Contents
- Cisco UCS B420 M3 High Performance Blade Server
- LEDs
- Buttons
- Local Console Connector
- Drive Replacement
- Removing a Blade Server Hard Drive
- Installing a Blade Server Hard Drive
- Blade Server Removal and Installation
- Powering Off a Blade Server
- Removing a Blade Server
- Installing a Blade Server
- Secure Digital Cards
- Removing a Blade Server Cover
- Air Baffles
- Internal Components
- Diagnostics Button and LEDs
- Working Inside the Blade Server
- Installing a CMOS Battery
- Removing a CPU and Heat Sink
- Installing a New CPU and Heat Sink
- Installing Memory
- Supported DIMMs
- Memory Arrangement
- Channels
- Memory Performance
- Bandwidth and Performance
- Installing a Virtual Interface Card Adapter
- Installing an Adapter Card
- Installing the Flash-Backed Write Cache and Supercap
- Installing and Enabling a Trusted Platform Module
- Server Troubleshooting
- Server Configuration
- Physical Specifications for the Cisco UCS B420 M3
Cisco UCS B420 M3 High Performance Blade Server
This document describes how to install and service the Cisco UCS B420 M3 High Performance Blade Server, a full-width blade server meaning up to four of these high-density, four-socket blade servers can reside in a Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server chassis.
The B420 M3 Blade Server has the following features:
Up to four Intel Xeon processor E5-4600 processor family CPUs, with up to 32 cores per server
48 DIMM slots for registered ECC DIMMs, with up to 1.5-TB memory capacity (using 32-GB LRDIMMs)
Four hot-plug drive bays that support SAS or SATA SSD drives
LSI 2208R controller that provides RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 with an optional 1-GB flash-backed write cache
LEDs
Server LEDs indicate whether the blade server is in active or standby mode, the status of the network link, the overall health of the blade server, and whether the server is set to give a blinking blue locator light from the locator button.
The removable drives also have LEDs indicating hard disk access activity and disk health.
Buttons
The Reset button is recessed in the front panel of the server. You can press the button with the tip of a paper clip or a similar item. Hold the button down for five seconds, and then release it to restart the server if other methods of restarting do not work.
The locator function for an individual server may get turned on or off by pressing the locator button/LED.
The power button allows you to manually take a server temporarily out of service but leave it in a state where it can be restarted quickly. If the desired power state for a service profile associated with a blade server is set to "off," using the power button or Cisco UCS Manager to reset the server will cause the desired power state of the server to become out of sync with the actual power state and the server may unexpectedly shut down at a later time. To safely reboot a server from a power-down state, use the Boot Server action in Cisco UCS Manager.
Local Console Connector
The local console connector allows a direct connection to a blade server to allow operating system installation and other management tasks to be done directly rather than remotely. The port uses the KVM dongle cable that provides a connection into a Cisco UCS blade server; it has a DB9 serial connector, a VGA connector for a monitor, and dual USB ports for a keyboard and mouse. With this cable, you can create a direct connection to the operating system and the BIOS running on a blade server. A KVM cable ships standard with each blade chassis accessory kit.
Drive Replacement
Each blade has up to four front-accessible, hot plug capable, 2.5-inch SAS or SATA drive bays. Unused hard drive bays should always be covered with cover plates to ensure proper cooling and ventilation.
You can remove and install hard drives without removing the blade server from the chassis.
The drives supported in this blade server come with the drive sled attached. Spare drive sleds are not available. A list of currently supported drives is in the specification sheets at this URL:http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/servers-unified-computing/ucs-b-series-blade-servers/datasheet-listing.html
Before upgrading or adding a drive to a running blade server, check the service profile in Cisco UCS Manager and make sure the new hardware configuration will be within the parameters allowed by the service profile.
Caution
To prevent ESD damage, wear grounding wrist straps during these procedures.
Removing a Blade Server Hard Drive
Procedure
Step 1 Push the button to release the ejector, and then pull the hard drive from its slot. Step 2 Place the hard drive on an antistatic mat or antistatic foam if you are not immediately reinstalling it in another server. Step 3 Install a hard disk drive blank faceplate to keep dust out of the blade server if the slot will remain empty.
