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Install a PCIe adapter

Use this information to install a PCIe adapter. The PCIe adapter can be an Ethernet card, a host bus adapter, a RAID adapter, an add-in PCIe SSD adapter, or any other supported PCIe adapters.

About this task

Attention
  • Read Installation Guidelines and Safety inspection checklist to ensure that you work safely.

  • Power off the server and peripheral devices and disconnect the power cords and all external cables. See Power off the server.

  • 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.

  • For PCIe adapter installation rules, see PCIe slots and PCIe adapters.

Firmware and driver download: You might need to update the firmware or driver after replacing a component.
Watch the procedure
  • A video of this procedure is available at YouTube.

Procedure

  1. Touch the static-protective package that contains the new part to any unpainted surface on the outside of the server. Then, take the new part out of the package and place it on a static-protective surface.
  2. (Optional) If you have removed the riser card, install the riser card first.
    • Riser card 1 (same for riser card 2)

      Note
      The following uses the 3-slot riser cage as an example for illustration. The replacement procedure for the 1-slot riser cage is similar.
      Figure 1. Installing the riser card to riser 1 cage or riser 2 cage
      Installing the riser card to riser 1 cage or riser 2 cage
    1. Align the riser card with the riser cage and put it into the riser cage.
    2. Install two screws to secure riser card into place.
    • Riser card 3

      Note
      The following uses the Gen 5 riser 3 cage as an example for illustration. The replacement procedure is the same for Gen 4 riser 3 cage.
      Figure 2. Installing the riser card to riser 3 cage
      Installing the riser card to riser 3 cage
    1. Align the riser card with the riser cage and put it into the riser cage.
    2. Install two screws to secure riser card into place.
    • Riser card 3/4

      Figure 3. Installing the riser card to the 4LP riser 3/4 cage
      Installing the riser card to the 4LP riser 3/4 cage
    1. Align the riser card with the riser cage and put it into the riser cage.
    2. Install two screws to secure riser card into place.
  3. Install the new PCIe adapter to the riser cage.
    • Riser 1 cage (same for riser 2 cage)

      Note
      The following uses the 3-slot riser cage as an example for illustration. The replacement procedure for the 1-slot riser cage is similar.
      Figure 4. Installing a PCIe adapter to riser 1 cage or riser 2 cage
      Installing a PCIe adapter to riser 1 cage or riser 2 cage
    1. Open the retention latch.
    2. Align the PCIe adapter with the PCIe slot on the riser card. Carefully press the PCIe adapter straight into the slot until it is securely seated and its bracket also is secured.
    3. Close the retention latch.
    • Riser 3 cage

      Figure 5. Installing a PCIe adapter to riser 3 cage
      Installing a PCIe adapter to riser 3 cage
    1. Open the retention latch.
    2. Align the PCIe adapter with the PCIe slot on the riser card. Carefully press the PCIe adapter straight into the slot until it is securely seated and its bracket also is secured.
    3. Close the retention latch.
    • 4LP riser 3/4 cage

      Figure 6. Installing a PCIe adapter to the 4LP riser 3/4 cage
      Installing a PCIe adapter to the 4LP riser 3/4 cage
    1. Align the PCIe adapter with the PCIe slot on the riser card. Carefully press the PCIe adapter straight into the slot until it is securely seated and its bracket also is secured.
    2. Tighten the screw to secure the PCIe adapter into place.

After you finish

  1. Install the riser assembly into chassis. See Install a riser assembly.

  2. If you have installed a RAID 930 or 940 adapter, install a RAID flash power module. See RAID flash power module replacement.