Chapter 1. Overview; Controller Unit Overview; Front View - IBM Netfinity FASt T500 User Reference

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Chapter 1. Overview

The IBM Netfinity FAStT500 RAID Controller Enclosure Unit (referred to throughout

this book as controller unit) is a high-performance unit that provides dual, redundant

RAID controllers and Fibre Channel interfaces to both the host and drive channels.

The controller unit supports direct attachment of up to four hosts containing two host

adapters each, and is designed to provide maximum host- and drive-side redundancy.

Using an external hub, the controller unit can support up to 64 host adapters per controller

(up to 128 host adapters per controller unit).

Each controller unit contains several removable components, called customer replaceable

units (CRUs), that you can access from either the front or back of the unit. These CRUs

include the battery, RAID controllers, controller fan, power supplies, fan and

communications module, mini-hubs, and Gigabit Interface Converters (GBICs). The

controller unit also has a removable front bezel.

Figure 1 on page 2

• Bezel – Removable front cover with holes for viewing the status lights and for boosting

air circulation.

• Controller fan – One removable unit that contains two cooling fans and status

indicator lights.

• Battery – One removable unit that contains a battery and battery charger circuitry.

• Controllers – Two removable units, each contains one RAID controller.

shows the controller unit front view and the following components:

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