Quick Install Guide 3ware® SATA RAID Controller Supports the 9550SX Series PN 720-0124-03 January 2006
Copyright ©2004-2006 Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the proper written consent of AMCC, 215 Moffett Park Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. Trademarks 3ware, Escalade, and 3DM are all registered trademarks of AMCC.
Table of Contents Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 1 Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Contents of Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Other Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Installation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What You Need: Tools and Equipment . .
Appendix: Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Sales and ordering information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Feedback on this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller This document describes the physical installation of the AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID controllers. It contains the following topics: “Before You Begin” provides important information about things you should consider before starting installation, and tools and equipment you will need. “Safety Factors” describes important precautions for your personal safety and to protect your equipment and data. Be sure to read this section.
Chapter 1.
Before You Begin While the 3ware 9550SX RAID controller can be installed in both 64-bit PCI and PCI-X slots, not all slots give equal performance. The 3ware 9550SX controller performs best when installed in a PCI-X 133MHz 64-bit slot. However, it can also operate at 66MHz or 100MHz. Whether to Use the LED Status Connector 3ware RAID controllers include two types of LED status connectors: Overall indicator, which lights when any drive is active. Individual LED indicators, for each drive.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller Drive Installation Considerations Selecting an enclosure. If you are planning to use RAID 1, 5, 10, or 50, you may want to consider installing drives into hotswappable enclosures, so that they can be easily removed in the event of a drive failure. When to install the drives. If the drives are not already installed in your computer, you can choose to install them either before or after connecting the SATA cables to them.
Safety Factors Protecting Equipment and Data Backing Up Your Data Back up your data! Creating or deleting disk arrays destroys existing files on the member drives. If your drives contain valuable data, back them up and save the data elsewhere before attaching the drives to the controller.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 9550SX RAID Controller Cards Serial ATA ports are usually double-stacked connectors. Oddnumbered ports are usually located below even-numbered ports. On the 8-port controller shown below, ports 6 and 7 are both on top. 9550SX 8-Port with Standard SATA Connectors Note: For details about LED connectors, see page 17. Figure 1.
9550SX RAID Controller Cards 9550SX 4-Port with Standard SATA Connectors Figure 2. 4-Port 3ware 9550SX-4LP Serial ATA RAID Controller I2C connector Odd-numbered ports 1 and 3 are located below even-numbered ports 0 and 2. Ports: 2 and 3 0 and 1 Slots for battery holder BBU connector and hole for post 9550SX 12-Port with Standard SATA Connectors Figure 3.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 9550SX 12-Port with Multilane Internal SATA Connectors Figure 4. 12-Port 3ware 9550SX-12MI Serial ATA RAID Controller I2C connector Multi-lane connectors can each handle up to four drives. Ports: 8 to 11 4 to 7 0 to 3 Holes for battery holder connection BBU connector and hole for post 9550SX 16-Port with Multilane Internal SATA Connectors Figure 5.
Installing a Serial ATA RAID Controller Installing a Serial ATA RAID Controller Note: The illustrations in this section show a 9550SX-8LP. If you have a different model of controller, the location of the ports will be slightly different, but the steps are very similar. For location of the ports on all boards, see the illustrations on page 6 through page 8. Note: If you have a Battery Backup Unit (BBU), install it on the controller before proceeding. For details, see “Chapter 2.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 3 Align the cable connector with the connector on the controller, matching the slotted key and carefully mate the connectors. Note: The connectors on the end of the serial controller and the drive are susceptible to damage from excessive bending. Be careful not to insert or remove the SATA cable connector at an angle. Figure 6. SATA Cables Being Inserted Into Port 4 5 Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each additional SATA cable.
Installing a Serial ATA RAID Controller Save this screw; it will be used to secure the serial 3ware RAID controller after you have seated it in the slot. 6 Position the card in the slot so that the contacts will mate with the grooves in the slot, and all pins make proper contact with the PCI slot pins when pushed into place. The 3ware RAID controller is keyed to ensure proper installation into a full-sized 3.3-volt PCI or PCI-X slot. Make sure that the contacts will mate with the grooves in the slot.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 8 Check that the 3ware RAID controller’s metal bracket covers the hole in the case and secure the bracket with the screw that was used to secure the filler bracket in step 5. To connect the SATA cables to the drives 1 If your drives are not already installed in the computer chassis or hot swap carriers, install them now. Be sure that the drives are connected to the power supply, either by cable or through the drive cage.
