c2100: backplane remove (need help)

[GingerNinja]

Hello all.
I am trying to build a c2100 with a LSI 9305-16i HBA (12G) for use with FreeNAS.

Since the backplane that came with the c2100 is not even close to 12G, I want to do away with it. I'm pretty sure I've got everything planned, except power for the HDD's. Can I just buy an adapter for the cable that went to the backplane? Can I daisy chain a few SATA power splitter cables together from the 2 inside the box for SSD's?

 

[anodos]

Hello all.
I am trying to build a c2100 with a LSI 9305-16i HBA (12G) for use with FreeNAS.

Since the backplane that came with the c2100 is not even close to 12G, I want to do away with it. I'm pretty sure I've got everything planned, except power for the HDD's. Can I just buy an adapter for the cable that went to the backplane? Can I daisy chain a few SATA power splitter cables together from the 2 inside the box for SSD's?

What backplane are you using? My experience with sata power splitters is that they are terrible, low-quality products, and should be avoided.

 

[GingerNinja]

Its a dell c2100, whatever came in it. It's not 12G, does it matter?

 

[anodos]

Its a dell c2100, whatever came in it. It's not 12G, does it matter?

I must have misread your post as meaning that you were trying to mod the c2100 chassis to accept a different backplane. I was just curious about the details of how you were going about doing this.

 

[Mirfster]

As far as I know, that is not going to work. You are correct that the C2100/FS12-TY maxes out at 6G, but there are only two backplanes that will work with it.
Usually you will get the one that has two mini-sas SFF-8087 connectors. In few instances you might get the one that has three SFF-8484 connectors.

I guess my question is do you have drives that are 12G you plan on using? Because even if the card is capable of 12G, having 6G drives will pretty much nullify that...

Also the card you mention is PCIe 3.0, while the C2100 only offers PCIe 2.0. Card should still work, but that is a limiting factor.

If you want to still keep the C2100 and use your HBA, I would think all you need is either (depending on the backplane that is in there):

• Mini SAS SFF-8643 to Mini SAS 32 Pin SFF-8484 Cable
• Mini SFF-8643 to Mini SAS 36pin SFF-8087 Cable

Couple examples:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CableCreati...154101?hash=item3f5fada0f5:g:-XoAAOSwQjNW9td5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1M-Mini-SAS...767550?hash=item5d605e8c3e:g:9ekAAOSwGotWhSPk

There is a jumper you may have to check on the backplace (J15 if I recall correctly) if you plan on using LSI instead of PERC. Normally this is set but worth checking.

I love my C2100/FS-12TY systems (think I am up to ~8 of them), but they do show their age with some of the new fangled stuff. ;)

 

[GingerNinja]

What do you mean it wont work? The c2100 has to have a backplane installed to run?

To clarify: I am trying to (physically) remove the backplane and plug the HDD's directly into the HBA. (Which replaced a h700)

 

[Mirfster]

What do you mean it wont work? The c2100 has to have a backplane installed to run?

Not that I ever tried to run it without a backplane (might just grab one to see); but how are the drives going to get power as well?

Since you are replacing a H700 with the HBA I would think that the backplane has two mini-sas SFF-8087 connectors. So I ponder what you are trying to gain by attempting to bypass the backplane instead of just using the appropriate cables?

I understand that your HBA is 12G, but are all your hard drives you plan on attaching 12G as well?

• If they are not, then you gain nothing. Having a 12G HBA with 6G hard drives doesn't improve much at all. The drives would be the bottle-neck then.
• If they are, then I would think that for the cost involved (~$600.00 for 3 - 600GB 12G drives) that is more than the Server itself. If you are willing to spend that kind of money for the HBA and Drives, you should just move up to a newer Server. (<-- not often I would say that).

 

[GingerNinja]

The drives getting power is the entire point of this post.

I tried plugging the HBA into the backplane and couldn't get it to recognize a HDD. Tried almost every jumper combo.

 

[Mirfster]

There is a jumper you may have to check on the backplace (J15 if I recall correctly) if you plan on using LSI instead of PERC. Normally this is set but worth checking.

Even J15? See this post: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/servers/f/906/t/19479859

Make sure J15 is empty...

 

[Mirfster]

Also make sure you have the correct cables... Are yours "Forward" or "Reverse"?
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...-sas-sy-a-primer-on-basic-sas-and-sata.26145/

 

[GingerNinja]

I got 2 CableCreation Internal Mini SAS HD Cable, Mini SAS SFF-8643 to Mini SAS 36Pin SFF-8087 Cable
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013G4FL0A/?tag=ozlp-20

I thought that was the right cable?

Yeah if J15 is the jumper to the left of the group.

 

[Mirfster]

Yeah that should be fine, seems like the vendor verified that it is a "Forward":

Question:
Is this a forward or reverse breakout cable?
Answer:
Dear buyer,
It is a forward one.
Thank you
By CableCreation on April 18, 2016

So, did you check Jumper 15 on the Backplane? ;)

 

[GingerNinja]

If J15 is the jumper to the far left of the group of 4. Yeah it doesn't recognize any HDD's with that unpopulated and the other 3 populated.

 

[Mirfster]

Odd. So out of curiosity, was that jumper populated when the H700 was in there and seeing drives? If not, try populating the jumper and see what happens. Only other thing I can really think of is that it is the cables (still). I have gotten some cables in the past that did not work at all for my H200 or H700...

P.S. Yes, J15 is the one to the far left.

 

[GingerNinja]

J15 was not populated, and the jumper all the way to the right (J18?) was only populated on the top half.

 

[GingerNinja]

Can you shoot me a link to a cable from a different manufacturer that would work?

 

[Mirfster]

J15 was not populated, and the jumper all the way to the right (J18?) was only populated on the top half.

Hmmm... So with J15 not jumpered and J18 was not either and this all worked with a H700? As of yet, I have not found and documentation that states what J15, J17 and J18 really do. However, I do know that on all my systems those three are always jumpered. I have one running as a Microsoft Hyper-V Server and using a Perc H700. As far as I recall (can check later) I did not actually jump J15 either (I could be wrong though; since that was built a long time ago).

So, give these a try:

• Leave J15 unjumped and do jump J18
• Jump J15 and make sure J18 is jumped

P.S. Have a looksy at this thread: https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...ed-drives-and-backplane-jumper-question.8889/

 

[GingerNinja]

I'll try different jumper connections in a bit, I know i tried those combos but ill try again.