Installing a Blade Server Hard Drive
Procedure
Step 1 Place the hard drive lever into the open position by pushing the release button. Step 2 Gently slide the hard drive into the opening in the blade server until it seats into place. Step 3 Push the hard drive lever into the closed position. You can use Cisco UCS Manager to format and configure RAID services. For details, see the Configuration Guide for the version of Cisco UCS Manager that you are using. The configuration guides are available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10281/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html
If you need to move a RAID cluster, see the Cisco UCS Manager Troubleshooting Reference Guide.
Blade Server Removal and Installation
Before performing any internal operations on this blade server, you must remove it from the chassis.
CautionTo prevent ESD damage, wear grounding wrist straps during these procedures and handle modules by the carrier edges only.
Powering Off a Blade Server
Procedure
Tip
You can also shut down servers remotely using Cisco UCS Manager or CIMC. For details, see the Configuration Guide for the version of Cisco UCS Manager that you are using. The configuration guides are available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10281/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html
Step 1 If you are local to the server, check the color of the Power Status LED for each server in the chassis that you want to power off. Step 2 If you previously enabled front power button control through Cisco UCS Manager, press and release the Power button, then wait until the Power Status LED changes to amber. Otherwise, you cannot press the front power button because it is disabled by default. The operating system performs a graceful shutdown and the server goes to standby mode.
Caution To avoid data loss or damage to your operating system, you should always invoke a graceful shutdown of the operating system.
Step 3 (Optional)If you are shutting down all blade servers in a chassis, disconnect the power cords from the chassis to completely power off the servers. Step 4 Remove the appropriate servers from the chassis.
Removing a Blade Server
ProcedureYou must decommission the server using Cisco UCS Manager before physically removing the blade server.
Step 1 Turn off the blade server using either Cisco UCS Manager. Step 2 Completely loosen the captive screws on the front of the blade. Step 3 Remove the blade from the chassis by pulling the ejector levers on the blade until it unseats the blade server. Step 4 Slide the blade part of the way out of the chassis, and place your other hand under the blade to support its weight. Step 5 Once removed, place the blade on an antistatic mat or antistatic foam if you are not immediately reinstalling it. Step 6 If the blade server slot is to remain empty, reinstall the slot divider and install two blade server blanking panels to maintain proper thermal temperatures and to keep dust out of the chassis.
Installing a Blade Server
ProcedureFor installations of UCS blades with differing widths and heights in a chassis, the guideline is to load the heaviest and largest blades at the bottom of the chassis. Therefore, if a UCS B460 M4 blade server is present, it should be installed at the bottom, followed by full-width blades such as the UCS B420 M3 (and M4) above the UCS B460 M4, and then half-width blades such as the UCS B200 at the top of the chassis.
Step 1 If necessary, remove the slot divider from the chassis.
Step 2 Grasp the front of the blade server and place your other hand under the blade to support it. Step 3 Open the ejector levers in the front of the blade server. Step 4 Gently slide the blade into the blade slot opening until you cannot push it any farther. Step 5 Press the ejector levers so that they latch with the edge of the chassis and press the blade server all the way in. Step 6 Tighten the captive screw on the front of the blade to no more than 3 inch pounds of torque. Tightening with bare fingers will prevent stripped or damaged captive screws.
Secure Digital Cards
Secure Digital (SD) card slots are provided and one or two SD cards can be populated. If two SD cards are populated, they can be used in a mirrored mode.
Note
Do not mix different capacity cards in the same server.
Note
Due to technical limitations, if the server is running a Cisco UCS Manager version earlier than release 2.2(3a) with the 32-GB SD card, only 16-GB usable capacity is available (regardless of mirroring) in the server.
Removing a Blade Server Cover
Procedure
Air Baffles
The air baffles shown below ship with this server; they direct and improve air flow for the server components. No tools are necessary to install them. Place them over the DIMMs and align them to the standoffs.
Caution
Be sure that the tabs on the baffles are set in the slots provided on the motherboard; otherwise, it may be difficult to replace the server cover or damage to the motherboard might occur.
Internal Components
Cisco UCS-USBFLSH-S-4GB= is recommended, but if you use another USB drive it must be no wider than 0.8 inches (20 mm), and no more than 1.345 inches (34 mm) long in order to provide needed clearances to install or remove the USB drive. Third-party USB flash memory is allowed but not subject to support by Cisco and is at the user’s risk.
Transferable Flash-backed Write Cache Module (TFM) for flash-backed write cache
The flash-backed write cache feature is not supported at the initial server release.
This slot is shown in Cisco UCS Manager as “Adapter 1” but the BIOS lists it as “mLOM.” The VIC 1240 is a type of adapter with a specific footprint that can only be used in this slot.
