UCTRONICS Raspberry Pi Rack Basic, 1U Rack Mount for Up to Four Raspberry Pi 5, M.2 NVMe SSD Base, PCIe to NVMe

Overview

The Raspberry Pi 5 NVMe solution is a tailor-made rackmount that fits up to 4 Raspberry Pi 5 units and 4 M.2 NVMe SSDs in a compact 19" 1U design. It supports various M.2 sizes (2230, 2242, 2280) with PCIe Gen2/Gen3 compatibility and features LED indicators for disk activity. Power options include direct supply from the Raspberry Pi's TYPE-C port or the NVMe base, all while maintaining GPIO accessibility.

Applications

• Raspberry Pi Nas
• Pi-Hole
• Home Assistant Server
• Raspberry Pi Kubernetes Cluster
• Homelab

Features

• Versatile M.2 NVMe Compatibility: This product supports a wide range of M.2 NVMe SSD sizes, including 2230, 2242, and 2280, while adhering to PCIe NVMe Gen2 and Gen3 protocols. This compatibility guarantees high-speed read and write performance, suitable for various demanding applications.
• Space-Saving Design: With a compact footprint of 100x60mm, this design fits neatly beneath the Raspberry Pi, allowing for easy integration without obstructing GPIO accessibility. This feature is particularly beneficial for attaching heat sinks and POE caps, maximizing efficiency in limited spaces.
• Rackmount Efficiency: Designed for optimal space utilization, this unit accommodates up to 4 Raspberry Pi 5 devices and 4 M.2 NVMe SSDs within a standard 19" 1U rack. This configuration not only saves space but also enhances organization in server environments.
• LED Activity Indicators: Equipped with LED indicators, this product provides real-time status updates for M.2 disk activity. These visual cues allow users to monitor drive performance and health at a glance, enhancing usability and troubleshooting.
• Flexible Power Options: This solution supports versatile power management by allowing power supply through the Raspberry Pi's TYPE-C port or directly from the NVMe base. This flexibility ensures reliable operation and simplifies setup, catering to various user needs and preferences.

Package Including

• 1 x Rackmount
• 4 x Raspberry Pi mounting bracket
• 4 x M.2 NVMe Shield (UC-B86 Rev.C)
• 4 x PCIe-NVMe FFC Cable
• 1 x Screw Pack

Note

• This kit exclusively supports M.2 NVMe SSDs and is not compatible with M.2 SATA SSDs, M.2 PCIe AHCI SSDs, or other M.2 non-NVMe devices.
• The Raspberry Pi 5 and M.2 NVMe SSD are not included in the package.
• Please follow the tutorial to burn image in you NVMe HAT and enable NVMe to ensure your Raspberry Pi boots from NVMe instead of the SD card or OS.
• After discussions in the Raspberry Pi forum, it's been observed that Raspberry Pi may not boot from WD hard disks, possibly due to the Phison controller equipped with this SSD.

Troubleshooting Steps

• Check Hardware Connections:

  Verify that the FFC is fully seated and properly aligned within the connector. Ensure that the Raspberry Pi is securely mounted onto the HAT, with the Pingo Pins making solid contact with the GPIO solder joints on the reverse side of the Pi. You can try swapping the HAT or FFC cable to troubleshoot.

• Check SSD Compatibility:

  Only M.2 NVMe (SATA) Key-M SSDs are supported. M.2 NGFF Key-B SSDs are not compatible. Try a different brand of SSD to see if it works.

• Update EEPROM Firmware: Check and update the bootloader firmware to the latest version: Update the bootloader configuration.  Run the following command to confirm the update was successful:

  vcgencmd bootloader_version

• Enable PCIe:

  ○ Add the command in /boot/firmware/config.txt:

  dtparam=pciex1

  ○ Reboot and detect the NVME SSD: 

  lspci

  ○ Ensure that PCIe is enabled, run the following command to configure NVMe SSD boot instead of SD card:

  sudo rpi-eeprom-config --edit
  Change the line: BOOT_ORDER=0xf416
  Add the line: PCIE_PROBE=1

  ○ Then reboot and config uctronics display. Refer to NVMe_User_Guide for more details.

• Raspberry Pi only supports PCIe 2.0. Enabling PCIe Gen 3 (x3) may cause instability. To fix this, remove the line: dtparam=pciex1_gen=3
• Use the official Raspberry Pi power supply (27w) to avoid low voltage and USB peripheral current limit:

  ○ For power supplies under 25W, enable: 

  usb_max_current_enable=1

  ○ For power supplies with a POE HAT, set: 

  psu_max_current=5000

Documentation

• Assembly Guide
• How to burn image to NVMe and boot from NVMe
• UCTRONICS Rackmount Catalog

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