Skip to main content

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.

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 covers, or remove the server from the rack. See Server replacement.
  2. Remove the front top cover. See Remove the front top cover.
  3. Remove the rear top cover. See Remove the rear top cover.
  4. Remove all of the M.2 drives. See Remove an M.2 drive.
  5. Disconnect the M.2 backplane cables from the system board assembly.
    Attention
    To avoid damaging the system board assembly, make sure to follow the instructions in Internal cable routing when disconnecting cables from the system board assembly.
  6. Remove the M.2 backplane.
    Figure 1. M.2 backplane removal
    M.2 backplane removal
    1. Remove the screw that secures the middle of the M.2 backplane to the front air baffle.
    2. Remove the screw that secures the end of the M.2 backplane to the front air baffle
    3. Slide the M.2 backplane backward and lift it out of the front air baffle.
  7. If needed, disconnect the M.2 backplane cables from the M.2 backplane.
    Figure 2. M.2 backplane cable disconnection
    M.2 backplane cable disconnection
    1. Unhook the wire bail on the cable from the connector.
    2. Disconnect the cables from the M.2 backplane.

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.