This slot is shown in Cisco UCS Manager as “Adapter 2,” but is shown in the BIOS as “Mezz 1.” Mixing adapter types is supported.
Supercap for flash-backed write cache
The flash-backed write cache feature is not supported at the initial server release.
This slot is shown in Cisco UCS Manager as “Adapter 3,” but it is shown in the BIOS as “Mezz 2.” Mixing adapter types is supported.
Note
A squeeze-to-remove retaining clip is provided to secure the internal USB flash memory, the clip must always be securely fastened when the flash memory is in use. Third party memory that will not fit in the clip should not be used.
Use of this server may require an upgrade to the FEX in the chassis. The 2104XP fabric extender is not compatible when any Cisco-certified adapter is installed in slot 1 or slot 2. If a VIC 1240 modular LOM card is installed, you will have connectivity through the mLOM but other adapters will not be recognized.
Diagnostics Button and LEDs
At blade start-up, POST diagnostics test the CPUs, DIMMs, HDDs, and adapter cards, and any failure notifications are sent to UCS Manager. You can view these notifications in the Cisco UCS Manager System Error Log or in the output of the show tech-support command. If errors are found, an amber diagnostic LED also lights up next to the failed component. During run time, the blade BIOS and component drivers monitor for hardware faults and will light up the amber diagnostic LED as needed.
LED states are saved, and if you remove the blade from the chassis the LED values will persist for up to 10 minutes. Pressing the LED diagnostics button on the motherboard causes the LEDs that currently show a component fault to light for up to 30 seconds for easier component identification. LED fault values are reset when the blade is reinserted into the chassis and booted, and the process begins from its start.
If DIMM insertion errors are detected, they may cause the blade discovery process to fail and errors will be reported in the server POST information, which is viewable using the UCS Manager GUI or CLI. DIMMs must be populated according to specific rules. The rules depend on the blade server model. Refer to the documentation for a specific blade server for those rules.
Faults on the DIMMs or adapter cards also cause the server health LED to light solid amber for minor error conditions or blinking amber for critical error conditions.
Working Inside the Blade Server
Installing a CMOS Battery
ProcedureAll Cisco UCS blade servers use a CR2032 battery to preserve BIOS settings while the server is not installed in a powered-on chassis. Cisco supports the industry standard CR2032 battery that is available at most electronics stores.
Warning
There is danger of explosion if the battery is replaced incorrectly. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Removing a CPU and Heat Sink
ProcedureYou will use these procedures to move a CPU from one server to another, to replace a faulty CPU, or to upgrade from one CPU to another.
Note
The CPU pick and place tool is required to prevent damage to the connection pins between the motherboard and the CPU. Do not attempt this procedure without the required tool, which is included with each CPU option kit.
Step 1 Unscrew the four captive screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard. Loosen one screw by a quarter turn, then move to the next screw. Continue loosening until the heat sink can be lifted off.
Step 2 Remove the heat sink. Remove the existing thermal compound from the bottom of the heat sink using the cleaning kit included with each CPU option kit. Follow the instructions on the two bottles of cleaning solvent.
Step 3 Unhook the first socket hook, which has the following icon: See callout 3 in the following figure.
Step 4 Unhook the second socket hook, which has the following icon: See callout 4 in the following figure.
Step 5 Open the socket latch. Step 6 Press the central button on the provided CPU pick and place tool (UCS-CPU-EP-PNP=) to release the catch. The CPU pick and place tool is included with each CPU option kit, or the tool may be purchased separately.
Step 7 Remove an old CPU as follows:
Installing a New CPU and Heat Sink
ProcedureBefore installing a new CPU in a server, verify the following:
The CPU is supported for that given server model. Refer to the Specification Sheet for this server to see the list of supported CPUs. The Specification Sheets are available at this URL: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/servers-unified-computing/ucs-b-series-blade-servers/datasheet-listing.html
A BIOS update is available and installed that supports the CPU and the given server configuration.
If the server will be managed by Cisco UCS Manager, the service profile for this server in Cisco UCS Manager will recognize and allow the new CPU.
Caution
The Pick-and-Place tools used in this procedure are required to prevent damage to the contact pins between the motherboard and the CPU. Do not attempt this procedure without the required tools, which are included with each CPU option kit. If you do not have the tool, you can order a spare.
