Aleratec 11 HDD PortaCruiser Hard Disk Drive Duplicator and RAID User Guide

							USER GUIDE
Aleratec®
HDD PortaCruiser™Part No. 350108 
						

							www.aleratec.com
Copyright/Model Identification
The content of this manual is for informational purposes only and is sub\
ject to 
change without notice. 
This manual is copyright with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws,\
 this manual 
and the software described within may not be copied, except in the norma\
l use of the 
product(s) described within or to make a backup copy.Copyright© 2009
Aleratec, Inc.
9851 Owensmouth Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311 U.S.A.
www.aleratec.com
Aleratec
® is a registered trademark, and HDD PortaCruiser™ is a trademark of 
Aleratec, Inc. 
Please record the following information to help expedite any warranty cl\
aim:
Model No.   _________________________ Serial No.________________________
Date Purchased   _______________________________________________________
Place of Purchase   _____________________________________________________ 
						

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Radio/TV Interference Statement
The equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency energy. If it is 
not installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, it may cause 
interference with radio or television reception.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a\
 Class 
B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed 
to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a resid\
ential 
installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If not 
installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, this equip\
ment may 
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee 
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this e\
quipment does 
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be verified 
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the 
interference by one or more of the following measures:Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• 
Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• 
Connect the equipment to an electrical outlet on a circuit that is different from 
• 
the circuit to which the receiver is connected.
Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
• 
This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class B computing 
device, pursuant to FCC Rules. In order to maintain compliance with FCC \
regulations, shielded cables must be used with this equipment. Operation\
 with non-
approved equipment or unshielded cables is likely to result in interfere\
nce to radio 
and TV reception. The user is cautioned that changes and/or modifications made to 
this equipment, without the approval of manufacturer, could void the user’s authority 
to operate this equipment. 
						

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Safety Regulations
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit 
to rain or moisture.
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the housing. 
Refer servicing to authorized personnel only. 
						

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Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................\
........................... 1
Product Features  ........................................................................\
...........................1
Key Items  ........................................................................\
.....................................2
HDD PortaCruiser Display Panel and Buttons  ....................................................3
Precautions  ........................................................................\
........................... 4
Installation  ........................................................................\
....................................4
Choose a Good Location  ........................................................................\
..............4
Operation  ........................................................................\
......................................4
Transportation  ........................................................................\
..............................4
Overview  ........................................................................\
................................ 5
Power Up Sequence  ........................................................................\
.....................5
Understanding RAID  ........................................................................\
...................6
RAID 0 (Striping)  ........................................................................\
................6
RAID 1 (Mirroring)  ........................................................................\
.............6
JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks or Spanning)  .................................................6
Duplicator Main Menu  ........................................................................\
.................7
Duplicator Subfunctions  ........................................................................\
..............8
Dual Disk RAID (USB) Mode Main Menu  .......................................................10
Normal Mode  ........................................................................\
.....................10
JBOD Mode  ........................................................................\
.......................10
RAID0 Mode  ........................................................................\
..................... 11
RAID1 Mode  ........................................................................\
..................... 11
Using the HDD PortaCruiser   ..................................................................... 12
Loading the Hard Drives  ........................................................................\
............12
IDE Drives   ........................................................................\
........................12
SATA Drives   ........................................................................\
.....................12
Removing Hard Drives  ........................................................................\
..............13
Duplicator Mode   ........................................................................\
.......................14
Main Menu: Copy HDD  ........................................................................\
....14
Main Menu: Compare HDD  ......................................................................15
Main Menu: PreScan Source  .....................................................................16
Main Menu: ReScan Bus  ........................................................................\
...17
Main Menu: Source HDD Size  ..................................................................18
Main Menu: USB RAID Mode  ..................................................................19
Duplicator Mode  ........................................................................\
........................20
Setup Menu  ........................................................................\
........................20
Setup Menu: 6-01 Language  ......................................................................21
Setup Menu: 6-02 DMA Mode  ..................................................................22
Setup Menu: 6-03 Copy Size  .....................................................................23
Setup Menu: 6-04 Startup Menu  ................................................................24
Setup Menu: 6-05 Auto Compare  ..............................................................25
Setup Menu: 6-06 Copy with Detect  .........................................................26
Setup Menu: 6-07 Button Sound ................................................................27
Setup Menu: 6-08 Device Info  ...................................................................28
Setup Menu: 6-09 System Info  ..................................................................29 
						

