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Installing Drives in the External Bays: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2300 Systems Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide
The external
drive bays at the front of a Dell PowerEdge 2300 system hold up to three
user-accessible, half-height 5.25-inch devices (typically CD-ROM or tape drives). A small
computer system interface (SCSI) CD-ROM drive is standard in the first external drive bay,
while two additional devices of your choice can be installed in the next two external
drive bays. External SCSI devices are connected to the Ultra/Narrow SCSI controller on the
system board. A fourth drive bay accommodates a standard 3.5-inch diskette drive, which is
controlled by the diskette drive controller on the system board. See Figure
1 for a general view of the various drives, connector cables, and power cables in the
external drive bays.
Figure 1.External Drive Bay Hardware
This section
describes how to install the following options :
- Drives that use the computer's on-board
diskette drive controller
- Drives that use the computer's on-board
Ultra/Narrow SCSI controller
- Tape drives that use a controller card
NOTE: If you are installing a SCSI
hard-disk drive, see Installing
Hard-Disk Drives.
To remove or
install drives in the external bays, you must remove the computer covers and front bezel
according to the instructions in Removing the Computer Covers.
 |
WARNING: Before you
perform the procedures in this chapter, you must turn off the computer and disconnect it
from its AC power source. For more information, refer to Safety First--For You and Your
Computer. |
To protect
the inside of the computer from foreign particles, a plastic front-panel insert covers
each empty external drive bay. Before you install a drive in an empty bay, you must first
remove the front-panel insert.
Whenever you
remove a drive, be sure to replace the front-panel insert over the empty bay.
To remove the
front-panel insert for a drive bay you intend to use, first remove the front bezel as
instructed in Removing
the Computer Covers. Then, facing the inside of the front bezel, press against the
center of the insert with your thumbs until the insert bows sufficiently to loosen the
tabs on the sides of the insert. Pull the insert out of the bezel.
To replace a
front-panel insert, position the insert over the bay opening from the inside of the front
bezel and carefully press the insert into place. A tab on each side of the insert snaps
into a corresponding latch on the inside of the front bezel.
This section
describes the power input connectors and interface connectors on the backs of most drives.
Figure 2 shows the 4-pin power input connector, where you connect a DC
power cable from the system power supply. The power connectors are keyed to avoid
incorrect insertion; do not force two connectors together if they do not fit properly.
Figure 2.
Power Connector
A ribbon cable functions as the
interface cable for most types of drives. The connector on the cable may be a header
connector (see Figure 3) or a latching connector (Figure 4).
Figure 3. Header Interface Connector
Figure 4.Latching Interface Connector
Most
interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a raised tab on
one connector matches a tab or a notch on the other connector. Keying ensures that the
pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored strip along one edge of the cable) goes
to the pin-1 ends of the connectors on both ends.
 |
CAUTION:
When connecting an interface cable, do not reverse the interface cable (do not place the
colored strip away from pin 1 of the connector). Reversing the cable prevents the drive
from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both. |
Each drive in
the external drive bays must connect to a 4-wire DC power cable from the system power
supply. The connectors on these cables are labeled "P3," "P4,"
"P5," and "P6." Connectors P3, P4, and P5 are used for 5.25-inch
devices, whereas connector P6 is used for the standard 3.5-inch diskette drive. Before
connecting a drive to a power cable, refer to Figure 5 to identify
the correct cable connector to use for a particular drive.
Figure 5. DC Power Cable Connectors
|
NOTE: Unused power cables
may be held in a retention clip just underneath the computer's top cover. The power cable
connectors may be covered with protective plastic caps. |
SCSI devices
in the external drive bays are controlled by the Ultra/Narrow SCSI controller on the
system board.
Although SCSI
devices are installed essentially the same way as other devices, their configuration
requirements are different. To configure SCSI devices installed in the external bays,
follow the guidelines in the following subsections.
SCSI ID Numbers
Each device
attached to the Ultra/Narrow SCSI host adapter must have a unique SCSI identification (ID)
number from 0 to 7.
When SCSI
devices are shipped from Dell, the default SCSI ID numbers are assigned as follows:
- The on-board Ultra/Narrow SCSI host adapter
is configured through the basic input/output system (BIOS) as SCSI ID 7.
- A SCSI tape drive is configured as SCSI ID 6
(the default ID number for a tape drive).
- A SCSI CD-ROM drive is usually configured as
SCSI ID 5.
NOTE: There is no requirement that SCSI
ID numbers be assigned sequentially or that devices be attached to the cable in order by
ID number.
Device
Termination
SCSI logic
requires that the two devices at opposite ends of the SCSI chain be terminated and that
all devices in between be unterminated.
Before
installing SCSI devices in the computer, you must configure the termination on the SCSI
device(s) to conform to the following guidelines:
- A single SCSI device (such as the standard
CD-ROM drive) must be terminated.
- If two or more SCSI devices are installed,
connect the devices as follows:
-- Attach
one of the devices to the end connector on the SCSI cable, and leave the termination
enabled on that device.
-- Connect
the other end of the SCSI cable to the computer's on-board Ultra/Narrow SCSI host adapter
or to an optional SCSI host adapter card.
-- Disable
the termination on all other devices you attach to the cable.
The standard
SCSI CD-ROM drive is configured as the last device on the SCSI cable. Therefore, any
additional devices attached to the cable should have their termination disabled.
