Core Design and Technical Role

The ​​CBL-R1B-SD-240M6=​​ is a ​​Cisco-certified internal storage backplane cable​​ designed for the ​​UCS C240 M6 rack server​​. It connects the server’s motherboard to its drive backplane, enabling high-speed communication between SAS/SATA controllers and installed drives (HDDs/SSDs). This cable is critical for maintaining data integrity and throughput in storage-heavy configurations.

• ​​SAS3/SATA III Support​​: Delivers up to ​​12 Gbps per lane​​, ensuring minimal bottlenecks for enterprise workloads like databases or virtualized storage.
• ​​Dual-Channel Redundancy​​: Supports failover configurations to prevent single points of failure in RAID setups.
• ​​UCS C240 M6-Specific Design​​: Precision-engineered pin alignment ensures compatibility with the server’s onboard LSI SAS3008 controller.

Addressing Central User Concerns

“Is this cable required for all UCS C240 M6 drive configurations?”

Yes. The CBL-R1B-SD-240M6= is mandatory when populating ​​drive bays 1-12​​ with SAS/SATA drives. Without it, the server cannot recognize or communicate with installed storage devices.

“Can I reuse cables from older UCS C-Series servers?”

​​No.​​ Previous-generation cables (e.g., CBL-R1B-SD-240M5) have different pinouts and lengths. Improper reuse risks drive detection failures or reduced transfer speeds.

“Does it support NVMe drives?”

No. This cable is designed for SAS/SATA drives only. For NVMe configurations, use Cisco’s ​​CBL-NVMe-240M6=​​ cable and corresponding backplane.

Sourcing Authentic CBL-R1B-SD-240M6= Cables

Purchase only from authorized Cisco partners like ​​itmall.sale​​ to avoid counterfeit cables that lack EMI shielding, which can corrupt data during high-volume transactions.

Real-World Application Insights

During a recent ERP system migration, replacing a generic SAS cable with the CBL-R1B-SD-240M6= resolved intermittent drive dropout issues under heavy IOPS loads. While unglamorous, this component is the ​​unsung hero​​ of storage reliability—any cost-cutting here risks cascading failures. For UCS C240 M6 deployments, treating this cable as mission-critical is non-negotiable.