FastTrak SX4300, SX8300 User Manual

System locks up during boot up or when Windows starts

There may be a possible IRQ conflict with an ISA card. Identify what IRQs are used by ISA cards, enter the Motherboard PCI Setup, and reserve the IRQ for use with ISA. PCI slots cannot share IRQs with ISA cards.

Miscellaneous problems such as:

FastTrak BIOS does not appear during boot

FastTrak driver does not load

Slow data transfer rates

Move the FastTrak card to a different PCI slot.

Intermittent data problems

Overclocking the PCI bus may cause the system to hang or data corruption. If you experience either of these problems and you are overclocking the PCI bus, set the PCI bus back to its normal setting to see if this is causing the errors.

System CMOS Issues

Set Motherboard CMOS Boot sequence to boot to the FastTrak card

On some Motherboard BIOS, it is necessary to set the Boot sequence to SCSI, A:, C: since the Promise card is identified as a SCSI card.

Motherboard CMOS displays C: or D: drive failure during startup

See the Drive-Related Errors section.

Using an Onboard IDE Card with FastTrak card

If an onboard IDE controller is installed with hard disks, enable support in the Motherboard Standard CMOS Setup for the drives. Note that the onboard IDE hard drives will then be the bootable hard disk unless the system BIOS has a boot sequence setting with the option to specify booting to a different device.

Drive-Related Errors

Critical Logical Drive Status Error reported during boot

If a critical status error message appears on the FastTrak BIOS startup screen for a mirrored logical drive (see below), there is a drive in the logical drive that has failed or is not responding. The FastTrak controller will identify the failed disk drive by channel number. The logical drive has lost its fault tolerance, but will still perform normal drive reads and writes.

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Promise Technology SX4300, SX8300 user manual System Cmos Issues, Drive-Related Errors

SX8300, SX4300 specifications

Promise Technology has established itself as a leader in data storage solutions, particularly with its cutting-edge SX4300 and SX8300 series. These enterprise-grade solutions cater to businesses seeking high-performance, reliable, and scalable storage systems.

The Promise SX4300 and SX8300 are built around the M.2 NVMe interface, providing exceptional data transfer speeds and low latency, which are crucial for applications requiring rapid data access. Both models leverage PCIe Gen 3 technology, ensuring that they can handle the demands of modern workloads with ease, whether in cloud storage, media production, or enterprise databases.

One of the standout features of the SX4300 is its ability to support up to four NVMe M.2 SSDs. This configuration allows for impressive storage capacities ranging from 3.2TB to 12.8TB. It also includes advanced features like parity RAID for data redundancy, safeguarding against drive failures and ensuring data integrity. The SX4300 is particularly well-suited for users looking for a compact solution that does not compromise on performance.

In contrast, the SX8300 takes performance a step further with support for up to eight NVMe M.2 SSDs. This expansion allows for scalable storage solutions tailored to the evolving needs of growing enterprises. The SX8300 also implements advanced cooling technologies that prevent thermal throttling during intense operations, thus maintaining optimal performance across extended periods.

Both models support Promise Technology’s proprietary RAID management software which simplifies configuration and monitoring. Users can easily manage their storage environments, enhancing performance and monitoring the health of their drives in real time. Additionally, these devices are designed to be compatible with a wide range of operating systems, making them versatile solutions for various IT infrastructures.

Regarding connectivity, the SX4300 and SX8300 provide robust options, ensuring high availability for mission-critical applications. Their compact, rack-mounted design promotes effective space utilization in data centers, adhering to modern IT demands for efficiency.

In summary, Promise Technology's SX4300 and SX8300 series deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability, making them ideal choices for enterprises looking to enhance their storage capabilities. With advanced RAID technology, immense storage capacity, and easy-to-use management software, these systems are positioned to meet the high demands of today’s data-intensive environments. Choosing between the SX4300 and SX8300 ultimately depends on the required capacity and scalability needs, but both models exemplify Promise Technology’s commitment to innovation in data storage solutions.