Dell PowerEdge 1550 User manual

support.dell.comwww.dell.com 04E580 A00
P/N 4E580 Rev. A00
February 2001
Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1550 and
PowerApp™ 120 Systems —
PERC 3/DC Cable Installation
This document provides updated information for installing the Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID
Controller 3/Dual Channel (PERC 3/DC) in your Dell PowerEdge 1550 or PowerApp 120 system.
The PERC 3/DC kit included with your system contains two small computer system interface (SCSI)
cables that connect your PERC 3/DC card to the internal SCSI backplane board in your system. A
description of these cables and their application is provided in Table 1.
To avoid interference with system components and operation, be sure to use the short SCSI cable
when installing the PERC 3/DC card in your PowerEdge 1550 or PowerApp 120 system.
Installing the PERC 3/DC Card in Your System
To install the PERC 3/DC card in a PowerEdge 1550 or PowerApp 120 system, perform the following
steps.
WARNING: Before you install the PERC 3/DC card, you must turn off the system and dis-
connect it from the electrical outlet. For more information, see “Safety First—For You and
Your Computer” in the System Information document that came with your system.
1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from the
electrical outlet.
Table 1. Cable Description
Cable Length Application
Short cable PowerEdge 1550 systems and
PowerApp 120 systems
Long cable All other supported systems

2. Prepare the PERC 3/DC card for installation, and open the system cover. For instructions, see
your system’s Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
3. Disconnect the power supply cable from the system board.
NOTE: Disconnecting the power supply cable will facilitate cable installation in step 9.
4. Remove the SCSI backplane board from the chassis. For instructions, see your system’s
Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
5. Connect one end of the short cable to the SCSI backplane board connector.
NOTE: If necessary, remove the old cable from the system board to the SCSI backplane board
before proceeding to step 6.
6. Reinstall the SCSI backplane board in the chassis. For instructions, see your system’s
Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
7. Route the PERC 3/DC SCSI cable through the opening in the fan bracket and attach the connec-
tor to the PERC 3/DC card.
NOTE: To avoid damage to the cable by the sliding system cover, make sure that the SCSI cable
rests on the bottom of the chassis between the system board and the power supply.
8. Install the PERC 3/DC card into peripheral component interconnect (PCI) slot 1, and then go to
step 9. If an existing PCI card is installed in PCI slot 1, perform the following steps:
a. Loosen the existing PCI card thumbscrews at the back of the chassis.
b. Grasp the existing PCI card in PCI slot 1 by its top corners and carefully remove it from the
PCI slot 1 connector.
c. Insert the existing PCI card firmly into the PCI slot 2 connector until the card is fully seated.
d. Tighten the existing PCI card thumbscrews at the back of the chassis.
e. Grasp the PERC 3/DC card by its top corners and insert the card firmly into PCI slot 1 until
the card is fully seated.
f. Tighten the PERC 3/DC card thumbscrews at the back of the chassis.
9. Reconnect the power cable to the system board, ensuring that the SCSI cable is located
beneath the power cable to damage from the sliding system cover.
10. Connect the SCSI cables to the PERC 3/DC card and the existing PCI card, if applicable.
11. Close the system cover. For instructions, see your system’s Installation and Troubleshooting
Guide.

12. Follow the instructions that came with your PERC 3/DC card to configure the card for your
system.
NOTES: Be sure to reconfigure the existing PCI card in PCI slot 2, if needed. For configuration
information, see the documentation provided with the card.
For more information on installing expansion cards and redundant array of independent disks
(RAID) controllers in your system, see your system’s Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and PowerApp are trademarks of Dell Computer
Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks
and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade
names other than its own.