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Remove the rear M.2 drive cage and backplane

Follow the instructions in this section to remove the rear M.2 drive cage and 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.

  • 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.

The server supports one of the following M.2 drive cage assembly installed on PCIe riser 3.
Two-slot FH riser with M.2 cage at topSix-slot FH riser with M.2 cage at bottom

Two-slot FH riser with M.2 cage at top


Six-slot FH riser with M.2 cage at bottom

For more details on the different types of risers, see Rear view.

Depending on your configuration, follow the corresponding procedures below for proper removal procedure.

Remove M.2 drive cage and backplane from the two-slot FH riser​

Procedure

  1. Remove all hot-swap M.2 drives. See Remove a hot-swap M.2 drive assembly.
  2. 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.
  3. Remove the front top cover. See Remove the front top cover.
  4. Remove the rear top cover. See Remove the rear top cover.
  5. Remove the crossbar. See Remove the crossbar.
  6. Remove the PCIe riser where the M.2 drive cage is installed. Remove the PCIe riser.
  7. Disconnect all the cables connected to the M.2 backplane and record them.
  8. Remove the M.2 drive cage.
    Figure 1. Removing M.2 drive cage from riser
    Removing M.2 drive cage from riser
    1. Remove the two screws that secure the drive cage to the PCIe riser cage.
    2. Remove the drive cage from the PCIe riser cage.
  9. Remove the rear M.2 backplane.
    Figure 2. Removing M.2 backplane
    Removing M.2 backplane

    1. Loosen one screw the locks the backplane to the cage.
    2. Slide the backplane as illustrated above and lift it off from the cage.
  10. If necessary, remove the M.2 drive cage bracket.
    Figure 3. Removing M.2 drive cage bracket
    Removing M.2 drive cage bracket
    1. Remove the screw that secures the M.2 drive cage bracket.
    2. Slide the M.2 drive cage bracket as illustrated above and remove it.

Remove M.2 drive cage and backplane from the six-slot FH riser​

Procedure

  1. Remove all hot-swap M.2 drives. See Remove a hot-swap M.2 drive assembly.
  2. 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.
  3. Remove the front top cover. See Remove the front top cover.
  4. Remove the rear top cover. See Remove the rear top cover.
  5. Remove the crossbar. See Remove the crossbar.
  6. Remove the PCIe riser where the M.2 drive cage is installed. Remove the PCIe riser.
  7. Disconnect all the cables connected to the M.2 backplane and record them.
  8. Remove the M.2 drive cage.
    Figure 4. Removing the M.2 drive cage from the six-slot FH riser
    Removing the M.2 drive cage from the two-slot FH riser
    1. Remove the two screws that secure the drive cage to the PCIe riser.
    2. Rotate the drive cage outwards away from the PCIe riser cage to remove it.
  9. Remove the rear M.2 backplane.
    Figure 5. Removing M.2 backplane
    Removing M.2 backplane

    1. Loosen one screw that locks the backplane to the cage.
    2. Slide the backplane as illustrated above and lift it off from the cage.
  10. If necessary, remove the M.2 drive cage bracket.
    Figure 6. Removing M.2 drive cage bracket
    Removing M.2 drive cage bracket
    1. Remove the screw that secures the M.2 drive cage bracket.
    2. Slide the M.2 drive cage bracket as illustrated above and remove it.

After you finish

  1. Install a replacement unit or a filler. See Install the rear M.2 drive cage and 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.