OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad External Storage Enclosure User Manual

1. Introducció

The OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad is a high-performance four-bay external storage enclosure designed for professional data storage needs. It offers flexible connectivity via USB-C and supports various RAID configurations through SoftRAID XT, providing options for capacity, speed, and data redundancy.

Imatge: Anvers view of the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad external storage enclosure, showcasing its silver aluminum chassis, front-facing drive bays with a perforated grille, and LED indicators.

2. Característiques clau

• Compatibilitat universal: Works with all USB systems and is Thunderbolt 3 compatible.
• Alt rendiment: Data transfer speeds up to 947MB/s.
• Capacitats RAID avançades: Includes SoftRAID XT software for creating, monitoring, and managing advanced RAID sets (RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 1+0).
• Badies d'unitat flexibles: Four universal drive bays support both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives.
• Disseny robust: Heat-dissipating aluminum enclosure, whisper-quiet fan, and vibration-absorbing feet for stable operation.
• Característiques de seguretat: Front panel access lock and rear-mounted Kensington compatible lock slot.

3. Contingut del paquet

The OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad package typically includes:

• Caixa OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad
• Cable USB-C a USB-C
• Cable USB-C a USB-A (per a compatibilitat amb versions anteriors)
• Adaptador d'alimentació
• Keys for Front Panel Lock
• SoftRAID XT Software License (if applicable)
• Manual d'usuari (aquest document)

4. Instruccions de configuració

4.1 Instal·lació de la unitat

1. Desbloquejar i obrir: Use the provided key to unlock the front panel of the enclosure. Gently pull the front panel open.
2. Remove Drive Trays: Traieu les safates d'unitats buides dels compartiments.


Image: The OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad enclosure with its four drive trays partially extended, showing the internal bays and the mechanism for drive insertion.

3. Attach Drives:
   • For 3.5-inch drives: Secure the drive to the tray using the provided screws.
   • For 2.5-inch drives: Use the appropriate adapter (if not pre-installed) to secure the 2.5-inch drive to the tray.


Image: A 2.5-inch Solid State Drive (SSD) securely mounted onto a drive tray, ready for insertion into the enclosure.



Image: A 3.5-inch Hard Disk Drive (HDD) securely mounted onto a drive tray, ready for insertion into the enclosure.

4. Safates d'inserció: Carefully slide the loaded drive trays back into the enclosure until they click into place.
5. Tanca i bloqueja: Close the front panel and lock it with the key.

4.2 Connexió a l'ordinador

1. Connexió d'alimentació: Connect the power adapter to the enclosure's AC IN port and then to a power outlet.


Imatge: Part posterior view of the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad, highlighting the power input, power switch, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C) port.

2. Connexió de dades:
   • For USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 equipped computers: Use the included USB-C to USB-C cable to connect the enclosure to your computer.
   • For computers with legacy USB-A ports: Use the included USB-C to USB-A cable to connect the enclosure to your computer.
3. Encès: Flip the power switch on the rear of the enclosure to the "ON" position. The front LEDs will illuminate.

5. Instruccions de funcionament

5.1 Initial Drive Recognition

Upon first connection, your operating system (macOS or Windows) should recognize the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad. New drives may need to be initialized and formatted before use. Refer to your operating system's disk utility for these procedures.

5.2 SoftRAID XT Configuration

The Mercury Elite Pro Quad includes SoftRAID XT software, which allows for advanced RAID array creation and management. Follow these general steps:

1. Install SoftRAID XT: If not pre-installed, download and install the SoftRAID XT software from the OWC weblloc.
2. Launch SoftRAID XT: Open the application. It will detect the drives within your Mercury Elite Pro Quad.
3. Create RAID Volume:
   • Seleccioneu les unitats que voleu incloure a la vostra matriu RAID.
   • Choose your desired RAID level (e.g., RAID 0 for maximum speed, RAID 1 for mirroring, RAID 4/5 for parity with redundancy, RAID 1+0 for combined speed and redundancy).
   • Follow the on-screen prompts to configure and format your new RAID volume.
4. Monitor RAID Status: Use the SoftRAID XT application to monitor the health and status of your RAID array and individual drives.

For detailed instructions on using SoftRAID XT, refer to the SoftRAID XT user manual available on the OWC support weblloc.

5.3 Transferència de dades

Once your drives are formatted and configured, you can transfer data to and from the Mercury Elite Pro Quad like any other external storage device. Drag and drop files, or use your preferred backup and synchronization software.

6. Manteniment

• Mantenir net: Regularly clean the exterior of the enclosure with a soft, dry cloth. Ensure ventilation grilles are free from dust to maintain optimal airflow.
• Actualitzacions de firmware: Check the OWC support website periodically for firmware updates for the Mercury Elite Pro Quad. Keeping firmware updated ensures optimal performance and compatibility.
• SoftRAID Updates: Ensure your SoftRAID XT software is always up to date for the best performance and stability of your RAID arrays.
• Còpia de seguretat de dades: While RAID configurations like RAID 1, 4, 5, and 1+0 offer data redundancy, they are not a substitute for a comprehensive backup strategy. Regularly back up critical data to a separate location.
• Salut de la unitat: Monitor the health of your individual drives using SoftRAID XT or your operating system's tools. Replace failing drives promptly.

7. Solució De Problemes

Dispositiu no reconegut per l'ordinador:

• Ensure all cables (power and data) are securely connected.
• Verify the power switch on the back of the enclosure is in the "ON" position.
• Proveu un port USB diferent a l'ordinador.
• Test with a different USB-C or USB-A cable.
• Check your computer's Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS) to see if the drives are detected but uninitialized/unformatted.

Velocitats de transferència de dades lentes:

• Ensure you are using a USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb/s) compatible port and cable on your computer.
• Verify that your drives are healthy and not experiencing issues.
• Check your RAID configuration in SoftRAID XT; RAID 0 offers the highest speed, while other RAID levels prioritize redundancy.
• Tanqueu totes les aplicacions innecessàries que puguin estar consumint recursos del sistema.

Drive activity LEDs are not lighting up:

• Confirm drives are properly seated in their trays and the trays are fully inserted into the enclosure.
• Ensure the enclosure is powered on and connected to your computer.
• If only specific drive LEDs are off, the corresponding drive might be faulty or improperly installed.

For further assistance, please visit the OWC support weblloc o contacteu amb el servei d'atenció al client.

8. Especificacions

9. Garantia i Suport

OWC products are built to high standards of reliability and performance. For specific warranty details, please refer to the warranty information included with your product or visit the official OWC weblloc.

For technical support, product registration, and access to the latest drivers and documentation, please visit the OWC support portal:

Suport OWC Weblloc

OWC offers 24/7 customer support for assistance with any product-related inquiries.