Chapter 1
Introduction
Overview
The Safestor-Fault Tolerant II (SafeStor-FT II) is a fault
tolerant enclosure providing data storage for Cubix subsystems and PC based servers. A
Cubix subsystem is a unit that accommodates multiple 80386, 80486, and Pentium computers
in a managed platform. Computers contained in each subsystem are single board PCs used
primarily as network resources such as file servers, e-mail servers, fax servers, and
other types of specialty servers. The SafeStor-FT II stores data for these computers on up
to twelve SCSI hard disk drives.

Figure 1-1, SafeStor/FT II
Cubix subsystems are typically rack mounted into Cubix
System 1010 Cabinets. The SafeStor-FT II mounts into the same cabinet and provides
additional hard disk drive storage for the following subsystems:
- ERS II - The ERS II subsystem contains a sixteen slot
ISA style backplane that can be divided into eight separate bus groups. By installing a
single board computer in each group, the maximum density of eight complete PCs within a
single ERS II is obtained.
- ERS/FT II - The ERS/FT II is a fault tolerant version
of the ERS II that supports both ISA and EISA backplane configurations.
- ERS - An older version of the ERS II.
- ERS/FT - An older version of the ERS/FT II.
Features Summary
A summary of the SafeStor-FT II features is provided below.
A detailed explanation of these features is included in Chapter 3 - Subsystem
Components.
- Supports a wide range of SCA connector (80 pin) SCSI drives
(See the section on Configuration in Appendix A, SafeStor-FT II
Specifications )
- Provides fault tolerance by including two power supplies and
two power input receptacles
- Different backplane types allow flexibility in storage and
multiple independent server support
- Allows the number of drives assigned to each SCSI group to
be configured in the field
- Allows SCSI hard drives to be replaced with system power
applied, providing traffic on SCSI is halted first
- Offers independent management of each SCSI group, without
affecting other groups
- Indicates individual disk power status and disk activity via
LEDs on the front panel
- Optionally provides subsystem and environmental diagnostics
- Optionally integrates into the Cubix Management System (CMS)
- refer to the subsequent Management section
Management
Cubix provides a multi-tiered management scheme for the
Cubix family of products. The Intelligent Environmental Sensor (IES) is a critical
component of the Cubix management scheme. An IES is an optional SafeStor-FT II component.
The tiers of the management scheme are:
IES-Only - refer to Figure 1 - 2
- Monitors the in SafeStor-FT II environment
- Illuminates diagnostic LEDs the event of a fault
- IES Supervisory System - refer to Figure 1 - 3
- Connects up to thirty-one Cubix enclosures on an out-of-band
Cubix data highway
- Includes BCVision, a DOS-based user interface application
- Allows the user to monitor and control all of the enclosures
on the data highway
- Notifies the user of any active faults
- Provides SNMP instrumentation
Cubix Management System (CMS) - refer to Figure 1 -
4
- Provides all of the IES Supervisory System functions in a
Windows environment
- Manages all Cubix devices installed on a NetWare network (no
limit to the number of devices)
- Performs SNMP communications with Cubix devices via a
NetWare LAN

Figure 1-2, SafeStor/FT II with IES

Figure 1-3, IES Supervisory System Architecture

Figure 1-4, CMS Architecture
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Copyright © 1997 by Cubix Corp., Carson City, NV, USA.