Dell SL400, SE400 Installing the PERC 3/DC, Adding Peripherals to Your PowerEdge Cluster Nodes

Service Pack Support

Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6a (SP6a) or later is recommended for Cluster SE400 and SL400 systems.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later are recommended for Cluster SE400 and SL400 systems.

You can download the latest service pack from the Microsoft website located at www.microsoft.com.

See the Dell PowerEdge Cluster SE400 and SL400 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on installing the service pack.

Installing Peripheral Components in Your PowerEdge Cluster Node PCI/PCI-X Slots

This section provides configuration information for adding NICs, a DRAC II or III, and RAID controllers into your cluster node PCI/PCI-X slots.

Installing the PERC 3/DC

You must install the PERC 3/DC RAID controller in a 64-bit PCI/PCI-X slot up to 133 MHz or a 32-bit, 33-MHz PCI slot. See the PCI/PCI-X slot assignments in the following section for information about your specific system.

If you are using multiple PERC 3/DC cards, Dell recommends that you install them on separate PCI buses for load balancing.

Adding Peripherals to Your PowerEdge Cluster Nodes

CAUTION: Hardware installation should be performed only by trained service technicians. Before working inside the system, see the safety instructions in your PowerEdge System Information Guide document to avoid a situation that could cause serious injury or death.

NOTE: To ensure that the SCSI or RAID controller attached to the boot drives initializes first, you might have to change the device controller priority order using the system BIOS utility or physically change the order of the RAID adapters. This process ensures that the Windows operating system numbers the boot drives in the proper sequence.

Table 1-3 provides PCI slot assignment information for installing RAID controllers and NICs in your PowerEdge cluster nodes.

Platform Guide

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