Installing a 9550SX RAID Controller with Multilane Internal Connectors Installing a 9550SX RAID Controller with Multilane Internal Connectors Models 9550SX-12MI and 9550SX-16ML come with multilane internal connectors, each of which can handle up to four drives. These controllers can be installed in an enclosure with a backplane. The type of cable you need will depend on whether you have a 12or 16-port card and the type of enclosure you have.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 9550SX-16ML With a multilane-enabled drive backplane that has the SFF-8087 mini SAS 4i connectors, use the double-ended 4x cable, which has multilane connectors on each end (see Figure 11). Figure 11.
Installing a 9550SX RAID Controller with Multilane Internal Connectors To connect the multilane cables and install the controller in the computer Depending on the number of drives you will be connecting, you will connect one to three multilane cables (for the 12-port card) or one to four multilane cables (for the 16-port card). Each cable supports up to four serial ATA ports. 1 Connect each multilane cable to a multilane connector on the controller.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller 2 Insert the controller into the computer. For details, see “To install the controller in the computer” on page 10. 3 If your enclosure has a backplane, connect the other end of each multilane cable to the backplane. If you are using a standard enclosure, connect each of the individual SATA connectors to a drive.
Connecting Drive Activity LED Indicators Connecting Drive Activity LED Indicators Figure 15, 10, and 11 show the location of LED indicators on the different 9550SX controllers. Figure 15. 8-Port 3ware 9550SX-8LP Serial ATA RAID Controller LED indicators for individual drives on J7 and J8 Overall LED drive status indicator: the last two pins of J7 and J8. The anode is the lower of the two pins and the cathode is the upper.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller Note: The LED headers on the 9550SX-12 and the 9550SX-12MI are in a very similar place. Figure 17. 12-Port 3ware 9550SX-12 Serial ATA RAID Controller LED indicators for individual drives J7 is for drives 0, 1, 2, 3 (left to right) J8 is for drives 4, 5, 6, 7 (left to right) J9 is for drives 8, 9, 10, 11 (left to right) 18 Overall LED drive status indicator is the right-most LED header pin pair on each LED connector (J7, J8, and J9).
Connecting Drive Activity LED Indicators Figure 18. 16-Port 3ware 9550SX-16ML Serial ATA RAID Controller LED indicators for individual drives J7 is for drives 0, 1, 2, 3 (left to right) J8 is for drives 4, 5, 6, 7 (left to right) J9 is for drives 8, 9, 10, 11 (left to right) J1 is for drives 12, 13, 14, 15 (left to right) Overall LED drive status indicator is the right-most LED header pin pair on each LED connector (J7, J8, J9, J1). The anode is the lower of the two pins and the cathode is the upper.
Chapter 1. Installing an AMCC 3ware 9550SX RAID Controller Table 1 summarizes the LED indicator pin positions for the different controllers. Warning: If using a chassis that has a common or shared LED ground, be sure to only connect LED cables to the anode pins on the controller. Do not connect any common ground to any cathode pins on the controller.
Finishing Up Table 1: LED Indicator Pin Positions Controller 9550SX-16ML LED Header J7 J8 J9 J1 Pin Pair Comment : : : : : Orientation Horizontal 0 1 2 3 All Port number/NU (Not Used) : : : : : Orientation Horizontal 4 5 6 7 All Port number/NU (Not Used) : : : : : Orientation Horizontal 8 9 10 11 All Port number/All (all activity indicator) : : : : : Orientation Horizontal 12 13 14 15 All Port number/All (all activity indicator) k-cathode-minus is on the top a-anode-plus is on the bo
Chapter 1.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit The Battery Backup Unit (BBU) is an add-on that can be attached to a 3ware 9550SX RAID controller to supply power to the memory module from an attached battery pack in the event of a system power loss. This allows the controller to use write-caching for optimal performance and not be exposed to data loss in the event of a system power failure.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit Tools and equipment required Slot-head screwdriver Grounding strap Battery Backup Unit (BBU) and battery 3ware 9550SX series controller Installation Overview The Battery Backup Unit (BBU) is comprised of two pieces: the battery module and the BBU control module.
