Install a hard disk drive backplane (upper tray)

Hard disk drive backplanes in the upper compute tray or optional storage 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 upper 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 12-15 first; then, 16-19 and 20-23).

   • For NVMe/SAS drive backplanes, backplanes should be populated from right to left, when viewed from the front of the server (backplane for drives 20-23 first; then, 16-19 and 12-15).

   • 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 upper compute tray or storage tray. See Remove a compute tray or Remove a storage tray.

5. 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 upper compute tray or optional storage tray. See Remove a hard disk drive.

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

6. Turn the tray upside down.

7. Remove the fan cage. See Remove a fan cage (upper tray).

Complete the following steps to install a hard disk drive backplane in the upper compute tray or optional storage tray.

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. See Cable routing for drives.
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 (upper) installation
   
   

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

3. Connect the data cables to the backplane. (SAS backplanes have only one data cable. NVMe backplanes have two data cables.) See Cable routing for drives.
4. Repeat 1, 2, and 3 for each hard disk drive backplane being installed in the upper tray.
5. Turn the tray upside down.
6. 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 a system board or optional storage tray; then, connect the NVMe cable.

7. Make sure that all power cables are connected to the storage interposer.
8. Make sure that all of the cables are correctly routed after they have been connected.