280  |   Removing and Installing System Components 
 
 
From 
(Bottom Middle Plane) 
Hard-drive 
backplane 
cable 
Mini-SAS connector for 
system board 1 (J1) 
Mini-SAS  connector  
( 4~7) for system 
board 1  
Hard-drive 
backplane 
cable 
Mini-SAS connector for 
system board 3 (J3) 
Mini-SAS  connector  
(12~15) for system 
board 3 
NOTE: Following is the replacement procedure of SATA2 and SAS Direct 
Backplane for 3.5-inch hard drive systems. Replacement procedure for 2.5-inch of 
SATA2 and SAS Direct Backplane is similar to the Direct Backplane for 3.5-inch 
hard drive systems. 
Removing the Direct Backplane  
CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You 
should only perform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your 
product documentation, or as directed by the online or telephone service and 
support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not 
covered by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with 
the product. 
1  It is recommended to turn off the system, including any attached 
peripherals, and disconnect the system from its electrical outlet. 
2  Remove all the hard drives. See “Removing a Hard-Drive Carrier” on 
page 160. 
3  Open the system. See “Opening the System” on page 151. 
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the drives and backplane, you must remove the 
hard drives from the system before removing the backplane. 
CAUTION: You must note the number of each hard drive and temporarily label 
them before removal so that you can replace them in the same locations.