Server Backplane question.

[Fordiesel69]

Got a lenovo server with an 8 bay 2.5" backplane. slots 1 thru 4 plug into the motherboard with a SFF-8643 on the backplane side and also a SFF-8643 on the motherboard side. Slots 5-8 plug into the backplane with an SFF-8643, but it plugs into the Motherboard with 2 SATA connectors. Slots 7 and 8 are marked unavailable on the front bezel. This is becuase this server was factory optioned with an M.2 boot drive and an optical DVD drive.

Now onto my question......... I need to re-use this backplane on another indentical sever with no backplanes. Can I plug the SFF-8643 cable into the port for slots 1-4 and connect to the motherboard on two of the avaiable SATA port. Or it it super important to plug it into the port for slots 5-8 and use only slot 6 and 7 with the rest unavail.

I did not know if backplanes care which slot is what or if the backplane controller circuitry maps each drive to a cable position.

 

[OVERKILL]

SFF-8643 is SAS, not SATA, are you SURE that the two additional motherboard connectors are SATA?

 

[Fordiesel69]

Yes, the motherboard controller / backplane works with either univerally. There is a note when using JBOD that you cannot mix SATA and SAS in the same backplane. Must be all SATA or all SAS.

 

[OVERKILL]

Yes, the motherboard controller / backplane works with either univerally. There is a note when using JBOD that you cannot mix SATA and SAS in the same backplane. Must be all SATA or all SAS.

OK, then it sounds to me like if you connect 5-8 via the two SATA connectors, that you'd have ports 5/6 working.

 

[Fordiesel69]

While id agree, can I move the SFF-8643 cable over to ports 1-4 and use slots 1 / 2 to make it look cleaner on the front bezel?

 

[OVERKILL]

While id agree, can I move the SFF-8643 cable over to ports 1-4 and use slots 1 / 2 to make it look cleaner on the front bezel?

I would assume so, yes.

 

[Pew]

Now onto my question......... I need to re-use this backplane on another indentical sever with no backplanes. Can I plug the SFF-8643 cable into the port for slots 1-4 and connect to the motherboard on two of the avaiable SATA port. Or it it super important to plug it into the port for slots 5-8 and use only slot 6 and 7 with the rest unavail.

I did not know if backplanes care which slot is what or if the backplane controller circuitry maps each drive to a cable position.

I believe you have to keep the ports identical with the numbering - meaning you have to use the SFF cable for ports 1-4 and SATA for 5 and 6. So you will not be able to use bays 1-4 without a SFF connection to the motherboard. The server manual should show which SFF ports for which drive bay.