Routing FC-AL cables, Model 84E

You are here to route FC-AL cables from model 84E Rack-2 or Rack-3 to the existing storage facility.

About this task

Note: If an FC-AL cable is damaged, you can use the point-to-point cabling diagrams to determine the other end of the cable. See Point-to-point cabling diagrams - FC-AL, Flash PCIe, and SAS cables. Several FC-AL cables are tightly bundled together so it is difficult to physically trace an individual FC-AL cable from end to end.

Procedure

Find and uncoil the FC-AL cables that are coiled at the rear of the expansion rack you are installing. Do not remove the black protective cable connector covers.
Determine the destination rack and storage enclosure for each FC-AL cable.
1. Find the location code label at the free end of each FC-AL cable.
2. If the labels include the physical location code (for example, R2-G01-P1-C1-T2) refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 and Figure 3 to translate to the destination storage enclosure. Then, go to step 3.
3. If the labels include only the three-character connection designators (for example, 4A1), refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 to translate to the destination storage enclosure. Then, go to step 3.
Figure 1. Cable labels, storage and I/O enclosure locations for physical location codes

Figure 2. Point-to-point cabling diagram for storage enclosure FC-AL and Flash PCIe / SAS cables (Models 984, 84E, rear view, racks 1, 2)

Figure 3. Point-to-point cabling diagram for the FC-AL cables (Models 984, 84E, rack 3)
Route the FC-AL cables to the destination rack.
1. Do not connect the FC-AL cables to the storage enclosure Fibre Channel interface cards until directed later in this procedure.
2. Route each cable bundle 1 to the destination rack through the rack-to-rack holes at the upper rear of each rack. See Figure 4 and Figure 5.
Figure 4. Routing remote power control cables and FC-AL cables between racks

Note: Models 984 and 84E shown, routing for other models is similar.

Figure 5. Routing rack-to-rack power control and optical cables across a rack (earlier model shown, routing for models 98x and 8xE similar)
If you are connecting cables to I/O enclosure locations, route the FC-AL cables to the destination I/O enclosures.
1. Do not connect the FC-AL cables to the I/O enclosure device adapter cards until directed later in this procedure.
2. FC-AL cables that will connect to an I/O enclosure on the left side of the rack are routed down the left side of the rack.
  - Left side cables have "XI1" or "XI3" in the location code (for example, Rx-XI3-P1-Cx-Tx), or the second character in the connection designator is uppercase (for example, 2A1).
3. FC-AL cables that will connect to an I/O enclosure on the right side of the rack are routed down the right side of the rack.
  - Right side cables have "XI2" or "XI4" in the location code (for example, Rx-XI4-P1-Cx-Tx), or the last character in the connection designator is lowercase (for example, 2a1).
If you are connecting cables to storage enclosure locations, route the FC-AL cables to the destination storage enclosures.
1. Do not connect the FC-AL cables to the storage enclosure Fibre Channel interface cards until directed later in this procedure.
2. FC-AL cables that will connect to the Fibre Channel interface card in the left side of a storage enclosure are routed down the left side of the rack.
  - Left-side cables have "C1" in the location code (for example, R3-G05-P1-C1-T1), or the last character in the connection designator is odd (for example, 2A5).
3. FC-AL cables that will connect to the right Fibre Channel interface card in a storage enclosure are routed down the right side of the rack.
  - Right-side cables have "C2" in the location code (for example, R3-G05-P1-C2-T1), or the last character in the connection designator is even (for example, 2A6).
Do not remove the black rubber protective connector covers at the end of each cable. Do not connect the cables until directed later in the installation.
Go to Installing and testing the expansion rack storage enclosures, Model 84E.