SPANStor   Quick Start -  Read Me First!    

SPANStor software is easy to install and administer.  Just follow the steps
listed below to get your SPANStor storage server up and running quickly.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

SPANStor requires a PCI based, X86 architecture computer with a floppy
drive.  In this release, an Intel Pro100B 10/100 Base-TX PCI Ethernet
adapter and an Adaptec 7800 family PCI SCSI controller are required.
SPANStor will provide the best performance with an AHA-2940 Ultra SCSI
controller, and at least 64MB of RAM memory.   Network Storage Solutions 
recommends 256 MB of main RAM memory for optimal performance.  A Pentium 
based CPU is typically sufficient to provide high performance.

!!WARNING!!: When SPANStor loads and you choose to ZAP (initialize) a disk, 
any data contained on the disk will be lost.  Insure that no SCSI disks in 
units used for SPANStor contain data that cannot be deleted.  The trialware 
version of SPANStor only supports 1GB of storage.  The disk drive with the 
lowest SCSI ID will be initialized.  For data safety, disconnect  any other 
SCSI disks in the computer other than the disk to be utilized.  If a disk 
larger than 1GB is used, only 1GB will be recognized.  The registered 
version has been tested with up to 126GB of storage capacity.

QUICK INSTALL:

1.  If you downloaded the trialware version of SPANStor, you will need to create a
SPANStor boot floppy. A formatted, 1.44MB floppy is required. Begin by downloading the 
installation file to a temporary directory.  For DOS/Windows, run the self-extracting
executable SPANSDOS.EXE to automatically extract the required files, then run 
INSTALL.COM in a DOS command window.  If you downloaded the UNIX image file spanstor.tar,
use the following commands to build the boot floppy:
#tar -xvf spanstor.tar
#dd of=/dev/rfd0 if=spanstor.dd obs=512 
(your raw floppy device may vary)
 
2.  If you wish to setup the server without using a console or serial 
terminal, the config.586 file on the floppy should be edited to include the 
desired IP address, Netmask, and other settings. See the command line switch 
settings example at the end of this document.

3.  If the SPANStor computer does not have a keyboard and VGA monitor, 
connect a serial terminal to the COM1 port on the SPANStor computer.  
Communication settings 9600,N,8,1.

4.  Insert the boot floppy in the computer you wish to use as a high 
performance storage server and boot the unit.

5.  As the unit is booting you will see various initialization messages on 
the VGA console or serial terminal. When the screen displays the first 
countdown  "Type any key to enter the Hardware Menu 5.4.3..."  press any 
key.   The following screen will be displayed:


+-------------------------------+
|  Hardware Initialization Menu |
+-------------------------------+

*** WARNING  WARNING  WARNING ***

*** Use of items in this menu ***
***   may destroy your data   ***

<R> Reset 
<S> Show SCSI
<Z> Zap Disk
<N> Continue with Normal Startup Menu
<Q> Quit
     
6.  Select <Z> to initialize the SCSI disk.  When prompted to initialize the 
whole disk, you may answer "n" to perform a quick initialization.

7.  After the initialization completes, select <N> to proceed with a normal 
startup.  When the second countdown message is displayed,  "Type any key to 
enter menu .10.9.8.7... "   
Press a key to interrupt the countdown and display the Configuration Menu.

 The Configuration Menu now displays:

+----------------------+
|  Configuration Menu  |
+----------------------+
<N> Network Configuration
<A> Server Administration
<C> Show Configuration
<B> Backup Configuration
<S> Show SCSI
<P> Change System Performance Parameters
<V> Volume Information
<W> Statistics
<U> Show Server Up Time
<Q> Quit

8.  SPANStor software requires a license key.  To obtain a license key fill 
out the attached FORM and FAX it to (703) 834-0787,  alternately send EMAIL 
to: license@nssolutions.com providing the same information that is on the 
form, and a key will be sent to you within 4 business hours.  You will need 
the Ethernet MAC address displayed on the SPANStor screen (six double digits 
separated by colons), or you can display the address by choosing <C> Show 
Configuration from the Configuration Menu.  Once you have received your 
software key, choose <A> Server Administration and enter the key.

