Setting up the DEPP PC and Network

Equipment needed.
1. PC for the DEPP / DHCP server.
a. Operating System. (x64 bit Windows 7 Pro or Home Premium)
b. 1 gigbit network adapter.
c. The more RAM the better. At least 8 gig seems to work well and requires a x64 bit OS.
2. 1 Gigabit switch

3. Monitor
4. keyboard, mouse.
5. Network cables.

Step one Setup PC and Connect it to the network

1.

Install operating system on PC. (Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium). For this example I used Windows
7 Home Premium.

2. Disable the Windows Fire Wall.

a. Go into the Control Panel ->All Control Panel Items -> Windows Firewall and select Turn Windows Firewall on or
off from the left panel.

b. Select Turn off Windows Firewall for the Home/Work and the Public networks. Then select OK to save
the settings.

3. Turn off the User Account Control Settings (UAC) in Control Panel ->All Control Panel Items -> User Accounts.
a. Select Change User Account Control Settings which is the last option from the middle section.

b. Set the slide selector down to Never notify. Then click OK to save the settings.

c. Reboot the PC before proceeding.

4. Connect the PC to a Gigabit switch with a Cat5e or Cat 6 network cable.

5. Set the PCs network adapter IP address to static:

a. Open network properties for the network adapter by right-clicking on the Network Adapter Icon and
selecting properties from the drop down menu.

b. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Properties

c. select Use the following IP address

d. set the IP address: 10.0.0.1
e. set the Subnet Mask: 255.255.254.0
f. set the Default gateway: 10.0.0.1

g. Save settings by clicking OK.

Step two: Install and configure DHCP server software.

*Note. In this example I use dhcpsrv, which is a freeware DHCP application.
1. Copy the dhcpsrv2.3 folder to the root of the C:\ drive. Then double-click the dhcpwiz.exe icon to run the setup
wizard.

b. Click Next to continue.

c. Select the LAN connection that shows the 10.0.0.1 IP address then click Next to continue.

d. Click Next on the next screen to continue.

e. Select Delete expired leases in intervals of then click the Advanced button to set the gateway option.

f.

Click OK to close the Advanced dialog and then click Next to continue.

g. Select Overwrite existing file Then click the Write INI file button to save the settings then click Next to
continue to the next screen.

h. Click the Install button in the Service options to install dhcpsrv as a service which will allow it to run
when Windows boots up.

i.

Click the Start button under Service options to start the DHCP server running. Click Finish to close the
Wizard. The DHCP server should be running now.

Step Three: Install Python

1. install python-2.7.2.msi

->

Step Four: Install the TFTP utility

Copy the tftpd32.351 folder to the C:\ drive and create a shortcut on the desktop. The TFTP
server will only be used when building the IomegaEZ (hm3), ix2-ng (2 bay), and the ix4-300d
(h4c) platforms. All other products do not require the TFTP server running.

1.

To start the TFTP server running, Click the TFTP32 shortcut.

2. The main dialog should look like the following with the Current Directory pointing to the ix2ng_hmEZ_initrd
directory and the Server interfaces showing the 10.0.0.1 IP Address of the PC.

3. At this point the TFTP server is waiting for Client requests.

4. The Current Directory would need to be switched to point to the h4c (ix4-300d) folder containing the initrd
and zimage files when building the h4c (ix4-300d) product.

5. Make sure to switch back to the ix2ng_hmEZ_initrd directory when building the hm3 (IomegaEZ) or ix2-ng
platforms.

Step Five: NAS DEPP Setup

1.

Copy the current NAS DEPP folder to the DEPP PC and create a short cut for the MfgToolLifeLine.exe
executable on the Desktop.

2. The NAS Directory should look like the following:

Images DEPP Images go in this directory for all devices/SKUs

Logs DEPP log files are saved to this directory
scripts contains some scripts and files that DEPP uses
support files any support files may be found here
SysInfoFiles files containing information from each device are saved here
tempfiles contains decrypted copies of the DEPP images when needed.
decryptImage decrypts the depp image if it is encrypted.
lifeLineModels_vxxxxxxxx.csv contains the SKU numbers and information about the devices. (Only one .csv
file is allowed in the NAS DEPP folder at one time.)
MfgClient.exe this is the DEPP client piece that is openned when a Client request is received by the DEPP
Server piece.
MfgToolLifeLine.exe this is the DEPP Server piece that listens for Client requests.
nasdepp.ini contains some configuration information for the DEPP programs.

3.