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Table of Contents
Using the HDD PortaCruiser  ..................................................................... 30
Duplicator Mode  ........................................................................\
........................30
Advanced Setup Menu  ........................................................................\
.......30
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-01 ReScan Bus Delay  ......................................31
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-02 Read Error Skip  ..........................................32
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-03 Quick Erase HDD  .......................................33
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-04 H/W Diagnostic  ..........................................34
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-05 Load Default  ...............................................35
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-06 Link Option  .................................................36
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-07 USB Auto-Link  ...........................................37
Advanced Setup Menu: 8-08 Copy HPA  ...................................................38
Dual Disk RAID Controller (USB) Mode  .........................................................39
Main Menu: Duplicator Mode Option   ......................................................39
Main Menu: Information Option  ...............................................................40
Main Menu: Change RAID Mode Option  .................................................41
Dual Disk RAID Controller (USB) Mode – Normal Only  ................................45
Main Menu: D1 Drive Select Mode Option  ..............................................45
D2 Drive Select Mode Option  ...................................................................45
Dual Disk RAID Controller (USB) Mode – JBOD Only  ..................................46
Main Menu: Initial JBOD Option  ..............................................................46
Dual Disk RAID Controller (USB) Mode – RAID0 Only  ................................47
Main Menu: Initial RAID0 Option  ............................................................47
Dual Disk RAID Controller (USB) Mode – RAID1 Only  ................................48
Main Menu: Initial RAID1 Option  ............................................................48
Specifications  ........................................................................\
..................... 49
Troubleshooting  ........................................................................\
................. 49
Technical Support  ........................................................................\
.............. 50
Service and Support  ........................................................................\
........... 51
Technical Support FAX Back Form  ........................................................... 54 
						

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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the HDD PortaCruiser. Please read this User Guide 
thoroughly before using this product. 
Product Features
The HDD PortaCruiser is a Hard Disk Drive Duplicator and Dual Disk RAID \
Controller. 
Duplicator Features
• 
1 to 1 SATA/IDE to SATA/IDE HDD duplicator
 
▪
Stand alone, no computer needed
 
▪
Complete cloning of partitions, boot sectors, and unallocated sectors
 
▪
LCD display shows full menu items and progress
 
▪
Supports SATA-to-SATA, SATA-to-IDE, IDE-to-SATA and IDE-to-IDE 
 
▪
duplication
Dual Disk RAID Controller Features
• 
RAID 0 mode (Striping) 
 
▪
RAID 1 mode (Mirroring)
 
▪
JBOD (Spanning mode) – combines two hard disk drives into one virtu\
al drive
 
▪
Normal Mode – access your dual drives separately
 
▪
NOTE: In either mode, you must reset the unit when attaching/removing hard 
drives so that the system can re-scan the drives. 
						

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Introduction
Key Items
Display Panel(see page 3) Power Switch
Controller Buttons
SATA Target Drive  Connector
SATA Source Drive 
Connector
IDE Target Drive Port
IDE Target Power Port IDE Source Drive Port
IDE Source Power Port
Power ConnectorUSB Connector
Drive Status  
Indicator Lights (4) 
						

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Introduction
HDD PortaCruiser Display Panel and Buttons
(Actual display may vary from illustration)LCD display shows all functions and messages
1. 
UP
2.   arrow is used to scroll backward through functions or menus 
DOWN
3.   arrow is used to scroll forward through functions or menus
ENT
4.   button is used to execute a selected function, or enter a menu
ESC
5.   button is used to cancel a selected function, or exit a menu
RESET
6.   button is used to restart the unit
MUTE
7.   button is used to mute audible alarms
ENT
HDD   Cruiser
1-1  ver: 
14
ESC
RESET
MUTE
6
57
2
3 
						

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Precautions
Before installing your HDD PortaCruiser, please read the following.
Installation
Avoid placing the HDD PortaCruiser in a location subject to:High humidity
• 
High temperature
• 
Excessive dust
• 
Mechanical vibration
• 
Direct sunlight
• 
Electromagnetic radiation
• 
Choose a Good Location
Allow adequate clearance for moving parts.
1. 
Do not place near heat sources such as radiators or air ducts, or in a p\
lace 
2. 
subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shoc\
k.
Disconnect the AC adapter from the outlet if the product is not used for an 
3. 
extended period of time. 
Proper care will help assure maximum product life. Improper operating 
4. 
environment and misuse may void the warranty. 
Operation
Do not move the HDD PortaCruiser during operation. This may cause a malfunction 
or other undesirable results.
Avoid exposing the unit to sudden changes in temperature as condensation \
may 
form inside the HDD PortaCruiser. Should the surrounding temperature suddenly 
rise while the HDD PortaCruiser is on, wait at least one hour before tur\
ning off the 
power. Operating the duplicator immediately after a sudden increase in temper\
ature 
may result in a malfunction.
Transportation
Keep the original packing materials for future moving or shipping of the\
 HDD 
PortaCruiser.