Qnap Jbod Enclosure Software User Guide

JBOD Enclosure
Software User Guide
User Guide
Document Version: 2
01/12/2021

Overview

About QNAP JBOD Enclosures
QNAP JBOD enclosures are a series of expansion units designed to increase the storage capacity of your NAS, computer, or server. JBOD enclosures offer a wide range of storage applications. You can manage drives independently or group them together in a software RAID configuration using a host NAS, computer, or server. QNAP offers JBOD enclosures with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C or SFF interface ports to ensure quick and efficient data transfer between the JBOD enclosure and the host device.

QNAP JBOD Enclosure Types

QNAP JBOD Manager

QNAP JBOD Manager is a utility for Windows, Linux, and macOS that enables you to view and configure connected QNAP JBOD enclosures.
Tip
To download QNAP JBOD Manager, go to https://www.qnap.com/utilities.

Home Screen
The home screen displays basic information about the selected device and provides access to several device management options.

UI Element	Description
Select device	Select a JBOD enclosure to manage.
	View the status of each installed disk. • Green: The disk is healthy and operating normally. • Orange: The disk has encountered one or more issues. Tip Click an installed disk to view S.M.A.R.T. information for the disk.
Action > Locate	Prompt the drive LEDs to blink and the enclosure to beep so that you can easily locate the device in a server room or on a rack.

UI Element	Description
Action > View Mapping Table (SATA JBOD only)	Open the SATA JBOD Mapping Table screen. This table shows which JBOD enclosures are connected to each QXP card. Each JBOD port can connect 4 JBOD enclosure disks to the host.
Action > View Topology (SAS JBOD only)	Open the View Topology screen. This topology shows which JBOD enclosures are connected to each QXP card, and the port statuses and zone groups in each JBOD enclosure.
Action > Rename (SATA JBOD only)	Modify the display name of your SATA JBOD enclosure.
Action > Edit Alert	Enable or disable audio alerts.
	Note This feature is only available when the JBOD enclosure’s audio alert switch is toggled on. For details, refer to the JBOD enclosure’s hardware user guide.
• Action > Eject (Windows) • Action > Unmount Volumes (Linux/ macOS)	Disconnect the device from the host computer.
	View the system logs. For details, see System Logs.
	Check for updates, view help, and modify the language or region settings.

Device Information
This screen displays basic information about the selected JBOD enclosure.
Tip
Click to refresh enclosure information and statuses.

Modifying the Device Temperature Threshold
QNAP JBOD Manager issues a temperature warning when the device’s internal temperature reaches the specified threshold.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Go to Device Information.
3. Click the system temperature.
   The Device Temperature Threshold window appears.
4. Specify a temperature threshold between 55°C and 69°C.
5. Click Apply.

Zoning Settings
This screen displays the zoning settings on the selected JBOD enclosure. You can group disks into different zones.

Note
These settings are only available to SAS JBOD enclosures and may require the installation of SAS expansion cards on the host device. For details, see the user guide for your  JBOD enclosure model.
Enabling Zoning
Zoning allows you to limit host access to specific groups of disks.
Note
These settings are only available to SAS JBOD enclosures and may require the installation of SAS expansion cards on the host device. For details, see the user guide for your JBOD enclosure model.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Go to Zoning Settings.
3. Next to Zoning, click to enable zoning.
4. Next to Zone configuration, click.
   The Zone Configuration Settings window opens.
5. Select a zone configuration.
   

   Zone Configuration	Disk Groups	Description
   0	1	All installed disks and ports are treated as a single group. Disks are accessible through any port.
   1	2	Installed disks and ports are divided into two groups. The disk group you can access depends on which port you connect to. For dual-controller JBOD enclosures, all ports on the same controller are in one group.

   Zone Configuration	Disk Groups	Description
   Customized	User-defined	Allows you to define your own disk and port groups.
   		Note This configuration is only available after running a command through the command-line interface (CLI). For details, see the SAS JBOD CLI User Guide.