To start the DEPP Server, Click the MfgLineLineTool.exe shortcut.

4.

Verify that it opens without any errors.

5. From the SKU Number dropdown box select the SKU number that matches the SKU you want to build. Then
press the Start Server button to start listening for Client requests.

6. Verify that the chosen SKU number is correct then press Yes or No to continue.

7. Now the DEPP Server is listening for Client requests sent by PX6-300d devices in this case.

Setting up the devices to boot into DEPP mode:

Items needed.
- USB 2.0 flash stick

- The latest EMC Imager utility. Current version when this document was updated is EmcImager-1.1.42.exe.
- imager_depp.tgz file for devices (example: "px4px6-3.2.3.15290_imager_depp.tgz" )
the version numbers will change as a new build is released)
- Windows PC
- PX device
- paper clip or other pointed device

Step one: Create an USB Imager for updating PX device

1. Insert the USB stick into a USB port on the DEPP PC.

2. run EMCImager.exe utility to create the USB Imager

3. Click Next to continue.

3. Click Browse to select your USB stick. Click OK then Install to continue.

4. Click Yes to continue.

5. Verify that the USB key is selected under Device.

6. Select Quick Format then click Start to beginning formatting the USB key.

7. Click Yes to Format the USB key. Then click OK to close the notification dialog and continue.

8. Close the format dialog by clicking Close to continue.

9. Click Finish to close the application. The EMC imager creation process is now finished!

Step two: Copy the imager files to the EMC Imager

The EMC Imager USB key contains a bunch of files and folders but the main one we are interested in is the folder called
emctools which is where the EMC imager files for each NAS product will go.

Inside the emctools directory you should see a folder for each NAS product.

Here is a list of the folders that are currently used in manufacturing with the corresponding NAS product names.
b2a_images put imager file for the px2-300d product here
h4c_images put imager file for the ix4-300d product here
ix2-200_images for the ix2-200 product
ix4-200d_images for the ix4-200d product
ix12_images for the px12-350r product
px4-300r_images for the px4-300r product
px4px6_images for the px4-300d and px6-300d products
r12b_images for the px12-400r and px12-450r products

Step two: Booting the NAS Devices into DEPP mode

This step will discuss the methods for booting a device into DEPP mode in order to connect with the DEPP server.
Depending on the particular NAS device, the method for booting into DEPP mode may or may not require the use
of the EMC Imager that was created in the previous steps.
There are two main platform types used in the current NAS devices. One type is based on the Intel CPU and the
other based on the MARVELL processor.
INTEL:
Typically if the NAS device is based on the Intel CPU platform it will require the EMC Imager to program the on board
USB DOM (Disk On Module) with a DEPP-Ready image that will allow the device to boot into DEPP mode and
connect with the DEPP server. In general the DEPP-Ready image file will end with imager_depp.tgz. However,
depending on the specific NAS device this wont always be the case.
MARVELL:
The NAS devices that are based on the Marvell CPU platform, instead of having a USB DOM, have either an onboard
NAND flash chip or an onboard SPI flash chip. The older Marvell platforms used to use the EMC Imager to update the
onboard flash chips but the newer NAS devices load the necessary files via a TFTP server.

The following is a list of each NAS product and the method for booting the NAS device into DEPP mode. Note: the
listed image versions were current at the time this document was written. The versions will change each time a new Life
Line build is released. Make sure to always use the most recent released images and files.

Hm3(IomegaEZ)/Ix2-ng (new Marvell based) the EMC Imager is not used. These NAS devices boot into DEPP mode
by loading the initrd(ram disk) and zimage(kernel) files via TFTP.
To boot the hm3 and ix2-ng into TFTP mode: (This assumes the hard drives are blank. If the hard drives have previous
versions of the Life Line software installed then you must do step 3. Otherwise steps 1 and 2 should be enough to boot
into DEPP mode.)
1. Start the TFTP server on the DEPP PC and make sure the default folder is set to the folder that contains the
correct initrd and zimage files for the hm3 and ix2-ng. (See the section on setting up and starting the TFTP
Server)
2.

Press and hold the power button while applying power. Continue holding the power button until the front two
LEDs turn solid red. At this point the ix2-ng should load the kernel and ram disk files from the TFTP server,
should boot into DEPP mode and connect to the DEPP server. *If the hm3/ix2-ng does not connect to the DEPP
server you may need to perform step 3.

3. After the two front LEDs turn red (indicating that the device is loading the kernel and ram disk files from the
TFTP server) release the power button and then press and hold the reset button until the top LED begins to
flash white. Continue holding the reset button for about 5 more seconds then release.

