Step 1: Orientation



Rear view of the MAP5021 Dual-Bay Burly Enclosure.
From top: Main Bay Fan; Left side: RCA Jacks for CD-ROM; Right side: SCSI ID Switches.
Left side, lower: Power connectors; Right side, lower: Dual SCSI Connectors.
RAID Tutorial by magician. Photos by Frank T.

Observe and Organize

1. Observe the backplane of the MAP 5021 dual-bay enclosure, or any of our other burly enclosures. Note where everything is, per the photo above. You will be removing three screws from the rear of the 5021 enclosure, as shown in the example, or three screws from the rear of the 3021 enclosure, three from the rear of the 5041 enclosure, or five from the rear of the 5081 enclosure. Just look carefully at the backplane. It's obvious which screws have to come out.

   While this tutorial specifically discusses the use of the MAP5021 enclosure, it is possible to use these directions as a guide for building a RAID with one of our other Burly Enclosures, whether the 3021, the 5041, or the 5081. The principles, and most of the directions, remain the same. Likewise, if you are using drives other than Seagate Barracudas or Cheetahs, this tutorial will still be very useful, particularly if this is your first time attempting a project like this.

2. Take this opportunity to clear your work area, and devise an organized system for yourself, so you don't misplace screws or other necessary components. We like to use the bumpy foam that comes in your hard drive box for sorting screws and small parts, or other foam packing material. It helps you keep screws and parts in groups, and you can sort them left-to-right, in the order you remove them. It's easier to remember which screws have to go in next, when you reverse the process and reassemble your enclosure.

3. It's best to work in a low-static environment, recognizing that most of us don't have static-free workbenches in our homes, or clean rooms (like some Gurus we know). Here are some general guidelines for working with electronic components in less-than-perfect situations:
   1. Wear all cotton clothing (no synthetics, fashion police be damned).

   2. Wear rubber-soled shoes

   3. Do not work on carpet! Prefer linoleum, wood, or concrete.

   4. Turn up the lights so you can see what you are doing. A flex-light is very useful, as is a flashlight, in the event you drop a screw.

   5. Avoid magnetized tools, like magnetic screw drivers. They can damage drive controller boards in particular, if you are clumsy, or just plain unlucky. Some extremely experienced technicians we know prefer them, but these guys have nerves of steel, and are very, very good. Do not assume that you are that good. Just use demagnetized tools. A little caution never hurts.

   6. Get creative about grounding yourself. It is frequently not realistic to wear a grounding strap, and if you are cautious, you can skip it. We work around it by keeping a Mac plugged-in nearby, with the exposed steel of the power supply within arm's reach. Simply touch it periodically. Any built-up static electricity will be dissipated. Do this before picking up your drives and configuring the drive jumpers, for example.

   7. Consider removing your jewelry, particularly your dog-tags, or other hanging chains. Rings aren't usually a problem, unless they are huge, with giant diamonds on them. A watch or bracelet may get in your way.

4. Gather your tools. You will need a philips head screw driver. A number two works best. It doesn't hurt to have a few sizes. Some screws are smaller than others. You will also find a set of curved forceps handy, and a set of long curved tweezers. You will need them when you drop screws inside your enclosure. A glue gun helps you secure wires and LEDs so they don't fall out. Do this particularly if you will be moving your finished RAID around, or shipping it. We also like to keep a couple cans of compressed air around, for blowing any dust out that may settle while you are working.

5. Set the mood with some good tunes. We're partial to Santana's Greatest Hits. (Yes, some of us are that old), or the timeless crooning of Darin Ames. Sometimes a good beer is nice, but you may wish to make it a rich dark beer that tastes good at room temperature. Once you get started on this project, you won't want to be making multiple beer runs to the fridge, forgetting where you are in the process, or otherwise getting distracted.

6. If you are attempting this in the company of your significant other, make sure he or she is a geek like you, and will either help by holding things for you, or by handing you tools, or will stay the heck out of your way. You may wish to preload with some Kava if you are short-tempered. Building a RAID isn't really hard, but if this is your first attempt building something like this, don't be surprised if you have to take it apart and reassemble it a couple of times until you have everything "just so." The satisfaction you will derive from the process will be substantial, and you will also rest secure knowing that you have used the finest components available. The result will rock.

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