Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Dozuki System (and one other contributor)
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Introduction

Overview

This guide demonstrates how to replace the motherboard on an Open Compute V3 server. == Acronyms and Terms == * CPU - Central Processing Unit * DIMM - Dual In-line Memory Module * PCIe - Peripheral Component Interconnect Express * SATA - Serial ATA; a type of computer bus interface * SFP+ - Enhanced Small Form-factor Pluggable; a type of hot-plug transceiver

  1. The server can be powered off remotely or on the hardware itself.

    • The server can be powered off remotely or on the hardware itself.

    • Remote Power Down: Login to the server to power it off.

    • shutdown -h now;exit

    • Hardware Power Down: Press and hold the power switch for at least three seconds, as annotated.

    Edit

  2. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the server. Press the tab on the end of the cable to release it. Press the tab on the end of the cable to release it.

    • Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the server.

    • Press the tab on the end of the cable to release it.

    Edit

  3. Disconnect the 10G SFP+ cable from the network interface controller. Use the pull-tab to disconnect the cable.

    • Disconnect the 10G SFP+ cable from the network interface controller.

    • Use the pull-tab to disconnect the cable.

    Edit

  4. Grasp the server as shown. Pull the retention plunger upwards. Begin sliding the server out of the rack.

    • Grasp the server as shown.

    • Pull the retention plunger upwards.

    • Begin sliding the server out of the rack.

    Edit

  5. Counter the weight of the server, as shown.

    • Counter the weight of the server, as shown.

    • Completely remove the server from the rack.

    Edit

  6. Pinch the SATA connector. The metal tab must be depressed to disconnect the cable. Pull connector upwards.

    • Pinch the SATA connector.

    • The metal tab must be depressed to disconnect the cable.

    • Pull connector upwards.

    Edit

  7. Lightly push the nylon power connector about 1.0cm towards the rear of the server. Do not push the connector too far as it may damage the hard drive power header pins. Grasp the power cable connector.

    • Lightly push the nylon power connector about 1.0cm towards the rear of the server.

    • Do not push the connector too far as it may damage the hard drive power header pins.

    • Grasp the power cable connector.

    • Pull the connector upwards.

    Edit

  8. Loosen the two thumbscrews. Grasp the left side of the riser cage, as shown.

    • Loosen the two thumbscrews.

    • Grasp the left side of the riser cage, as shown.

    • Pull the left side up about 2cm.

    • Only pull the riser cage up enough so that the PCIe riser card unseats from its socket.

    Edit

  9. Grasp the right side of the riser cage, as shown. Pull the riser cage away from the server chassis.

    • Grasp the right side of the riser cage, as shown.

    • Pull the riser cage away from the server chassis.

    Edit

  10. Press down on the four nylon retention tabs / standoffs securing the network interface controller Press down on the four nylon retention tabs / standoffs securing the network interface controller Press down on the four nylon retention tabs / standoffs securing the network interface controller

    • Press down on the four nylon retention tabs / standoffs securing the network interface controller

    Edit

  11. Lift the network interface controller away from the motherboard. Lift the network interface controller away from the motherboard.

    • Lift the network interface controller away from the motherboard.

    Edit

  12. Engage the server lid, as shown. Push the lid towards the rear of the server. Lift the cover.

    • Engage the server lid, as shown.

    • Push the lid towards the rear of the server.

    • Lift the cover.

    Edit

  13. The heatsink may be hot. Take care when handling the CPU heatsink. Loosen four Phillips #2 screws. Select screws in a diagonal order.

    • The heatsink may be hot. Take care when handling the CPU heatsink.

    • Loosen four Phillips #2 screws. Select screws in a diagonal order.

    • To loosen, use about two screwdriver rotations.

    • Apply a small amount of pressure on the corner of the heatsink near each screw being loosened.

    Edit

  14. After two screwdriver rotations, completely loosen all four heatsink screws.

    • After two screwdriver rotations, completely loosen all four heatsink screws.

    Edit

  15. Engage the heatsink, as shown. Lift the heatsink away from the CPU.

    • Engage the heatsink, as shown.

    • Lift the heatsink away from the CPU.

    Edit

  16. Remove the second heatsink.

    • Remove the second heatsink.

    • The process to remove the second heatsink is identical to the first heatsink.

    Edit

  17. Press the CPU retention lever down and away from the CPU. The CPU socket retention lever is spring loaded. Keep pressure on the lever as it lifts. The CPU socket retention lever is spring loaded. Keep pressure on the lever as it lifts.

