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Hardware » Books » End-User »
Silicon Graphics Zx10 6U Rackmount Owner's Guide
(document number: 007-4329-002 / published: 2000-09-20)
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Chapter 8. Upgrading the System
This chapter describes how to upgrade your system by adding or replacing system components.
 | Warning: This is a user-serviceable system. Service and upgrade tasks should be performed by users who can follow instructions in a manual to service equipment, and can do so without harm to themselves or damage to the equipment.
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You can install Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), non-compliant PCI, Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), and Plug-n-Play (PnP) expansion cards in the system. See below for a general description of these types of cards.
AGP cards are graphics controllers that use the dedicated AGP interface for graphics acceleration. AGP cards contain configuration registers that define resource information to the system during startup. AGP cards do not require manual system configuration when installing the card. The system's BIOS detects the board's presence during startup and reads information from the board's configuration registers to assign the necessary system resources.
PCI cards contain configuration registers that define resource information to the system during startup. PCI cards do not require manual system configuration when installing the card. The system's BIOS detects the board's presence during startup and reads information from the board's configuration registers to assign the necessary system resources.
Non-compliant PCI cards do not contain configuration registers that allow the system to automatically assign the necessary resources. These cards install in PCI slots, but you must configure the system's BIOS to assign system resources before installing the card.
Non-PnP ISA cards do not contain registers that define the resource information to the system during startup. Therefore, you must configure the system's BIOS to define the card to the system before installing the ISA card. This reserves system resources for the card.
PnP cards are ISA cards that contain configuration registers like PCI cards. During startup, the system's BIOS automatically detects the installed card and assigns the necessary system resources. Since a PnP card is ISA-based, you install it in an ISA slot.
Each installed PCI card must draw less than 25 watts of power. The total allowable maximum wattage for PCI cards is 150 watts.
Identifying Expansion Card SlotsThe system board has seven expansion card slots, located at the lower-left corner of the system board. Slot 7 is a shared slot; you can install a PCI card or an ISA card in this slot, but not both.
Note the following:
Slot 1 is for AGP Pro expansion cards.
Slots 2, 3, 4, and 7 are for 33 MHz (5 V or Universal) PCI expansion cards.
Slots 5 and 6 are for 66 MHz (3.3 V or Universal) PCI expansion cards. These slots can be used for 33 MHz PCI expansion cards if needed.
Slot 7 is a shared PCI/ISA slot. This slot can hold either an ISA expansion card or a 33 MHz (5 V or Universal) PCI expansion card.
See the System Board Guide for detailed information on the system board's expansion slots.
Installing an Expansion Card
See the documentation that came with the card for details on installation, configuration, cable connections, and operation.
To install an expansion card:
| Warning: The system is always on when connected to AC power and the power supplies are switched on. Before opening the system, switch off both power supplies.
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Remove the top cover/side panel. See Chapter 7, “Gaining Access to System Components”.
Remove the blanking plate from an open slot on the back of the base unit. If there are no open slots and you want to replace an existing expansion card, see Chapter 9, “Servicing the System” for instructions.
 | Caution: Ensure that you cover an open slot with a blanking plate to ensure proper airflow for cooling and to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions.
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Slide the expansion card carefully into the card guides. Ensure that the connectors on the board's edge are aligned properly with the socket.
Push the card into the socket firmly and evenly until it is fully seated.
Secure the card to the card guide with a retaining screw (6-32 x 0.25 hex head).
Attach any required cables to internal or external connectors.
Replace the top cover/side panel. See Chapter 7, “Gaining Access to System Components”.
Assigning System Resources
Some expansion cards include a configuration diskette that you can use to reserve the system resources required for the card. Other expansion cards do not include a diskette, but require that you manually program the BIOS with the configuration information.
See the System Board Guide for details on using BIOS Setup to assign system resources and configure the BIOS for expansion cards.
