How to replace Dell R720XD R720 motherboard & backplane | PowerEdge Tips

[@josephfornecker954]

Great video once again! For those that don't know, the NX3200 is the same as the r720xd. The only reason I mention this is because I don't think a lot of people know about this. The difference is the guarantee from dell. The nx3200, which is a Network Attached Storage from dell specifically states in the documentation that it is for Windows Server only (I've been running Linux on my nx3200 for over two years). I bought one very cheap ($100) and it had the back 2.5" drives option installed. I got it home and looked up the service tag (179PW1) and found out it had the same MB. It only had one processor (lower tier for r720xd), and I found a pair of e5-2697v2's and a heat sink for dirt cheap online. Everything works great. Note to others that read this, if you have to replace the motherboard, research the "identity module" if you're trying to replace a nx3200 motherboard. I don't know, and have no personal experience with the replacement of a nx3200 MB but saw a mention of the "identity module" (which is apparently software) before I wrote this comment.

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks for sharing all that with others in my community! :-)

[@josephfornecker954]

@@ArtofServer You bet man, your content is top notch in the used server market (sphere).

[@josephfornecker954]

Just for reference, I messed up the service tag and left out a 'T' accidentally. It is 1T79PW1

[@JasonsLabVideos]

When working for 15 years, this is the part of the job i loved most :) That and EMC stuff

[@ArtofServer]

What do you mean? working on hardware?

[@JasonsLabVideos]

@@ArtofServer I used to work for dell, on-site tech fixing anything with a dell logo on it. Along with etc and other brands

[@slopsec2358]

Great video, as usual. I have two of the R730XD's and absolutely love them. I picked them up around 2017 or 2018 and they're still running great. I'll be saving this video for future reference. Thank again!

[@ArtofServer]

The R720XD and R730XD are great machines for storage! Thanks for watching! :-)

[@NileshRathi69]

Would have never figured out the blue button is there to pull! Thank you.

[@ArtofServer]

Glad I could help! 😸

[@conquistadorhoosteen]

TIP FOR REMOVING THE BOARD - Do it the reverse of what is shown in the video. So you would unlock the board, lift the LEFT side (near CPU 1) up first. You won't fight with it nearly as much and it will clear the flex bay without any issues because the radius of rotation to the right will allow the board to clear the bumps on the flex bays. You can also use the blue knobs to easily hold it, as designed.

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks for sharing! I'll have to try that next time!

[@epictetus8028]

Hey - nice video. How did you reconfigure the board to match up as an R720XD and your service tag?

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks! That's in the next video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6G1goauiqmKnqcsi=qiE3uCMhNvGGqMKQ

[@reggie368]

Nice video ! Will there be a video of when you power it up and check the iDRAC licence and check if it just works ?

[@ArtofServer]

I wasn't thinking about it...

[@paulreiner5163]

@@ArtofServer As I remember, you had to backup the idrac license info before removal and then during first post after a new motherboard was installed, you were prompted to enter the machine serial #. If you entered the original one, then the idrac license would work when you restored the idrac config. I read multiple places that the serial # could not be changed after initial entry, but that wasnt true. I was wandering through setup and lifecycle controller and I stumbled on the location. You can change it at will. So if your motherboard happens to be used, you can get it to match the original. Hope this helps.

[@wildmanjeff42]

nice video, that's a lot of work !

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks! Yeah, it was since I had to redo this video a few times... Hope it helps anyone who needs the info! :-)

[@debiprosadpalit3113]

Nice video

[@ArtofServer]

Thanks! hope it helps! :-)

[@ScruffyITA]

when u take out the board, i would probably go and reprogram the bios to support non dell nvme cards. i did it in my r730 and works just perfect. yes taking the board apart in these server is a long job; lots of screw, cables .... good job man

[@ArtofServer]

I don't know if that's possible? The 12th gen does not support NVMe as far as I know? I know the 13th gen can, but do you know about the 12th servers?

[@ScruffyITA]

@@ArtofServer yes u can add nvme support by adding nvme dxe driver in bios.

