Lenovo ThinkStation PX User manual

Storage Configurator
LenovoThinkStation PX

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Table of Contents
Overview...............................................................................................................................3
Section 1 –PX Storage Summary....................................................................................4
Section 2 –PX M.2 SSD Drives on CPU-based Controller..........................................6
Section 3 –PX SATA Drives on Chipset-based Controller........................................23
Section 4 –Appendix........................................................................................................34
Revision History.................................................................................................................37

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Overview
The ThinkStation PX workstation offersa vast majority of storage options. The PX
workstation provides three standard M.2 slots directly on the motherboard as well
as the abilityto utilizeupto three frontaccessible drive bays. Additionally,the PX
workstation has theability to convertthe secondPSU bay to a fourth SATA drive
bay enclosure. The followingdocumentprovidesdetailedguidanceforusersto
optimally configuretheirsystem storage options in theThinkStation PX platform.
Here is a high-leveloverview of the types of storage devices supportedon the
ThinkStation PX platform:
Table 1 - Generaloverview of supportstorage devicesinthe ThinkStation PX
Drive Type and Speed
ThinkStation PX
3.5” SATA Gen3 Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Up to 2TB each
3.5” SATA Gen3 Enterprise HDD
Up to 12TB each
M.2 PCIe SSD Gen4 x4
Up to 4TB each
Table 2 - Quantity andcapacity by drivetype
Drive Type and Speed
Number of Drives Available
Total Storage
3.5” SATA Drives
4
Up to 48TB
M.2 PCIe Drives
7
Up to 28TB

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Section 1 –PX Storage Summary
The below Table 2 showsa high-levelsummaryof what storage options are
availablein the ThinkStation PX platform.
Table 3 - Storage Summary
Storage Location
Drive Type Support
Internal onboard M.2 slots
3 x M.2 SSD Gen5 (CPU1)
Front access bay 1
1 x 3.5” SATA Gen3 (Chipset)
Front access bay 2
One of:
•1 x 3.5” SATA Gen3 (Chipset)
•2 x M.2 SSD Gen4 (requires CPU2)
Front access bay 3
One of:
•1 x 3.5” SATA Gen3 (Chipset)
•2 x M.2 SSD Gen4 (requires CPU2)
PSU bay 2
1 x 3.5” SATA Gen3 (Chipset)
Front access bay 1
Front access bay 2
Front access bay 3
Front access bay lock*
*Locks all three bays, not
individual bays
Chassisdoor (right)
Chassisdoor (left)

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PSU bay 2 for additional 3.5”
*2nd PSU shown indiagram
Key Nest for FrontAccess
Bays & ChassisSideDoor

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Section 2 –PX M.2 SSD Drives on CPU-
based Controller
The LenovoThinkStation PX platformsupports a variety of differentstorage
devices. Table 3 shows the available featuresfor M.2 SSD drives utilizing the
CPU-basedcontroller. Table 4 highlightsthe compatibilityandrequirementsfor
M.2 SSD drives utilizing the CPU-based controller.
Front access M.2 drives
M.2 Activity LED
M.2 Activity LEDs

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Table 4 - Featuresfor M.2 SSD drives onCPU-based controllers
Feature
Onboard M.2 Slots
Front Access Bay
Dual M.2 SSD
enclosure (#1)
Front Access Bay
Dual M.2 SSD
enclosure (#2)
Drive Count (System max = 7)
3
2
2
Maximum PCIe speed
Gen5
Gen4
Gen4
Availability
Standard
Optional
Optional
Location
Motherboard
Front access bay 2
Front access bay 3
Controller
CPU1
CPU2
CPU2
Supported M.2 dimensions (mm)
(2) 2280 or 22110
+
(1) 2280
2280
2280
Double side support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Maximum power per drive
8W
8W
8W
Front accessible
No
Yes
Yes
Toolless
Yes
Partial*
Partial*
Hot swappable
No
Yes
Yes
Individual activity/status LEDs
No
Yes
Yes
Combined in system activity LED
Yes
Yes
Yes
* A screwdriver is required to install the drive into the sub enclosure, but then the sub enclosure can be
removed from the main enclosure without tools.
Front Access Bay Dual
M.2 SSD Enclosure (#1)
Front Access Bay Dual
M.2 SSD Enclosure (#2)

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Table 5 - Compatibilityand partsrequirementsfor M.2 SSD drives onCPU-basedcontroller
Location
Compatibility
Requirements and Parts
Onboard M.2
•M.2 Carrier and Heatsink kit standard
on motherboard
Front Access Bay
Dual M.2 SSD
Enclosure x 1
Compatible with the following
front access combinations:
•0-2 x SATA
•System must have two CPUs
•Front access bay Dual M.2 SSD
enclosure
•Motherboard NVME bay2 Gen5 cable
•Storage bay 5038 fan
Front Access Bay
Dual M.2 SSD
Enclosure x 2
Compatible with the following
front access combinations:
•0-1 x SATA
•System must have two CPUs
•Front access bay Dual M.2 SSD
enclosure
•Motherboard NVME bay3 Gen5 cable
•Storage bay 5038 fan

