Installing a horizontal-compact-form-factor expansion card

Use these instructions to install a compact-form-factor expansion card in the blade server.

The blade server supports a horizontal-combination-form-factor (CFFh) expansion card. The following illustration shows how to install a CFFh expansion card.

Attention: If the expansion card is not running at the speed supported by the card, you can change the maximum speed of the PCIe bus in the Setup Utility by selecting System Settings and Devices and I/O Ports.

Graphic illustrating installing a CFFh expansion card

To install a CFFh expansion card, complete the following steps:

  1. Locate the blade server expansion connector (see Blade server connectors).
  2. If a cover is installed on the expansion connector, remove it by using your fingers to lift the cover from the expansion connector.
  3. Touch the static-protective package that contains the expansion card to any unpainted metal surface on the BladeCenter unit or any unpainted metal surface on any other grounded rack component; then, remove the expansion card from the package.
  4. Orient the connector on the expansion card and expansion connector on the system board; then, press the expansion card into the expansion connector.
  5. Firmly press on the indicated locations to seat the expansion card.
    Note: For device-driver and configuration information to complete the installation of the expansion card, see the documentation that comes with the expansion card.
  6. Install the cover or the expansion unit onto the blade server (see Installing the blade server cover or Installing an optional expansion unit).
  7. Install the blade server into the BladeCenter unit (see Installing the blade server in a BladeCenter unit).