Reference: Supported Slot Configurations
  
Reference: Supported Slot Configurations
Use this reference to understand supported slot configurations and restrictions or caveats for specific cards.
Supported slots for SteelHead CX 5080 and 7080
SteelHead CX 5080 and 7080 supported NICs
Quantity
Supported slots
40 GbE
2
2, 4. These cards require two slots due to their larger size and need for a x16 bus width PCIe slot. They can be installed in slot 2 (slot 1 will be blocked) and/or slot 4 (slot 5 will be blocked).
10 GbE
4
1, 2, 4, 5. These cards can be installed in slots 1, 2, 4, and 5 but cannot be installed in slots 3 and 6 due to hardware restrictions.
1 GbE
6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. These cards can be installed in slots 1 to 6. If a QAT Compression/Acceleration card is installed in slot 6, you lose that slot.
QAT Compression/Acceleration
1
6 only. The QAT Compression/Acceleration card can only be installed in the CX 7080 appliance, slot 6.
Slots restrictions for SteelHead CX 5080 and CX 7080
The slot restrictions based on height and length of NICs are described in these tables.
Right riser slots
Slot no.
Bus width
Height
Length
Notes
Slot 1
x8
FH (Full-Height)
FL (Full-Length)
When a x16 card is in slot 2, slot 1 can’t be used.
Slot 2
x16 or x8
FH (Full-Height)
FL (Full-Length)
When a x16 card is in slot 2, slot 1 can’t be used.
Two-Port 40-GbE Fiber SR4/LR4 cards require x16 bus width slots and are only supported in slots 2 and 4.
Slot 3
x8
FH (Full-Height)
HL (Half-Length <= 6.6 in.)
SteelHead CX 5080 and CX 7080 appliances ship with a Four-Port 1-GbE Copper Bypass card installed in slot 3.
Left riser slots
Slot no.
Bus width
Height
Length
Notes
Slot 4
x16 or x8
FH (Full-Height)
FL (Full-Length)
When a x16 card is in slot 4, slot 5 can’t be used.
Two-Port 40-GbE Fiber cards require a x16 bus width PCIe slot and are only supported in slots 2 and 4.
Slot 5
x8
FH (Full-Height)
FL (Full-Length)
When a x16 card is in slot 4, slot 5 can’t be used.
Slot 6
x8
See notes.
HL (Half-Length <= 6.6 in.)
Half-Height: CX 7080 ships with a 3008-8i HBA mezzanine card preinstalled. The CX 7080 requires this mezzanine card for internal PCIe and IO expansion. The CX 5080 doesn’t require a mezzanine card.
Full-Height: The CX 5080 is full-height NIC compatible when a mezzanine card isn’t installed.
The QAT Compression/Acceleration card can be installed in slot 6.
Two Mini-SAS-HD cables connect the 3008-8i HBA mezzanine card and the backplane connectors. If these cables are bad or loose, the SSDs won’t function properly. If the 3008-8i HBA mezzanine card fails, the system won’t recognize the SSDs.
Supported slots for Interceptor 9800
Interceptor 9800 supported NICs
Quantity
Supported slots
100 GbE
2
2, 4. (Two-Port 100-GbE cards require a x16 bus width PCIe slot and are only supported in slots 2 and 4.)
When a 100-GbE card is installed in slot 2, slot 1 is unusable.
When a 100-GbE card is installed in slot 4, slot 5 is unusable.
40 GbE
2
2, 4. (Two-Port 40-GbE cards require a x16 bus width PCIe slot and are only supported in slots 2 and 4.)
When a 40-GbE card is installed in slot 2, slot 1 is unusable.
When a 40-GbE card is installed in slot 4, slot 5 is unusable.
10 GbE
4
1, 2, 4, 5. (hardware restriction in slot 3 and slot 6).
1 GbE SX
4
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. No slot restrictions.
Interceptor 9800 supported NIC combinations and slot restrictions
Interceptor 9800 appliances support a maximum of four NICs (occupying slots 1, 2, 4, and/or 5) in the following combinations:
2 x 100-GbE NICs in slots 2 and 4. In this combination, slots 1 and 5 must be empty.
1 x 100-GbE NIC + 1 x 40-GbE NIC:
100-GbE NIC in slot 2, then 40-GbE NIC in slot 4.
40-GbE NIC in slot 2, then 100-GbE NIC in slot 4.
2 x 40-GbE NICs in slots 2 and 4. In this combination, slots 1 and 5 must be empty.
1 x 40-GbE NIC + 1 x 10-GbE NIC:
40-GbE NIC in slot 4 (slot 5 should be empty), then 10-GbE NIC can occupy either slot 1 or slot 2.
or
40-GbE NIC in slot 2 (slot 1 should be empty), then 10-GbE NIC can occupy either slot 4 or slot 5.
1 x 40-GbE NIC + 2 x 10-GbE NIC:
40-GbE NIC in slot 4 (slot 5 must be empty), then 2 x 10-GbE NIC can occupy slots 1 and 2.
or
40-GbE NIC in slot 2 (slot 1 should be empty), then 2 x 10-GbE NIC can occupy slots 4 and 5.
4 x 10-GbE NICs; slots 1, 2, 4, and 5.
3 x 10-GbE NICs; can occupy any three of slots 1, 2, 4, or 5.
2 x 10-GbE NICs; can occupy any two of slots 1, 2, 4, or 5.
1 x 10-GbE NIC; can occupy any one of slots 1, 2, 4, or 5.
Multiple 1-GbE SX NICs can occupy any of slots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 and be used in combination with all other NICS supported on the Interceptor 9800.
Supported slots for SteelHead CX xx70, GX 10000, and Interceptor 9600
This table summarizes the maximum number of NICs and slot restrictions for the SteelHead CX 3070, 5070, and 7070, the GX 10000, and the Interceptor 9600 appliances.
Supported NICs
Quantity
Supported slots
SteelHead GX 10000
 
