Installation Considerations

Safety Information

Air Flow, Cable Length, and Routing Space

Adequate airflow and ventilation are particularly important for 3ware 9690SA RAID controllers. The on-board heat sink collects heat, and must have adequate airflow in order to disburse it. It is important that the cables do not obstruct the air flow or prevent proper ventilation of the system.

Selecting the Slot in Which to Install the Controller

Consider these factors when deciding on the slot in which to insert the controller:

3ware 9690SA RAID controllers must be installed in PCI Express® x8 or x16 slots.

Warning! Do NOT insert the 9690SA controller into a PCI-X slot. Doing so could potentially damage the board or the system, and void the warranty.

Note: Some low-cost motherboards have a single PCI Express slot which is reserved for a video card. These slots cannot accommodate a 3ware 9690SA RAID controller or other PCI-Edevice.

Cable routing may be easier if you install the 3ware RAID controller next to an open slot.

If you are using a BBU, you will need to install the remote battery board separately from the controller. For details, see “Chapter 3. Installing a Battery Backup Unit” on page 16.

Things to Watch Out For During Installation of the RAID Controller

Be careful when installing the 3ware RAID controller into your system. Excessive force can damage the board or your system.

Be sure to follow the installation instructions in “Chapter 2. Installing Your 3ware RAID Controller” on page 10.