support.dell.com Cluster SE300 and SL300 Platform Guide 1-9
Adding Peripherals Required for PowerEdge 6400 and
6450 Systems Platform Support
WARNING: Hardware installation should be p erformed only by trained
service technicians. Before working inside the system, see the safety
instructions in your PowerEdge System Information document to avoid a
situation that could cause serious injury or death.
The following list provides PCI slot assignment information for the system’s PCI
buses, RAID controllers, NICs, and DRAC.
•PCI buses
— PCI bus 1: PCI slot 1 is 32-bit, 33-MHz.
— PCI bus 2: PCI slots 2 through 5 are 64-bit, 33-MHz.
— PCI bus 3: PCI slots 6 and 7 are 64-bit, 33/66-MHz.
•RAID controllers
— RAID controllers can be installed in any available 32-bit, 33-MHz or 64-bit,
33-MHz PCI slot.
— If you use multiple RAID controllers and there are available PCI slots,
Dell recommends installing the RAID controllers on separate PCI buses to
balance the load on the system.
•NICs
— You can install NICs in any available PCI slot.
— Dell recommends that Giganet cLAN adapters be installed in 64-bit slots.
•DRAC
— If you are currently using a DRAC or plan to use one in the future, install it in
PCI slot 1.
NOTE: To make sure that the SCSI or RAID controller attached to the boot drives
initializes first, you might have to change the scan order of the PCI bus, if the BIOS
supports this option, or change the order of the RAID, NIC, and DRAC. Performing
these tasks ensures that the Windows operating system numbers the boot drives in
the proper sequence.