Pre-Installation Checklist

Prior to arriving on site to install an X200 system, use the following lap top set up and cables for communicating with the IPMI and data switches.

The Quantum VM installer consists of an OVA image which contains both the installation VM and the corresponding ActiveScale ISO.

The VM will have to be run on a laptop or customer provided node which is directly connected to the private VLANs of the ActiveScale system. This hardware machine needs to be able to run VirtualBox6 and a VM with 4GB of RAM.

Run the VM installer using the Virtual Box GUI. For help installing the VM see X200 Hardware Installation .
RJ45 cable with USB for Windows and USB Type C for MAC.
Reasonably powerful x86 hardware. Any recent Intel or AMD processor should do.
More than 4GB of RAM.
Network card which can be put in bridged mode in VirtualBox6.
At least 20GB of free disk space.
TFTP Server Downloaded on laptop.
Putty Installed to connect to the serial port.

NTP servers

To ensure consistent and reliable time synchronization, Quantum recommends configured internal NTP servers within the network environment. Internal NTP sources eliminate dependency on external connectivity, reduce false alerts, and provide better control and traceability over time synchronization.

Public NTP servers are often rate-limited, intermittently unreachable, or blocked by network firewalls, leading to unreliable synchronization and unnecessary system alerts.

Other requirements

The VM needs to be able to reach the different nodes which are being installed over the internal private VLANs of ActiveScale. This means that the network card in bridged mode needs to be connected to one of the switches of the ActiveScale systems and that that specific port on that switch needs to be in the same VLAN as the nodes which are being installed.

Power Requirements

Configuration	Power Requirement
Twin Server with 90 drives	2400W each
Twin JBOD with 90 drives	1600W each
25/100GbE Data Switch	420W each
1GbE IPMI Switch	20W each

PDU Requirements

Planning ahead for power/ what we need to tell the customer.

Rack Requirements

The ActiveScale X200 storage system is designed to mount in 19” racks that meet the EIA 310 Rack Standard.

Requirement	Description
Minimum Rack Depth	The minimum recommended rack depth required is 1200 mm (47.24”) when the rack has doors. This depth allows for clean and efficient cable routing between the nodes and enclosures. It also provides extra space for rear mount vertical power distribution units (PDUs), which Quantum recommends.
Rail Kits	The X200 chassis rail kits work with the EIA 310 Rack Standard and must have square, vertical rack mounting flanges. Round or threaded holes are not supported.
Rack Spacing	The vertical rack mounting flange spacing from the front flanges to the rear flanges must be set between 28”-30”. The X200 storage system cannot be installed unless the flanges fall within this range. The rack requires a minimum of 36” clearance in front of it for initial enclosure installation and future service operations. See the image below A minimum of 30” clearance is required at the back of the node for future service operations. This is measured from the back of the node and is independent of where the back of the rack is located.
Rack Size	Each node consumes 2U of rack space and each enclosure consumes 4U of rack space.

Rack Installation Requirements

Ensure that the leveling jacks on the bottom of the rack are extended to the floor so that the full weight of the rack rests on them.
In single rack installations, stabilizers should be attached to the rack. In multiple rack installations, the racks should be coupled together.
Always make sure the rack is stable before extending a server or other component from the rack.

You should extend only one server or component at a time; extending two or more simultaneously may cause the rack to become unstable.