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Installing the Hardware

Component Layout • Installing the PERC 2 Card • Connecting SCSI Devices • Connecting Internal SCSI Devices • Connecting External SCSI Devices • Connecting SCSI Array Enclosures (Storage Subsystems) • Installation Hints for Connecting SCSI Devices • Configuring the Controller

This chapter explains how to install the PERC 2 and related hardware.

Caution: Before handling the PERC 2 and any other electronic component, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on your computer chassis.

Component Layout

Figure 1 identifies the major PERC 2 components. You may find it helpful to refer to this information while installing the PERC 2 and attaching SCSI devices.

Figure 1. PERC 2 Major Components

Figure 2 identifies the major Daughter Card components.
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Figure 2. Daughter Card Components

The PERC 2 consists of a 64-bit PCI card and attached Daughter Card. The PCI card contains the major PERC 2 components and internal/external connectors. The Daughter Card contains a pair of self-contained batteries and houses the DIMM. The DIMM and batteries are "sandwiched" between the PCI card and Daughter Card. In the event of a power loss the Daughter Card can continue powering the nonvolatile DIMM.

For a list of holdover times, see Specifications.

The PERC 2 can be used with a 32, 64, or 128 MByte DIMM. If you wish to upgrade the DIMM on your controller card see Upgrading the DIMM.

Note: After installation of the PERC 2 is complete, the batteries automatically begin a charge cycle which lasts until they reach full charge (up to three hours). During this time the batteries will have sufficient charge to protect the NVRAM data against accidental power breaks, but may not be able to provide the minimum holdover time until they reach full charge. Six months after you first install the PERC 2, and at regular intervals thereafter, you will receive a reminder message indicating that the controller's batteries needs to be reconditioned (discharged/recharged). See Understanding The Battery Subsystem for more information on the battery subsystem.

Installing the PERC 2 Card

  1. Turn OFF power to the computer, and disconnect the power cord.
  2. Remove the cover from the computer case. (If necessary, refer to the instructions in your computer documentation.)
  3. Locate an unused, unobstructed, 64- or 32-bit PCI expansion slot that supports bus mastering. Unscrew or unclip and remove the expansion slot bracket that covers the card-slot opening.

    Note: The PERC 2 produces optimum performance when installed in a 64-bit PCI slot but it will operate in a 32-bit expansion slot.

  4. Insert the PERC 2 in the expansion slot as shown in Figure 3. Press down firmly so that the bus contacts are securely seated in the slot. Secure or clip the bracket with the screw you removed in the previous step.

    Note: The PERC 2 should only be installed in a full-length PCI slot that includes a card support guide as shown in Figure 3. Due to the mass of the PERC 2, this support is necessary to ensure reliable operation. Also, when inserting the PERC 2 be sure the bracket is lined up straight with the slot.

    Note: Owing to space constraints, some Dell systems cannot accommodate a PERC 2 controller that has its extender (also called a handle) attached. In those cases, the handle is removed and replaced with standoffs.

    Figure 3. Inserting the PERC 2 in a PCI Expansion Slot

    Note: When removing the PERC 2, always replace the expansion slot bracket in the empty slot to ensure proper airflow.

  5. If you purchased your PERC 2 separately from your system, it may have been shipped to you with the main card, daughter card, and DIMM disassembled.
    Before proceeding with the system installation, see Upgrading the DIMM for instructions on installing the DIMM into the daughter card and assembling the daughter card to the main card.

Connecting SCSI Devices

You can connect internal or external SCSI devices, or a combination of internal and external SCSI devices to the PERC 2 controller.

Note: The PERC 2 controller does not support simultaneous connection of internal and external cables to the same channel.

Each channel supports up to 15 SCSI devices, either Ultra2 SCSI devices alone or a combination of Ultra2, Ultra, and Fast devices. We recommend keeping Ultra2 devices on separate channels from non-Ultra2 devices. Peak transfer rates on Ultra2 channels are 80 MBytes/sec. Connecting a non-Ultra2 peripheral that has a lower transfer rate to an Ultra2 SCSI channel limits the entire channel to the lower transfer rate. Conversely, if you connect a non-Ultra2 peripheral that has a higher transfer rate to an Ultra2 SCSI channel, the peripheral will be fully functional, but at the Ultra2 transfer rate.

If you are installing your SCSI devices inside an array enclosure see Connecting SCSI Array Enclosures (Storage Subsystems).

Note: The PERC 2 controller only supports connecting SCSI hard disk drives and enclosures.

Connecting Internal SCSI Devices

To connect internal SCSI devices to each SCSI channel, you must use an internal 68-pin SCSI cable that has enough connectors to accommodate all your devices. (See Installation Hints for Connecting SCSI Devices for additional information on cabling SCSI devices.)

