[ See "Current Status" / "Potential Solution" - Succinctly: Given info I've gathered, I have concerns over whether I'll be able to connect the NVME Kit to my X9 board and would appreciate you input! Thx in advance ]
Objective: Facilitate integration of additional NVMe in 2.5" format by installing MCP-220-82619-0N - NVMe Rear 2 x 2.5 Hot Swap Kit (hereinafter "NVMe Kit"). [ Reference the Spoiler - "Pics" - if interested in what the NVMe Kit looks like / includes ]
Integration: After I had sourced 2 x NVMe Kits, I started to consider how I would integrate into my chassis (here) and floated the idea of NVMe Kit => OCuLink Cable => PCIe OCuLink Adapter. My thinking = plenty of available PCIe and adding 2x per server is still less than half the cost of a AOC-SLG3-2E4.
Reported Connectivity Issues:
Potential Solution
- Remove Backplane from existing non-NVME Rear Kit (12G version) [ Referece Figure 1 - "Current Backplane" ]
+ 1 x $5 Molex 4-pin Y-Cable (connect to existing Molex 4-pin cabled to existing non-NVME Rear Kit)
+ 2 x $27 = $54 Ableconn MiniSAS HD SFF-8643 PCIe Adapter
+ 2 x $15 = $30 Supermicro CBL-SAST-0957
= $89 Total [ Reference Figure 2 - "Potential Solution Illustration" ]
Pros = Enhanced drive cooling (backplane is highly restrictive to airflow). Economical.
Cons = Cabling mess. Not hot swap (no biggie). Loss of "stability" - with a "free floating" drive connector (not one secured to the chassis), drives are only held in place by the caddy hinge which locks onto the top of the drive cage.
To take it a step further, if one were able to figure out a way to secure the connector to the existing mount points for the backplane (via custom bracket or otherwise), you would be able to retain hot swap.
1 - Current Backplane--- 2 - Potential Solution Illustration
Objective: Facilitate integration of additional NVMe in 2.5" format by installing MCP-220-82619-0N - NVMe Rear 2 x 2.5 Hot Swap Kit (hereinafter "NVMe Kit"). [ Reference the Spoiler - "Pics" - if interested in what the NVMe Kit looks like / includes ]
Integration: After I had sourced 2 x NVMe Kits, I started to consider how I would integrate into my chassis (here) and floated the idea of NVMe Kit => OCuLink Cable => PCIe OCuLink Adapter. My thinking = plenty of available PCIe and adding 2x per server is still less than half the cost of a AOC-SLG3-2E4.
Reported Connectivity Issues:
- @Aestr was kind enough to report (here) that NVMe Kit => OCuLink to MiniSAS HD Cable => AOC-SLG3-2E4 = FAIL. He also tested a PCIe OCuLink Adapter = FAIL. Many thanks to him for his assistance! (I don't think such a solution will work as the NVMe Kit swap kit must have NVMe0 => NVMe0 + NVMe1 => NVMe1)
- Additionally, SMCI tech support noted the NVMe Kit is only validated for a single system - 5029P-E1CTR12L - which is odd since the product description from resellers = "Supermicro 2.5x2 NVMe Drive Kit for 216B/826B/417B/846X/847B,RoHS" [ Reference the Spoiler - "SMCI Tech Support Replies" ]
- Will integration be successful, and if so, how?
- AFAIK, NVMe Kit => OCuLink to MiniSAS HD Cable => AOC-SLG3-2E4 should work ...
- Apparently OCuLink to MiniSAS HD is not the same as to MiniSAS HD to OcuLink and I believe the AOC-SLG3-2E4R User Guide suggests CBL-SAST-0929 = correct.
- In absence of clarity here, which I'm hoping members much smarter than myself can add, I suppose my only option is to start buying stuff and then paying restock fees or reselling on ebay.
Potential Solution
- Remove Backplane from existing non-NVME Rear Kit (12G version) [ Referece Figure 1 - "Current Backplane" ]
+ 1 x $5 Molex 4-pin Y-Cable (connect to existing Molex 4-pin cabled to existing non-NVME Rear Kit)
+ 2 x $27 = $54 Ableconn MiniSAS HD SFF-8643 PCIe Adapter
+ 2 x $15 = $30 Supermicro CBL-SAST-0957
= $89 Total [ Reference Figure 2 - "Potential Solution Illustration" ]
Pros = Enhanced drive cooling (backplane is highly restrictive to airflow). Economical.
Cons = Cabling mess. Not hot swap (no biggie). Loss of "stability" - with a "free floating" drive connector (not one secured to the chassis), drives are only held in place by the caddy hinge which locks onto the top of the drive cage.
To take it a step further, if one were able to figure out a way to secure the connector to the existing mount points for the backplane (via custom bracket or otherwise), you would be able to retain hot swap.
1 - Current Backplane--- 2 - Potential Solution Illustration
#1
Currently, MCP-220-82619-0N is only for our complete system which our lab has validated.
We do not recommend using it as building blocks.
#2
We have tested 5029P-E1CTR12L with MCP-220-82619-0N for rear NVMe drives.
It is recommended to order complete system with MCP-220-82619-0N.
Currently, MCP-220-82619-0N is only for our complete system which our lab has validated.
We do not recommend using it as building blocks.
#2
We have tested 5029P-E1CTR12L with MCP-220-82619-0N for rear NVMe drives.
It is recommended to order complete system with MCP-220-82619-0N.