Users Guide

Managing enclosures or backplanes
You can perform the following for enclosures or backplanes:
• View properties
• Configure universal mode or split mode
• View slot information (universal or shared)
• Set SGPIO mode
Related Links
Summary of supported features for storage devices
Supported enclosures
Configuring backplane mode
Viewing universal slots
Setting SGPIO mode
Configuring backplane mode
The Dell 13th generation PowerEdge servers supports a new internal storage topology, where two
storage controllers (PERCs) can be connected to a set of internal drives through a single expander. This
configuration is used for high performance mode with no failover or High Availability (HA) functionality.
The expander splits the internal drive array between the two storage controllers. In this mode, virtual disk
creation only displays the drives connected to a particular controller. There are no licensing requirements
for this feature. This feature is supported only on a few systems.
Backplane supports the following modes:
• Unified mode —This is the default mode. The primary PERC controller has access to all the drives
connected to the backplane even if a second PERC controller is installed.
• Split mode — One controller has access to the first 12 drives and the second controller has access to
the last 12 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-11 while the drives
connected to the second controller are numbered 12-23.
• Split mode 4:20 — One controller has access to the first 4 drives and the second controller has access
to the last 20 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-3 while the drives
connected to the second controller are numbered 4-23.
• Split mode 8:16 — One controller has access to the first 8 drives and the second controller has access
to the last 16 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-7 while the drives
connected to the second controller are numbered 8-23.
• Split mode 16:8 — One controller has access to the first 16 drives and the second controller has
access to the last 8 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-15 while the
drives connected to the second controller are numbered 16-23.
• Split mode 20:4 — One controller has access to the first 20 drives and the second controller has
access to the last 4 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-19 while the
drives connected to the second controller are numbered 20-23.
• Information Not Available — Controller information is not available.
iDRAC allows the split mode setting if the expander has the capability to support the configuration.
Ensure that you enable this mode prior to installing the second controller. iDRAC performs a check for
expander capability prior to allowing this mode to be configured and does not check whether the second
PERC controller is present.
To modify the setting, you must have Server Control privilege.
252