Connecting Cables

Prerequisites

The following tools and materials have been ready:

• PDU
• Phillips screwdriver (M3 to M6)
• Diagonal pliers

Procedure

1. Obtain PDU connectors.
   • If there are no PDU connectors onsite, find some from the accessories delivered with the bay and perform Step 2.
   • If there are available PDU connectors onsite, perform Step 3.

2. (Optional) Assemble a PDU connector as instructed in Figure 3-68.
   Figure 3-68 Assembling a PDU connector
   

3. Insert a PDU plug into a PDU socket, as shown in Figure 3-69.
   Figure 3-69 Inserting a PDU plug into a PDU socket
   

4. Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 to connect all PDU power cables of bays.

   After all external PDU power cables are connected, bind the slack of the cables to the top or the bottom of the bay.

Prerequisites

The following tools and materials are ready:

• Ground cables
• Phillips screwdriver (M3 to M6)
• Diagonal pliers

Context

The ground points of devices in a bay are reliably connected to a metal component, forming an equipotential body. In addition, the ground cable of the bay power input terminal is reliably connected to the metal component, forming effective grounding. Therefore, the controllers, disk enclosures, and data switches in the bay do not need to be connected to the bay through other ground cables. However, after being installed on site, the bay must be connected to a ground bar in the equipment room through ground cables.

Procedure

1. Make ground cables.

   For details about how to make ground cables, see Preparing External Power Cables and Ground Cables with OT Terminals.

2. Connect the OT terminal of the ground table to the ground terminal of the bay (in the lower right corner of the rear door of the bay). Only the two upper ground terminals can be connected, as shown in Figure 3-70.
   Figure 3-70 Connecting ground cables
   

3. Connect the other OT terminal of the ground cable to the ground terminal on the ground bar.
4. Lay out ground cables.

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Prerequisites

When connecting a system bay to a disk bay using expansion cables, you need to remove the four side panels (two of the system bay and two of the disk bay) that are next to each other so that the expansion cables can be routed through two bays.

Context

Before connecting expansion cables, note the following:

• The expansion cables for connecting a disk bay to a system bay are bundled in the disk bay. One end of the cables has been connected to the disk bay before delivery. At the site, you only need to connect the other end of the cables to the system bay according to the labels on the cables.
• A SAS cable between a disk bay and a system bay is 15 m long, while an RDMA cable is 10 m long. Labels have been attached to the cables before delivery. You do not need to prepare labels onsite.

Procedure

1. Find the expansion cables that are used for cross-bay connection in the disk bay and cut the expansion cable ties.
2. Connect the expansion cables according to information on the labels, as shown in Figure 3-71, Figure 3-72, Figure 3-73, and Figure 3-74.
   For details about the connection planning, see Connection Planning Between System Bays and Disk Bays.

   When connecting a cable, ensure that the plastic ring of the cable or the optical module handle is on the right side of the cable.

   Figure 3-71 Connecting mini SAS HD cables to a controller enclosure
   
   Figure 3-72 Connecting mini SAS HD cables to a disk enclosure
   
   Figure 3-73 Connecting RDMA cables to a controller enclosure
   
   Figure 3-74 Connecting RDMA cables to a disk enclosure
   

3. Adjust the length of the expansion cables by wrapping them into circles according to the distance away from the system bay, and use a cable tie to bind them and use diagonal pliers to trim off the excess of cable ties, as shown in Figure 3-75.

   After expansion cables are connected, fix extra cables onto the cable tray at the rear of the system bay by using fiber binding tapes.

   Figure 3-75 Routing and binding expansion cables
   

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Prerequisites

• You have developed a plan for connections between multiple controller enclosures. For details on how to develop a connection plan, see (Optional) Connection Planning Between Controller Enclosures.
• The following installation tools and materials have been prepared:
  • RDMA cables
  • Diagonal pliers
  • Cable ties

Procedure

1. Connect controller enclosures following the connection plan, as shown in Figure 3-76.

   Ensure that the optical module handle is on the right side of the cable.

