclosures in a rack. Insufficient rack-mount support may allow the unit to fall onto other rack-mounted hardware or onto the floor, potentially damaging equipment or causing injury to nearby personnel.
Rack and enclosure specifications
- 2U enclosure height
- The rack must have square holes
- Maximum distances: 30″ (800 mm)
- Height: 3.4’’ 86 mm
- Width: 17.1’’ 434 mm
- Depth: 35.9’’ 912 mm
- Weight: 96 lbs 143 lbs 43.5 kg (no drives installed) 64.8 kg (all drives installed)
Power requirements
- 1300W 1+1 redundant power supply 80+ Platinum
- AC Input:100-120V, 12A, 50-60Hz DC Output: 900W
- AC Input: 200-240V, 8A, 50-60Hz DC Output: 1300W
- Power consumption varies depending on the number and size of drives, running fans, and room temperature.
Part number: P0450189. Rev: 12.24 . Release Date: Dec. 2024
Related Documentation: Nexsan Unity Hardware Maintenance
Guide, Nexsan Unity Software User Guide, Nexsan Unity Help,
Nexsan Unity nxadmin CLI Reference Guide.
Technical Support
By Email: support@nexsan.com
By Web: https://www.nexsan.com/support/
Copyright © 2010-2024 Nexsan Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nexsan®, UNITY NV10000™, U2G460™, and the Nexsan logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nexsan. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Nexsan 1287 Anvilwood Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089 USA
www.nexsan.com
Documents / Resources
 |
NEXSAN UNITY NV10000 Storage System [pdf] User Guide NV1000, NV10000, UNITY NV10000 Storage System, UNITY NV10000, Storage System, System |