Disabling On-Board ControllersYou may need to disable the on-board audio, networking, or SCSI controllers to use an expansion card for these functions. You can disable these on-board functions using the BIOS Setup program.
See the System Board Guide for details on using BIOS Setup to disable the on-board controllers.
Adding External SCSI Peripheral DevicesThe system has a dual-channel low-voltage differential (LVD) SCSI controller integrated on the system board. Depending on your system configuration, you can connect Ultra, Ultra2, or Ultra3 SCSI peripheral devices to the SCSI port on the back of the base unit, and these devices will operate at their respective transfer rates. The SCSI port connects to Channel A of the SCSI controller. See Chapter 1, “Setting Up the Hardware” to locate the SCSI port.
| Caution: On a JBOD system, if no external SCSI peripheral devices are connected to the SCSI port, connect a terminator module to the port.
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For each SCSI bus, the type of bus and the data clock speed of the fastest device on that bus determines its maximum length. Knowing this, you can determine the maximum cable length you can use to connect external SCSI devices to the system.
The following table provides a guide to maximum SCSI bus length. Note that bus width (for example, Narrow versus Wide) does not affect the maximum bus length.
Table 8-1. Maximum SCSI bus length
SCSI Bus
| Single-Ended Bus
| Differential Bus
| LVD Bus
|
|---|
Ultra (8 bits, 20 MB/sec)
| 4.9 ft / 1.5 m
| 39.4 ft / 12 m
| 39.4 ft / 12 m
| Wide Ultra (16 bits, 40 MB/sec)
| Not recommended
| Not specified
| 39.4 ft / 12 m
| Ultra2 (16 bits, 80 MB/sec)
| Not recommended
| Not specified
| 39.4 ft / 12 m
| Ultra3 (16 bits, 160 MB/sec)
| Not recommended
| Not specified
| 39.4 ft / 12 m
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The total cable length on the system's SCSI bus is the sum of the following:
RAID system internal SCSI cables – 113 in (287 cm)
JBOD system internal SCSI cables – 112 in (284 cm)
SCSI cable between the system and the first external device
SCSI cables between additional external devices
SCSI cable inside each device connected to the cable – typically 8 inches (0.2 meters) or less
To ensure data integrity and optimum performance, do the following:
To determine the ID of each SCSI device on the system, restart the system. When the BIOS screen displays, look for a list of SCSI devices and write down the ID for each device.
By default, some SCSI IDs are already used by system devices:
See the vendor documentation for details on setting a device's SCSI ID.
When connecting devices to the SCSI port:
To connect external SCSI devices:
If the system is connected to AC power and operating, shut down the system and unplug the system power cord from its AC power outlet.
If a terminator module is connected to the SCSI port on the system, remove it.
Connect one end of a SCSI cable to the SCSI port on the system.
Connect the other end of the SCSI cable to a SCSI peripheral device.
Connect a SCSI cable between SCSI ports on any additional SCSI peripheral devices.
Set the SCSI ID of each peripheral device to a unique SCSI ID number. Do not use any SCSI ID numbers already used by the system on that port or channel.
For each SCSI peripheral device connected to the port, if the device is:
The last or only device on the SCSI chain, enable SCSI termination
Not the last or only device on the SCSI chain, disable or remove SCSI termination
Ensure that the power switch on each peripheral device is in the off position; then connect the power cord from each peripheral device to an AC power outlet.
Turn on power to all connected SCSI peripheral devices, and then start the system.
If necessary, install software drivers and configure the peripheral devices according to the vendor's instructions.
Changing SCSI Controller or Device Settings You may need to use the SCSI Configuration Utility to configure the operation of SCSI peripheral devices connected to the integrated SCSI controller.
This utility enables you to configure SCSI controller, perform a low-level format on a SCSI hard disk drive, select boot order, and verify media.
You may need to change SCSI controller parameters for a device under the following conditions:
If you are advised to do so by technical support or instructed to do so by the vendor documentation supplied with the SCSI device.
If the SCSI device does not negotiate properly with the controller.
