2.5 PCB-only backplane

[noduck]

I am trying to clean up the mounting and cabling for 10 2.5 SSD SATA drives in a short rack mount server case (ideally able to grow to 12-16 drives). Currently the drives are individually cabled for data and power, mounted in pairs in 3.5 drive cages. This is a lot of cabling and mounting, for what should be lower power, lower heat, not heavy drives.

One idea is a simple 2.5 backplane, PCB only, and minimal mounting. Several PCB-only boards are available on eBay from the big manufacturers (IBM, Dell, HP, ...); the data part seems standard, but power seems to be custom. Complimentary idea is to take the plastic cases off the drives (just the PCB) and supporting them only through the data/power ports plugged into the backplane (accepting limitations in warranty of the drive).

Any experience or recommendations?

 

[BeTeP]

It works exactly like you thought it should.

 

[mattventura]

I'd be slightly worried about vibrations causing the drives to come loose if it's mounted vertically (drives pointing sideways). I'd recommend a vertical mount if possible, though you would need to figure out cable routing since the cables would most likely be plugging into the "rear" side of the backplane which would be face-down in that case.

 

[noduck]

I'd be slightly worried about vibrations causing the drives to come loose if it's mounted vertically (drives pointing sideways).

I only use SSDs. Fans, thermal expansion/contraction and external vibrations should be the only concerns. I was thinking with the reduced weight (especially if the cases is off), these movements would have minimal impact.

 

[BeTeP]

I have a similar config (8SFF backplane mounted horizontally with SAS ports facing upwards at the bottom of the case populated with 6 caseless SSDs) running 24/7 for almost 3 years. No issues.

 

[noduck]

I have a similar config (8SFF backplane mounted horizontally with SAS ports facing upwards at the bottom of the case populated with 6 caseless SSDs) running 24/7 for almost 3 years. No issues.

Which brand/model backplane are you using? Do you happen to have any photos of the installation?

 

[Markess]

One idea is a simple 2.5 backplane, PCB only, and minimal mounting. Several PCB-only boards are available on eBay from the big manufacturers (IBM, Dell, HP, ...); the data part seems standard, but power seems to be custom. Complimentary idea is to take the plastic cases off the drives (just the PCB) and supporting them only through the data/power ports plugged into the backplane (accepting limitations in warranty of the drive).

Creative!

A few years ago, I did a display computer for the educational non-profit where I volunteered to show off what you could do with recycled tech and access to a laser cutter and 3D printer. It was an open frame set-up with 2.5" SSDs mounted onto strips of acrylic. 4 port Chenbro backplanes (80H103215-013 Rev : B0) were press fit onto the mounted SSDs, and the ends of the acrylic strips slid into grooves in the frame. Worked great. Vibration was minimal and the friction fit on the backplane seemed sufficient for the time we had it up. Sadly, I have no pictures.

A couple articles on the main site, this one about fans for example https://www.servethehome.com/near-silent-powerhouse-making-a-quieter-microlab-platform/, mention how some modifications can be safe for users but that vendors (HP, Dell, etc.) couldn't do because they wouldn't "survive" the rigors of shipping in a box that got tumbled about. I think friction fitting bare SSD PCBs into a backplane is in this category. So long as you don't move things around a lot, it should be fine. Shipping such a system with the drives plugged in...prolly not!

As you may have noticed already, newer and/or cheaper and/or smaller capacity SSDs with lower chip counts can have crazy small PCBs once you pop them out of the 2.5" shell. There's some threads on the forum here (for example https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/15-dell-wyse-5060-thin-client.34846/post-323579) discussing replacing thin client DOMs with shucked SSDs that are small enough to fit. The original DOMs all have a retention clip/fixing screw that keeps them secure during shipping/movement, but the replacement SSDs seems to be fine as a press fit since the boxes they are in aren't going anywhere and the vibration is minimal.

 

[BeTeP]

I did not make any pictures. It was some HP Gen9 backplane. I paid less than $10 shipped for it. Besides low price my only other requirement was that all SAS and power connectors were oriented in parallel with the PCB since I was going to mount it as close to the bottom of rather small case as possible and all Dell backplanes in my price range had connectors sticking out.