Flash PCIe and SAS cables – Models 988, 88E all-flash

The tables in this topic show the point-to-point connections for Flash PCIe / SAS cables on a Model 988, with or without expansion racks.

  • Racks are shown with the maximum number of storage enclosures and device adapter cards. Your rack might contain fewer storage enclosures or device adapter cards.
  • The figures that follow show the maximum number of racks in a storage facility with these rack models.
Figure 1. Point-to-point cabling diagram for storage enclosure Flash PCIe / SAS cables (Models 988, 88E, rear view, racks 1, 2)
Figure 2. Point-to-point cabling diagram for storage enclosure Flash PCIe / SAS cables (Models 988, 88E, rear view, rack 3)

Flash PCIe cables

  1. Flash PCIe cables and connectors are identified with a colored band matching the DA pair and two different color codes:
    • A colored band, corresponding to the color code of the DA pair, is found on each end of the cable near the connector. These color codes are shown in Figure 1.
    • The connector is color-coded to help prevent cross-cabling at the microbay adapter card or I/O enclosure PCIe and PCN card end. Connectors on cables attaching to Rx-Mxx-C1-T7 have white labels with black text, and connectors on cables attaching to Rx-Mxx-C2-T7 have black labels with white text. An example of this showing both cables attaching to a microbay adapter card pair is shown in Figure 3. This alternating color scheme is the same for all Flash PCIe cables, and is independent of the DA pair color code. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show the Flash PCIe cable connection ends.
  2. The black and white label at each end has a physical location code showing the "FROM" and "TO" end.
Figure 3. Flash PCIe cable connector example. Both cables are shown and actual values might not match this machine model.
Flash PCIe cable connector example; both cables are shown and actual values might not match this machine model.
Figure 4. Flash PCIe cable connector - microbay adapter card end (C1-T7 / C2-T7)
Flash PCIe cable connector - Microbay adapter card end (C1-T7 / C2-T7)
Figure 5. Flash PCIe cable connector - I/O enclosure PCIe and PCN card end (-C7-T5 / -C7-T6)
Note: SAS locations for device adapter card, SAS (flash)  1  are also shown.
I/O enclosure locations (rear) (models 98x)

Flash SAS cables

  1. SAS cables and connectors are identified with two different color codes and a location designator:
    1. A colored band, corresponding to the color code of the DA pair, is found on each end of the cable near the connector. These color codes are shown in Figure 1.
    2. The connector itself is color coded to help prevent cross-cabling at the SAS expander card or device adapter card (DA) end. The connectors always appear in the following order:
      white (T1), green (T2), black (T3), and blue (T4)
      as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8. This color code is specific to each SAS expander card or DA, and is independent of the DA pair color code.
    3. A black or white label at each end of the cable shows a location designator (for example, 16A1). Both ends of the cable have the same location designator and DA pair color code. However, the connector at each end of the same cable usually does NOT have the same color code.
    4. The following alternating color scheme is the same for all Flash SAS cables, and is independent of the DA pair color code:
      • Connectors on cables that attach to Rx-Mxx-C1-Tx have white labels with black text
      • Connectors on cables that attach to Rx-Mxx-C2-Tx have black labels with white text
      • Connectors on cables that attach to Rx-Mxx-C1-Tx have white labels with black text
      • Connectors on cables that attach to Rx-Mxx-C2-Tx have black labels with white text

    An example of this showing both ends of two SAS cables to an enclosure is shown in Figure 6.

  2. Location designators are in the form CTP, where:
    C
    Is the device adapter pair (8-23).
    T
    Is the port pair on the device adapter (A, B, a, b) (uppercase for left device adapter in pair, lowercase for right device adapter in pair).
    P
    Is the logical position of the downstream SAS expander card.
    Example: 16a1 is the link between device adapter R1-M02-C2-T1 and R1-F01-P1-C1-T2.
    16
    Device adapter pair 16
    a
    First port pair on right adapter of device adapter pair (lowercase a)
    1
    First SAS expander card
    The colored connector band plugged into R1-M02-C2-T1 (16a1) is white, while the colored connector band plugged into R1-F01-P1-C1-T2 (16a1) is green.
  3. The black and white label at each end might have a physical location code in addition to the location designator.
Figure 6. Flash SAS cable connector example. Two cables shown. Actual values might not match this machine model.
Flash SAS cable connector example. Two cables shown; actual values might not match this machine model.
Figure 7. Flash SAS cable connector color codes - SAS expander card end
Flash SAS cable connector color codes - SAS expander card end
Figure 8. Flash SAS cable connector color codes - microbay adapter end
Note: Connector color codes are the same for device adapter card, SAS (flash).
Flash SAS cable connector color codes - microbay adapter end

Flash PCIe and SAS Cabling tables

Table 1 and Table 2 show a summary of Flash PCIe / SAS cabling for microbay-attached storage in models 988 and 88E.
Table 3 through Table 6 show details of the Flash PCIe / SAS cabling with Rack 1 high-performance flash enclosures (device adapter pair 16, 17, 18, and 19, in normal installation order). These flash enclosures are attached to microbays.

