Addonics Technologies CipherChain CCEXA256 user guide

							Basic Hardware Installation
Connecting the storage device: Connect the eSATA hard drive or storage device to the Device 
eSATA port on the External CipherChain using an eSATA cable. Remember to connect power to the 
eSATA storage device.
Connecting to the host/system: Connect to the Host eSATA port on the External CipherChain to one 
end of the eSATA cable and the other end to the onboard eSATA port of the motherboard or an add-in 
eSATA controller card. You can connect the External Cipherchain to a USB 3.0/2.0 port using the \
optional Addonics USB 3.0 to eSATA adapter.
Connecting the power: Using the provided 5V power adapter connect it to the power jack of the \
External CipherChain and to power outlet to provide power.
T E C H N O L O G I E S
User Guide
External CipherChain
(CCEXA256)
DeviceHDD
PWR
RESET
CipherChain
Device
HDD
PWR
RESET
Front View
Back View
Host
+5VHost eSATA port 
(Connect to eSATA host)
Device eSATA port 
(Connect to eSATA device)
+5V power jack
Cipher keyhole
Power LED
HDD LED Reset
switch
Technical Support
If you need any assistance to get your unit functioning properly, please have your 
product information ready and contact Addonics Technical Support at:
Hours: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm PST
Phone: 408-453-6212
Email: http://www.addonics.com/support/query/
v3.1.11                   
						

							How to operate the External CipherChain:
1. Insert the AES 256-bit cipher key into the cipher keyhole on the External CipherCha\
in.
2. For eSATA port that does NOT support hotswap. Power on the External CipherChain and eSATA 
storage device first before powering on the system.  For eSATA or USB port that supports hotswap. You 
can power on the External CipherChain and eSATA storage device at any time. The External CipherChain 
can be connected to the system any time.
3. Observed that the green Power LED should light up. If it does not, re\
-insert the cipher key and re-power 
the devices or reset the External CipherChain.
4. For new drive, go to the operating system’s management utility to partition, format and mount the 
encrypted drive.
5. Go to File Manager and view the encrypted drive.
Note:  You may remove the cipher key from the External CipherChain once the External CipherChain is 
powered on. All the files being transferred into the drive are still encrypted even \
if the cipher key is removed.
Additional information in operating the External CipherChain when connected to an eSATA port that 
supports hotswapping
•    Disconnecting the eSATA cable from the Device port of the External CipherChain will turn off power, clear 
the key code and remove the drive icon. The action of disconnecting serves as resetting the External 
CipherChain.
Best Practices:
•    Create a label to identify the SATA storage device and the Cipher key used to encrypt the device.
•    Always keep a spare master key in a safe place.
•    It is a good security practice to remove the cipher key from the External CipherChain and press reset 
switch when External CipherChain is unattended.
For additional information about the External CipherChain, refer to the \
External CipherChain manual on 
the CD or download a copy from www.addonics.com
Reset switch – Not to be used when External CipherChain is connected to a non hot\
swap eSATA port. Hot swapping refers to the ability to 
plug and unplug the External CipherChain without rebooting the system.  \
The following are examples of such applications: 
a. When the cipher key is removed from the External CipherChain, pressin\
g the reset switch will turn off power on the External CipherChain, 
clear the key code and remove the drive icon. 
b. Likewise when an eSATA hard drive is plug into the External CipherChain then the cipher key is\
 inserted into the cipher keyhole, pressing 
the RESET button will initialized the drive. Note that if the hard drive is not e\
ncrypted or the Cipher key does not match with what is on the 
encrypted hard drive, it will show up as an unallocated drive under the \
drive management screen and no drive icon will show up in My 
Computer folder. So it is very important to make sure that the correct Cipher key is us\
ed on the hard drive. Proceeding to initialize the hard 
drive will erase all the data beyond any possibility of recovery. 
Green Power LED: In order to turn on the power to the External CipherChain, the cipher \
key must be inserted prior to power on the system or 
resetting the External CipherChain. If the power LED does not light up, \
the system will not detect the hard drive connected to the External 
CipherChain.
Yellow Power LED: Lights up when there is drive activity.