This section describes how to install and configure small computer
system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drives in the computer's internal hard-disk drive bays.
Instructions are also included for upgrading the system by installing a different SCSI
backplane board or a Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller (PERC) host adapter card.
The hard-disk drive bays provide space for up to six 1.6-inch or
eight 1-inch hard-disk drives. (See "Installing Drives in the
External Bays" for information on installing SCSI CD-ROM drives and SCSI tape
drives in the external drive bays.)
Figure 1 illustrates the hard-disk
drive bays, the hot-plug SCSI backplane board, and the Ultra160/m SCSI cable. The
Ultra160/m SCSI cable has two connectors:
- The connector at one end attaches to the Ultra160/m SCSI host adapter
connector labeled "SCSI2" on the system board or to an optional SCSI host
adapter card such as the Dell PERC 2.
- The connector at the other end of the cable attaches to the connector labeled
"SCSIA" on the SCSI backplane board.
Figure 1. Hard-Disk Drive Hardware
 |
| 1 |
SCSI hard-disk drive bays |
| 2 |
System-board data cable
connector (BACKPLANE) |
3 |
Ultra160/m SCSI interface
cable |
4 |
Ultra160/m SCSI interface
cable connector (SCSIA) |
| 5 |
SCSI backplane board |
|
 |
NOTE: Dell recommends that you use
only drives that Dell has tested and approved for use with the SCSI backplane board. |
SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Configuration
The SCSI drives must be configured as follows:
- Disable termination on the drives. The SCSI backplane board provides
termination for the SCSI bus.
- Set the SCSI ID on all drives to 0. All SCSI ID numbers for the
drives are set by the SCSI backplane board (the rightmost drive
is set to SCSI ID 0).
- Configure the drives so that the drive motor waits for a Start Unit
command from the SCSI host adapter before spinning.
Partitioning and Formatting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives
You may need to use different programs than those provided with the
operating system to partition and format SCSI hard-disk drives. See "Installing
and Configuring SCSI Drivers" in the User's Guide for information and
instructions.
NOTICE: To prevent a drive failure, do not turn off or
reboot your system while the drive is being formatted.
When you format a high-capacity SCSI hard-disk drive, be sure to
allow enough time for the formatting to complete. Long formatting times for these drives
are normal. A 9-gigabyte (GB) hard-disk drive, for example, can take up to 2.5 hours to
format.
SCSI hard-disk drives are supplied by Dell in special drive carriers
that fit in the hard-disk drive bays.
To install a SCSI hard-disk drive, perform the following steps.
NOTICE: Systems without a Dell PERC 3/Di integrated redundant
arrays of independent disks (RAID) controller or Dell PERC 2 host adapter card do not
support hot plug drive installation.
- If the system does not have a RAID controller installed, shut down
the system.
- Open the front bezel and unlock the hard-disk drive bays (see Figure 2).
- For systems with RAID controllers, power down the hard-disk drive bay
and wait until the SCSI
hard-disk drive indicator codes on the drive carrier signal that the drive may be
removed safely.
When all indicators are turned off, the drive is ready for removal.
- Open the hard-disk drive carrier handle.
- Align the edge of the carrier with the notch in the hard-disk drive
bay key and insert the carrier into the drive bay (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Installing a SCSI Hard-Disk Drive
Carrier
 |
1 |
Hard-disk drive keylock |
| 2 |
Hard-disk drive carrier |
3 |
Hard-disk drive carrier
handle |
|
- Close the drive carrier handle to lock the drive in place.
- Lock the hard-disk drive bays using the keylock.
- Close the front bezel.
- Install any required SCSI device drivers.
See "Installing and Configuring SCSI Drivers" in the User's Guide for
information.
- If the hard-disk drive is a new drive, run the Dell Diagnostics
to test the new drive.
To remove a SCSI hard-disk drive, perform the following steps.
NOTICE: Systems without a Dell PERC 3/Di RAID controller or Dell PERC 2 RAID host
adapter card do not support hot plug drive removal.
- If the system does not have a RAID controller installed, shut down
the system.
- Open the front bezel.
- For systems with RAID controllers, power down the hard-disk drive bay
and wait until the SCSI
hard-disk drive indicator codes on the drive carrier signal that the drive may be
removed safely.
