Dell R930: CBL 0003: backplane 2 connector a0 disconnected

This error could be coming because of incorrect SAS cabling. I assume you are having 24 X 2.5 drive backplane. You can refer "Figure 7. Cabling— x24 backplane with dual PERC and dual SAS expander cards" diagram in below link on cabling for dual PERC configuration and check whether all cables are connected on your server.

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/poweredge-r930/r930om/removing-the-hard-drive-backplane?guid=guid-4f684a50-780d-4bf7-a09a-ea7a87a70832&lang=en-us 

Hello Shine,

thanks for sharing manual with me, i have gone through and i realize that both sas expander are connected to thier respecive raid controller card as it showen into the manual. 

1 SAS expander port  a  and b connected to integrated raid controller

2. sas expander port a and b connected to another raid controller. 

but only difference in my case is from the second sas expander port b 1 and a 1 connected to backplane jumper port. do we really need it? or should remove  all these port and just follow the manual where both sas expander connected to their respective raid controller only?

thanks in advance again.

Hi duahimanshu816,

please follow the manual to get a valid supported configuration.

regards Martin

Hello Martin, 

thanks, i followed the Manual, and remove the cable which is going towards to Backplane jumper port from sas adapter, still the same error showing while booting. do we need to reset the idrack or logs? 

Yes that is correct duahimanshu816.

regards Martin

Can you share the part number of cables connected from backplane to controller. If possible share a picture of connection. 

Can you also ensure iDRAC, BIOS and PERC Controller firmware are upto date?

Hello Shine,

Yes I did update the firmware for all and I am sure. 

Please see the link below showing the pic of the connection:-

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tdgpYBwuxQXB4AhbMBImw-ExK1G1Mf2l/view?usp=sharing

just to brief about the connection:- one sas adapter port a and b connecting to raid controller and another sas adapter port a and b connecting to another raid controller card. in the pic i also show the connection between the sas adapter and backplane jumper port which has been removed now so kinldy ignore those connection. 

find below the part numbers:-

Connectivity looks fine. As Stefan mentioned we need to check backplane mode it need to be one of the split mode. Can you check whether any of the controller is able to see all physical disks connected to the system

Hi.

Could you send me the systems ServiceTag in a private message, please?

And additionally please let me know what the backplane is set to.

Go to: iDRAC GUI: iDRAC > Storage > Enclosure > Setup. 

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/idrac7-8-lifecycle-controller-v2.40.40.40_users-guide_en-us.pdf (Page 215)

Per default, it is set to "Unified" - change it to one of the split modes.

Unified mode —This is the default mode. The primary PERC controller has access to all the drives connected to the backplane even if a second PERC controller is installed.

Split mode — One controller has access to the first 12 drives and the second controller has access to the last 12 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-11 while the drives connected to the second controller are numbered 12-23.

Split mode 4:20 — One controller has access to the first 4 drives and the second controller has access to the last 20 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-3 while the drives connected to the second controller are numbered 4-23.

Split mode 8:16 — One controller has access to the first 8 drives and the second controller has access to the last 16 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-7 while the drives connected to the second controller are numbered 8-23.

Split mode 16:8 — One controller has access to the first 16 drives and the second controller has access to the last 8 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-15 while the drives connected to the second controller are numbered 16-23.

Split mode 20:4 — One controller has access to the first 20 drives and the second controller has access to the last 4 drives. The drives connected to the first controller are numbered 0-19 while the drives connected to the second controller are numbered 20-23.

BR
Stefan

Hello Stephan,

please, when i go to iDRAC GUI: iDRAC > Storage > Enclosure > Setup. 

its gives me this error:-RAC0503: There are no out-of-band capable controllers to be displayed. Check if the host system is powered off or shutdown.

its does not show me anything to configure, i tried to reset the idrac as well but still not luck. 

Firmware for both controller:- 25.5.8.0001 

firmware for IDrack:-2.75.100.75

from the bios i able to see both controller one of the controller accessing 6 drive and other is accessing 12 drives its by default we have not done anything, is there anything we need to do?

Br,

Dear Shine,

please i cant see the option to change from unified mode to split mode:- when i go to idrac -storage-enclouser its gives me this error:- RAC0503: There are no out-of-band capable controllers to be displayed. Check if the host system is powered off or shutdown.

And from the Bios, I able to see integrated Raid controller able to access the drives from bay 12 to 17

And other raid controller able to access the from the bay 0 to 11.

hello shine the cables was connected fine as in diagram and the link you shared. 

but i tried to connect  left side sas adapter  to left side controller and right side sas adapter  to right side now default raid controller card accessing bay 0 to 11 and another raid card which is on slot 9 is accessing bay 12 to rest.

secondly, i can't see cable on the other side marked with port a and b on the raid controller side how can i identify the connection on the controller side?

third:- the link you shared, we have exactly the same scenario two raid controller card and two sas adapter. in this video i noticed there is two more cables from the right side sas adapter port b1 and a1 going towards to backplane jumper port BP1 and other, as you could see in the pic which i shared with you in initial port which i removed it. if i connect these cable or not nothing effects to my configuration servers works fine just the error shows while booting. 

why do we need those cables connection?

Hi.

Could you please identify which cables you miss?

BR
Stefan