Px4/px6-300d (Intel based) use the EMC Imager to program the on board DOM with the DEPP-Ready image
(px4px6-3.2.3.15290_imager_depp.tgz). Then reboot the device to boot into DEPP mode.

Px12-350r (Intel based) use the EMC Imager to program the on board DOM with the DEPP-Ready image (ix123.2.3.15290_imager_depp.tgz). Then reboot the device to boot into DEPP mode.

Ix4-200d (old Marvell based) use the EMC Imager to program the on board NAND flash with the imager file (ix4200d-3.2.6.17887_imager.tgz) before the hard drives are installed in the device.
Once the NAND flash has been programmed, install the hard drives and then power on the ix4-200d. With a pointed
object, such as a paper clip, pulse the reset button until the network/USB recovery image is displayed on the LCD. At
this point the ix4-200d should connect with the DEPP Server.

Ix2-200 (old Marvell based) the ix2-200 uses the same imaging method as the ix4-200d. However, you would use
the imager file for the ix2-200 of course (ix2-200-3.2.6.21659_imager.tgz).

Px4-300r (Intel based) - use the EMC Imager to program the on board DOM with the DEPP-Ready image (px4-300r3.2.3.15290_imager_depp.tgz). Then reboot the device to boot into DEPP mode.

B2a (px2-300d) (Intel based) - use the EMC Imager to program the on board DOM with the DEPP-Ready image (b2a3.3.4.29754_imager_depp.tgz). Then reboot the device to boot into DEPP mode.

H4c (ix4-300d) (new Marvell based) The ix4-300d uses the same method as the hm3 and ix2-ng in that it loads the
kernel and ram disk from the TFTP server and then boots into DEPP mode.
The difference with the ix4-300d you press and hold the reset button instead of the power button to get it to load
the files via TFTP. Also, the ix4-300d has a LCD screen which will display a TFTP Boot message along with the LED
pattern when it is booting via TFTP. After the TFTP Boot screen is displayed the screen will change to the Network
Recovery / USB screen when it enters DEPP Mode.

R12b (px12-400r/450r) (Intel based) - use the EMC Imager to program the on board DOM with the DEPP-Ready image
(r12b-3.3.3.29772_imager_depp.tgz). Then reboot the device to boot into DEPP mode.

Walks through example: Use the EMC Imager to update the PX4-300d with the DEPP-Ready
image
1. Connect the PX4 to the switch with a good network cable.

2. Plug the network cable into the top network port on the PX4 and the other end into the network gigabit switch.
3. Copy the current released DEPP-Ready image file for the px4-300d to the emctools->px4px6 folder on the EMC USB
Imager. (eg. px4px6-3.2.3.15290_imager_depp.tgz)

3. Plug the USB Imager into one of the USB ports on the PX4.

4. Press and hold the reset button on the PX4 using the paper clip while power is applied.

5. Power on the device while holding the reset button on the back.

6. Continue holding the reset button until you see the activity light on the USB imager begin to flash.
7. Stop pressing the reset button.
8. Allow the USB Imager process to complete at which point the PX4 will shut off.
8. remove the USB Imager.

With the DEPP Server setup and running, the PX4-300d is now ready to boot into DEPP mode and connect to the DEPP
server to complete the DEPP process where the DEPP images will get written to the hard drives that are installed in the
NAS device.

Running NAS DEPP to image the hard drives on the PX4 device and
update the image on the DOM.
Step one: Verify that the DHCP server is running (dhcpsrv.exe)

Step two: Start the DEPP UDP Server

1. Click the MfgToolLifeLine shortcut to start the UDP Server application.

2. Select the correct SKU Number from the SKU Number dropdown box.

3. Press the "Start Server" button at the bottom.

4. Confirm that the SKU Number is correct.

5. The Server starts to listen for client requests. (The PX4 is the client)

Step three: Connect the PX4 device and power it on

1. Verify that the PX4 is connected to the network switch.

2. Power on the PX4

Step four: Run the DEPP Image process

1. If everything is setup correctly the DEPP process will run automatically at this point. You should see a DEPP Client
dialog get opened up on the DEPP server when the px4-300d successfully connects.
2. Let the process complete until the DEPP client dialog shows either a pass or a fail result. You should also see the
pass/fail result on the px4-300d device indicated by a check mark or X on the LCD.
3. Press power switch to power off the PX4 as the last step of the DEPP Process.