FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling

Guide
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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Contents

Conventions and Guidelines 4

Safety and Handling Guidelines 4

Preparation for Installation and Service 5

Introduction 5
Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves 6
Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with Ethernet Mezzanine to 1–2 DirectFlash Shelves 6
Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with SAS Mezzanine and 2-Port Ethernet Card to One Dir-
ectFlash Shelf 8
Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to 1–4 SAS Expansion Shelves 10

Step 2. Verify Shelf Connections 14

Step 3. Connect Management Ports 15
Step 4. Connect Storage Area Networks 16
Step 5. Connect Replication Fabrics 17
Appendix A: Array Port Names 18
Appendix B: Cabling Diagrams 20

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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Conventions and Guidelines

The following symbols appear in Pure Storage documentation:

Symbol Meaning
Best practice

Supplementary instruction

Potential for injury, physical damage, loss of data, or array configuration information

Important information

The following are port labeling color guidelines:

Cable Type Examples

Shelf connection Ethernet: ETH6, ETH7, etc. SAS: SAS0, SAS1, etc.
Ethernet ETH0, ETH1, etc.
Fibre Channel FC0, FC1, etc.

Safety and Handling Guidelines

If this equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by
the equipment might be impaired.
Avoid contact with backplane components and connectors.
Disconnect all power cords before moving the chassis and shelves or performing any powered-off
service operation.
Verify that rack electrical distribution systems meet all safety requirements of UL 60950-1 and IEC
60950-1 when fully populated, and that they provide adequate 100-240V 50-60Hz AC power, over-
current protection, and electrical ground for all installed equipment.
Verify that all electrical connections are grounded before powering on.
Do not open chassis or shelf enclosures, or any component unless you are a qualified service rep-
resentative performing a service procedure in accordance with instructions published by Pure Stor-
age.
Do not use the controller or PSU handles to lift a chassis. Use the attachable chassis lift handles.
When servicing rack-mounted equipment, extend only one chassis at a time.
Do not insert anything into any FlashArray connector except as specified in installation or repair
instructions.
Be careful when disconnecting cables. The connector casing might be hot.
Ensure that all components are in place before powering on or operating an array.

Leave failed components in place until replacements are available.

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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Preparation for Installation and Service

A FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 chassis weighs up to 44 kg (97 lbs.), a DirectFlash shelf chassis
weighs 33 kg (72.8 lbs), and expansion shelves weigh up to 20 kg (44 lbs.) each. Make arrange-
ments for safe lifting.
Make sure that the rack can support the total weight of all installed equipment (including cables and
rails), and that the total weight is within the floor loading limit.
Have all necessary Fibre Channel and Ethernet cables (not supplied by Pure Storage) available.

If you are installing a new chassis, verify that front and rear rack mounting posts are between 61
and 91.5 cm (24-36 in.) apart, and that you have 3 RU (13 cm or 5.1 in.) of vertical rack space for a
FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 and each DirectFlash shelf and 2 RU (8.7 cm or 3.4 in.) for each SAS
expansion shelf.

Verify that the installation environment

l Is within the operating temperature range of 5-35°C when the rack is fully populated.
l Does not have airflow ducts aimed directly at any FlashArray chassis, controller, or shelf.
Have a local console (VGA monitor and USB keyboard or a computer with terminal emulation cap-
ability) available in case it is required for software configuration or diagnosis.

Before you unpack the equipment, inspect packages for shipping damage. If damage is apparent,
photograph it and contact Pure Storage Technical Support for advice before proceeding.

Save cartons and packing material in case return shipment to Pure Storage is necessary.

Save all tools in FlashArray kits for future use.

Introduction
This document supplements the FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Quick Installation Guide, DirectFlash Shelf
Quick Installation Guide, and the various FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 upgrade guides by providing
detailed cabling instructions. The procedures in the guide describe how to connect cables to Ethernet
and SAS storage shelves and to management, host, and replication ports.
There are separate procedures for connecting the FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 to DirectFlash shelves
and SAS expansion shelves. For simplicity, only 12G SAS expansion shelves are shown in the illus-
trations. Connecting 6G SAS expansion shelves is essentially the same.