[@3ALEGIONS]

HI, do you know what cable is required to connect a SSD inside Dell R330. There's a 6-PIN power connector on the motherboard supplying power to DVD drive but only has two wires coming out.

[@ArtofServer]

Sorry, I don't know much about the R330.

[@Fiberton]

Question: On the rear of the 720xd there are blue slot retainers ? Clips ? to hold the Cards in. One of mine just broke to pieces. Do you happen to know the part number or the exact name of them ? It is the clip for the middle 2 pci-express slots.

[@ArtofServer]

You're talking about the retention "clips" that hold the PCIe bracket down? Unfortunately, I don't know if they are ever sold separately. Sorry...

[@DX-bg3cp]

Great video.I just enjoy anything on the 720 'cause it's such a great server. Do you have a source for the monolithic clamps? Mine just crumbled up the second time I touched them. Seems they were already on the fritz. I noticed the flex board kit is not readily available, and may be something you may stock in the future. (For my benefit🤫)

[@ArtofServer]

Yeah, the R720XD is one of my favorites.. I really like the 12x3.5" format in 2U. Those mini mono ejectors do crumble after long heat exposure they are brittle. I don't have a source for them, but it might be something worth getting a 3D printer for... I'll have to look into the flexbay kit. :-)

[@oso2k]

You probably have a bad eMMC chip. I have to mobos sitting where this happened to some SC8000 mobos (Dell EMC R720 rebranded storage contollers).

[@ArtofServer]

is that what causes the "POST and gets stuck right after "CPLD version : 103" I posted about in the community page? when I did a search, a lot of people ran into this issue, and the resolution was almost always replace the motherboard. just wondering if you know more about it. also, this happened suddenly... i didn't do anything other than reboot the server and then it wouldn't come up.

[@Demoxx1]

I see your server uses SATA instead of SAS? is there any reason behind this? are you using ssds or hdds?

[@ArtofServer]

No particular reason. The server supports both SAS and SATA-3. The front bays have HDDs.

[@T10Titan]

Hey I have a question for you is there a way to get a plastic snap down pieces for the mini monolithic slot? mine was broken and I have not noticed until recently I am setting up the board right now and its been in storage for a while.

[@ArtofServer]

If you are asking about the blue plastic levers for the mini monolithic slot, those are prone to breaking and near impossible to find replacement parts. :-(

[@T10Titan]

damn well thanks for responding I was looking for them everywhere but couldnt find anything I am gonna see if this guy who posted another video might beable to send me them off his broken mobo @@ArtofServer

[@itfails3919]

Would it possible to swap the motherboard between the 12x3.5 and the 24x2.5 backplane versions?

[@ArtofServer]

Yeah, it should be possible.

[@oso2k]

No boot up validation?

[@ArtofServer]

It booted up perfectly. :-)

[@bzmrgonz]

Question buddy, is it safe to replace-up (upgrade) motherboards on some of the edge servers? Maybe sticking to the same family line? The box/chassis seems to be the same.

[@ArtofServer]

You mean like upgrading a R720XD with a R730XD motherboard? I've never tried it... I don't know if it would work easily or not...

[@bzmrgonz]

@@ArtofServer i think this needs to be explored buddy!! Let me tell you why!! Shipping a whole server is big bucks, but shipping mobo is much cheaper.. we are keeping a lot of galvanized metal from the landfills!! Think about it and see if it’s doable!! There is value in a modular design to servers!! Maybe other companies are more progressive than Dell.

[@corkhead0]

You should poke Linus for a screwdriver ;)

[@ArtofServer]

I'm not really a fan of multi-bit screw drivers. :-)

[@jasperzanjani]

Presumably you got that motherboard from yet another server.. why not simply replace the whole thing?

[@ArtofServer]

Not sure how that would make sense? shipping an entire chassis costs a lot more than just a motherboard. And then I would have to deal with disposing the other chassis.

[@leonardotoschi585]

i would have broken the entire server for raging

[@ArtofServer]

LOL