    • Press the CPU retention lever down and away from the CPU.

    • The CPU socket retention lever is spring loaded. Keep pressure on the lever as it lifts.

    Edit

  18. Release the left CPU retention lever. Release the left CPU retention lever. Release the left CPU retention lever.

    • Release the left CPU retention lever.

    Edit

  19. Engage the CPU bracket, as shown. Rotate the CPU bracket towards the middle of the server. Rotate the CPU bracket towards the middle of the server.

    • Engage the CPU bracket, as shown.

    • Rotate the CPU bracket towards the middle of the server.

    Edit

  20. Engage the CPU, as shown. Lift the CPU away from its socket. Lift the CPU away from its socket.

    • Engage the CPU, as shown.

    • Lift the CPU away from its socket.

    Edit

  21. Repeat the process for the remaining CPU.

    • Repeat the process for the remaining CPU.

    Edit

  22. Completely remove thermal compound from both CPUs and heatsinks. Depending on the speed of the replacement, thermal compound may not need to be removed. Depending on the speed of the replacement, thermal compound may not need to be removed.

    • Completely remove thermal compound from both CPUs and heatsinks.

    • Depending on the speed of the replacement, thermal compound may not need to be removed.

    Edit

  23. Remove all DIMMs from the motherboard.

    • Remove all DIMMs from the motherboard.

    • Place DIMMs adjacent to their channels on the outside of the chassis.

    • The Open Compute V3 server varying DIMM configurations. The compute node has sixteen DIMM and the storage node has eight DIMM.

    Edit

  24. Engage the thumbscrew, as shown. Loosen the thumbscrew.

    • Engage the thumbscrew, as shown.

    • Loosen the thumbscrew.

    Edit

  25. Push the middle plane board towards the rear of the server. Screw in the thumbscrew. This secures the middle plane board to allow for motherboard serviceability.

    • Push the middle plane board towards the rear of the server.

    • Screw in the thumbscrew.

    • This secures the middle plane board to allow for motherboard serviceability.

    Edit

  26. Slide the motherboard towards the rear of the chassis.

    • Slide the motherboard towards the rear of the chassis.

    • There are eight motherboard guide keys to free the motherboard from the chassis.

    • Lift the motherboard away from the chassis.

    Edit

    • Install the new motherboard into the server chassis.

    • Motherboard installation is opposite of the removal process.

    Edit

  28. If thermal paste was previously removed, apply thermal paste to both CPUs in a five-dot pattern, as shown.

    • If thermal paste was previously removed, apply thermal paste to both CPUs in a five-dot pattern, as shown.

    Edit

  29. Install the CPUs that were previously removed. When installing CPU, be aware of the orientation of the CPU socket. The arrows on the CPU and the CPU socket must align. If the CPU is not seated correctly, it is possible to damage the CPU socket pins.

    • Install the CPUs that were previously removed.

    • When installing CPU, be aware of the orientation of the CPU socket. The arrows on the CPU and the CPU socket must align. If the CPU is not seated correctly, it is possible to damage the CPU socket pins.

    Edit

  30. Install the DIMMs into their respective slots.

    • Install the DIMMs into their respective slots.

    • When installing DIMMs, be aware of the orientation of the slot key. If the DIMM is not seating correctly, it is possible the DIMM needs to be rotated.

    Edit

  31. Install the two heatsinks.

    • Install the two heatsinks.

    • Heatsink installation is opposite of its removal process.

    Edit

  32. Install the lid on the server.

    • Install the lid on the server.

    • Lid installation is opposite of the removal process.

    Edit

  33. Install the riser cage.

    • Install the riser cage.

    • Riser cage installation is opposite of the removal process.

    Edit

  34. Slide the server into the rack. The retention plunger does not need to be pulled upward during installation.

    • Slide the server into the rack.

    • The retention plunger does not need to be pulled upward during installation.

    • The server is secure when the retention plunger snaps shut.

    Edit

  35. Connect the 10G SFP+ cable into the network interface controller. Connect the 10G SFP+ cable into the network interface controller.

    • Connect the 10G SFP+ cable into the network interface controller.

    Edit

  36. Connect the Ethernet cable to the server. Connect the Ethernet cable to the server.

    • Connect the Ethernet cable to the server.

    Edit

  37. Press the power button.

    • Press the power button.

    Edit
Conclusion

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author

with 1 other contributor

Dozuki System

Member since: 09/24/2009

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