Table 7 through Table 10 show details of the Flash SAS cabling with a Rack-1 high-performance flash enclosures (device adapter pair 10, 8, 11, and 9, in normal installation order). These flash enclosures are attached to device adapter cards, SAS (flash).

Table 11 through Table 14 show details of the Flash PCIe / SAS cabling with Rack 2 high-performance flash enclosures (device adapter pair 20, 21, 22, and 23, in normal installation order). These flash enclosures are attached to microbays.

Table 15 through Table 18 show details of the Flash SAS cabling with a Rack-2 high-performance flash enclosures (device adapter pair 14, 12, 15, and 13, in normal installation order). These flash enclosures are attached to device adapter cards, SAS (flash).

Note: Location designators are labeled as link in the following tables.
Table 1. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling summary – Rack 1 device adapters (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA Pair		 DA
Pair (link) 		To
Microbay 		To
Storage Enclosure 		To
Storage Enclosure
R1-XI3-P1-C7-T5
R1-XI4-P1-C7-T6		 18 (A)
18 (B)		 R1-M08 R1-F07 R1-F08
R1-XI1-P1-C7-T5
R1-XI2-P1-C7-T6		 16 (A)
16 (B)		 R1-M06 R1-F05 R1-F06
R1-XI4-P1-C7-T5
R1-XI3-P1-C7-T6		 19 (A)
19 (B)		 R1-M04 R1-F03 R1-F04
R1-XI2-P1-C7-T5
R1-XI1-P1-C7-T6		 17 (A)
17 (B)		 R1-M02 R1-F01 R1-F02
Table 2. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling summary – Rack 2 device adapters (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA Pair		 DA
Pair (link) 		To
Microbay 		To
Storage Enclosure 		To
Storage Enclosure
R2-XI3-P1-C7-T5
R2-XI4-P1-C7-T6		 22 (A)
22 (B)		 R2-M12 R2-F11 R2-F12
R2-XI1-P1-C7-T5
R2-XI2-P1-C7-T6		 20 (A)
20 (B)		 R2-M10 R2-F09 R2-F10
R2-XI4-P1-C7-T5
R2-XI3-P1-C7-T6		 23 (A)
23 (B)		 R2-M08 R2-F07 R2-F08
R2-XI2-P1-C7-T5
R2-XI1-P1-C7-T6		 21 (A)
21 (B)		 R2-M06 R2-F05 R2-F06
Table 3. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 18 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI3-P1-C7-T5 18A R1-M08-C1-T7 R1-M08-C1-T1 18A1 R1-F07-P1-C1-T1
R1-M08-C2-T1 18a1 R1-F07-P1-C1-T2
R1-M08-C1-T2 18A2 R1-F07-P1-C2-T1
R1-M08-C2-T2 18a2 R1-F07-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI4-P1-C7-T6 18B R1-M08-C2-T7 R1-M08-C1-T3 18B1 R1-F08-P1-C1-T1
R1-M08-C2-T3 18b1 R1-F08-P1-C1-T2
R1-M08-C1-T4 18B2 R1-F08-P1-C2-T1
R1-M08-C2-T4 18b2 R1-F08-P1-C2-T2
Table 4. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 16 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI1-P1-C7-T5 16A R1-M06-C1-T7 R1-M06-C1-T1 16A1 R1-F05-P1-C1-T1
R1-M06-C2-T1 16a1 R1-F05-P1-C1-T2
R1-M06-C1-T2 16A2 R1-F05-P1-C2-T1
R1-M06-C2-T2 16a2 R1-F05-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI2-P1-C7-T6 16B R1-M06-C2-T7 R1-M06-C1-T3 16B1 R1-F06-P1-C1-T1
R1-M06-C2-T3 16b1 R1-F06-P1-C1-T2
R1-M06-C1-T4 16B2 R1-F06-P1-C2-T1
R1-M06-C2-T4 16b2 R1-F06-P1-C2-T2
Table 5. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 19 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI4-P1-C7-T5 19A R1-M04-C1-T7 R1-M04-C1-T1 19A1 R1-F03-P1-C1-T1
R1-M04-C2-T1 19a1 R1-F03-P1-C1-T2
R1-M04-C1-T2 19A2 R1-F03-P1-C2-T1
R1-M04-C2-T2 19a2 R1-F03-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI3-P1-C7-T6 19B R1-M04-C2-T7 R1-M04-C1-T3 19B1 R1-F04-P1-C1-T1
R1-M04-C2-T3 19b1 R1-F04-P1-C1-T2
R1-M04-C1-T4 19B2 R1-F04-P1-C2-T1
R1-M04-C2-T4 19b2 R1-F04-P1-C2-T2
Table 6. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 17 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI2-P1-C7-T5 17A R1-M02-C1-T7 R1-M02-C1-T1 17A1 R1-F01-P1-C1-T1
R1-M02-C2-T1 17a1 R1-F01-P1-C1-T2
R1-M02-C1-T2 17A2 R1-F01-P1-C2-T1
R1-M02-C2-T2 17a2 R1-F01-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI1-P1-C7-T6 17B R1-M02-C2-T7 R1-M02-C1-T3 17B1 R1-F02-P1-C1-T1
