Cable and power up your DAE components
Cabling the DPE to a DAE
If you have one or more DAEs, these components must be cabled to the DPE back-end ports so that the storage is available in the system. Typically, the DAE(s) that are to be directly connected to the DPE need to be located close enough to the DPE so that the 2-meter DPE-to-DAE interconnect cables can be routed and connected to the DPE easily. 5- and 10-meter interconnect cables are available when you need to connect enclosures across multiple racks.
|
Note:
General DAE back-end bus configuration rules:
|
Shown in the upcoming figures are examples of two-bus SAS cabling in this DPE-based storage platform. The storage processors connect to the DAEs with mini-SAS HD cables. The cables connect LCCs in the DAEs of a storage platform in a daisy-chain topology.
The mini-SAS HD ports on the storage processors in the DPE are labeled 0 and 1. Mini-SAS HD port 0 is connected internally to the SAS expander that connects the drives on the front of the DPE. The DPE and its front facing drives begin the first back-end bus, BE0, and is automatically enclosure 0 (EA0). We refer to the address of this enclosure as BE0 EA0.
|
NOTICE
Each DAE supports two completely redundant connections to the DPE (LCC A and LCC B).
|
Since mini-SAS HD port 0 is already connected internally to the DPE drives, it is recommended that you connect the first optional DAE to the mini-SAS HD output port 1 of each storage processor to begin back-end bus 1 (BE1) and designate this DAE as enclosure 0 of this bus. We refer to the address of this enclosure as BE1 EA0.
In a two back-end bus system, it is recommended that you connect the second optional DAE to the mini-SAS HD port 0 of each storage processor.
DAE load balancing
If your system has several optional DAEs, you can daisy-chain them within that bus. However, it is recommended that you balance each bus. In other words, always optimize your environment by using every available bus, and spreading the number of enclosures and drives as evenly as possible across the buses.
The rule of load or bus balancing is applied to all DAEs. BE0 EA0 (0_0) is the DPE (SP A and B). So, to balance the load, the first DAE (LCC A and B) in the cabinet is BE1 EA0 (1_0) and with the second DAE BE0 EA1 (0_1), and so on.
Cabling the first optional DAE to create back-end bus 1
Connect the first optional expansion DAE to port 1 of the DPE to create back-end bus 1 (BE1) and designate this DAE as enclosure 0 of this bus. We refer to the address of this enclosure as BE1 EA0 (1_0).
To prepare for this cabling task:
- Locate the mini-SAS HD cables to be used to connect to the newly installed expansion DAE.
Typically these cables are 2-meters long. You use longer cables, typically 5-meters or 8-meters, to connect enclosures located in different racks. Cables are shipped without labels attached. The cables and ports are not colored.
- Locate the sheet of cable labels provided.
Orient the cable connectors as described in the procedure that follows, making sure that you do NOT connect:
- A DAE expansion port 0 to another expansion port 0.
- Any A-side ports to B-side ports.
Use the following illustrations to complete this cabling task:
DPE to 25-drive DAE SAS cabling

DPE to 15-drive DAE SAS cabling

|
NOTICE
When cabling the 15-drive DAE LCC SAS ports, ensure that the cables do not overlap behind the DAE. The illustration above demonstrates the proper method for cabling to the DAE LCC SAS ports.
|
- Label a pair of mini-SAS HD cables using the blue labels shown here.
Expansion port cable labeling detailsPrimary port cable labeling detailsLabel part numberLabelPortLabel part numberLabelPort046-001-562SP A SAS 1046-021-012LCC A Port A046-003-750SP B SAS 1046-021-013LCC B Port A
- Connect each SP to the first optional DAE to create BE1 EA0.
Note: Neither connector on the mini-SAS HD cable has a symbol to indicate input or output.
- Connect port 1 on SP A in the bottom slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE. [
]
- Connect port 1 on SP B in the top slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card (LCC B) at the top of the DAE. [
]
- Connect port 1 on SP A in the bottom slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE. [
Cabling the second optional DAE to extend back-end bus 0
Connect the second optional expansion DAE to the DPE expansion port 0 to extend back-end bus 0 (BE0) and designate this DAE as enclosure 1 of this bus. We refer to the address of this enclosure as BE0 EA1 (0_1).
Use the following illustration to complete this cabling task:

|
NOTICE
When cabling the 15-drive DAE LCC SAS ports, ensure that the cables do not overlap behind the DAE. The illustration above demonstrates the proper method for cabling to the DAE LCC SAS ports.
|
- Label a pair of mini-SAS HD cables using the orange labels shown here.
Expansion port cable labeling detailsPrimary port cable labeling detailsLabel part numberLabelPortLabel part numberLabelPort046-001-561SP A SAS 0046-021-010LCC A Port A046-003-489SP B SAS 0046-021-011LCC B Port A
- Connect DPE port 0 to the new DAE to extend BE0.
- Connect port 0 on SP A in the bottom slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE. [
]
- Connect port 0 on SP B in the top slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card (LCC B) at the top of the DAE. [
]
- Connect port 0 on SP A in the bottom slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE. [
Cabling the DPE SAS module ports to create back-end buses 2 through 5
Where supported, the following example shows how to connect remaining four SAS back-end ports and shows the cable labels for these SAS cables, as well as the back-end bus and enclosure numbers for these DPE to DAE connections.
|
Note:
The optional back-end 12-Gb/s SAS module is not supported on all Unity storage systems.
|
Cable the DAE to the 12-Gb/s SAS modules in the DPE 0, port 0 through port 3, to create back-end bus 2 through 5, BE2-BE5.
Use the following illustration to complete this cabling task:

- 2_0 side A, black, SP A B0 port 0 to DAE <w> LCC A port A
- 2_0 side B, black, SP B B0 port 0 to DAE <w> LCC B port A
- 3_0 side A, green, SP A B0 port 1 to DAE <x> LCC A port A
- 3_0 side B, green, SP B B0 port 1 to DAE <x> LCC B port A
- 4_0 side A, brown, SP A B0 port 2 to DAE <y> LCC A port A
- 4_0 side B, brown, SP B B0 port 2 to DAE <y> LCC B port A
- 5_0 side A, cyan, SP A B0 port 3 to DAE <z> LCC A port A
- 5_0 side B, cyan, SP B B0 port 3 to DAE <z> LCC B port A
For each new BE2-BE5:
- Label a pair of mini-SAS HD cables using the appropriate labels (black, green, brown, or cyan) shown here.
Expansion port cable labeling detailsPrimary port cable labeling detailsLabel part numberLabelPortLabel part numberLabelPort046-005-679SP A A0 PORT 0046-021-16LCC A Port A046-005-718SP B B0 PORT 0046-021-017LCC B Port A046-005-711SP A A0 PORT 1046-021-018LCC A Port A046-005-719SP B B0 PORT 1046-021-019LCC B Port A046-005-935SP A A0 PORT 2046-021-020LCC A Port A046-005-937SP B B0 PORT 2046-021-021LCC B Port A046-005-936SP A A0 PORT 3046-021-022LCC A Port A046-005-938SP B B0 PORT 3046-021-023LCC B Port A
- Connect each SP to the optional DAE to create BE2 enclosure 0 through BE5 enclosure 0, as needed.
- For SP A, connect the lowest available port in the SAS module in the bottom slot of the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE.
- For SP B, connect the lowest available port in the SAS module in the top slot of the DPE to port A on the link control card B (LCC B) at the top of the DAE.
Connect the DAE to the DPE SP slot 0 port 0 to create back-end bus 2 (BE2) and designate this DAE as enclosure 0 of this bus. We refer to the address of this enclosure as BE2 EA0 (2_0).

|
NOTICE
When cabling the 15-drive DAE LCC SAS ports, ensure that the cables do not overlap behind the DAE. The illustration above demonstrates the proper method for cabling to the DAE LCC SAS ports.
|
- Label a pair of mini-SAS HD cables using the black labels shown here.
Expansion port cable labeling detailsPrimary port cable labeling detailsLabel part numberLabelPortLabel part numberLabelPort046-005-679SP A A0 PORT 0046-021-016LCC A Port A046-005-718SP B B0 PORT 0046-021-017LCC B Port A
- Connect slot 0 port 0 on SP A in the bottom slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) at the bottom of the DAE. [
]
- Connect slot 0 port 0 on SP B in the top slot in the DPE to port A on the link control card (LCC B) at the top of the DAE. [
]
Cabling an expansion DAE to an existing DAE to extend a back-end bus
Connect the optional expansion DAE to the last installed DAE in the back-end bus to extend to the new DAE.
Use the following illustration to complete this cabling task:

|
NOTICE
When cabling the 15-drive DAE LCC SAS ports, ensure that the cables do not overlap behind the DAE. The illustration above demonstrates the proper method for cabling to the DAE LCC SAS ports.
|
- Label a pair of mini-SAS HD cables using the appropriate labels (orange, blue, lack, green, brown, or cyan) shown here.
Typically, DAEs connect to other DAEs using 1-meter cables.Expansion port cable labeling detailsPrimary port cable labeling detailsLabel part numberLabelPortLabel part numberLabelPort046-004-455LCC A Port B046-004-455LCC A Port A046-004-463LCC B Port B046-004-463LCC B Port A046-004-456LCC A Port B046-004-456LCC A Port A046-004-464LCC B Port B046-004-464LCC B Port A046-004-457LCC A Port B046-004-457LCC A Port A046-004-465LCC B Port B046-004-465LCC B Port A046-004-458LCC A Port B046-004-458LCC A Port A046-004-466LCC B Port B046-004-466LCC B Port A046-004-459LCC A Port B046-004-459LCC A Port A046-004-467LCC B Port B046-004-467LCC B Port A046-004-460LCC A Port B046-004-460LCC A Port A046-004-468LCC B Port B046-004-468LCC B Port A
- Connect the existing DAE to the expansion DAE to extend that back-end.
If you have additional DAEs, add labels to the mini-SAS HD to mini-SAS HD cables and use those cables to extend the bus. For more information about cabling additional DAEs, see the associated Hardware Information Guide.
- Connect port B on the link control card A (LCC A) of the lower-numbered DAE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) of the higher-numbered DAE. [
]
LCC A is located on the lower portion of the DAE. - Connect port B on the link control card B (LCC B) of the lower-numbered DAE to port A on the link control card B (LCC B) of the higher-numbered DAE. [
]
LCC B is located on the upper portion of the DAE.
- Connect port B on the link control card A (LCC A) of the lower-numbered DAE to port A on the link control card A (LCC A) of the higher-numbered DAE. [
Connecting power to the DAE
- Verify that the cabinet circuit breakers are in the On position and that power is connected to the cabinet.
- Connect the power cables to the optional DAEs.
Figure 6. Connecting power cables to the 3U, 15-drive DAEFigure 7. Connecting power cables to the 2U, 25-drive DAE
- Secure each power cable to the power supply with the cable retention bail.
- Connect the power to the each DAE as follows:
- Connect the power cable for LCC A to PDU A.
- Connect the power cable for LCC B to PDU B.
The enclosures power up immediately once the cable is connected. - Bundle and secure the cables as necessary with tie wraps.