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves

The following sections describe how to connect FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 to both DirectFlash shelves
and expansion shelves.

Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with Ethernet Mezzanine to 1–2

DirectFlash Shelves
Match the cable connector labels with the labels on the FlashArray and storage shelf ports.

Figure 1 shows a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with an Ethernet mezzanine and no SAS ports. If the
array is also going to be connected to one or more SAS expansion shelves, the FlashArray must
also have a four-part SAS card in PCIe Slot 1.

Perform the following steps to connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to 1–2 DirectFlash shelves (see Fig-
ure 1).

Cable Color Connect from Connect to Available Cable

Step Type (Figure 1) Device Port Label Device Port Label Pair Lengths

FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to DirectFlash Shelf SH9

1m (80-0603-00)
1 A CH0.CT0 ETH6 SH9.SC0 ETH0 3m (80-0607-00)
5m (80-0611-00)
1m (80-0604-00)
2 B CH0.CT0 ETH8 SH9.SC1 ETH0 3m (80-0608-00)
5m (80-0612-00)
1m (80-0605-00)
3 C CH0.CT1 ETH6 SH9.SC0 ETH2 3m (80-0609-00)
5m (80-0613-00)
1m (80-0606-00)
4 D CH0.CT1 ETH8 SH9.SC1 ETH2 3m (80-0610-00)
5m (80-0614-00)
FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to DirectFlash Shelf SH8
1m (80-0616-00)
5 E CH0.CT0 ETH7 SH8.SC0 ETH0 3m (80-0624-00)
5m (80-0632-00)
1m (80-0617-00)
6 F CH0.CT0 ETH9 SH8.SC1 ETH0 3m (80-0625-00)
5m (80-0633-00)
1m (80-0618-00)
7 G CH0.CT1 ETH7 SH8.SC0 ETH2 3m (80-0626-00)
5m (80-0634-00)
1m (80-0619-00)
8 H CH0.CT1 ETH9 SH8.SC1 ETH2 3m (80-0627-00)
5m (80-0635-00)

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Pull each connector gently to make sure the latch is engaged.

Figure 1. FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with Ethernet Mezzanine Connected to 1–2 DirectFlash

Shelves

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with SAS Mezzanine and 2-Port Eth-
ernet Card to One DirectFlash Shelf
Match the cable connector labels with the labels on the FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 and storage shelf
ports.

Perform the following steps to connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to one DirectFlash shelf (see Figure
2).

Cable Color Connect from Connect to Available Cable

Step Type (Figure 2) Device Port Label Device Port Label Pair Lengths

FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to DirectFlash ShelfSH9

1m (80-0603-00)
1 A CH0.CT0 ETH14 SH9.SC0 ETH0 3m (80-0607-00)
5m (80-0611-00)
1m (80-0604-00)
2 B CH0.CT0 ETH15 SH9.SC1 ETH0 3m (80-0608-00)
5m (80-0612-00)
1m (80-0605-00)
3 C CH0.CT1 ETH14 SH9.SC0 ETH2 3m (80-0609-00)
5m (80-0613-00)
1m (80-0606-00)
4 D CH0.CT1 ETH15 SH9.SC1 ETH2 3m (80-0610-00)
5m (80-0614-00)

Pull each connector gently to make sure the latch is engaged.

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Figure 2. FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with SAS Mezzanine and 2-Port Ethernet Card
Connected to One DirectFlash Shelf

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to 1–4 SAS Expansion Shelves
Match the cable labels with the labels on the FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 SAS connectors and the
expansion shelf ports.

SAS cables are provided in pairs. Connect individual cables in each pair in the order suggested in
the Order column.

Arrays with 6G expansion shelves use DR cable pairs instead of CR.