R1-M02-C2-T3 17b1 R1-F02-P1-C1-T2
R1-M02-C1-T4 17B2 R1-F02-P1-C2-T1
R1-M02-C2-T4 17b2 R1-F02-P1-C2-T2
Table 7. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 10 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI3-P1-C3-T1 10A1 R2-F03-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI4-P1-C6-T1 10a1 R2-F03-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI3-P1-C3-T2 10A2 R2-F03-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI4-P1-C6-T2 10a2 R2-F03-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI3-P1-C3-T3 10B1 R2-F04-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI4-P1-C6-T3 10b1 R2-F04-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI3-P1-C3-T4 10B2 R2-F04-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI4-P1-C6-T4 10b2 R2-F04-P1-C2-T2
Table 8. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 8 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI1-P1-C3-T1 8A1 R2-F01-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI2-P1-C6-T1 8a1 R2-F01-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI1-P1-C3-T2 8A2 R2-F01-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI2-P1-C6-T2 8a2 R2-F01-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI1-P1-C3-T3 8B1 R2-F02-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI2-P1-C6-T3 8b1 R2-F02-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI1-P1-C3-T4 8B2 R2-F02-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI2-P1-C6-T4 8b2 R2-F02-P1-C2-T2
Table 9. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 11 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI4-P1-C3-T1 11A1 R3-F11-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI3-P1-C6-T1 11a1 R3-F11-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI4-P1-C3-T2 11A2 R3-F11-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI3-P1-C6-T2 11a2 R3-F11-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI4-P1-C3-T3 11B1 R3-F12-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI3-P1-C6-T3 11b1 R3-F12-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI4-P1-C3-T4 11B2 R3-F12-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI3-P1-C6-T4 11b2 R3-F12-P1-C2-T2
Table 10. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 9 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R1-XI2-P1-C3-T1 9A1 R3-F09-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI1-P1-C6-T1 9a1 R3-F09-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI2-P1-C3-T2 9A2 R3-F09-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI1-P1-C6-T2 9a2 R3-F09-P1-C2-T2
R1-XI2-P1-C3-T3 9B1 R3-F10-P1-C1-T1
R1-XI1-P1-C6-T3 9b1 R3-F10-P1-C1-T2
R1-XI2-P1-C3-T4 9B2 R3-F10-P1-C2-T1
R1-XI1-P1-C6-T4 9b2 R3-F10-P1-C2-T2
Table 11. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 22 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI3-P1-C7-T5 22A R2-M12-C1-T7 R2-M12-C1-T1 22A1 R2-F11-P1-C1-T1
R2-M12-C2-T1 22a1 R2-F11-P1-C1-T2
R2-M12-C1-T2 22A2 R2-F11-P1-C2-T1
R2-M12-C2-T2 22a2 R2-F11-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI4-P1-C7-T6 22B R2-M12-C2-T7 R2-M12-C1-T3 22B1 R2-F12-P1-C1-T1
R2-M12-C2-T3 22b1 R2-F12-P1-C1-T2
R2-M12-C1-T4 22B2 R2-F12-P1-C2-T1
R2-M12-C2-T4 22b2 R2-F12-P1-C2-T2
Table 12. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 20 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI1-P1-C7-T5 20A R2-M10-C1-T7 R2-M10-C1-T1 20A1 R2-F09-P1-C1-T1
R2-M10-C2-T1 20a1 R2-F09-P1-C1-T2
R2-M10-C1-T2 20A2 R2-F09-P1-C2-T1
R2-M10-C2-T2 20a2 R2-F09-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI2-P1-C7-T6 20B R2-M10-C2-T7 R2-M10-C1-T3 20B1 R2-F10-P1-C1-T1
R2-M10-C2-T3 20b1 R2-F10-P1-C1-T2
R2-M10-C1-T4 20B2 R2-F10-P1-C2-T1