6. Click Apply Configuration.
   A confirmation window appears.
7.  Click Yes.

Disk Information
This screen shows basic disk information and the status of selected disks. You can choose to view information for a single disk or select All disks to view the installed disks as a list.
Tip
Click on a disk status indicator to view detailed information about the disk, including any S.M.A.R.T. information.
Modifying the S.M.A.R.T. Polling Time
You can specify how often the device checks disks for S.M.A.R.T. errors.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Go to Disk Information.
3. Next to S.M.A.R.T. polling time, click.
   The S.M.A.R.T. Polling Time window appears.
4. Specify the S.M.A.R.T. polling time in minutes.
   • Allowed values: 1 to 60
   • Default value: 5
   Important
   High polling frequency may affect disk performance.
5. Click Apply.

Locating a Disk

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Under Select device, select the device where the disk is physically located.
3. Go to Disk Information.
4. Next to Show, select All disks.
5. Identify a disk to locate.
6. Click.
   The Locate Disk window opens.
   The disk LED starts blinking.
7. After you have located the disk, click Stop Blinking.

Enabling SSD Trim on a Solid-State Drive
SSD Trim cleans deleted data blocks on a solid-state drive to maintain write performance.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Under Select device, select a device.
3. Go to Disk Information.
4. Next to Show, select an SSD.
5. Next to SSD Trim, click Disabled.
   The Enable SSD Trim window opens.
6. Click Yes.
7. Click OK, or click Restart Now if prompted.

Note
Some operating systems may require a restart before SSD Trim can be enabled.
Firmware Information
This screen shows the current firmware version of your JBOD enclosure and provides options for updating the firmware.

Firmware Update Method	Description
Automatic update	QNAP JBOD Manager automatically downloads and installs the latest version of the device firmware. For details, see Updating the Firmware Automatically.
	Note You can only select this option if a firmware update is available for the JBOD enclosure.
Manual update	Update the firmware by uploading a local firmware IMG file from your computer. For details, see Updating the Firmware Manually.
	Tip You can download firmware updates at https:// download.qnap.com.

Updating the Firmware Automatically

Important

• All cables must be connected to the JBOD enclosure to update the firmware.
• Dual-controller JBOD enclosures require a multipath connection to the host to update the firmware.
• In macOS, the host device must be connected to power to update the firmware.
• QNAP recommends unmounting RAID groups from disks installed in the JBOD enclosure before updating the firmware.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Go to Firmware Information.
3. Select the devices to update.
4. Under the Update method, select Automatically install the latest firmware version.
   Note
   You can only select this option if a firmware update is available for the selected devices.
5. Click Update Firmware.
   The Firmware Update window appears.
   QNAP JBOD Manager downloads the firmware update file.
6. Restart the device.
   QNAP JBOD Manager opens and installs the firmware.
7. Ensure that the firmware is updated.
   a. Go to Firmware Information.
   b. Verify that the Current firmware version matches the Latest firmware version.

Important

• All cables must be connected to the JBOD enclosure to update the firmware.
• Dual-controller JBOD enclosures require a multipath connection to the host to update the firmware.
• In macOS, the host device must be connected to power to update the firmware.
• QNAP recommends unmounting RAID groups from disks installed in the JBOD enclosure before updating the firmware.

1. Open QNAP JBOD Manager.
2. Go to Firmware Information.
3. Select the devices to update.
4. Under the Update method, select Select a local firmware file.
   Tip
   You can download firmware updates at https://download.qnap.com.
5.  Click Browse.
6. Select the firmware update file from your computer.
7. Click Update Firmware.
   The Firmware Update window appears.
8. Restart the device.
   QNAP JBOD Manager opens and installs the firmware.
9. Ensure that the firmware is updated.
   a. Go to Firmware Information.
   b. Verify that the Current firmware version matches the Latest firmware version.

System Logs
System logs are records of all the events that occur on a JBOD enclosure. You can filter, search, and
download logs for help with troubleshooting.
Tip
Click on the Home Screen to open the System Logs window.

