install HBA on DL380 G6

[donkarnash_1]

Hi,
I am very new to this. We have got a DL380G6 server and I need to install a (qlogic) HP FC1242SR HBA card to it. When I open the PC cage, I can't seem to find a PCI exporess slot to install the HBA. Can anyone please guide. Pardon for the silly question.

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

i think its not supported for this proliant.

if you check it in HP product buletin, only this servers supporting "FC1242SR" :

HP ProLiant DL120 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL120 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL160 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL160se Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL165 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL165 Generation 5p
HP ProLiant DL165 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL180 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL185 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL320 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL585 Generation 6
HP ProLiant DL785 Generation 6
HP ProLiant ML350 Generation 6
HP StorageWorks 6100 Enterprise Virtual Arrays
HP StorageWorks 4400 Enterprise Virtual Array
HP StorageWorks 4400 Enterprise Virtual Array Starter Kits
HP StorageWorks 6400/8400 Enterprise Virtual Arrays
HP StorageWorks 2000fc Modular Smart Array
HP StorageWorks 2000fc G2 Modular Smart Array
HP StorageWorks 4Gb PCI-e Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters
HP StorageWorks Enterprise File Services Clustered Gateway G5
HP StorageWorks X1000 Network Storage Systems
HP StorageWorks X3000 Network Storage Systems
HP StorageWorks Enterprise File Services Clustered Gateway G5
HP StorageWorks SAN Virtualization Services Platform
HP ProLiant DL140 Generation 2
HP ProLiant DL140 Generation 3
HP ProLiant DL145 Generation 2
HP ProLiant DL145 Generation 3
HP ProLiant DL160 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL160 Generation 5p
HP ProLiant DL180
HP ProLiant DL180 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL320 Generation 4
HP ProLiant DL320 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL320 Generation 5p
HP ProLiant DL360 Generation 4p
HP ProLiant DL365
HP ProLiant DL380 Generation 4
HP ProLiant DL385 Generation 2
HP ProLiant DL385 Generation 5
HP ProLiant DL580 Generation 3
HP ProLiant DL580 Generation 4
HP ProLiant DL585
HP ProLiant DL585 Generation 2
HP ProLiant ML350 Generation 4p
HP ProLiant ML370 Generation 4
HP ProLiant ML570 Generation 3
HP ProLiant ML570 Generation 4
HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Storage Server
HP ProLiant High Availability Storage Server
HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Storage Server
HP ProLiant DL585 G2 Storage Server
HP ProLiant High Availability Storage Server
HP ProLiant ML350 G5 Storage Server
HP StorageWorks 6100/8100 Enterprise Virtual Arrays

mikap

[Kranti Mahmud · Accepted solution]

Hi donkarnash,

HBA card will be installed in the PCI-X or PCI-xpress slot. Check the quickspec of dl380g6 as followink link for clarification:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13234_div/13234_div.html

Rgds-Kranti

[Matti_Kurkela]

I guess you're confused about the fact that the available slots are wider than the connector on the HBA, right?

That's normal and supported on PCIe cards: it is possible to plug a card into a slot even if the card's contacts only match with a part of the slot's width.

An important concept with PCIe is the "width" of the slot/card. A card can work with full performance if the width of the slot is equal or greater than the width of the card plugged into it. Some cards can even be operated at a reduced performance level if plugged into a slot that is not wide enough for it: in this case, the slot connector must be open-ended to allow the card edge to extend outside it, or the slot must be equipped with a connector that is mechanically wider than the slot electrically is.

The FC1242 is a PCIe card with 4x width.
All the PCIe slots of the DL380 G6 are at least 4x wide electrically and 8x mechanically. So any PCIe slot of the DL380 G6 can take this card, even if the card connector only fills the back half (or just a quarter) of the slot.

I remember when I got my first PCIe system. At that point, I was used to 64-bit PCI-X connectors on gigabit NICs. A 1x PCIe can handle that bandwidth easily: the connectors on the NICs looked ridiculously tiny at first. :)

MK

[Jimmy Vance]

Download HP ProLiant DL380 G6 Server Maintenance and Service Guide

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01705597/c01705597.pdf

On page 41 it shows how to remove the PCI riser cage, once removed, flip it over and you will see the PCI-e slots where you can plug in the HBA

[donkarnash_1]

many thanks to all for helping me. HBA installed. All good. Cheers

[donkarnash_1]

hba installed ....all good.