   Ensure that a cable is connected to a storage system for over two minutes. Otherwise, the storage system may fail to detect the cable. If the storage system cannot detect a cable that has been connected for over two minutes, check whether the cable is properly connected or damaged. Then, reinsert the cable.

   Figure 3-76 Connecting RDMA cables
   

2. Lay out ground cables.

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Prerequisites

• The connection between the controller enclosure and the application server has been completed. For details about the connection solution design, see Connection Planning Between Controller Enclosures and Application Servers.
• If Fibre Channel switches are used, the NPIV function of these switches has been enabled. For details about how to query and set the NPIV function of a switch, see How Do I Query and Configure the NPIV Function of Switches?
• The ports on the storage device are set to the autonegotiation mode. To keep a smooth link, the rates of the ports on the storage device and the application server (or the switch) must be consistent. If the rates are inconsistent, perform the following:
  • Set the rate of a front-end port. See "Modifying an Ethernet Port" and "Modifying a Fibre Channel Front-End Port" in the Basic Storage Service Configuration Guide (Block Service) specific to your product model and version.
  • To set the rate of the ports on the application server (or the switch), see the documents of the application server (or the switch).
• The following installation tools and materials are ready:
  • Network cables, cable ties, and diagonal pliers in Ethernet networking

    If GE electrical ports on a GE electrical interface module or network ports on an application server (or a switch) are not in autonegotiation mode, you must use crossover cables to connect the controller enclosure to the application server (or switch). Otherwise, the controller enclosure may fail to communicate with the application server (or switch).

  • Optical modules, optical fibers, fiber binding tapes, and diagonal pliers in Fibre Channel networking

Connecting GE or 10GE Electrical Interface Modules

1. Wear an ESD wrist strap, ESD gloves, and ESD clothes.
2. Connect one end of a network cable to a GE or 10GE electrical port.

   For the GE electrical interface module, connect the network cable directly to the electrical port on the interface module. For the 10GE electrical interface module, you must first install an electrical module (see Figure 3-77) and then connect the network cable.

   Figure 3-77 Installing an electrical module
   

3. Set up a connection to a network port on the application server.
   • Direct connection: Connect the other end of the network cable to a network port on the application server.
   • Switch-based connection: Connect the other end of the network cable to a switch. Then connect the switch to the application server using a network cable.

4. Repeat 2 and 3 to connect another GE or 10GE electrical port to the application server.
5. Lay out and bind the network cables.

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Connecting SmartIO Interface Modules

When installing an optical fiber, do not look into the optical port without eye protection.

1. Wear an ESD wrist strap, ESD gloves, and ESD clothes.
2. (Optional) Install an optical module to the ports on the SmartIO interface module of the storage system.

   If ports on the SmartIO interface module are already equipped with optical modules, go to 3.

   1. Remove the protective cap from the optical module. See (1) in Figure 3-78.
   2. Insert the optical module into the port on the SmartIO interface module. See (2) in Figure 3-78.

   Insert an optical module horizontally. Otherwise, it may be damaged.

   Figure 3-78 Inserting an optical module
   

3. Remove the protective cap from the optical fiber connector. See (1) in Figure 3-79.

   Precautions about connecting optical fibers are as follows:

   • An optical module is electrostatic sensitive and must be placed in an ESD-resistant and dust-proof environment during transportation, storage, and use.
   • When connecting cables, select proper cables according to site requirements and label information.
   • An optical fiber connector must be kept clean and free from scratches.
   • Cover optical fibers and optical modules that are not in use with protective caps.
   • The bend radius of an optical fiber must be larger than 5 cm.

4. Connect one end of the optical fiber to the port on the SmartIO interface module. See (2) in Figure 3-79.

   Insert the optical fiber connector until it clicks into place.

