VTrak E-Class Product Manual - Promise Technology, Inc.

Connection Problems
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Chapter 8: Troubleshooting
When you install your Promise product following the instructions in the Quick
Start Guide and this Product Manual, you should have little trouble getting your
equipment to work the first time. But connection problems can arise that are not
the User's or Installer's fault. Every conceivable problem cannot be covered in
the documentation but some guidelines could be helpful.
Connection problems cause a majority of failures in almost any electrical system.
While the installation of the cables and components was correct, they don't
function properly, or at all, because:
• A connector is dirty or corroded
• A connector is loose or damaged
• A cable looks OK outside but has an open circuit inside
• The wrong cable was used
VTraks ship with a full set of new cables, as required for each specific model. Be
sure to use these components because: 1.) They are the proper ones for your
RAID subsystem, 2.) They are in brand-new condition, and 3.) You paid for them
with the purchase of your VTrak.
Serial Connections
VTrak uses a serial connection for the command line interface (CLI) and the
command line utility (CLU). After you set the IP address, you can access the CLI
and CLU through a network connection, also. Normally, users prefer WebPAM
PROe because of its graphic user interface. But the CLI and CLU can do the
same jobs. And they will work when your network connection is down.
For VTrak, you must use the CLI or CLU to set the Management Port IP address
in order for WebPAM PROe to connect with it. See “Setting up the Serial
Connection” on page 35. This issue is discussed further under Network
Connections (below). See the “Making Serial Cable Connections” on page 32 for
more information on making the connection.
The CLI and CLU control and manage but they do not move data. They
communicates through a null-modem cable, supplied with the VTrak. A straightthrough
serial cable will not work for this purpose. You may choose not use the
CLI or CLU often and want to disconnect and store the cable. Consider leaving it
connected, to be sure it will be there when you need it.
Network Connections
Each controller has an Ethernet (RJ45) Management Port connector on the back
of the enclosure. This is a Gigabit Ethernet connector designed to connect to