Installation Overview a) Slots for the clips b) BBU receptacle c) Hole for post Figure 20. Points of connection on the half-height controller a) Holes for the clips b) BBU receptacle c) Hole for post Figure 21. Points of connection on the full-height controller www.3ware.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit Installation Instructions 1 Remove the screw head from the plastic post on the BBU control module and set it aside (you will reattach it soon.) Figure 22. Removing the head from the plastic post 2 Position the BBU control module above the controller and align the BBU control module and the controller, making sure to: Mate the connector on the BBU control module with the receptacle on the controller.
Installation Instructions 3 Press down gently until the BBU is seated. Figure 24. BBU control module connected to the controller 4 Turn the controller over, insert the plastic screw head that you removed in step 1 into the plastic post, and tighten it gently but firmly. (Do not over-tighten!) Warning! To avoid possible damage to the controller and the motherboard, make sure the module is connected in the proper orientation, and that the plastic post is attached.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit 5 If you have a 4-port or 8-port 9550SX: a Hook the clips on the top of the battery module over the slots on the top edge of the controller. Figure 25. Clips on the battery module hook over slots on the top edge of the half-height controller Figure 26.
Installation Instructions Bottom clip Figure 27. Pressing down gently on the battery unit flexes the holder slightly so that the bottom clip can be inserted If you have a 12-port or 16-port 9550SX: a Insert the clips on the top of the battery module into the holes on the controller. Figure 28. Attaching the battery module to the full-height controller www.3ware.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit b 3 Press down gently on the battery module until the bottom clip snaps into place in the lower hole. Insert the battery power connector into the power receptacle on the BBU. Note: The battery will drain if it is plugged in and there is no power to the unit. If the system will not be used right away, wait to do this step until the system is ready for use. Figure 29.
Installation Instructions Figure 30. BBU installed on controllers www.3ware.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit Replacing the Battery The Battery Backup Unit (BBU) will last for many years. The battery has an expected life span of one to two years depending on usage. You can check the current status of the battery, and test it. For details, see instructions in 3ware 9550SX Serial ATA RAID Controller User Guide. Caution: There is a risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type. To obtain a replacement battery module, contact AMCC.
Replacing the Battery 4 5 While pressing down on the top of the battery module, lift out the bottom of the battery module slightly. Once the bottom of the module is free, slide the module up to release the clips on the top. a) Push the battery module down gently. b) Lift out the bottom of the battery module to release the clip on the bottom edge. c) Lift up to remove the clips on the top edge. Bottom clip Figure 31. Removing the battery module 6 Disconnect the battery power cable from the BBU.
Chapter 2. Installing the Battery Backup Unit Figure 32 shows how removing the connector looks if you remove the BBU control module from the controller. Press down on the lever-like clip and pull the connector out. Figure 32. Removing the power cable from the BBU module 7 If you removed the BBU control module in step 6, reattach it now. 8 Insert the new battery module and cable it up. 9 Reinstall the 3ware RAID controller, close up your system, and restart it.
Appendix: Technical Support For support, troubleshooting tips, frequently asked questions, software releases, and compatibility information related to 3ware RAID controllers, refer to: 3ware support page at: http://www.3ware.com/support/ 3ware knowledgebase: http://www.3ware.com/KB/kb.asp 3ware software downloads: http://www.3ware.com/support/download.asp 3ware documentation: fhttp://www.3ware.com/support/userdocs.asp 3ware Compatibility Lists: http://www.3ware.
Appendix: Technical Support 36 3ware 9550SX Serial ATA RAID Controller Quick Install Guide