 
1 GbE
4
1, 2, 4, 5 (compression card in slots 3 and 6)
10 GbE
2
1, 2 (hardware restriction in slots 4 and 5; compression cards in slots 3 and 6)
40 GbE
2
1, 2 (compression card in slots 3 and 6)
SteelHead CX5070
 
 
1 GbE
6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
10 GbE
4
1, 2, 3, 6 (hardware restriction in slots 4 and 5)
40 GbE
2
1, 2
SteelHead CX7070
 
 
1 GbE
5
1, 2, 4, 6 (compression card in slot 3)
10 GbE
3
1, 2, 6 (compression card in slot 3; hardware restrictions slots 4 and 5)
40 GbE
2
1, 2 (compression card in slot 3)
SteelHead CX3070
 
 
10GbE (fiber SR, redirector)
2
Slots 2 and 3 (Slot 1 is reserved for the default bypass card and it only takes a half-height card.)
Interceptor 9600
 
 
1 GbE
6
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
10 GbE
4
1, 2, 3, 6
40 GbE
2
1, 2
Slot restrictions for SteelHead CX xx70, GX 10000, and Interceptor 9600
Product
Slot guidelines
SteelHead CX 5070, CX 7070
Appliances ship with a four-port 1-GbE copper bypass card installed in slot 1.
The preferred order for populating slots is 2, 3 (if available), 6, 5, and 4.
Install 10-GbE NICs before 1-Gbps NICs when following the preferred slot order. (The preinstalled NIC will always remain in slot1.)
Compression cards must be installed in slot 3. (The CX 7070H also includes a preinstalled compression card in slot 3.)
SteelHead GX 10000
GX 10000 appliances don’t ship with any data NICs installed. If you preorder a data NIC, it will be installed in slot 1. The GX 10000 ships with two compression cards in slots 3 and 6.
The preferred order for populating slots is 2, 4, and 5.
Install 10-GbE cards before 1-GbE cards when following the preferred slot order. You can install a maximum of two 10-GbE NICs in slots 1 and 2.
10-GbE cards must be installed in slots 1, 2, 3, or 6; don’t install in slots 4 or 5. Install 10-GbE cards before 1-GbE cards when following the preferred slot order.
40-GbE cards must be installed in slot 1 or 2; don’t install in slots 3, 4, 5, or 6.
Interceptor 9600
Appliances ship with a four-port 1-GbE copper bypass card installed in slot 1. You can install a maximum of six 1-GbE NICs in slots 1 to 6 in IC 9600.
The preferred order for populating slots is 2, 3 (if available), 6, 5, and 4.
Install 10-GbE NICs before 1-Gbps NICs when following the preferred slot order. (The preinstalled NIC will always remain in slot1.)
10-GbE NICs must be installed in slots 1, 2, 3, or 6; don’t install in 4, 5. Install 10-GbE NICs before 1-Gbps NICs when following the preferred slot order. You can install a maximum of four 10-GbE NICs in IC 9600.
IC 9600 supports four 10-GbE network add-on cards. The 1 GbE card in slot 1 must be relocated to slot 4 or 5.
40-GbE NICs must be installed in slots 1 or 2; don’t install in 3, 4, 5, or 6. You can install a maximum of two 40-GbE NICs in IC 9600.