







Storage Interface Cabling
Choose the proper cable for the given backplane type and connectors. The correct choice is especially important for
backplanes that use SFF-8643 for the NVMe connectors. Many of these backplanes use an older legacy-recommended
pinout for the NVMe connector instead of a connector pinout based on the SFF-9402 specification. Most backplanes
that use either SFF-8612 or SFF-8654 connectors follow the SFF-9402 specification. The pinout recommended in the
PCI Express OCuLink Specification is equivalent to that recommended for SFF-9402. Verify the connector pinout for the
intended backplane to make sure the proper cable is used when connecting to NVMe drives.
Backplane Connectors
SFF-8612 or SFF-8654 are the preferred connectors to use for NVMe backplane or multiprotocol backplanes based on
the SFF-TA-1001 universal bay definition.
Backplanes that use OCuLink connectors should follow the PCI Express OCuLink Specification. This pinout is also
equivalent to the SFF-9402 specification recommendations. Verify the backplane connector pinout to make sure you use
proper cabling to the NVMe drive. Refer to the PCI Express OCuLink Specification and the SFF-9402 specification for
backplane NVMe connector pinout information.