UI Element	Description
	Filter the log messages by event type or keyword. Select one of the following event types: • All Event Types • Information • Warning • Error
Reset	Remove the filter and show all log messages.
Clear	Delete all log messages.
Export	Export all log messages to a CSV file. If a filter is applied, only the filtered logs are exported.
Cancel	Close the System Logs window.

QTS JBOD Management

You can manage JBOD enclosures in QTS from the following locations in the Storage & Snapshots utility.

Disks/VJBOD
Open QTS and go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD to access JBOD enclosure storage configuration options.
For information on managing disks, including creating and managing storage pools, volumes, and other features, see the QTS User Guide.

UI Element	Description
Device menu	Select a JBOD enclosure or disk to manage.
Performance test	QTS can test the sequential and random read speeds of your disks. For more information, see the QTS User Guide.
Recover > Recover Enclosure	Recover storage pools or static volumes on a JBOD enclosure that was accidentally disconnected from the NAS. For more information, see the QTS User Guide.
Recover > Reinitialize Enclosure IDs	Reset all expansion unit IDs, and then give each unit a new ID number starting from 1 based on the order that they are physically connected. Tip Use this action if the expansion unit IDs appear out of sequential order in the enclosure list.
Recover > Attach and Recover Storage Space	Scan all free disks on the NAS and all connected expansion units for existing volumes, LUNs, and storage pools. Tip Perform this action after moving disks between NAS devices.
RAID Group	Select and view RAID group details.

JBOD Enclosure Actions
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD and select a JBOD enclosure to perform any of the following actions.

JBOD Enclosure Disk Actions
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD and select a disk installed in a JBOD enclosure to perform any of the following actions.

External Storage
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > External Storage to view installed disks and partitions in the JBOD enclosure. To manage a device, disk, or partition, select one and then click Actions.
External Storage Device Actions

External Storage Disk Actions

External Storage Partition Actions

Formatting an External Storage Disk or Partition

1. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > External Storage .
2. Select a disk or partition.
3. Click Actions, and then select Full Disk Format or Format.
   The Full Disk Format or Format Partition window opens.
4. Select a file system.
   

   File System	Recommended Operating Systems and Devices
   NTFS	Windows
   HTS+	macOS
   FAT32	Windows, macOS, NAS devices, most cameras, mobile phones, video game consoles, tablets Important The maximum file size is 4 GB.
   exFAT	Windows, macOS, some cameras, mobile phones, video game consoles, tablets Important Verify that your device is compatible with exFAT before selecting this option.
   EXT3	Linux, NAS devices
   EXT4	Linux, NAS devices

5. Specify a label.
   The label must consist of 1 to 16 characters from any of the following groups:
   • Letters: A to Z, a to z
   • Numbers: 0 to 9
   • Special characters: Hyphen “-“
6. Optional: Enable encryption.
   a. Select an encryption type.
   Select one of the following options:
   • AES 128 bits
   • AES 192 bits
   • AES 256 bits
   b. Specify an encryption password.
   The password must consist of 8 to 16 characters from any of the following groups:
   • Letters: A to Z, a to z
   • Numbers: 0 to 9
   • All special characters (excluding spaces)
   c. Confirm the encryption password.
   d. Optional: Select Save encryption key.
   Select this option to save a local copy of the encryption key on the NAS. This enables the system to automatically unlock and mount the encrypted storage space when the NAS starts up. If the encryption key is not saved, you must specify the encryption password each time the NAS restarts.
   Warning
   • Saving the encryption key on the NAS can result in unauthorized data access if unauthorized personnel are able to physically access the NAS.
   • If you forget the encryption password, the storage space will become inaccessible and all data will be lost.
7. Click Format.
   A warning message appears.
8. Click OK.

Updating JBOD Enclosure Firmware in QTS

1. Open Storage & Snapshots.
   QTS periodically checks for the latest firmware for each connected enclosure on login. If a new firmware update is available, QTS opens the Start Firmware Update window.
2. Follow the instructions to install the firmware update.
   Depending on the model you may be asked to power off then power on the device or disconnect then reconnect the device.
   QTS re-detects the device and displays a notification message.
3. Wait for confirmation that the firmware update has finished.
4. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD .
5. Click Recover, and then select Attach and Recover Storage Pool.