Note that twisted-pair cables are required for the proper operation of Ultra2 devices.

Follow these steps to connect internal SCSI devices:

  1. Prepare each SCSI device for installation:
    • Make sure each device is assigned a unique SCSI ID number from 0 to 6, or 8 to 15 (the PERC 2 controller is set to ID 7 by default; we recommend leaving this setting at 7). You can use SCSISelect in the PERC 2 BIOS to change the IDs. In general avoid using IDs 6 or 15. Dell SCSI backplanes automatically set the ID based on drive location. See your system documentation. No duplicate IDs are permitted on a channel. (See SCSI ID Numbers for additional information.)
    • If you are using a cable that has a built-in terminator, remove (or disable) the terminators on each internal device. If your cable does not have a built-in terminator, you must install (or enable) the terminators on only the internal device you are attaching to the end of the cable. Dell active backplanes include built-in termination. (See SCSI Termination for additional information.)
  2. Install and mount each internal SCSI device in an available drive bay inside your computer. (Refer to your computer and device documentation for instructions.)
    Attach one end of the 68-pin internal ribbon cable to the internal connector (Channel 0 or 1) on the PERC 2, as shown in Figure 4.
    .

    Figure 4. Attaching a 68-pin Internal Ribbon Cable

  3. Attach the remaining connectors on the ribbon cable to your remaining internal devices.

    Note: Dell does not support 8-bit devices on PERC 2.

  4. Connect a DC power cable (from your computer's power supply) to the power input connector on each SCSI device.
    Note that devices installed in internal backplanes receive power directly from the backplane.

Connecting External SCSI Devices

For each external SCSI device, you must obtain a high-quality external cable with a single-ended impedance range of 80-110 ohms. One of these cables must have a very high-density 68-pin connector on one end so that you can connect the cable to the PERC 2. Each cable must be at least 30 cm (11.8 in.) long. For additional information on cabling SCSI devices, see Installation Hints for Connecting SCSI Devices.

Note: Some older very high-density connectors may be too wide to fit between the external connectors on the PERC 2. If this is the case, upgrade to a newer cable.

Follow these steps to connect external SCSI devices:

  1. Make sure each device is assigned a unique SCSI ID number from 0 to 6, or 8 to 15 (the PERC 2 is set to 7 by default). No duplicate IDs are permitted on a channel. (See SCSI ID Numbers for additional information.)

    Note: Dell active backplanes and enclosures use ID 6 or 15 for
    SAF-TE or SES backplane and enclosure functions.

  2. Attach the external SCSI cable with the very-high-density 68-pin connector at one end to the external connector (Channel 0, 1, 2 or 3) on the PERC 2, as shown in Figure 5.

    Note: PERC 2 does not support simultaneous connection of internal and external cables to the same channel. Also, Dell does not support 8-bit devices on the PERC 2.

    Figure 5. Attaching an External Cable with a Very High-density 68-pin

  3. Attach the other end of the cable to either one of the SCSI connectors on the external SCSI device, as shown in Figure 6.

    Figure 6. Attaching a Single External SCSI Device

    Connect additional external SCSI devices by connecting each device to the previous device until all external SCSI devices have been connected, as shown in Figure 7. (The device at the end of the chain must have a terminating plug installed. See SCSI Termination for additional information).

    Figure 7. Attaching Multiple External SCSI Devices

Connecting SCSI Array Enclosures (Storage Subsystems)

Figure 8 shows a typical setup between the Dell array enclosure and the server. To install your SCSI devices in these enclosures, refer to the documentation included with each enclosure.

Note: Refer to www.dell.com to determine the Dell storage subsystems supported by PERC 2.

The following information is provided to help you properly connect your enclosure to the PERC 2:

  • All rules for SCSI ID and termination (discussed on SCSI Termination) must be followed when installing SCSI devices in an array enclosure. The ID settings for the drives in the enclosure are determined by the slot, so drive ID jumpers should be removed.
  • The cable you use to connect the array enclosure to the PERC 2 must be equipped with a very high-density 68-pin connector.
  • The Dell array enclosure itself provides automatic termination. Do not enable drive termination in Dell disk enclosures.
  • Some enclosures have two SCSI connectors. Refer to the enclosure's documentation for information on which connector to use.

Some enclosures only support Ultra speeds, even when filled with Ultra-2 drives. Refer to the enclosure's documentation for more information.