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Onboard M.2 SSD drive installation
1. Open theside cover on the PX and remove any PCIe adapters that may
interferewith accessingthe onboard M.2 slots.
2. Rotate thered lockingmechanismcounterclockwise.
3. Slightlyliftstraightup to about a 15-degree angleandpull out.
Caution: Be careful not to lift too much to risk breaking the M.2 slot.
1
2

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4. Lay the M.2 carrier flat on a desk andcarefullyseparate theheatsinkfrom
the carrier by releasingthefourtabs away from the heatsink.
5. Remove the plastic insertas wellas the thermalpad plastic film piece.
6. Insert the M.2 drive carefullyin theM.2 bracket as shown below.
Remove plastic insert
Remove plastic film
Insert M.2 drive

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7. Reinstall theheatsinkon top of the M.2 drive within thecarrier andpress to
engagetabs on the heatsinktothe metal brackets on the carrier.
8. Installthe M.2 bracket back into the onboardM.2 slot at a slight15-degree
angle.
Caution: Be careful not to use excessive force to risk breaking the M.2 slot.
9. Push down androtate the red latch clockwiseto secure the M.2 carrier in
the system.
Engagethesetabs on bracket

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Front M.2 drive installation
1. Remove the M.2 carrier(s) from the FrontBay assembly by pressing on the
red touchpointto release thespring-loaded M.2 carrier from the Front Bay
assembly.
Note: Make sure the key lock is in the unlocked position or else the M.2
carrier(s) will not be able to be removed.
2. Placethe M.2 carrier on a flat surfaceandremove the four(4) screws using
a Phillipsscrewdriver.Make surethe M.2 carrier bezel is pushedbackinto
the initial closedposition.
M.2 Key Lock
Press here to release M.2 carrier(s)
Push M.2 carrier bezel back intothe initialposition
Screws

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3. Remove the top part of the M.2 carrier andplace it upsidedown on a flat
surface.Remove the thermal pad plastic filmas well as the screw usedto
securethe M.2 drive to the M.2 carrier.
4. Installthe M.2 drive at a slight15-degree anglein theM.2 slot of the
carrier.
Caution: Be careful not to use excessive force to risk breaking the M.2 slot.
Remove plastic film
Remove M.2 screw

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5. Push down on theM.2 drive andinstallthe screw used to secure the M.2
drive to the M.2 carrier.
6. Install the top cover of the M.2 carrier and tighten all four(4) screws
neededto securethe top andthebottom of theM.2 carrier together.
Push down on M.2 drive
Install M.2 screw
Screws

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7. Push M.2 carrier bezel to release the hook andextend the M.2 carrier.
8. Installthe M.2 carrier back intothe Front Bay Assembly.
Hook
M.2 Activity LED

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Front M.2 SSD Enclosure Installation
On ThinkStation PX modelswithoutFrontM.2 SSD Enclosuresinstalled
previously,hereare some step-by-step instructions on how to install the frontM.2
SSD enclosure.
1. Remove the Front Access 3.5” HDD Tray from ‘Front Access Bay 2’ and/or
‘Front Access Bay 3’ depending on the number of front M.2 SSD enclosures
to be installed.
Note: SomeThinkStationPX modelsmay have the front access bay key
lock installed. If so, make sure the front access bays are unlocked.
Front access bay 2
Front access bay 3
Front access bays key lock

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2. Remove the chassissidedoor cover (left).
Note: SomeThinkStationPX modelsmay have the chassis sidedoor key
lock installed. If so, make sure the chassis side door cover is unlocked.
3. Remove the other chassissidedoor cover (right).
Note: There is a lock feature on the inside of the chassis that prevents the
right sidedoor cover from opening. Thismechanism can slideleft or right to
move it to the unlockedor lockedpositions. To removethe side cover, move
this mechanism to the unlocked position.
Sidedoor cover key lock
Locked Position
UnlockedPosition

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Whilelookingatthe rear side of thesystem, press thegray latch to release
the hooksto slidethe wholechassisside door cover back andout.
Hooks
Press Here

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4. Whilelookingatthe right side of the system (underthe motherboard), press
the release tabs to remove the blankbezel for the frontaccess bays 2
and/or 3 dependingon how manyM.2 storage enclosuresto add.
5. Remove HDD fansfor the frontaccess bay 2 and/or 3 dependingon how
many M.2 storage enclosurestoadd.
Blank bezel for Front
Access Bay 2
Blank bezel for Front
Access Bay 3
Front Access Bay 2 –HDD Fan
Front Access Bay 3 –HDD Fan
Squeezesidesof fan and lift out
Squeezesidesof fan andlift out

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6. Slidethe M.2 SSDEnclosureinto oneof the frontaccess bays with thelatch
facingtherightside (undersystem board) of the system until it latchesinto
the chassis.
7. Make surethe M.2 SSD Enclosurelatchedintoplace as shown below.
M.2 EnclosureLatch