Welcome to the User Manual for the LaCie 5big Thunderbolt Series. With lightning-fast speeds through the Thunderbolt interface, this product is perfect for high-bandwidth applications such as HD video editing and workstation backup. Thanks to its five hard disks, you can configure the LaCie 5big into a range of RAID modes suitable for a variety of uses.
These pages will guide you through the process of connecting your LaCie product and will explain its features. If this manual doesn't answer your questions or if you are having trouble, consult the Getting Help page.
Your box contains the following:
Your system must meet certain requirements in order for your LaCie product to function properly. For a list of these requirements, please refer to the product packaging or consult the product support web page at www.lacie.com/support/.
The front LED is also a button. Consult the following table for front button functions. Note that Passive Mode means that the product is on but the disks are idle. This allows you, for example, to daisy chain compatible Thunderbolt devices to a host computer via the LaCie 5big, without causing the 5big's disks to spin up. This lets you control energy usage and limit unnecessary wear and tear on the 5big's disks.
Product State | Front Button Action | Result |
---|---|---|
Product is turned on, connected to a host, and disks are idle | Press and release | Disks spin up |
Product is turned on, connected to a host, and disks are spinning | Press and hold for 5 seconds | Enter passive mode |
Passive mode | Press and release | Disks spin up (leave passive mode) |
Your LaCie product features Thunderbolt technology, the most flexible interface ever created. This exciting new high-speed cable technology connects your computers and electronic devices together like never before. Thunderbolt technology supports two 10Gb/s bi-directional channels from a single port, the fastest data connection available on a personal computer. At 10Gb/s, a full-length HD movie can be transferred in less than 30 seconds.
Thanks to support for both data streams and mini DisplayPort video, you can connect either a storage peripheral or a display to a Thunderbolt port. However, it's not possible to use a mini DisplayPort cable to connect a storage peripheral to a Thunderbolt port. You must use a Thunderbolt cable.
For more information, see www.lacie.com
This product includes a cable lock, a small plastic clasp that prevents cords from accidentally disconnecting.
To use the cable lock:
Your LaCie product features a multi-functional LED/button on the front, as well as five drive status LEDs on the rear. It also features a temperature alert buzzer.
State | Indication |
---|---|
Off | Product is turned off or power supply is disconnected |
Solid blue | Turned on |
Solid red | Fan disconnected or non-functional |
State | Indication |
---|---|
Off | No disk or non-functional disk |
Solid blue | Disk OK but not in use |
Flickering blue | Disk activity |
A buzzer will sound to indicate a temperature alert. Simultaneously, the front LED will turn red.
You can turn off the buzzer by pressing the front button, but the LED will stay red.
In order to protect the hard disks from excessive heat, please discontinue use of the product. Contact LaCie technical support.
Please follow the setup steps in the order they are given to ensure that your LaCie 5big's volumes mount correctly on your computer.
If your LaCie 5big shipped without disks, first install your own hard disks before continuing with these steps. Refer to Install Disks for details.
Turn on the product using the power switch.
If your LaCie 5big shipped with disks, a single RAID 0 volume will mount on the desktop. If it shipped without disks, since no RAID array has exists, a volume for each installed disk will mount on the Desktop. If nothing mounts, check Getting Help.
For details on changing or setting up a RAID array, refer to About RAID.
USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, and eSATA external devices feature “plug & play” connectivity, which means that your LaCie storage can be connected and disconnected while the computer is running. To prevent failures, however, it is important to follow these steps when disconnecting your device.
Drag the storage device icon to the Trash. (The icon pictured below is a generic USB device icon. Your LaCie storage may be represented by an icon that looks like the device itself.)
When the icon disappears from the desktop, the storage device can be disconnected.
The LaCie 5big Thunderbolt Series is compatible with a range of RAID options for a variety of uses. It's preconfigured as a RAID 0 striped set to unleash its full speed potential for data-intensive applications such as HD video editing. Or opt for a RAID 1 mirrored set for excellent data security. Alternatively, you could go without RAID and configure it in a JBOD. Since in a JBOD configuration all disks mount independently, many people use JBOD so that they can assign each disk to a specific data storage task. For instance, you could put backups performed on Monday on the first disk, Tuesday on the second, etc.
Another use case is a mixed configuration: three disks in a RAID 0 for speed-intensive applications and two disks in a RAID 1 for backup.
In order to create a RAID array, you'll need two disks (RAID 1) or at least two disks (RAID 0) that aren't already included in another RAID. Follow the below links for instructions:
A Striped RAID Set pairs the drives within an enclosure for enhanced transfer rates. Data is stored across all disks in a striped pair, allowing them to share the demands of reading and writing files. Unlike a Mirrored Striped Set (RAID 1), the available capacities of each disk are added together for maximum storage availability. With its improved read/write seek rates and maximum storage capacity, a Striped RAID Set is a great complement to the extraordinary performance already offered by Thunderbolt technology. Data is also easy to access since a RAID 0 stripe creates one logical volume that mounts on the desktop. One disadvantage of a Striped RAID Set is the lack of built-in data security. In the event that one disk fails, all the files become inaccessible since parts of each string of data are written across the striped pair. Therefore, LaCie highly recommends backing up data stored on a Striped RAID Set at least once a day. You can back up the data to your computer’s internal disk or another storage medium with sufficient capacity.