Step 1 To install a CPU in an empty socket, remove the protective cap that is intended to prevent bent or touched contact pins. The pick and pull cap tool provided can be used in a manner similar to a pair of tweezers. Grasp the protective cap and pivot as shown. Step 2 Release the catch on the pick and pull tool by pressing the handle/button. Step 3 Remove the new CPU from the packaging, and load it into the pick and place tool as follows:
Step 4 Place the CPU and tool on the CPU socket with the registration marks aligned as shown. Step 5 Press the button/handle on the pick and place tool to release the CPU into the socket. Step 6 Close the socket latch. See callout 1 in the following figure. Step 7 Secure the first hook, which has the following icon: See callout 2 in the following figure.
Step 8 Secure the second hook, which has the following icon: See callout 3 in the following figure.
Step 9 Using the syringe of thermal grease provided with replacement CPUs and servers, add 2 cubic centimeters of thermal grease to the top of the CPU where it will contact the heat sink. Use the pattern shown. This should require half the contents of the syringe.
Caution The thermal grease has very specific thermal properties. Thermal grease from other sources should not be substituted because it may lead to damage.
Note CPU spares come with two syringes of thermal grease; one with a blue cap and one with a red cap. The syringe with the blue cap is used with this server.
Step 10 Replace the heat sink. See callout 4.
Caution On certain models, heat sinks are keyed to fit into the plastic baffle extending from the motherboard. Do not force a heat sink if it is not fitting well, rotate it and re-orient the heat sink.
Step 11 Secure the heat sink to the motherboard by tightening the four captive screws a quarter turn at a time in an X pattern as shown in the upper right.
Installing Memory
Procedure
Step 1 Press the DIMM into its slot evenly on both ends until it clicks into place. DIMMs are keyed. If a gentle force is not sufficient, make sure the notch on the DIMM is correctly aligned.
Note Be sure that the notch in the DIMM aligns with the slot. If the notch is misaligned you may damage the DIMM, the slot, or both.
Step 2 Press the DIMM connector latches inward slightly to seat them fully.
Supported DIMMs
The DIMMs supported in this blade server are constantly being updated. A list of currently supported and available DIMMs is in the Cisco UCS B420 M3 specification sheet: http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/servers-unified-computing/ucs-b-series-blade-servers/b420m3_specsheet.pdf.
Memory Arrangement
The Cisco UCS B420 high-performance blade server contains 48 slots for installing DIMMs—12 for each CPU. Each CPU has 12 DIMM slots spread over 4 channels. This blade server needs at least one DIMM attached to all populated CPUs. DIMMs installed in slots for an absent CPU will not be recognized. For optimal performance, distribute DIMMs evenly across all CPUs. DIMM connector latches are color coded blue, black, and white, and the DIMMs must be installed in that order.
Channels
Each CPU has 4 channels, consisting of 3 DIMMs. Each channel is identified by a letter. Each channel member is identified by numbers, 0, 1 or 2.
The DIMM slots are contiguous to their associated CPU. When installing DIMMs, you must add them in the configurations shown in the following table.
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Memory Performance
When configuring your server, consider the following:
DIMMs within the blade can be of different speeds, but all DIMMs will run at the speed of the DIMM with the lowest speed.
No mixing of DIMM type (LRDIMM, RDIMM, TSV-RDIMM) is allowed.
Your selected CPU(s) can have some affect on performance. CPUs used must be of the same type.
Mixing DIMM ranks and densities can lower performance.
Unevenly populating DIMMs between CPUs can lower performance.
Bandwidth and Performance
You can achieve maximum bandwidth, performance, and system memory by using the following configuration:
Performance is less than optimal if the following memory configurations are used:
Depending on the application needed, performance loss might or might not be noticeable or measurable.
Installing a Virtual Interface Card Adapter
Procedure
Note
You must remove the adapter card to service it.
To install a Cisco VIC 1340 or VIC 1240 in the blade server, follow these steps:
Step 1 Position the VIC board connector above the motherboard connector and align the captive screw to the standoff post on the motherboard. Step 2 Firmly press the VIC board connector into the motherboard connector. Step 3 Tighten the captive screw.
Tip To remove a VIC, reverse the above procedure. You might find it helpful when removing the connector from the motherboard to gently rock the board along the length of the connector until it loosens.
