Lenovo ThinkStation PX User manual

ThinkStation Storage Configuration

ThinkStation PX, P7, P5 with discrete RAID controller

 
2 
 
 
Table of Contents
Overview.................................................................................................................3 
Section 1 –Storage Controller Details ....................................................................4 
Section 2 –ThinkStation PX Support......................................................................5 
Installing M.2/E1.S Front Access Enclosures in PX.............................................7 
Installing U.2/U.3 Front Access Enclosures in PX ...............................................8 
Installing the Broadcom 9560-16i Adapter.........................................................13
Section 3 –ThinkStation P7 Support.....................................................................19
Installing the components for NVMe drives: ......................................................21
Installing the components for SATA drives:.......................................................25
Section 4 –ThinkStation P5 Support.....................................................................28
Installing the Broadcom 9540-8i Adapter...........................................................29 
Section 5 –Configuring RAID Arrays....................................................................34
Section 6 –Deleting RAID Arrays .........................................................................44
Section 8 –Appendix ............................................................................................49
Revision History....................................................................................................55
 
 
 

Overview

The main objective of this document is to provide a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough for

the seamless installation and setup of the optional hardware storage controllers available

for ThinkStation PX, P7, and P5. Optional hardware storage controllers offer advanced

data storage capabilities that enhance performance, redundancy, and data protection. By

following the instructions provided here, users will be able to install and configure the

Broadcom PCIe add-in storage controller to optimize their data storage infrastructure.

Advantages of using Broadcom PCIe add-in storage controller are:

•Dedicated Hardware: Broadcom RAID cards come with dedicated hardware

process that handles RAID calculations and operations. This offloads the CPU(s),

resulting in improved system performance, especially during heavy I/O workloads.

•Write-Back Cache Protection: The Broadcom 9560-16i RAID adapter offers an

optional CacheVault Technology upgrade to help protect cached data in the event

of a power failure. This enhances data integrity and prevents data loss in volatile

memory caches.

Section 1 –Storage Controller Details

Table 1 - General overview of Broadcom adapters support on ThinkStation platforms.

Broadcom 9560-16i (SAS3916)

Adapter

Broadcom 9540-8i

(SAS3808) Adapter

Platform

Maximum Number

of Drives

Up to 4 NVME

Up to 2 NVMe

Up to 3 SATA

Connection Method

x8 SFF-8654 (SlimSAS)

Drive Type

Supported

M.2 NVMe

U.2 NVMe

U.3 NVMe

E1.S NVMe

3.5” SATA HDD

M.2 NVMe

U.2 NVMe

U.3 NVMe

E1.S NVMe

3.5” SATA HDD

RAID Level Support

RAID 0

RAID 1

RAID 5

RAID 10*

RAID 0

RAID 1

Adapter Speed

Gen 4.0 PCIe

(NVMe)

6Gb/s SATA

Gen 4.0 PCIe

(NVMe)

6Gb/s SATA

Additional hardware

SuperCap (Cache Backup Unit)

PCIe retention bracket (RAID SuperCap

Holder Kit)

PCIe retention bracket

*RAID 10 is only available on PX

Section 2 –ThinkStation PX Support

ThinkStation PX has an ability to support PCIe add-in card by utilizing front access

enclosures. This section covers information about support for the Broadcom 9560-16i

RAID adapter as well as the installation process for the adapter and associated parts.

Note: Bay 1 and Bay 4 are not used with the Broadcom adapter.

Table 2 –General overview of Broadcom 9560-16i RAID adapter support on ThinkStation PX

Maximum Number Drives

One of the following:

•Up to 4 x M.2 NVMe or

•Up to 4 x E1.S NVMe or

•Up to 2 x U.2/U.3 NVMe

Supported RAID Levels

M.2 and E1.S:

•RAID 0

•RAID 1

•RAID 5

•RAID 10

U.2/U.3 NVMe:

•RAID 0

•RAID 1

Drive Speed

Gen 4.0 PCIe

Notes:

•Arrays cannot be created using the Broadcom RAID controller on the following

locations:

oPCIe add-in cards

oOnboard NVMe M.2 drives

•The Broadcom cable connects to both the motherboard and the drive bays.

However, this connection to the motherboard is for the purpose of configuring and

managing the drives in the supported drive bays. It does not enable hardware

RAID for the onboard or PCIe based drives. The onboard and PCIe drives operate

independently and are not part of the Broadcom RAID configuration.

•Mixing drives with different capacities and types within the same virtual drive

group is not supported.

Hardware Requirements:

Table 3 - Compatibility and common parts requirements for Front Access Bay utilization on PX

Common Components

(These components are required to support all drive types in ThinkStation PX):

2 CPUs

Storage Bay Fan

Broadcom 9560-16i adapter

Broadcom NVME Bay2 Gen4 cable

Broadcom NVME Bay3 Gen4 cable

Drive activity LED cable

Table 4 - Compatibility and unique parts requirements for Front Access Bay utilization on PX

Location

Compatibility

Unique parts

Front Access Bay 2+5

Up to 2 x NVME drives:

2 x M.2 NVMe

2 x E1.S NVMe

1 of each

Dual NVMe SSD Enclosure

M.2 SSD Carrier

E1.S SSD Carrier

Front Access Bay 3+6

Up to 2 x NVME drives:

2 x M.2 NVMe

2 x E1.S NVMe

1 of each

Dual NVMe SSD Enclosure

M.2 SSD Carrier

E1.S SSD Carrier

Front Access Bay 5

1 x U.2/U.3 NVMe

U.2/U.3 SSD enclosure with

backplane

Front Access Bay 6

1 x U.2/U.3 NVMe

U.2/U.3 SSD enclosure with

backplane

Notes:

•U.2/U.3 cannot be used together with M.2/E1.S enclosures.

•See Appendix for detailed parts information.

Installing M.2/E1.S Front Access Enclosures in PX

Refer to the PX Storage Whitepaper for installation instructions.

Installing U.2/U.3 Front Access Enclosures in PX

On ThinkStation PX models without Front U.2/U.3 SSD Enclosures installed previously,

the user has an option to add up to two (2) U.2/U.3 SSD Enclosures in the front access

bays. Below are instructions on how to install U.2/U.3 Enclosures in the front access

bays.

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 U.2/U.3 NVMe enclosures to be

installed.

Note: Some ThinkStation PX models may have the Front Access Bay Key Lock

installed. If so, make sure the front access bays are unlocked during this process.

For instructions on how to unlock Front Access Bay Key Lock, please refer to the

Thinkstation PX Storage Whitepaper.

2. Remove the chassis side cover (left).

Note: Some ThinkStation PX models may have the chassis side cover key lock

installed. If so, make sure the chassis side cover is unlocked. On how to unlock

Side cover key lock, please refer to the Thinkstation PX Storage Whitepaper.

Side cover key lock

3. Remove the other chassis side cover (right).

Note: There is a lock feature on the inside of the chassis that prevents the right-

side cover from opening. This mechanism can slide left or right to move it to the

unlocked or locked positions. To remove the side cover, move this mechanism to

the unlocked position.

While looking at the rear side of the system, press the gray latch to release the

hooks to slide the whole chassis side cover back and out.

4. While looking at the right side of the system (under the motherboard), press the

release tabs to remove the blank bezel for front access bays 5 and/or 6

depending on how many U.2/U.3 storage enclosures to add.

5. Remove HDD fans for the front access bay 2+5 and/or 3+6 depending on how

many U.2/U.3 storage enclosures are to be added.

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