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Install the 3.5-inch rear drive cage

Use this information to install the 3.5-inch 2-bay or 4-bay rear drive cage.

About this task

Attention

  • Read Installation Guidelines to ensure that you work safely.

  • Power off the server and disconnect all power cords for this task.

  • Prevent exposure to static electricity, which might lead to system halt and loss of data, by keeping static-sensitive components in their static-protective packages until installation, and handling these devices with an electrostatic-discharge wrist strap or other grounding system.

  • The rear drive cage is supported on some server models with thermal requirements. See Thermal rules to ensure that the server is under permitted ambient temperature and the correct heat sink and system fans are used. If needed, replace your heat sink or system fan first.

  • When there is only one processor installed, six system fans are needed if a middle drive cage, rear drive cage, or riser 3 is installed.

Procedure

  1. (Optional) If existing rearwall brackets are not for the rear drive cage, install the rearwall brackets that come with the rear drive cage. See Rearwall bracket replacement
  2. Install the required riser brackets. See PCIe adapter and riser assembly replacement.
  3. Install the rear drive cage.
    Figure 1. Installing the 2 x 3.5-inch rear drive cage

    Figure 2. Installing the 4 x 3.5-inch rear drive cage
    Installing the 4 x 3.5-inch rear drive cage
    1. Align the rear drive cage with the chassis, and lower the drive cage into the chassis. Move the rear drive cage forward until it clicks into position.
    2. Twist and release the blue plunger to secure the drive cage in place.
  4. (Optional) If you are installing the 4 x 3.5-inch drive cage, install the top cover support bracket.
    Figure 3. Installing the top cover support bracket
    Installing the top cover support bracket
  5. Connect cables from the rear backplane to the system board or RAID/HBA adapters. See Internal cable routing.

After you finish

  1. Reinstall the drives or drive fillers into the rear drive cage. See Install a hot-swap drive.

  2. Complete the parts replacement. See Complete the parts replacement.

Demo video

Watch the procedure on YouTube