In a Mirrored RAID Set, the physical disks are mirrored together so that one single logical volume mounts on the desktop. Please note that the combined storage will not exceed the available capacity of the lowest-capacity single disk. All data is saved simultaneously on each disk which means that files will not be lost if one drive should fail. A Mirrored RAID set always consists for two disks. Therefore, since the LaCie 5big has five disks, you can create two separate sets (each with two disks). A total of three volumes will then mount on your computer: one for each of the two mirrored sets, and one single-disk (and non-mirrored) volume.
JBOD is not technically a RAID mode, since all disks are independent, with no collective properties. Each physical disk is mapped to a different logical volume. As a result, one volume for each disk will mount on the computer. No protection is provided, so if a disk fails, all data contained on that disk is lost.
LaCie RAID Monitor runs in the background, keeping tabs on the health of your LaCie RAID product. It alerts you to any disk-related problems, so you can fix any issues immediately.
If you do not have the LaCie RAID Monitor installer, go to the Downloads page for the latest version.
LaCie RAID Monitor will launch automatically following a successful installation. The utility runs in the background while you work, monitoring the LaCie 5big storage to verify the health of the RAID. To manually check the health of your LaCie 5big:
The LaCie RAID Monitor gives you an easy color-coded reference to know instantly if your LaCie 5big is in good health:
You do not have to launch LaCie RAID Monitor to receive alerts. Should one or more disks encounter problems, the LaCie RAID Monitor icon in the menu bar will blink with an exclamation mark inside a triangle.
If you receive the alert, open LaCie RAID Monitor for more details.
Follow these steps to delete a RAID array.
In order to create a RAID array, you'll need two disks (RAID 1) or at least two disks (RAID 0) that aren't already included in another RAID. If your LaCie 5big shipped with disks, you'll first need to delete the factory default RAID 0 array before you can create a new array (refer to Delete a RAID Array for instructions.
If you experience a disk failure, follow the steps below to install a new one. If you need instructions on installing disks in a LaCie 5big that shipped without disks, refer to Install Disks.
If you are having problems with your LaCie product, consult the table below for a list of available resources.
Order | Source | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Quick Install Guide | Concise steps to follow for getting your product up and running | Either a printed leaflet or accessory box and included in the product box, or download PDF from the product page |
2 | Support Pages | Includes interactive troubleshooting topics for most common problems | www.lacie.com/support/, select your product, then click the “Troubleshooting” tab |
3 | User Manual | Includes common troubleshooting topics | See Troubleshooting Topics below |
4 | Customer Support | Create an account on lacie.com, register your product, and fill out a support ticket | Create an account here: www.lacie.com/us/mystuff/login.htm?logout&rtn=mystuff |
Fan malfunction. Log in to LaCie technical support and create a support ticket for warranty service.
Is a compatible disk installed in the disk tray corresponding to that LED?
Does the installed compatible disk fail to mount on your desktop?
Are there other Thunderbolt technology devices connected to the same port?
Does the icon/Do the icons for the Thunderbolt Series volume(s) appear on the desktop?
Is the Thunderbolt Series enclosure connected to a Mac that supports Thunderbolt technology?
Did you follow the correct installation steps?
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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 residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:
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This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
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This is a Class B product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference from Information Technology Equipment (VCCI). If this is used near a radio/TV receiver, it may cause radio interference. Install the equipment according to the manual. This statement does not apply to the LaCie CloudBox.
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LaCie (“LaCie”) warrants, to the original purchaser, that this equipment shall be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1), two (2), three (3), or five (5) years, depending on the model, from LaCie's date of original shipment when the equipment is used normally and is properly serviced when needed. If you discover a defect covered by the warranty set forth above, your sole and exclusive remedy will be for LaCie, in its sole discretion to (i) repair or replace the product at no charge to you; or, if a repaired unit or replacement product is not available, (ii) to refund the current market value of your product. You acknowledge and agree that replacement product, at the sole option of LaCie, may be a new product or a remanufactured product. In order to receive the remedy set forth above, you must return the product during the warranty period and include with each returned product (i) a copy of your original purchase invoice to verify your warranty; (ii) a Return Material Authorization number; (iii) your name, address and telephone number; (iv) a copy of the bill of sale bearing the appropriate LaCie serial numbers as proof of date of original retail purchase; and (v) a description of the problem. The customer must pay all transportation costs for a returned product. The product will need to be returned to LaCie within the country of original retail purchase. This warranty applies only to hardware products; LaCie software, media, and manuals are licensed and warranted pursuant to separate written agreement. This warranty does not apply if the product has been misused or has been damaged by accident, abuse, misuse, or misapplication; if it has been modified without permission of LaCie; or if any LaCie serial number has been removed or defaced. If a customer has purchased a LaCie Advance Care Option (ACO) to go with this equipment, the ACO shall be valid for three (3) years from activation.
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Phone: 02 8063 3711
Email: info.au@lacie.com
For fast technical support, create a support ticket after registering your product at www.lacie.com/au/register.