R2-M10-C2-T4 20b2 R2-F10-P1-C2-T2
Table 13. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 23 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI4-P1-C7-T5 23A R2-M08-C1-T7 R2-M08-C1-T1 23A1 R2-F07-P1-C1-T1
R2-M08-C2-T1 23a1 R2-F07-P1-C1-T2
R2-M08-C1-T2 23A2 R2-F07-P1-C2-T1
R2-M08-C2-T2 23a2 R2-F07-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI3-P1-C7-T6 23B R2-M08-C2-T7 R2-M08-C1-T3 23B1 R2-F08-P1-C1-T1
R2-M08-C2-T3 23b1 R2-F08-P1-C1-T2
R2-M08-C1-T4 23B2 R2-F08-P1-C2-T1
R2-M08-C2-T4 23b2 R2-F08-P1-C2-T2
Table 14. Flash PCIe/SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 21 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Microbay		 From
Microbay		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI2-P1-C7-T5 21A R2-M06-C1-T7 R2-M06-C1-T1 21A1 R2-F05-P1-C1-T1
R2-M06-C2-T1 21a1 R2-F05-P1-C1-T2
R2-M06-C1-T2 21A2 R2-F05-P1-C2-T1
R2-M06-C2-T2 21a2 R2-F05-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI1-P1-C7-T6 21B R2-M06-C2-T7 R2-M06-C1-T3 21B1 R2-F06-P1-C1-T1
R2-M06-C2-T3 21b1 R2-F06-P1-C1-T2
R2-M06-C1-T4 21B2 R2-F06-P1-C2-T1
R2-M06-C2-T4 21b2 R2-F06-P1-C2-T2
Table 15. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 14 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI3-P1-C3-T1 14A1 R3-F07-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI4-P1-C6-T1 14a1 R3-F07-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI3-P1-C3-T2 14A2 R3-F07-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI4-P1-C6-T2 14a2 R3-F07-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI3-P1-C3-T3 14B1 R3-F08-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI4-P1-C6-T3 14b1 R3-F08-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI3-P1-C3-T4 14B2 R3-F08-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI4-P1-C6-T4 14b2 R3-F08-P1-C2-T2
Table 16. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 12 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI1-P1-C3-T1 12A1 R3-F05-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI2-P1-C6-T1 12a1 R3-F05-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI1-P1-C3-T2 12A2 R3-F05-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI2-P1-C6-T2 12a2 R3-F05-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI1-P1-C3-T3 12B1 R3-F06-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI2-P1-C6-T3 12b1 R3-F06-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI1-P1-C3-T4 12B2 R3-F06-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI2-P1-C6-T4 12b2 R3-F06-P1-C2-T2
Table 17. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 15 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI4-P1-C3-T1 15A1 R3-F03-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI3-P1-C6-T1 15a1 R3-F03-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI4-P1-C3-T2 15A2 R3-F03-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI3-P1-C6-T2 15a2 R3-F03-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI4-P1-C3-T3 15B1 R3-F04-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI3-P1-C6-T3 15b1 R3-F04-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI4-P1-C3-T4 15B2 R3-F04-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI3-P1-C6-T4 15b2 R3-F04-P1-C2-T2
Table 18. Flash SAS cabling matrix – DA Pair 13 (Models 988, 88E)
From
DA		 link To
Flash enclosure
R2-XI2-P1-C3-T1 13A1 R3-F01-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI1-P1-C6-T1 13a1 R3-F01-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI2-P1-C3-T2 13A2 R3-F01-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI1-P1-C6-T2 13a2 R3-F01-P1-C2-T2
R2-XI2-P1-C3-T3 13B1 R3-F02-P1-C1-T1
R2-XI1-P1-C6-T3 13b1 R3-F02-P1-C1-T2
R2-XI2-P1-C3-T4 13B2 R3-F02-P1-C2-T1
R2-XI1-P1-C6-T4 13b2 R3-F02-P1-C2-T2