Figure 8. Typical Dual-channel Array Enclosure Setup

Installation Hints for Connecting SCSI Devices

All SCSI Devices

  • The total length of cabling (internal and external) on each channel should not exceed the following:
    • Twelve meters (39.4 ft) if you are using Ultra2 transfer speeds (80 MBytes/sec)
    • Three meters (9.8 ft) if you are using Ultra SCSI data transfer speeds (20 MBytes/sec for 8-bit devices, and 40 MBytes/sec for 16-bit devices) and have four or less devices (including the PERC 2). One and one-half meters (4.9 ft) if you are using Ultra SCSI data transfer speeds and have between four and eight devices (including the PERC 2).

      Note: Ultra SCSI data transfer speeds can currently support up to eight devices per channel only.

    • Three meters (9.8 ft) if you are using Fast SCSI data transfer speeds (up to 20 MBytes/sec).
  • When calculating the total length of cabling on each channel, be sure to include the cabling inside any array enclosure and the host system.
  • Use good-quality SCSI cabling, and minimize the stub lengths.
  • Symptoms of SCSI cabling-related problems include drives that are not recognized, drives that are locking up, and drives that are deactivating.

SCSI ID Numbers

Each device attached to a channel (Channel 0, 1, 2, or 3) on the PERC 2, as well as the PERC 2 itself, must be assigned a unique SCSI ID number from 0 to 15 -- no duplicate IDs are permitted on a channel.

  • The PERC 2 is set to SCSI ID 7 on each channel by default.
  • SCSI ID 7 has the highest priority on the channel. The priority of the remaining IDs, in descending order, is 6 to 0, 15 to 8.
  • SCSI ID 6 or 15 is used by Dell SAF-TE processors.
  • Use the SCSISelect Utility to change the PERC 2's SCSI device ID assignments. (See Using the BIOS SCSISelect and Disk Utilities).

    Note: Normally, you should leave the SCSI ID of the PERC 2 to its default.

SCSI Termination

To ensure reliable communication, terminators must be installed (or enabled) on the devices at the physical ends of each channel. The terminators on all devices that lie between the physical ends must be removed (or disabled).

Note: If you are attaching internal SCSI devices to a 68-pin internal ribbon cable that has a built-in terminator, you must remove the terminators from all devices attached to the cable.

On most internal SCSI devices, the termination setting is controlled by a jumper or a switch, or by physically removing or installing one or more resistor modules. On most external SCSI devices, termination is controlled by installing or removing a terminating plug (see Figure 6 and Figure 7 on Attaching Multiple External SCSI Devices). Read the device's documentation to determine how to enable or disable termination on your particular SCSI device.

Note: Termination power should be enabled on all SCSI devices in or attached to the server so that if you remove a device that is supplying termination power, termination power on the channel is available from the other devices. Termination power is also automatically supplied to the channel by the PERC 2 controller and cannot be disabled. Termination on SCSI devices can be enabled or disabled independent of where the source of termination power is provided. If the PERC 2 is powered off, the device jumpers determine if its terminators are on or off -- the default is that if there is no jumper installed, the termination is off. If the PERC 2 is powered on, termination is set according to the device controller's BIOS setting. However, if the device jumper is on, termination is on regardless of the BIOS setting.

Dell servers use SCSI backplanes that include termination on the backplane and do not require any drive termination nor termination on the cable itself. The same is true of Dell drive enclosures.

Configuring the Controller

After connecting all devices, reinstall your computer cover, and connect all power cables. Turn on the external SCSI devices first, and then turn on the computer. During BIOS initialization, the PERC 2 BIOS banner should appear on the screen. If the BIOS banner does not appear, see Troubleshooting.

Before installing the drivers and software for the PERC 2 controller, you may want to configure the controller and the SCSI devices connected to it. To do this press Ctrl-A when the following prompt appears: 

 Press <Ctrl><A> for Configuration Utility

Three options for configuration are available:

  • Container Configuration Utility (CCU)-- CCU allows you to create, delete, and manage containers from the PERC 2 BIOS. You can use CCU to create a bootable container for the server. We recommend that you configure the server to boot from a container instead of from a single disk and install the operating system on the boot container to take advantage of the redundancy and performance features of that container. For more information see Using the BIOS Container Configuration Utility.

    Note: If you wish to install the operating system on a disk not attached to a PERC 2 controller, you do not have to use the CCU utility.

  • SCSISelect®-- The SCSISelect Utility allows you to change SCSI settings without opening the server chassis or handling the card and to configure your PERC 2. For more information on using SCSISelect see Using the BIOS SCSISelect and Disk Utilities.
  • Disk Utilities-- The Disk Utilities allow you to low-level format or verify the disk media of your SCSI hard disk drives. For more information on using the Disk Utilities see Using the BIOS SCSISelect and Disk Utilities.


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