When all indicators are turned off, the drive is ready for removal.
- Open the drive carrier handle to release the carrier.
- Slide the carrier toward you until it is free of the drive bay.
- Close the front bezel.
Follow these general guidelines when you install a Dell host adapter
card. For specific instructions, refer to the documentation supplied with the PERC host
adapter card.
NOTICE: See "Protecting Against
Electrostatic Discharge."
- Unpack the host adapter card and prepare it for installation.
- Refer to the documentation accompanying the host adapter card.
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect the AC power cable from its power source.
- Remove the computer cover.
- Install the host adapter card.
- Detach the Ultra160/m SCSI interface cable from the primary SCSI host-adapter connector
on the system board (see Figure 1 in
"Installing System Options" for the location of the SCSI host adapter
connector).
- Connect the end of the Ultra160/m SCSI interface cable to the connector on the host
adapter card.
To identify the correct connector, refer to documentation for the host adapter card.
|
NOTE: If you will be attaching
external SCSI devices using the external SCSI connection slots on the computer's back
panel, perform steps 7 through 9; otherwise, go to step 10. |
- Connect the SCSI external access cable from the host adapter kit to one of the
Ultra160/m SCSI host adapter connectors (labeled "SCSI2" and "SCSI3")
on the system board.
- Attach the other end of the SCSI external access cable to the computer's back panel.
- If you are attaching multiple external SCSI devices, daisy-chain the devices to each
other using the cables shipped with each device.
See each device's documentation for information on cabling that device as part of a daisy
chain.
- Replace the computer cover, and
then reconnect the computer and peripherals to their AC power sources.
- Connect the external SCSI device(s) to electrical outlet(s).
For each external device, plug the socket end of the power cable into the power receptacle
on the back of the device. Plug the other end of the power cable into an electrical
outlet.
- Install any required SCSI device drivers.
See "Installing and Configuring SCSI Drivers" in the User's Guide for
information and instructions.
- Test the SCSI devices.
Test a SCSI hard-disk drive by running the Dell Diagnostics. To
test a SCSI tape drive, also refer to the documentation for the tape drive software to
perform a tape drive backup and verification test.
To replace a SCSI backplane board with a different backplane board, perform the
following steps.
NOTICE: See "Protecting Against
Electrostatic Discharge."
- Unpack the SCSI backplane board.
- Refer to the documentation accompanying the host adapter card.
- Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and
disconnect the system AC power cable from its power source.
- Remove the computer
cover.
NOTICE: You must remove all hard-disk drives to avoid damaging the SCSI
backplane board when you remove it later in this procedure.
- Remove the hard-disk drives from the system.
- Slide the system board tray to
its service position (see Figure 3).
- Disconnect the Ultra160/m SCSI cable from the SCSI backplane board.
To avoid damage to the cable, use the strain-relief loop to disconnect the cable.
- Disconnect the flat data cable from the locking connector on the backplane board.
- Disconnect the power cable labeled "PWR2" from the power connector on the
backplane board.
To release the connector, press the latch on the side of the connector.
- Disconnect the fan power cable from the power connector labeled "FAN" on the
backplane board.
To release the connector, press the latch on the side of the connector.
- Loosen the captive thumbscrew on the backplane board.
- Slide the SCSI backplane board away from the chassis inner wall approximately 1 cm (a
quarter inch), and then lift the board off of the L-shaped mounting tabs and away from the
chassis (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Removing a SCSI Backplane Board
 |
1 |
Thumbscrew |
2 |
SCSI backplane board |
|
- Install the new backplane board:
- While holding the backplane board by its edges, position the board so that the tabs on
the computer chassis wall fit through the corresponding slots in the backplane board.
- Slide the backplane board toward the power-supply paralleling board (PSPB).
- Secure the backplane board by tightening the captive screw.
- Connect the 20-pin data cable leading from the system board to the connector labeled
"PLANAR" on the backplane board (see Figure 4 or Figure 5).
Figure 4. Back of 1 x 8 or 1 x
6 SCSI Backplane Board
If you plan to boot the system from a hard-disk drive, the drive must be attached to
the primary (or boot) controller or SCSI host adapter card. You can select the primary
controller using the System Setup program. See "Using the System Setup Program"
in the User's Guide for instructions.
