After racking a new FlashArray with one data pack, how should DirectFlash modules be installed?

Proper airflow and thermal management are critical for the reliability of high-density storage arrays. FlashArray chassis are designed with specific airflow baffles and cooling zones that rely on the drive bays being populated in a specific order.

When installing a new FlashArray with a single data pack (typically 10 drives), the Implementation Engineer must install the DirectFlash Modulesstarting in bay 0, filling from left to right.

Bay 0is typically the leftmost slot (when facing the front of the array).

Filling slots 0–9 ensures that the first "cooling zone" is properly pressurized, forcing air through the populated modules and the chassis midplane correctly.

Leaving gaps (e.g., installing in slots 10–19 while 0–9 are empty) can disrupt the airflow path, potentially leading to hotspots or inefficient cooling for the controllers behind the backplane.

Additionally, the software enumeration of drives often expects contiguous population starting from the lowest index for logical clarity, though cooling is the primary physical constraint.

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