See the
documentation provided with the SCSI device for information on disabling the device's
termination.
|
NOTE: Some systems may have
an active terminator installed at the very end of the SCSI cable. If this is the case with
your system, all of the devices attached to the SCSI cable should have their termination
disabled. |
SCSI Cable
|
CAUTION:
Dell recommends that you use only SCSI cables purchased from Dell. SCSI cables purchased
elsewhere are not guaranteed to work reliably with Dell PowerEdge 2300 systems. |
The 50-pin Ultra/Narrow SCSI cable has four connectors:
- The connector at the end of the cable
farthest away from the other three connectors attaches to the SCSI host adapter connector
labeled "SCSI2" on the system board.
- The other connectors on the cable attach to
SCSI devices in the three external drive bays.
To install a
SCSI device that uses the on-board Ultra/Narrow SCSI controller, follow these steps:
1. Prepare
the drive for installation.
Ground yourself
by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer, unpack the drive, and
compare the jumper and switch settings with those in the drive documentation. (See SCSI Configuration Information for information
on setting the drive's SCSI ID number and enabling termination [if required].) Change any
settings necessary for this system's configuration.
If the drive does not already have
drive rails attached, attach a drive rail to each side of the drive. Orient the drive
rails as shown in Figure 6. Secure each drive rail to the drive
with a screw in each of the lower slotted screw holes on the drive rail.
2. Remove
the front bezel and right-side computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Covers.
3. Slide
the new drive into its bay until it snaps securely into place.
If necessary,
you can adjust drive alignment by repositioning one or both rails.
Figure 6. Attaching Drive Rails
4. Connect
a DC power cable and one of the connectors on the Ultra/Narrow SCSI cable to the back of
the drive (see Figure 1).
If other
installed drives are in the way, temporarily move them out of the way. Press in on the
plastic drive rails at the front of the bay to disengage a drive, and then slide the drive
slightly toward the front of the chassis.
Refer to DC Power Cables to determine the correct DC power cable
connector to use for the drive. Plug the DC power cable connector into the 4-pin power
input connector on the back of the drive.
Select the
connector on the Ultra/Narrow SCSI cable that most easily reaches the new SCSI device, and
press the interface cable connector firmly into the drive's interface connector.
If you moved
other drives at the beginning of this step, snap them back into place.
5. Check
all cable connections that may have been loosened during this procedure. Arrange cables so
that they will not catch on the computer covers or block
the airflow of the fans or cooling vents.
6. If a
front-panel insert on the front bezel blocks the bay in which you installed the drive,
remove the insert.
See Removing and Replacing Front-Panel
Inserts.
7. Replace
the front bezel and right-side computer cover.
8.
Reconnect the computer and peripherals to their AC power sources, and turn them on.
9. Test the
SCSI devices.
To test a SCSI
tape drive, refer to the documentation for the tape drive software to perform a tape drive
backup and verification test.
Tape drives that require their own
separate controller cards are shipped with the controller card and an interface cable.
Install the drive in an external drive bay by performing the following steps:
1.
Configure the controller card if necessary.
Refer to the
documentation accompanying the tape drive and the card. If the card incorporates jumpers
or switches that must be set to work with the system, verify or change the settings as
necessary.
2. Remove
the front bezel and right-side computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Covers.
3. Slide
the new drive into its bay until it snaps securely into place.
If necessary,
you can adjust drive alignment by repositioning one or both rails.
4. Install
the controller card in an expansion slot.
See Installing an Expansion Card.
5. Connect
a DC power cable to the tape drive.
If other
installed drives are in the way, disengage them by pressing in on the plastic drive rails
at the front of the bay, and slide them slightly toward the front of the chassis.
Refer to DC Power Cables to determine which DC power cable connector to
use. Plug the DC power cable connector into the 4-pin power input connector on the back of
the drive.
6. Attach
the interface cable that came with the drive kit to the interface connector on the back of
the drive.
7. Connect
the interface cable to the controller connector on the controller card.
Refer to the
controller card's documentation to identify the controller connector on the card.
8. If you
moved other drives in step 5, snap them back into place.
9. Check
all cable connections that may have been loosened during this procedure. Arrange cables so
that they will not catch on the computer covers or block the airflow of the fans or cooling vents.
10. If a
front-panel insert on the front bezel blocks the bay in which you installed the drive,
remove the insert.
See Removing and
Replacing Front-Panel Inserts.
11. Replace
the front bezel and right-side computer cover.
12.
Reconnect the computer and peripherals to their AC power sources, and turn them on.
13. Perform
a tape backup and verification test with the drive as instructed in the tape-drive
software documentation that came with the drive.
Complete the
following procedure to connect a stand-alone tape drive that connects to the computer
using a controller card and shielded interface/DC power cable:
1. Prepare
the tape drive and controller card for installation.
Ground yourself
by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer. Unpack the tape drive
and controller card, and configure them for the system according to the instructions in
the documentation that came with the tape drive.
2. Remove
the front bezel and right-side computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Covers.
3. Install
the controller card in an expansion slot.
See Installing an Expansion Card.
4. Replace
the right-side computer cover and front bezel.
5. Connect
the tape drive's interface/DC power cable to the external connector on the controller
card; secure the connection by tightening the screws on the connector.
6.
Reconnect the computer and peripherals to their power sources, and turn them on.
7. Perform
a tape backup and verification test with the drive as instructed in the software
documentation that came with the drive.
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