Installing Scsi Hard-Disk Drives - Dell PowerEdge 4200 Series User Manual

Chapter 6

Installing SCSI Hard-Disk Drives

T
his chapter describes how to install and configure
small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drives
in the computer's six internal drive bays.
Dell PowerEdge 4200 systems include a SCSI backplane
board that greatly simplifies cabling and configuration
for SCSI hard-disk drives. All SCSI identification (ID)
numbers and termination for SCSI hard-disk drives are
configured by the SCSI backplane board, rather than on
individual drives.
In the standard PowerEdge 4200 system configuration,
the Ultra/Wide SCSI host adapter on the system board
controls the SCSI backplane board. When used in combi-
nation with an optional PowerEdge Expandable RAID
Controller host adapter, the SCSI backplane board allows
you to remove and insert hard-disk drives without shut-
ting down the system—an invaluable feature for servers
that contain important data and programs for an entire
network of users. You can replace a failed drive without
forcing all users on the network to log off and lose
valuable time and possibly data. See "Removing and
Installing a SCSI Hard-Disk Drive With the System Run-
ning" found later in this chapter for details.
CAUTION: Removing or installing hard-disk
drives with the system running is not supported for
systems without a Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID
Controller host adapter. Removing a drive in this situa-
tion will result in a loss of data.
Figure 6-1 illustrates the internal drive bays and SCSI
backplane board.
Installing SCSI Hard-Disk Drives 6-1