Supermicro SMI300XS Practice Test Questions Answers

Theyellow warning labelis a critical indicator toprevent damagewhen servicing themidplane and ribbon cable connections.

Reason for Warning Label:

Theflat panel/ribbon cable is delicateand isconnected between multiple system components.

If themidplane is removed first, itstretches and applies force on the ribbon cable, leading to:

Broken cable connectors

Torn ribbon cable

System interface failure(front panel controls, LED indicators, or data communication)

Why other options are incorrect?

A (Cable is hot)→ Ribbon cablesdo not generate heatand thisis not the purpose of the warning label.

B (Remove after midplane)→ Thecable must be removed BEFORE the midplane, not after.

C (Optional removal)→It is mandatory, not optional, to prevent damage.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Maintenance Manualstates thatremoving the flat panel/ribbon cable firstisa required stepbefore handling the midplane.

When reinstalling theNVMe backplane, several critical cables must be properlyreconnectedto ensure the system functions correctly.

Required Connections:

SATA Cable→ Some NVMe backplanesalso support SATA drives, requiring SATA connectivity.

Power Cables→ The NVMe backplanerequires direct powerto enable SSD operations.

MCIO Cables→ These cables providehigh-speed data connectivitybetween the NVMe drives and the motherboard.

54-Volt Power Cable→ Thissupplies direct powerto the NVMe backplane foroptimal performance and stability.

Why other options are incorrect?

B (Only SATA cable)→ NVMe backplanes usePCIe-based storage. While SATA connectionsmayexist,they are not the only required cables.

C (Only MCIO cables)→ While MCIO cables are necessary for PCIe-based NVMe drives,power cables must also be reconnectedfor the system to function.

D (Only power cables)→Data communication would failwithout MCIO connections, rendering the systemunable to detect NVMe drives.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro NVMe Service GuideandAS-8125GS-TNMR2 Installation Manualemphasize thecorrect reinstallation of power and data cablesto avoidhardware malfunctions.

Thepower cableis the only cable that isnot a data cablewhen connecting an AOM card to the motherboard.

Cable Functionality Breakdown:

A (Power Cable) → NOT a data cable

Supplies electrical powerto the AOM card.

Doesnot transmit databetween components.

B (MCIO Cables) → Data cables

These cablestransmit high-speed NVMe data.

C (JNCIS1) → Data cable

This interface is used formanagement and communication.

D (SAS Cable) → Data cable

Used fordata storage connections.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AOM Expansion Module Guidestates that thepower cable is the only non-data cablein AOM installations.

Thecorrect and safemethod to remove the backplane from the motherboard tray is to useboth hands, gently tilting thetop of the backplanetowards yourself while carefullylifting it up and outof the motherboard tray.

This ensures that:

No undue forceis applied to the connectors or PCB.

No components or cablesare unintentionally damaged.

Proper handling of static-sensitive componentsis maintained.

Removing the backplane improperly can result in:

Connector damageto the motherboard or backplane.

PCB warping, which could lead to future malfunctions.

Potential data center downtimedue to component failure.

According toSupermicro's official documentation, this method aligns withindustry best practicesandrecommended service proceduresforSupermicro MI300X GPU systems.

Themidplane bracket in Supermicro MI300X GPU systemsis secured with6 screwsthat must beremoved before disassembly.

Why 6 screws?

3 screws on each side of the chassishold the midplane bracket in place.

This design helps stabilize the midplaneand prevents movement.

Failure to remove all 6 screws can result in forcefully damaging the bracket.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Disassembly Manualspecifies that6 screws must be removed before handling the midplane bracket.