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Remove the M.2 backplane

Follow instructions in this section to remove the M.2 backplane.

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.

  • 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.

  • Before you remove any component of a RAID array (drive, RAID card, etc.), back up all RAID configuration information.

Procedure

  1. If the server is installed in a rack, slide the server out on its rack slide rails to gain access to the top cover, or remove the server from the rack. See Remove the server from rack.
  2. Remove the top cover. See Remove the top cover.
  3. Disconnect the M.2 cables from the M.2 backplane.
    Figure 1. Disconnecting cables from M.2 x4 non-RAID SATA/NVMe 2-bay backplane

    Figure 2. Disconnecting cables from M.2 x1 RAID NVMe 2-bay backplane

    1. Loosen the screw on the signal cable.

    2. Tilt the connector and remove it.

    3. Remove the power cable.

    Figure 3. Disconnecting cable from M.2 RAID SATA/NVME 2-bay backplane

    1. Pull up the latch on the M.2 cable.

    2. Disconnect the M.2 cable from the M.2 backplane.

  4. Remove the M.2 backplane.
    M.2 backplane on the air baffle

    1. Remove the M.2 drive from the M.2 backplane. See Remove an M.2 drive.

    2. Remove the M.2 backplane from the air baffle.

      Figure 4. Removing the M.2 backplane from the air baffle
      Removing the M.2 backplane from the air baffle

      1. Unfasten the screw that secures the M.2 backplane to the air baffle.

      2. Slide and hold the retention clip on the air baffle.

      3. Remove the M.2 backplane from the air baffle, and release the retention clip.

    M.2 backplane on the middle drive cage

    1. Open the drive cage handle.

      Figure 5. Opening the handle of the middle drive cage
      Opening the handle of the middle drive cage

    2. Remove the M.2 drive from the M.2 backplane. See Remove an M.2 drive.

    3. Remove the M.2 backplane from the middle drive cage.
      Figure 6. Removing the M.2 backplane from the middle drive cage
      Removing the M.2 backplane from the middle drive cage

      1. Unfasten the screw on the middle of M.2 backplane.

      2. Unfasten the screw on the end of the M.2 backplane.

      3. Remove the M.2 backplane from the middle drive cage.

After you finish

  1. Install a new M.2 backplane. See Install the M.2 backplane.

  2. If you are instructed to return the component or optional device, follow all packaging instructions, and use any packaging materials for shipping that are supplied to you.

Demo video

Watch the procedure on YouTube (on air baffle)

Watch the procedure on YouTube (on middle drive cage)