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Installing a 1.8-inch solid state drive

Use this information to install a 1.8-inch hot-swap solid state drive (SSD). Solid state drives can be installed in both the upper and lower compute nodes, if an SSD mounting sleeve is installed.

You can install up to four 1.8-inch solid state drives (SSDs) in a compute node if an optional SSD mounting sleeve is installed in the compute node. At least one 1.8-inch solid state drive must be installed in the SSD mounting sleeve. The 1.8-inch solid-state drives used in the Lenovo Flex System x240 M5 compute node are hot-swap drives.

RAID level-0 (striping) can be configured on a compute node with a single hard disk drive installed. A minimum of two disk drives of the same interface type must be installed to implement and manage RAID level-1 (mirroring) arrays. See Configuring a RAID array for information about RAID configuration. Additional RAID levels are supported if an optional RAID controller is installed in the compute node.

Before you install a 1.8-inch hot-swap solid state drive, read Safety and Installation guidelines.

To install a 1.8-inch hot-swap solid state drive, complete the following steps:


Removing a solid state drive bay cover

  1. Remove the solid state drive bay cover.
  2. For the solid state drive that you want to install, slide the release latch and rotate the loose end of the drive tray handle away from the compute node. Hook the recess on the drive tray handle on the tab on the right side of the solid state drive mounting sleeve to hold the drive tray handle in the open position.
    Installing a solid state drive
  3. Touch the static-protective package that contains the solid state drive to any unpainted metal surface on the chassis or any unpainted metal surface on any other grounded rack component; then, remove the solid state drive from the package.
  4. Orient the solid state drive so that the label on the drive is facing up (solid state drive connector contacts are facing down).
    Note
    There are no keys to prevent the drive from being inserted in the drive bay upside down. If the drive is inserted upside down, it will not seat in the connector and you will not be able to fully close the drive tray handle.
  5. Slide the solid state drive into the drive bay until it is firmly seated in the connector.
  6. Close the drive tray handle and secure it with the latch.
    Note
    You might have to press the latch before you close the drive tray handle.
  7. Repeat step 3 to step 6 for each solid state drive being installed.

    Installing a solid state drive bay cover
  8. Orient the solid state drive bay cover so that the LED label is toward the left.
  9. Press the solid state drive bay cover into the front of the compute node until it is firmly seated.
See Configuring a RAID array for information about RAID configuration.