Perform the following steps to connect a FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 to 1–4 expansion shelves. Depend-
ing on the array configuration, the FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 may have SAS ports in the mezzanine slot
of each controller or on a PCIe card installed in Slot 1 of each controller.
Following these steps and see Figure 3 to connect an array with a SAS mezzanine:

Pair Color Connect from Connect to Available Cable

Step Type (Figure 3) Order Device Port Label Device Port Label Pair Lengths

For arrays with one expansion shelf

1 CT0 SAS0 SH0 SAS3 1m (in Accessory Kit)
1 HL 3m (80-0380-00)
2 CT0 SAS2 SH0 SAS0 5m (80-0378-00)

3 CT1 SAS1 SH0 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)

2 IR 3m (80-0381-00)
4 CT1 SAS3 SH0 SAS5 5m (80-0379-00)
For arrays with two or more expansion shelves
5 CT1 SAS0 SH1 SAS3 1m (in Accessory Kit)
3 HL 3m (80-0380-00)
6 CT1 SAS2 SH1 SAS0 5m (80-0378-00)

7 CT0 SAS1 SH1 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)

4 IR 3m (80-0381-00)
8 CT0 SAS3 SH1 SAS5 5m (80-0379-00)
For arrays with three or more expansion shelves
9 SH0 SAS1 SH2 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)
5 CR 3m (80-0329-00)
10 SH0 SAS4 SH2 SAS5 5m (80-0330-00)
For arrays with four expansion shelves
11 SH1 SAS1 SH3 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)
6 CR 3m (80-0329-00)
12 SH1 SAS4 SH3 SAS5 5m (80-0330-00)

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Figure 3. FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with SAS Mezzanine Connected to up to Four 12G Expan-
sion Shelves (SH0–3)

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Following these steps and see Figure 4 to connect an array with an Ethernet mezzanine and four-port
SAS card in PCIe slot 1:

Pair Color Connect from Connect to Available Cable

Step Type (Figure 3) Order Device Port Label Device Port Label Pair Lengths

For arrays with one expansion shelf

1 CT0 SAS4 SH0 SAS3 1m (in Accessory Kit)
1 HL 3m (80-0380-00)
2 CT0 SAS6 SH0 SAS0 5m (80-0378-00)

3 CT1 SAS5 SH0 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)

2 IR 3m (80-0381-00)
4 CT1 SAS7 SH0 SAS5 5m (80-0379-00)
For arrays with two or more expansion shelves
5 CT1 SAS4 SH1 SAS3 1m (in Accessory Kit)
3 HL 3m (80-0380-00)
6 CT1 SAS6 SH1 SAS0 5m (80-0378-00)

7 CT0 SAS5 SH1 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)

4 IR 3m (80-0381-00)
8 CT0 SAS7 SH1 SAS5 5m (80-0379-00)
For arrays with three or more expansion shelves
9 SH0 SAS1 SH2 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)
5 CR 3m (80-0329-00)
10 SH0 SAS4 SH2 SAS5 5m (80-0330-00)
For arrays with four expansion shelves
11 SH1 SAS1 SH3 SAS2 1m (in Accessory Kit)
6 CR 3m (80-0329-00)
12 SH1 SAS4 SH3 SAS5 5m (80-0330-00)

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 1. Connect Storage Shelves (Cont'd)

Figure 4. FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 with Ethernet Mezzanine and SAS Card Connected to up
to Four 12G Expansion Shelves (SH0–3)

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 2. Verify Shelf Connections

Log into the Purity CLI, and enter the following commands on each controller to check the shelf con-
nections:
storage_view.py config
storage_view.py enclosures

If the shelf cables are connected correctly, these commands return the following response:
No errors detected.
If errors are detected, contact Pure Storage Technical Support for assistance before you continue.

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 3. Connect Management Ports

Connect customer-supplied Ethernet cables to the FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 1-GbE management ports
in the order shown in the procedure and table below. See Figure 5 for port locations.
You can use ETH1 as a management port if you do not plan to use it for 1-GbE replication in the
step "Connect Replication Fabrics" on page 17.

