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Installing the BladeCenter S chassis in a rack

Use the rack template and the rack installation kit that comes with the BladeCenter S system to correctly install it in a rack.

Before you begin, review the Installation guidelines.

If you are installing the BladeCenter S chassis in the Office Enablement Kit, see Installing the BladeCenter S chassis in the Office Enablement Kit .

Rack requirements:

  • Make sure that the room air temperature is below 35°C (95°F).
  • Do not block any air vents; usually, 15 cm (6 in.) of air space in the rear and 5 cm (2 in.) in the front provides proper airflow.
  • Three or more people are required to install the device in a rack.
  • Do not leave any unused U space within a rack open. Blank filler panels must be used to prevent recirculation of warm air.
  • Install your BladeCenter S chassis only in a rack cabinet with perforated front and rear doors or in a rack that is equipped with an IBM Rear Door Heat eXchanger.
  • Do not extend more than one device out of the rack at the same time.
  • Remove the rack doors and side panels to provide easier access during installation.
  • The rack-mounting flanges must have holes and clearances per EIA-310-D.
  • Make sure that there is sufficient room in front of the front EIA flange to provide minimum bezel clearance of 70 mm (2.76 inches) deep.
  • Make sure that there is sufficient room behind the rear of the rear EIA flanges to provide for adequate cable management and routing.
  • Rack weight-handling capacity must be sufficient for the aggregate weight of the BladeCenter S chassis, blade servers, power distribution units, and power cables.
  • The rack must be stabilized with stabilization brackets and leveling pads so that it does not become unstable when it is fully populated.

To install the BladeCenter S chassis in a rack, complete the following steps:

  1. Read Safety and Handling static-sensitive devices.
  2. Make sure that you have all of the parts of the rack installation kit that are needed to install the BladeCenter S chassis in a rack. If any parts are missing or damaged, contact your place of purchase.
    Graphic showing all parts of the rack installation kit
    Note
    Left and right shipping brackets are required only when the BladeCenter S chassis is shipped while it is installed in a rack cabinet. An initial set of shipping brackets is provided in the rack installation kit. If you need to order additional shipping brackets, you must order the miscellaneous parts kit.

    See Rear view parts listing for the miscellaneous parts kit part number.

  3. Position the rack-mounting template that is supplied with your BladeCenter S system on the rack so that the edges of the template do not overlap any other installed devices. Line up and select the holes on the front and rear of the rack in the locations that are indicated by the arrows on the template.
    Graphic showing the template attached to the rack
  4. Use a screwdriver to install the cage nuts or the clip nuts, as required for your rack, in the locations that are indicated on the template.
    Note
    For racks with square holes, use the cage nuts. For racks with round holes, use the clip nuts.
    Graphic showing the installation of cage nuts and clip nuts
  5. Before you install the rails in the rack, fully extend each rail. A set of rail pins and a mounting flange are on each end of the rail. Retract the rail pins by pressing in the rail latch  1  and then pulling the finger pull  2  toward the center of the rail.
    Graphic showing how to extend the rails
  6. Pull each end of the rail away from its center until the rail is fully extended. A locking mechanism prevents the rail from being extended too far.
  7. Position the rail in the desired location on the rack and align the pins on each end of the rail with the applicable holes on the rack  1 . Release the rail latches and finger pulls  2  on each end to allow the rail pins to pass through the rail and the mounting flange  3 . Repeat steps 5 through 7 for the other rail.
    Note
    Make sure that the rail pins protrude through the mounting flanges and the rack cabinet rails.
    Graphic showing how to mount the rails onto the rack cabinet
  8. Remove the two blue shipping screws from each side of the BladeCenter S chassis.
    Graphic showing removal of the BladeCenter S shipping screws.
  9. Slide the BladeCenter S chassis into the front of the rack. Insert one M6 screw  1  in the center hole of each rail on the rear of the rack cabinet.
    Graphic showing how insert screw in center hole of each rail on the rear of the rack cabinet
  10. Optionally, install the shipping brackets. There is a set of shipping brackets provided in the BladeCenter S chassis rack installation kit.
    Graphic showing the installation of the shipping brackets.
    To install the upper right shipping bracket (if you are facing the rear of the BladeCenter S chassis):
    1. Align the first shipping bracket so that the bottom of the shipping bracket will fit into the slot to the right of power module bay 1. Insert the shipping bracket into the slot.
    2. Align the holes in the shipping bracket with the holes in the rack cabinet.
    3. Secure the shipping bracket to the rack cabinet with the screws that are provided.
    Repeat these steps for the upper left shipping bracket.
  11. Insert four M6 screws in the front of the BladeCenter S chassis to secure it to the rack cabinet.
  12. Install the bezel on the front of the BladeCenter S chassis.
    Graphic of the BladeCenter S chassis showing the bezel being installed.