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Install the 2.5-inch front drive backplane

Use this information to install the 2.5-inch front drive backplane.

About this task

The server supports up to three 2.5-inch drive backplanes of below types. Depending on the backplane type and quantity, the installation location of the backplanes varies.
  • 2.5-inch SAS/SATA 8-bay backplane

  • 2.5-inch AnyBay 8-bay backplane

  • 2.5-inch NVMe 8-bay backplane

  • 2.5-inch 24-bay backplane with expander

Note
The AnyBay backplane and NVMe backplane listed above use the same physical circuit board. The difference is which connectors on the backplane are cabled: NVMe and SAS/SATA, or just NVMe.
The following table lists the supported backplane combinations. Install the backplane according to your server configuration.
Figure 1. Drive backplane numbering
Drive backplane numbering

Backplane quantityBackplane 1Backplane 2Backplane 3
1
  • 8-bay SAS/SATA

  • 8-bay NVMe

  • 8-bay AnyBay

  
2

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay SAS/SATA

 

8-bay NVMe

8-bay NVMe

 

8-bay AnyBay

8-bay AnyBay

 

8-bay SAS/SATA

  • 8-bay NVMe

  • 8-bay AnyBay

 

8-bay AnyBay

8-bay NVMe

 
3

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay NVMe

8-bay NVMe

8-bay NVMe

8-bay AnyBay

8-bay AnyBay

8-bay AnyBay

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay SAS/SATA

  • 8-bay AnyBay

  • 8-bay NVMe

8-bay SAS/SATA

8-bay NVMe

8-bay NVMe

1

24-bay backplane with expander

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

  • To avoid damage to the drive connectors, make sure that the server top cover is in place and fully closed whenever you install or remove a drive.

  • To make sure that there is adequate system cooling, do not operate the server for more than two minutes without either a drive or a drive bay filler installed in each bay.

  • Before you remove or make changes to drives, drive controllers (including controllers that are integrated on the system board assembly), drive backplanes or drive cables, back up all important data that is stored on drives.

Firmware and driver download: You might need to update the firmware or driver after replacing a component.

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. Install the 2.5-inch drive front backplane.
    Note
    Depending on the specific type, your backplane might look different from the illustration.
    • 8-bay drive backplane

      Figure 2. Installing the 8-bay drive backplane
      Installing the 8-bay drive backplane
      1. Align the bottom of the backplane with the slots on of the chassis.

      2. Rotate the backplane to the vertical position and align the holes in the backplane with the pins on the chassis and press the backplane into position. The release tabs will secure the backplane in place.

    • 24-bay drive backplane with expander

      Figure 3. Installing the 24-bay drive backplane with expander
      Installing the 24-bay drive backplane with expander
      1. Align the bottom of the backplane with the slots on of the chassis.

      2. Rotate the backplane to the vertical position and align the holes in the backplane with the pins on the chassis and press the backplane into position. The release tabs will secure the backplane in place.

  3. If you have disconnected cables from the backplane, reconnect cables back to the backplane, and then connect the cables to the system board assembly or RAID adapters. See Internal cable routing.

After you finish

  1. Reinstall all the drives and fillers (if any) into the drive bays. See Install a hot-swap drive.

  2. Reinstall the fan cage. See Install the system fan cage.

  3. Reinstall the air baffle if you have removed it. See Install the air baffle.

  4. Complete the parts replacement. See Complete the parts replacement.

Demo video

Watch the procedure on YouTube