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Installing components

After you install the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis in a rack, install all of the components in the chassis.

Before you install components in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis:
Important
When you install compute nodes, power supplies, and 80 mm fan modules in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis, install them starting from the bottom up.

Compute nodes​

The following illustration shows the locations of node bays in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis.


Illustration showing the number and location of each compute node bay
Note
  • A 1-bay compute node occupies one node bay in the chassis.
  • A 2-bay compute node occupies two adjacent node bays (horizontally) in the chassis and requires the chassis shelf to be removed prior to installation.

Power supplies​

The chassis power load is dependent on the number and type of compute nodes, I/O modules, and management modules that are installed in the chassis. The number and type of power supplies that you install determines how much power is available to power all of these devices. The amount of power available must be sufficient for the expected chassis load.

You can use the Power Configurator to determine the power load for a specific chassis configuration. See the Power Configurator website for more information.

Important
  • Up to six power supplies can be installed.
  • Install power supplies from the bottom up starting with power bays 1 and 4, then power bays 2 and 5, then power bays 3 and 6.
  • Do not mix different types of power supplies in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis. Each chassis must contain either all dc-powered supplies or all ac-powered supplies.

Install power supplies according to the number of populated node bays as shown in Table 1. See also Power supplies for more information.

Table 1. Required power supplies relative to the number of populated node bays
Number of populated node baysPower supplies required
1 - 42
5 - 63
7 - 84
9 - 115
12 - 146

80 mm fan modules​

The number of 80 mm fans that you install depends on the number of populated node bays. Up to eight 80 mm fan modules can be installed.

Install 80 mm fan modules according to the number of populated node bays as shown in Table 2. See also Fan modules for more information.

Table 2. Required 80 mm fan modules relative to the number of populated node bays
Fan zone 1 (behind node bays 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13)Fan zone 2 (behind node bays 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14)
Number of populated node bays80 mm fans requiredNumber of populated node bays80 mm fans required
1 - 221 - 22
3 - 433 - 43
5 - 745 - 74
  • Installing a 1-bay compute node
    You can install up to fourteen 1-bay compute nodes in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis. Compute nodes are installed in the front of the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis.
  • Installing a 2-bay compute node
    You can install up to seven 2-bay compute nodes in the chassis. A 2-bay device occupies two adjacent node bays (horizontally) in the chassis.
  • Installing a Chassis Management Module
    You can install up to two Chassis Management Modules for redundancy support in the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis.
  • Installing a power supply
    The Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis comes with at least two power supplies already installed in the rear of the chassis. You can install up to four additional power supplies in the chassis for a total of six power supplies.
  • Installing a 80 mm fan
    The Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis comes with at least four 80 mm fan modules already installed in the rear of the chassis. You can install up to four additional 80 mm fan modules for a total of eight 80 mm fan modules.
  • Installing an I/O module
    You can install up to four I/O modules into the Flex System Carrier-Grade chassis. An Ethernet switch or a pass-thru module must be installed in I/O bay 1 and/or bay 2 whenever one or more compute nodes on-board Ethernet interface is active or there is an Ethernet I/O expansion card interfacing with I/O bay 1 and 2.