QuTS hero JBOD Management

You can manage JBOD enclosures in QuTS hero from the following locations in the Storage & Snapshots utility.

Disks/VJBOD
Open QuTS hero and go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD to access the JBOD enclosure storage configuration options.
For information on managing disks, including creating and managing storage pools, shared folders, and other features, see the QuTS hero User Guide.

UI Element	Description
Device menu	Select a JBOD enclosure or disk to manage.
Performance test	QuTS hero can test the sequential and random read speeds of your disks. For more information, see the QuTS hero User Guide.
Recover > Reinitialize Enclosure IDs	Reset all expansion unit IDs, and then give each unit a new ID number starting from 1 based on the order that they are physically connected. Tip Use this action if the expansion unit IDs appear out of sequential order in the enclosure list.
Recover > Attach and Recover Storage Pool	Scan all free disks on the NAS and all connected expansion units for existing shared folders, LUNs, and storage pools. Tip Perform this action after moving disks between NAS devices.
RAID Group	Select and view RAID group details.

JBOD Enclosure Actions
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD and select a JBOD enclosure to perform any of the following actions.

JBOD Enclosure Disk Actions
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD and select a disk installed in a JBOD enclosure to perform any of the following actions.

External Storage
Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > External Storage to view installed disks and partitions in the JBOD enclosure. To manage a device, disk, or partition, select one and then click Actions.
External Storage Device Actions

External Storage Disk Actions

External Storage Partition Actions

Formatting an External Storage Disk or Partition

1. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > External Storage .
2. Select a disk or partition.
3. Click Actions, and then select Full Disk Format or Format.
   The Full Disk Format or Format Partition window opens.
4. Select a file system.
   

   File System	Recommended Operating Systems and Devices
   NTFS	Windows
   HTS+	macOS
   FAT32	Windows, macOS, NAS devices, most cameras, mobile phones, video game consoles, tablets Important The maximum file size is 4 GB.
   exFAT	Windows, macOS, some cameras, mobile phones, video game consoles, tablets Important Verify that your device is compatible with exFAT before selecting this option.
   EXT3	Linux, NAS devices
   EXT4	Linux, NAS devices

5. Specify a label.
   The label must consist of 1 to 16 characters from any of the following groups:
   • Letters: A to Z, a to z
   • Numbers: 0 to 9
   • Special characters: Hyphen “-“
6. Optional: Enable encryption.
   a. Select an encryption type.
   Select one of the following options:
   • AES 128 bits
   • AES 192 bits
   • AES 256 bits
   b. Specify an encryption password.
   The password must consist of 8 to 16 characters from any of the following groups:
   • Letters: A to Z, a to z
   • Numbers: 0 to 9
   • All special characters (excluding spaces)
   c. Confirm the encryption password.
   d. Optional: Select Save encryption key.
   Select this option to save a local copy of the encryption key on the NAS. This enables the system to automatically unlock and mount the encrypted storage space when the NAS starts up. If the encryption key is not saved, you must specify the encryption password each time the NAS restarts.
   Warning
   • Saving the encryption key on the NAS can result in unauthorized data access if
   unauthorized personnel are able to physically access the NAS.
   • If you forget the encryption password, the storage space will become inaccessible and all data will be lost.
7. Click Format.
   A warning message appears.
8. Click OK.

Updating JBOD Enclosure Firmware in QuTS hero

1.  Open Storage & Snapshots.
   QuTS hero periodically checks for the latest firmware for each connected enclosure on login. If a new firmware update is available, QuTS hero opens the Start Firmware Update window.
2. Follow the instructions to install the firmware update.
   Depending on the model you may be asked to power off then power on the device or disconnect then reconnect the device.
   QuTS hero re-detects the device and displays a notification message.
3. Wait for confirmation that the firmware update has finished.
4. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Disks/VJBOD .
5. Click Recover, and then select Attach and Recover Storage Pool.

References

• download.qnap.com
• download.qnap.com
• Essentials | Utilities | QNAP (US)