1. Connect the CT0 ETH0 port to the administrative network as directed by the customer.
2. Connect the CT1 ETH0 port to the administrative network as directed by the customer.
3. (Optional) Connect the CT0 ETH1 port to the administrative network as directed by the customer.
4. (Optional) Connect the CT1 ETH1 port to the administrative network as directed by the customer.
Step Cable Type Device Port Connect To
1 CT0 ETH0
2 Customer-supplied CT1 ETH0 Customer-designated
3 Category 5/6 CT0 ETH1 1-GbE switch port
4 CT1 ETH1

Figure 5. Connecting Management Cables

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 4. Connect Storage Area Networks

For redundancy, connect CT0 and CT1 to separate storage area networks.

1. On CT0, use customer-supplied cables to connect host ports FC0 through FC9 or ETH4 through
ETH17 to SANs. See Figure 6 for port locations and SAN connections.
2. Repeat step 1 on CT1.
Do not refer to any port numbering stamped on add-on cards such as Fibre Channel cards. Refer to
the logical port numbering shown below, which matches the GUI numbering.

Connect from
Order Port Location Connect to Comment
1 ETH4 Right side SAN A —
2 ETH5 Right side SAN B —
3 FC8 / ETH18 Slot 2, left SAN A —
4 FC9 / ETH19 Slot 2, right SAN B —
5 FC0 / ETH10 Slot 0, left SAN A —
6 FC1 / ETH11 Slot 0, right SAN B —
7 FC2 / ETH12 Slot 0 SAN A 4-port card only
8 FC3 / ETH13 Slot 0 SAN B 4-port card only
9 FC4 / ETH14 Slot 1, left SAN A —
10 FC5 / ETH15 Slot 1, right SAN B —
11 FC6 / ETH16 Slot 1 SAN A 4-port card only
12 FC7 / ETH17 Slot 1 SAN B 4-port card only

Figure 6. Connecting SAN Networks

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 Connect Storage Shelves

Step 5. Connect Replication Fabrics

For redundancy, connect CT0 and CT1 to separate replication fabrics.

You may only use ETH1 for 1-GbE replication if you have not used it as a management port.

1. For replication, use either customer-supplied 10/25-GbE cables to connect ports ETH2 and ETH3
(labeled REPL A and REPL B in Figure 7) or a 1-GbE cable to port ETH1 to replication network
switch ports.
2. Repeat step 1 on CT1.
Connect from
Order Port Location Connect to Comment
Connect for 1-GbE Replication
1 ETH1 Lower left REPL 1 GbE
Connect for 10-GbE Replication
1 ETH2 Lower right REPL A 10/25 GbE
2 ETH3 Lower right REPL B 10/25 GbE

Figure 7. Connecting Replication Fabrics

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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Appendix A: Array Port Names

Do not refer to any port numbering stamped on add-on cards such as Fibre Channel cards. Refer to
the logical port numbering shown below, which matches the GUI numbering.

Figure 8. FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Controller Ports (Ethernet Mezzanine)

Figure 9. FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Controller Ports (SAS Mezzanine)

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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Appendix A: Array Port Names (Cont'd)

Figure 10. DirectFlash Shelf Storage Controller Ports

Figure 11. Storage Shelf Ports (12G)

Figure 12. Storage Shelf Ports (6G)

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 FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 Cabling Guide

Appendix B: Cabling Diagrams

FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 do not support cabling a fresh array with six expansion shelves; however, an
upgraded array might have six shelves. See Figure 13 for a diagram of a six-shelf array. Note that a six-
shelf array requires that FlashArray//XR2 and //XR3 have a SAS mezzanine installed and a four-port
SAS card in PCIe slot 1 of each controller.

Figure 13. FlashArray//XR2 or //XR3 Cabled with Six 12G Expansion Shelves

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 Pure Storage, Inc.
Twitter: @purestorage

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