Chapter 3. Cabling The Storage Server; Working With Gbics And Fiber-Optic Cables; Installing Gbics - IBM FAStT200 Installation And User Manual

Chapter 3. Cabling the storage server

This chapter provides the storage server Fibre Channel and power cabling
information. After you attach your storage server power cables, use the instructions
that are provided in "Turning the storage server on and off" on page 25 for the initial
startup of the storage server.

Working with GBICs and fiber-optic cables

Each RAID controller has one host port and one expansion port. A Gigabit Interface
Converter (GBIC) is used to connect each host port and expansion port to hosts and
expansion units. The GBIC is inserted into the port, and then a fiber-optic cable is
inserted into the GBIC. The other end of the fiber-optic cable connects to an external
device.

Installing GBICs

Observe the following GBIC installation tips:
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2000
• The GBIC module housing has an integral guide key to prevent you from inserting
the GBIC improperly.
• Use minimal pressure when inserting the GBIC into a port. Forcing the GBIC into
a port could cause damage to the GBIC or the port.
• GBICs are hot pluggable. You can insert or remove the GBIC while the storage
server is powered on.
• The operational loop performance is not affected when you install or remove a
GBIC.
• You must connect the fiber-optic interface cable to the GBIC module after you
insert the GBIC into the port.
17