MD Series: MD3x60e Physical and Virtual Disk location identifiers

Summary: Locate hard drives and identify drawer hardware components on the MD3x60e series.

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Instructions

 

Drive Locations

Drives are labeled one of two ways:

  • Enclosure X, Drawer Y, Slot Z: For example, 0:3:6 means Enclosure 0, Drawer 3, Slot 6
  • Extended numbering: For example, Drive 43
     
    • Drive numbering goes from 0-59

Check the table below to identify drives location.

  1. Drawer 0
  2. Drawer 1
  3. Drawer 2
  4. Drawer 3
  5. Drawer 4

 

Drawer 0:
Slot 2
 		 Slot 5
 		 Slot 8
 		 Slot 11
 
Slot 1
 		 Slot 4
 		 Slot 7
 		 Slot 10
 
Slot 0
 		 Slot 3
 		 Slot 6
 		 Slot 9
 
Front Left: Drawer 0

 

Drawer 1:
Slot 2
Drive 14		 Slot 5
Drive 17		 Slot 8
Drive 20		 Slot 11
Drive 23
Slot 1
Drive 13		 Slot 4
Drive 16		 Slot 7
Drive 19		 Slot 10
Drive 22
Slot 0
Drive 12		 Slot 3
Drive 15		 Slot 6
Drive 18		 Slot 9
Drive 21
Front Left: Drawer 1

 

Drawer 2:
Slot 2
Drive 26		 Slot 5
Drive 29		 Slot 8
Drive 32		 Slot 11
Drive 35
Slot 1
Drive 25		 Slot 4
Drive 28		 Slot 7
Drive 31		 Slot 10
Drive 34
Slot 0
Drive 24		 Slot 3
Drive 27		 Slot 6
Drive 30		 Slot 9
Drive 33
Front Left: Drawer 2

 

Drawer 3:
Slot 2
Drive 38		 Slot 5
Drive 41		 Slot 8
Drive 44		 Slot 11
Drive 47
Slot 1
Drive 37		 Slot 4
Drive 40		 Slot 7
Drive 43		 Slot 10
Drive 46
Slot 0
Drive 36		 Slot 3
Drive 39		 Slot 6
Drive 42		 Slot 9
Drive 45
Front Left: Drawer 3

 

Drawer 4:
Slot 2
Drive 50		 Slot 5
Drive 53		 Slot 8
Drive 56		 Slot 11
Drive 59
Slot 1
Drive 49		 Slot 4
Drive 52		 Slot 7
Drive 55		 Slot 10
Drive 58
Slot 0
Drive 48		 Slot 3
Drive 51		 Slot 6
Drive 54		 Slot 9
Drive 57
Front Left: Drawer 4

Note: Replacing the incorrect drive can cause data loss.

 

Drawers

  • Chassis must be powered off to replace drawers.
  • Remove and install SAS chain cables ONLY when the drawer is closed.
  • Chassis will remain online for approximately 10 minutes after either fan canister is removed.

Front View
The drawer number is displayed in red on the below picture:

Image shows the front of the storage drawers with labels starting at 0 at the top going to 4 at the bottom. 

 

SAS Chain Cable

  • Remove and install SAS chain cables ONLY when the drawer is closed
  • Chassis will remain online for approximately 10 minutes after either fan canister is removed.

If there are issues after replacing or reseating the SAS chain cables, check the following:

  1. Check that the SAS chain cable ends are straight and not bent (See figure 1 below)
  2. Slide the drawer open as far as it can go, Do not remove, and check for trouble lights (See figure 2 below)
  3. Check that the correct SAS chain cable and drawer was replaced (see previous drawer image)

Image shows the end of a sas chain cable with comparison on straight vs bent connection 
Image shows drawer LED location on the drawers 

Affected Products

MD Series, PowerVault MD3060e, PowerVault MD3260i, PowerVault MD3460, PowerVault MD3660f, PowerVault MD3660i, PowerVault MD3860f, PowerVault MD3860i
Article Properties
Article Number: 000068118
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2025
Version:  5
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