User`s guide

12 SGI
®
Altix
®
XE210 User’s Guide
The SAS/SATA Backplanes
The system can support either an active SAS or a passive SAS/SATA backplane. The
backplanes provide the platform support for peripheral drives and hot-swap SAS or SATA
hard drives. To eliminate several cables, the backplane is also used as a pathway for
signals from the server board to various platform interconnects, including those for the
control panel and peripheral drives.
The passive backplane acts as a 'pass-through' for the SAS/SATA data from the drives to
the SATA controller on the server board or a SAS/SATA controller add-in card. It
provides the physical requirements for the hot-swap capabilities. The active backplane has
a built-in SAS controller that does not need communication with the baseboard controller
or an add-in card.
Figure 8. Active Backplane Components
TP0217
2
B
A
E
F
J
I
K
H
L
G
M
C
D
A. Backplane Power H. Fan 2 Power
B. Not used I. Front Panel Connector
C. Not used J. Fan 1 Power
D. Fan 5 Power K. Screw
E. Bridge Board Connector L. Front Panel USB
F. Fan 4 Power M. Backplane Connectors
G. Fan 3 Power