If you exceed the recommended total cable length for connecting SCSI devices to the system.
If you connect non-Ultra SCSI external devices to the system.
For information on using the SCSI Configuration Utility, see Chapter 3, “Configuring the System”.
Adding Internal Peripheral DevicesA CD-ROM drive and a floppy disk drive are installed in the peripheral device cage at the front of the base unit. The cage can hold up to two additional EIDE or SCSI peripheral devices. In some systems, a bracket above the peripheral device cage can hold a SCSI disk drive. The following table describes the devices in and above the peripheral device cage:
Table 8-2. Peripheral Device Bays
Location
| Access
| Device
| Device Size
| Bus
|
|---|
Bay 1 (Top)
| Internal,
External
| Various
| 5.25-in x 1.6-in
or 3.5-in x 1.0 in
| EIDE (Either) or SCSI
| Bay 2
| Internal,
External
| Various
| 5.25-in x 1.6-in
or 3.5-in x 1.0 in
| EIDE (Either) or SCSI
| Bay 3
| External
| CD-ROM drive
| 5.25-in x 1.6-in
| EIDE (Primary)
| Bay 4 (Bottom)
| External
| Floppy disk drive
| 3.50-in x 1.0-in
| N/A
| Above the cage
| Internal
| Disk drive
| 3.50-in x 1.0-in
| SCSI
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In a RAID system, up to four removable low-voltage differential (LVD) SCSI disk drives may be installed in slots in the disk drive cage at the front of the base unit. One of these disk drives (Drive 0) is the system's primary system disk drive. A RAID controller card manages these disk drives.
In a JBOD ("just a bunch of disks") system, up to four LVD SCSI disk drives may be installed in bays in the disk drive cage at the front of the base unit. A dual-channel LVD SCSI controller on the system board manages these disk drives.
The EIDE controller on the system board manages internal EIDE peripheral devices. Two EIDE devices can connect to each of the primary and secondary EIDE channels. The CD-ROM drive connects to the primary EIDE channel as a master device. The cable for the CD-ROM drive can connect to a second (slave) EIDE device in the peripheral device cage. Another cable can be used to connect to a third EIDE device in the peripheral device cage.
The SCSI controller on the system board manages internal and external SCSI peripheral devices. External SCSI devices connect to SCSI Channel A via the SCSI port on the back of the base unit. Internal devices connect to SCSI Channel A and/or SCSI Channel B, depending on system configuration. Ultra, Ultra2, and Ultra3 SCSI peripheral devices operate at their respective transfer rates.
For more information:
Have the vendor's documentation available to follow instructions for setting the SCSI ID, enabling or disabling termination, installing device drivers when required, and configuring other device attributes.
If you are installing an internal peripheral device that connects to an expansion card, see the vendor's documentation for information on installing the expansion card and any required cables.
You can add system memory by installing or replacing dual inline memory modules (DIMMs) in the system board's DIMM sockets. For more information:
On how to add or replace a DIMM, see Chapter 9, “Servicing the System”.
On DIMMs, DIMM socket locations, and system memory configurations, see the System Board Guide.
You can upgrade a single-processor system by installing another processor. As higher-speed processors become available, you can upgrade one- or two-processor systems by replacing the existing processors with faster processors. For more information:
Silicon Graphics Zx10 6U Rackmount Owner's Guide
(document number: 007-4329-002 / published: 2000-09-20)
table of contents | additional info | download
Front Matter
About This Guide
Chapter 1. Setting Up the Hardware
Chapter 2. Setting Up the Software
Chapter 3. Configuring the System
Chapter 4. Operating the System
Chapter 5. Troubleshooting Operational Problems
Chapter 6. Reinstalling the Operating System
Chapter 7. Gaining Access to System Components
Chapter 8. Upgrading the System
Chapter 9. Servicing the System
Chapter 10. System Hardware and Specifications
Appendix A. Ergonomics Guide
Index
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