Installing an I/O expansion adapter

Use this information to install an I/O expansion adapter in the lower compute node. Expansion adapters can not be installed in the upper compute node; the upper and lower compute nodes share the I/O expansion adapter in the lower compute node.

Before you install an I/O expansion adapter, complete the following steps:
  1. Read Safety and Installation guidelines.
  2. If the Flex System x222 Compute Node is installed in a chassis, remove it (see Removing a compute node from a chassis for instructions).
  3. Carefully lay the compute node on a flat, static-protective surface, orienting the compute node with the bezel pointing toward the left.
Note: If your adapter was previously configured, backup or record its configuration information, if possible, before replacing the adapter. See the documentation for your adapter for information and instructions.

This component can be installed as an optional device or as a CRU. The installation procedure is the same for the optional device and the CRU.

To install an I/O expansion adapter, complete the following steps:
Graphic illustrating installing an I/O expansion adapter

  1. Remove the upper compute node (see Removing the upper compute node).
  2. Locate the I/O expansion connectors in the lower compute node (see System-board connectors).
  3. Remove the cover from the lower compute node I/O-expansion connector, if one is present.
  4. Remove the cover from the upper compute node I/O-fabric connector, if one is present.
  5. Touch the static-protective package that contains the expansion adapter to any unpainted metal surface on the Flex System chassis or any unpainted metal surface on any other grounded rack component; then, remove the expansion adapter from the package.
  6. Firmly press on the indicated locations to seat the expansion adapter in the connector and over the alignment pins.
  7. Tighten the captive adapter-retention thumb screws. You can tighten these screws by hand or by using a P1 Phillips screwdriver.
  8. If you are replacing a ServeRAID adapter, import your RAID configuration to the replacement adapter as a foreign configuration. See the ServeRAID-M Software User Guide at ServeRAID-M Software User Guide for instructions.
After you install an I/O expansion adapter, complete the following steps:
  1. Install the upper compute node (see Installing the upper compute node for instructions).
  2. Install the Flex System x222 Compute Node into the chassis (see Installing a compute node in a chassis for instructions).
  3. See the documentation that comes with the expansion adapter for device-driver and configuration information to complete the installation.
Parent topic: Removing and replacing Tier 1 customer replaceable units (CRUs)