DECsystem 5900 Mass Storage Drawer Installation Manual

This document, the "DECsystem 5900 Mass Storage Drawer Installation Manual" (First Printing, June 1992), provides step-by-step instructions for Digital Services employees and authorized self-maintenance customers to install and configure mass storage drawer upgrades into a DECsystem 5900 server.

The DECsystem 5900 is described as a modular, rack-mount computer system designed for server applications, based on the MIPS R3000A processor, capable of supporting up to four additional mass storage drawers.

The manual covers the complete installation process, which includes:

• Unpacking the shipment and identifying accessory kit contents.
• Consulting the customer for the drawer's location and desired configuration.
• Powering down the system and removing filler panels from empty slots.
• Assembling and installing the mass storage drawer slides within the cabinet.
• Crucially, it warns that due to the drawer's weight (up to 110 lbs when populated), internal storage devices must be removed before lifting or installing the drawer, and that at least two people are required for this task.
• Extending the system's stabilizer bar to balance the enclosure before installing or removing any drawer.
• Physically installing the drawer into the cabinet, replacing the devices, and connecting all internal power and SCSI cables.
• Powering up the system and performing acceptance tests (Power-Up-Self-Test, cnfg utility, SCSI diagnostic tests) to verify device recognition and functionality.
• Modifying ULTRIX to utilize the newly added devices.

The document also provides detailed information on mass storage drawer configuration (single bus vs. split bus) and how to set SCSI IDs for devices, noting that factory default settings are usually optimal and SCSI ID 7 is reserved for the CPU or SCSI controller. Safety cautions are given throughout, including using a grounded wrist strap to prevent static discharge and properly shutting down ULTRIX before beginning work.