Install a hard disk drive backplane (lower tray)

Hard disk drive backplanes in the lower compute tray are accessed from the front of the server. There are several types of hard disk drive backplane. Steps that are backplane specific are noted in each procedure.

S002

CAUTION

The power-control button on the device and the power switch on the power supply do not turn off the electrical current supplied to the device. The device also might have more than one power cord. To remove all electrical current from the device, ensure that all power cords are disconnected from the power source.

CAUTION

Make sure that all server power cords are disconnected from their power sources before performing this procedure.

Note

If you are installing a system board, processor, memory module, as options in the lower compute tray, perform these tasks first. See Install the system board, Install a processor-heat-sink module, or Install a memory module.

Before you install the hard disk drive backplane:

1. If the front cover is installed, remove it. See Remove the front cover.

2. Determine the location of the backplanes to be installed. Backplanes are installed in the following order:

   • For SAS-only drive backplanes, backplanes should be populated from left to right, when viewed from the front of the server (backplane for drives 0-3 first; then, 4-7 and 8-11).

   • For NVMe/SAS drive backplanes, backplanes should be populated from right to left, when viewed from the front of the server (backplane for drives 8-11 first; then, 4-7 and 0-3).

   • These population orders allow a mix of drive backplane types to be installed in the server.

3. Apply new drive-bay labels based on the backplane locations determined in the previous step. Several drive bay labels come with each type of the supported drive backplane. Install the labels that match the label types used for your server.

4. Remove the lower compute tray. See Remove a compute tray.

5. Remove the fan cage. See Remove a fan cage (lower tray).

6. Move or remove the storage interposer to access the hard disk drive backplanes. See Remove a storage interposer (lower tray).

7. If a hard disk drive backplane is already installed in this location:

   1. After noting their locations, remove any hard disk drives that are installed in the lower compute tray. See Remove a hard disk drive.

   2. Remove the hard disk drive backplane. See Remove a hard disk drive backplane (lower tray)

8. Move cables and harnesses to provide a clear path for accessing the hard disk drive backplanes and their connectors.

Complete the following steps to install a hard disk drive backplane in the lower compute tray.

1. Connect the power and data cables to the hard disk drive backplane. See Cable routing for drives.
   1. Connect the power cable to the backplane. If this cable is connected to the storage interposer, you might find it easier to disconnect it from the storage interposer and then reconnect it to the storage interposer after the backplane is installed.
   2. Connect the data cables to the backplane. (SAS backplanes have only one data cable. NVMe backplanes have two data cables.)
2. Install the hard disk drive backplane.
   Note

   Existing cables might need to be removed from their retaining clips or moved to the side to install the backplane.

   Figure 1. Hard disk drive backplane (lower) installation
   
   

   Align the backplane with its location in the server; then, insert the backplane and push it down until it is fully seated.

3. Repeat 1 and 2 for each hard disk drive backplane being installed in the lower compute tray.
4. Route and connect the data cables. See Cable routing for drives.

   • Route each SAS data cable to its connector on the RAID adapter; then, connect the SAS cable.

   • Route each NVMe data cable to its connector on the compute system board; then, connect the NVMe cable.

5. Make sure that all power cables are connected to the storage interposer.
6. Route any cables that were moved to access the backplanes and connectors.