9.  At this point, you may configure any other parameters you desire to 
change from the defaults, or simply <Q> to quit and the SPANStor storage 
server will come up.

10.  To re-enter the menus after the system has started you must press the 
attention key, <?> from the console, and enter the system password.  The 
default password is "password", which can be changed from the <A> Server 
Administration Menu.

If  an IP address and Netmask are set from the config.586 file on the 
floppy, or DHCP is enabled to automatically assign an IP address and 
netmask, the SPANStor configuration menus can also be accessed by pointing  
a Web Browser, or Telnet connection to the IP address.  You will still be 
required to enter the system password. 
     	
Common CONFIG.586 command line switches
(see Appendix D in the manual for a complete listing)

Example: 
# SPANStor 586 program - set startup options via cmd line
#
title= SPANStor 
kernel= /spans586.out -ip 198.98.0.15 -netmask 255.255.255.0 -smbname NT01
#pause= Load Completed - press any key to continue

-ip		IP address in dot notation form 			
-netmask	subnet mask in dot notation form
-fast	        starts menu countdown at 2 seconds vs. 10 sec.
-smb	        used to set the SMB/CIFS (Windows)  servername
-nosmb	        disables the SMB/CIFS protocol 
-syncnfs	use synchronous (immediate) NFS writes
-asyncnfs	use asynchronous (delayed) NFS writes 
-nonetbios	disable browser view of servername (hide server)
-netbios	enable Windows browser view of server
-c		set initial console = keyboard
-s		set initial console= serial port
-startup	unconditional startup (Requires either -c or -s)
-hwinit	        hardware init 
-export	        enable use of exports file
-noexport	disable use of exports file
-bootp	        enable bootp protocol
-nobootp	disable bootp protocol
-rarp	        enable RARP (Reverse Address Resolution)
-norarp	        disable RARP
-backup	        enable local backups
-nobackup 	disable local backups
-http	        enable HTTP (Hyper Text Transmission Protocol)
-nohttp	        disable HTTP
-license 	license string characters          




+==========================================================================+
|    FAX    -------  KEY REQUEST -----                                     | 
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|Date:                              | 
+---------------------------+-------+
|Pages including cover sheet|   1   | You may request a license key by EMAIL
+---------------------------+-------+ Send your request containing required 
|Name: NSS License Administrator    | fields to:  license@nssolutions.com
+-----------------------------------+
|Company:Network Storage Solutions  |
+-----------------------------------+
|Subject: SPANStor Key Request      |
+-----------------------------------+
|Phone: 703-834-1800                |
+-----------------------------------+    
|Fax:  703-834-0787                 |
+-----------------------------------+
|EMAIL: license@nssolutions.com     |
+-----------------------------------+

+===================================+======================================+
|*Name:                             |*Ethernet Addr.:   :   :   :   :   :  |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|*Company:                          |*How did you find SPANStor?           |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|*Address 1:                        |Storage Capacity:                     |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|Address 2:                         |Network Protocols Used (circle)       |
+-----------------------------------+ IPX/SPX   NFS    SMB/CIFS     10Mbps |
|*City,State                        | HTTP    DHCP   RARP  BOOTP   100Mbps |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|*ZIP Code:                         |Computer Make:                        |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|EMAIL:                             |Comments:                             |
+-----------------------------------+---+----------------------------------+
|*Phone:                            |   |Mark box to  have a salesman call |
+-----------------------------------+---+----------------------------------+
|*Fax:                              |KEY|                                  |
+-----------------------------------+---+----------------------------------+

Items marked with an * are required fields.
Missing information will delay processing.

Visit our web site:  http://www.nssolutions.com  
for the latest updates to SPANStor software and documentation.

Technical support for Trialware software is only available by sending EMAIL 
to: support@nssolutions.com 

Purchase a registered license now for installation support, and advanced 
features like large capacity support, increased HTTP connections,
and Tape backup support.













     












