1. Owner's Guide
  2. Installation and Configuration
  3. Expanding a Recovery Appliance Rack with Additional Storage Servers
  4. Precautions and Guidelines

Precautions and Guidelines

This section lists safety precautions and guidelines for handling the equipment. Familiarize yourself with this information before extending the rack:

General Safety Precautions

Read the following safety guidelines before working on a Recovery Appliance rack:

InfiniBand Cable Precautions

Review the following InfiniBand cable precautions before working with InfiniBand cables:

  • Fiber optic InfiniBand cables with laser transceivers must be type Class 1.

  • Do not allow any copper core InfiniBand cable to bend to a radius tighter than 127 mm (5 inches). Tight bends can damage the cables internally.

  • Do not allow an optical InfiniBand cable to bend to a radius tighter than 85 mm (3.4 inches). Tight bends can damage the cables internally.

  • Do not use zip ties to bundle or support InfiniBand cables. The sharp edges of the ties can damage the cables internally. Use hook-and-loop straps.

  • Do not subject an InfiniBand cable to extreme tension. Do not pull or drag it. Pulling on an InfiniBand cable can damage it internally.

  • Unroll the full length of an InfiniBand cable.

  • Do not twist an InfiniBand cable more than one revolution over its entire length. Twisting an InfiniBand cable can damage it internally.

  • Do not route InfiniBand cables where they can be stepped on or rolled over. Crushing can damage the cable internally.

InfiniBand Cable Bundling Guidelines

When bundling InfiniBand cables in groups, use hook-and-loop straps to keep the cables organized. If possible, use color-coordinated straps to help identify the cables and their routing. The InfiniBand splitter and 4X copper conductor cables are thick and heavy for their length. Consider the retention strength of the hook-and-loop straps when supporting cables. Bundle as few cables as reasonably possible. Oracle recommends that no more than eight cables be bundled together.

If the InfiniBand cables break free of their straps and fall, then they might break internally from striking the floor or from sudden changes in tension. Place the hook-and-loop straps as close together as reasonably possible, for example, one strap every foot (0.3 m). If a cable breaks free from a strap, then the cable cannot fall far before it is supported by another strap.

Cable Management Arm Guidelines

Review the following cable management arm (CMA) guidelines before routing the cables:

  • Remove all required cables from the packaging, and allow cables to acclimate or reach operating temperature, if possible. This improves the ability to manipulate the cables.

  • Label both ends of each cable using a label stock that meets the ANSI/TIA/EIA 606-A standard, if possible.

  • Begin the installation procedure in ascending order.

  • Only slide out one server at a time. Sliding out more than one server can cause cables to drop or cause problems when sliding the servers back.

  • Separate the installation by dressing cables with the least stringent bend radius requirements first. The following bend radius requirements are based on EIA/TIA 568-x standards, and may vary from the manufacturer's requirements:

    • CAT5e UTP: 4 x diameter of the cable or 1 inch/25.4 mm minimum bend radius

    • AC power cables: 4 x diameter of the cable or 1 inch/ 25.4 mm minimum bend radius

    • TwinAx: 5 x diameter of the cable or 1.175 inch/33 mm.

    • Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) InfiniBand cable: 6 x diameter of the cable or 2 inch/55 mm.

    • Fiber core cable: 10 x diameter of the cable or 1.22 inch/31.75 mm for a 0.125 cable.

  • Install the cables with the best longevity rate first.