Is backplane in v(II) and v(III) ABLE to work with SAS / SATA 3-4Tb 6Gb/s HGST drives + new IT-flashed controller?

Hello, I found an older post that may be related to this.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/poweredge-hddscsiraid/poweredge-2950-maximum-support-hdd-capacity/647f5a35f4ccf8a8de4e205e?msockid=1a5e8444c37364fc023690acc29e65bd

- changing RAID IT-flashed controller on a new with 6Gb/s+ troughtput;

- adding 6 x 3-4Tb HGST HDD drives with SATA or SAS interface;

is out of scope.

@DELL-Young E​ Thank You for passion for help.

Bou You answered on  a question that I not asking: I asking about PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane hardware & firmware.

@DELL-Young E​ Anyway, please answer as Dell professional:

3. How much versions (and which difference between) of PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane exist for v(II) and v(III)?

Hello

You can see what is new/different from the 2950 II to the 2950 III

DELL™ POWEREDGE™ 2950 III SERVER

http://del.ly/612190JQAN

Information Update

http://del.ly/612100JQA4

The largest supported hard drive capacity on both the II and III is 2TB per drive bay.

@DELL-Charles R​ Thank You for replying.

I know and already carefully read the documents links on which You posting here. And in this documents are nothing about PE 2950’s HDD backplain!

Again one time: as a professionals in Dell servers, do You able to answering on exactly question ( I asking about PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane hardware & firmware, and repeat for Your better understanding):

QUESTIONS:

1. Is original PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane able not only to be connected mechanically/electrically (that’s possible of course, because backward compability and universal drive caddy SAS/SATA 3.5 HDD) to working with SAS 3-Tb drives without any issues?

2. Is original PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane able not only to be connected mechanically/electrically (that’s possible of course, because backward compability and universal drive caddy SAS/SATA 3.5 HDD) to working with SATA 3-Tb drives without any issues?

If I understanding situation correctly, this ability are based on backplane firmware (because RAID controller already has this ability).

3. How much versions (and which difference between) of PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane exist for v(II) and v(III)?

Hello,

The 2950 II and III use the same backplanes.

You are limited to 2TB hard drive though.

@DELL-Charles R​ Thank You for reply.

So, I happy to read answer on 3-rd question . Thank You!

What about 1st and 2nd questions? I still remind:

As a professionals in Dell servers, do You able to answering on exactly question (I asking about PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane hardware & firmware, and repeat for Your better understanding):

QUESTIONS:

1. Is original PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane able not only to be connected mechanically/electrically (that’s possible of course, because backward compability and universal drive caddy SAS/SATA 3.5 HDD) to working with SAS 3-Tb drives without any issues?

2. Is original PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane able not only to be connected mechanically/electrically (that’s possible of course, because backward compability and universal drive caddy SAS/SATA 3.5 HDD) to working with SATA 3-Tb drives without any issues?

This mean NOT limitation by RAID controller card, but the backplaine itself.

Hello, to answer your question, it's what Charles says previously.

@DELL-Young E​ This limitation are existing because Perc in this system are really not support addressing more than 1,8-2Tb. 

But my question is about ability to working with 3+Tb SAS/SATA HDD drives (and using its full 3+Tb capacity) in case I replace this old Perc to a IBM m1015 SAS Controller (IT Mode).

From my prospective there may be only one breakpoint for this: original PowerEdge 2950’s HDD’s backplane not able to working with SATA 3-Tb drives without any issues.

Thank You for customer support and patience.

P.S. Also the 1,8-2Tb HDD maximum size limitation are in this server’s old BIOS. But anyway SAS Controller (in IT Mode) able to workaround with this w/o any performance or compatibility issues.

Hello from what I think replacing Dell PERC with "IBM m1015 SAS Controller (IT Mode)." is building something that is out of scope.

We do not know what IBM controller do with our BP.

We never validated PERC + BP to support more than 2 TB, so we do not have an answer if BP support 3TB drives, either.

Sorry I can't be of much help this time.

Respectfully,

@DELL-Young E​ and @DELL-Charles R

Hi! Thank You so much for answering…

Is the backplane in DELL™ POWEREDGE™ 2950 III server ACTIVE or PASSIVE type ?

Hello, could you please check the message here?

https://www.dell.com/community/en/direct-messaging

Respectfully,