Power and signal cables for internal drives of 4U server models

The server uses cables to connect SATA attached, simple-swap SATA devices to the power supply and to the system board. (See System-board internal connectors for the location of system-board connectors.) Review the following information before connecting power and signal cables to internal drives:

• The drives that are preinstalled in the server come with power and signal cables attached. If you replace any drives, remember which cable is attached to which drive.
• When you install a drive, make sure that one of the signal cable drive connectors is connected to the drive and that the connector at the other end of the signal cable is connected to the system board or a compatible adapter or controller that you have installed.
• When you route a cable, make sure that it does not block the airflow to the rear of the drives or over the microprocessor or DIMMs.

The following cables are provided:

• Power cables: Four-wire power cables connect the drives to the power supply. At the ends of these cables are plastic connectors that can be attached to different drives; these connectors vary in size. Use either a four-wire power cable or SATA power cable with SATA drives, but do not use both at the same time (use one or the other).
• Signal cables: Signal cables are typically flat cables, also called ribbon cables, that connect SATA attached, SATA and SAS to the system board. Two or three types of signal cables come with the server:
  • SATA attached (for optical drives): The flat SATA-attached signal cable has two connectors. One of these connectors is attached to the optical drive, and one is attached to one of the connectors on the system board.
  • Simple-swap SATA: Simple-swap SATA models come with four SATA cables that are already connected to the system board and the backplate at the rear of the simple-swap drive cage.

For more information about the requirements for SAS/SATA cables and connecting SAS/SATA devices, see the documentation that comes with these devices.

For a list of supported optional devices for the server, see the Lenovo ServerProven website.