DL380 Gen10 12 LFF with 4 LFF mid-plane, 3LFF & 2 SFF rear bays - SAS cabling advice needed...

[martinco-cae]

Hi,

I am struggling to find Gen10 cabling instructions for the 21 internal drive config mentioned in the DL380 Gen10 quickspecs "12 LFF with optional 4 LFF mid-plane and optional 3LFF + 2 SFF rear drive bay to total 19 LFF drives + 2 SFF drives" - https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/getdocument.aspx?docname=a00008180enw

The 12G SAS Expander Card cabling is available on https://techlibrary.hpe.com/docs/iss/DL380_Gen9/setup_install/GUID-EC03C2E2-3E23-4C18-97B1-4E8321E8F361.html for a DL380 Gen9 but there is noting for the Gen10.

I cannot follow the Gen9 advice as it does NOT have the 4 LFF mid-plane option.

I have a Smart Array P816i-a SR Gen10, so this is what I am thinking, but I am not 100% sure on the Mid-Plane and both Rear bays? 

Any adivce or guidance will be welcomed.

Thanks

Martin

[Paul_J_K · Accepted solution]

Hi,

In my opinion, for Mid-Plane and both Rear bays, the following cabling would be ideal.

Rear 2SFF option - port 8
Rear 3LFF option - port 9
Midp 4LFF option - port 6

More reference: https://h20628.www2.hp.com/km-ext/kmcsdirect/emr_na-a00019109en_us-11.pdf

[martinco-cae]

Thank you @Paul_J_K 

Is there any specific reference/page in that PDF you can call out?

I think there is a distinct lack of good/clear information around the 12 Gbps SAS expander connections; it's like there is some big secret HPE dont want to share about it #smokeandmirrors

I apprecaite your help.

Martin

[Paul_J_K]

Hi @martinco-cae ,

You are right. The documentation is not spot on due to the several options and configurations available. 

I am referring to the multiple illustrations from page 161 onwards where the connections to a SAS expander is shown. 

The cabling that you had conlcuded to initially also should functionally work as long as there are no conflicts with the available internal cable lengths.