   Figure 3-79 Connecting an optical fiber
   

5. Set up a connection to the application server.
   • Direct connection: Connect the other end of the optical fiber to a network port on the application server.
   • Switch-based connection: Connect the other end of the optical fiber to a switch. Then connect the switch to the application server.

6. Repeat 2 and 5 to connect another front-end port to the application server.
7. Lay out and bind the optical fibers.

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Connecting 40GE/100GE Interface Modules

1. Wear an ESD wrist strap, ESD gloves, and ESD clothes.
2. (Optional) Install an optical module to an ETH port on the storage system.

   If ETH ports on the storage system are already equipped with optical modules, go to 3.

   1. Remove the protective cap from the optical module. See (1) in Figure 3-80.
   2. Insert the optical module into the ETH port. See (2) in Figure 3-80.

   Insert an optical module horizontally. Otherwise, it may be damaged.

   Figure 3-80 Inserting an optical module
   

3. Connect the optical fiber.
   1. Remove the protective cap from the optical fiber connector. See (1) in Figure 3-81.
   2. Connect one end of the optical fiber to the optical module on the ETH port. See (2) in Figure 3-81.
   Figure 3-81 Connecting an optical fiber
   

4. Set up a connection to an ETH port on the application server.
   • Direct connection: Connect the other end of the optical fiber to an ETH port on the application server.
   • Switch-based connection: Connect the other end of the optical fiber to a switch. Then connect the switch to the application server.

5. Repeat 2 and 4 to connect another front-end port to the application server.
6. Lay out and bind the optical fibers.

   For details about how to lay out and bind cables, see General Cable Routing Principles and Cable Routing and Binding Basics.

Context

• Each management module has two management network ports and a maintenance network port. In normal cases, the management network ports are used to configure and manage a storage device. The maintenance network port is designed for special maintenance in emergency.
  • Management network port 1 is reserved and not used.
  • The default IP address of management network port 0 on management module 0 is 192.168.128.101, and that of management network port 0 on management module 1 is 192.168.128.102. The default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0.
  • The default IP address of the maintenance network port is 172.31.128.101 or 172.31.128.102, and the default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0.
• The management network ports and the maintenance terminal must reside on the same network segment, or reside on different network segments but are connected by routes. This ensures that the management network ports and the maintenance terminal can correctly communicate with each other.

Procedure

1. Prepare cables that are used to connect the controller to the management network. Attach labels to these cables. For details about how to prepare and attach labels, see Engineering Label Specifications for Cables.
2. Connect the controller to the management network.
   • Do not connect the management network port and maintenance network port to the same LAN or switch to prevent network loops.
   • When the storage system consists of two system bays, you only need to connect the management network ports of controller enclosure in system bay 0 to the management network. For details, see Direct-Connection Network.

   Figure 3-82 shows the cable connection.

   Figure 3-82 Connecting a controller enclosure to the management network
   

Context

There are two types of serial cables: RJ-45 to DB9 serial cable and double RJ-45 serial cable. The type of serial cable to be used depends on the type of the serial port on the maintenance terminal. Typically, the storage system is connected to a maintenance terminal through an RJ-45 to DB9 serial cable, as shown in Figure 3-83.

If you use an RJ-45 to DB9 serial cable, connect the RJ-45 connector to the storage system, and connect the DB9 connector to the maintenance terminal.

Figure 3-83 Connecting a serial port to a maintenance terminal

Procedure

1. Wear an ESD wrist strap, ESD gloves, and ESD clothes.
2. Prepare a serial cable used to connect the serial port on the controller enclosure and a network port on the maintenance terminal, and label the cable. For details about how to prepare and attach labels, see Engineering Label Specifications for Cables.
3. Connect the RJ-45 end of an RJ-45 to DB9 serial cable to a serial port on the controller enclosure.
4. Connect the DB9 end of the RJ-45 to DB9 serial cable to the serial port on the maintenance terminal.