Installing an Adapter Card
ProcedureAll the supported mezzanine cards have a common installation process. These cards are updated frequently. Currently supported cards and the available models for this server are listed in the specification sheets at this URL: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/servers-unified-computing/ucs-b-series-blade-servers/datasheet-listing.html
If you are switching from one type of adapter card to another, before you physically perform the switch make sure that you download the latest device drivers and load them into the server’s operating system. For more information, see the firmware management chapter of one of the Cisco UCS Manager software configuration guides.
Adapter cards can be installed in either slot 1 or slot 2; they can be of the same type or a mixed configuration.
Note
Cisco UCS Manager will recognize adapters in these slots as “Adapter 2” and “Adapter 3,” and counts the mLOM as being “Adapter 1.“ This does not match the markings on the motherboard.
Step 1 Position the adapter board connector above the motherboard connector and align the two adapter captive screws to the standoff posts (see callout 1) on the motherboard. Step 2 Firmly press the adapter connector into the motherboard connector (see callout 2). Step 3 Tighten the two captive screws (see callout 3).
Tip Removing an adapter card is the reverse of installing it. You might find it helpful when removing the connector from the motherboard to gently rock the board along the length of the connector until it loosens.
Installing the Flash-Backed Write Cache and Supercap
ProcedureThe Flash-backed Write Cache (FBWC) is an intelligent backup solution that protects disk write cache data during a long term power loss on the RAID controller. It has two components, the TFM memory and the Supercap module, which provides emergency power. The TFM installs into a dedicated slot, but the installation steps are identical to installing a DIMM. The flash-backed write cache feature and its components are not supported at the initial server release.
Verify whether replacement is required by using the show raid-battery detail command in the CLI.
Step 1 Using Cisco UCS Manager, perform a graceful shutdown of the server. Without a graceful shutdown, data can be permanently lost. Step 2 Remove the server from the chassis. Step 3 Remove the top cover from the server. Step 4 Remove the adapter in slot 2. Step 5 With a No.1 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four screws holding the top plate of the Supercap’s enclosure. Step 6 Angle the top plate up and remove the tabs from the slots at the rear. Set the plate aside. Step 7 Press the clip at the end of the Supercap’s wires into the clip attached to the enclosure. Step 8 Place the Supercap inside the enclosure. Step 9 Slide the tabs on the top plate into the slots at the rear of the Supercap enclosure. Step 10 With a No.1 Phillips screwdriver, replace the four screws and attach the top plate to the enclosure as shown below. Step 11 Replace the adapter, top cover, and the server in the chassis. Cisco UCS Manager reestablishes management of the server and the service profile.
Installing and Enabling a Trusted Platform Module
ProcedureThe Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a component that can securely store artifacts used to authenticate the server. These artifacts can include passwords, certificates, or encryption keys. A TPM can also be used to store platform measurements that help ensure that the platform remains trustworthy. Authentication (ensuring that the platform can prove that it is what it claims to be) and attestation (a process helping to prove that a platform is trustworthy and has not been breached) are necessary steps to ensure safer computing in all environments. It is a requirement for the Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) security feature, which must be enabled in the BIOS settings for a server equipped with a TPM.
Note
TPM installation is supported after-factory. However, a TPM installs with a one-way screw and cannot be replaced or moved to another server. If a server with a TPM is returned, the replacement server must be ordered with a new TPM.
Step 1 Install the TPM hardware.
- Power off, decommission, and remove the blade server from the chassis.
- Remove the blade server cover.
- Install the TPM to the TPM socket on the server motherboard and secure it using the one-way screw that is provided. See the figure below for the location of the TPM socket.
- Return the blade server to the chassis, power it on, and allow it to be automatically reacknowledged, reassociated, and recommissioned.
- Continue with enabling TPM support in the server BIOS in the next step.
Step 2 Enable TPM Support in the BIOS.
Step 3 Enable TPM State in the BIOS.
- Press F2 during reboot to enter the BIOS setup screens.
- On the Advanced tab, select Trusted Computing and press Enter to open the TPM Security Device Configuration window.
- Set the TPM State option to Enabled.
- Press F10 to save and exit. Allow the server to reboot, but watch for the prompt to press F2 in the next step.
Step 4 Verify that TPM Support and TPM State are enabled. Step 5 Enable the Intel TXT feature in the BIOS.
Server Troubleshooting
For general troubleshooting information, see the Cisco UCS Manager Troubleshooting Reference Guide.
Server Configuration
Cisco UCS blade servers should be configured and managed using Cisco UCS Manager. For details, see the Configuration Guide for the version of Cisco UCS Manager that you are using. The configuration guides are available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10281/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html
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