May I use SSD memory SSDPEDMW800G4X11400 connected to M.2 connector of Aero Board?

[NCard2]

Hi,

May I use SSD memory (Intel - 800 GB Internal PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe) Solid State Drive (model: SSDPEDMW800G4X1, SKU: 5471400) connected to M.2 connector of Aero Board? Does it fit in enclosure kit, or a cable is needed to connect SSD memory to Aero board?

Best wishes,

Newton

[idata]

Hello Newton,

Thank you for your interest in Intel® Aero Compute Board.

I checked the Intel® Aero Compute Board – Get Started (https://software.intel.com/sites/default/files/managed/25/d5/Intel-Aero-Compute-Board-Getting-Starte... https://software.intel.com/sites/default/files/managed/25/d5/Intel-Aero-Compute-Board-Getting-Starte...), port 13 reads "M.2 Interface for PCIe SSD". So you can connect the SSD without an additional cable.

Regarding the enclosure inquiry, I don't have a SSD 750 series with me, so I checked the dimensions from the datasheet (https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-specifications/ssd-750-spec.pdf https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-specifications/ssd-750-spec.pdf) and compared them with the dimensions of the enclosure kit (https://github.com/intel-aero/Documents/tree/master/mechanical_cad/enclosure-kit%29: https://github.com/intel-aero/Documents/tree/master/mechanical_cad/enclosure-kit):

The conclusion is that it doesn't fit in the enclosure kit, perhaps this other image may present a better view of the space available (http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/boardsandkits/aero/aero-platform-uavs-mecha...: http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/boardsandkits/aero/aero-platform-uavs-mecha...):

If you have another question, don't hesitate to contact us.

Have a nice day.

Regards,

Andres V.

[NCard2]

Hi Andres, thank you for the answer.

As I need that large SSD memory connected to Aero Board flying with UAV, I assume that I'll have to use an 3D printer to make my own enclosure kit, right?

Another question: Is there a mechanical drawing of the battery compartment? As I intend to use an RF board, I'd like to evaluate the best place to put it, and the 2 options I am considering are my modified enclosure kit and the battery compartment.

Best wishes,

[idata]

Hello NewtonBCardoso,

That's right, since the SSD is too big for the enclosure kit, you'll have to build an enclosure that suits your needs.There isn't a battery compartment, the batteries are held with Velcro straps located at the bottom of the frame. I checked the available STL/STP files ( https://github.com/intel-aero/meta-intel-aero/wiki/01-About-Intel-Aero), and maybe you'll find the frame's mechanical drawing useful ( https://github.com/intel-aero/Documents/tree/master/mechanical_cad/rtf-frame). With the appropriate software you may be able to obtain the corresponding measurements.Please let me know if you find the previous information useful.Regards,Andres V.

[NCard2]

Hello Andres,

I am not sure about the type of form factor of SSD 750 Series is pluggable on Aero Board: Add-In card or 2.5 inch U.2 (SFF-8639)?

Best wishes,

[idata]

Hello NewtonBCardoso,

The Add-in-Card (AIC) SSD is the one with the accessible PCIe slot (the one that can be directly connected to the Aero Compute Board).Have a nice day.Regards,Andres V.

[NCard2]

Hello Andres,

Thank you for the answer.

I Checked M.2 connector of Aero board (fig. 1). It seems to follow key pattern B+M of M.2 standard (fig. 2 depicting M.2 form factors).

Intel SSD 750 series connection standard (fig. 4) seems to fit to PCI 3.0 mechanical standard (fig. 5), as specification of Intel 750 Series states compliance with PCI Express Card Electro-Mechanical (CEM) Specification rev. 2.0 (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/ssd-750-spec.html https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/ssd-750-spec.html) and not to M.2 standard.

Intel SSD 535 series (M.2) seems to be compatible (fig. 3) to Aero board connector, however 535 series is SATA and not PCIe standard.

Could you check how to connect Intel 750 series SSD to Intel Aero board M.2 connector? Should I use a cable? Or another SSD series?

Best wishes,

fig.1 M.2 connector at Intel Aero board

fig. 2 M.2 pinout standards

fig. 3 Intel SSD 535 series pinout mechanical drawing

fig. 4 Intel SSD 750 series pinout mechanical drawing

fig. 5 PCI 3.0 pinout mechanical drawing

[idata]

Hello NewtonBCardoso,

You are right in the sense that the M.2 connector uses the B+M pattern, and you are also right about the 750 series SSD, sorry for the mislead.I double checked, and the Intel® SSD 600P series have the compatibility you are looking for (it also fits beneath the Aero Compute Board, and the enclosure kit). For more information, please check the following link: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/consumer-ssds/600p.... An alternative, that requires an adaptor (M.2 to U.2 cable) and doesn't fit in the enclosure kit, are the 15 mm form factor Intel® SSD DC P3700 series ( https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/data-center-ssds/...).Please let me know if you find this information useful.Have a nice day.Regards,Andres V.

[NCard2]

Hi Andres,

Thank you for the answer.

Checking SSD 600p form factor, and due to your statement that SSD module would be beneath Aero board, I realized that Aero board connector is M.2 M key, and not B+M key as I thought. Looking for a drawing of board connector at its manufacturer website (LOTES), I got the following:

.

As I don't have with me an Aero board yet, I didn't notice that SSD module fits to the opening of the connector facing inwards and not outwards.

As SSD 600p is M-key, as depicted below,

and double checked at:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/memory-and-storage/000022378.html https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/memory-and-storage/000022378.html

I have an M.2 SSD in my system. Can my system (hardware) support the Intel® SSD 600p/Pro 6000p series drives?

The board must support the NVMe* specification and have an M-key M.2 socket enabled for PCIe

An explanation found at https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Overview-of-M-2-SSDs-586/ https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Overview-of-M-2-SSDs-586/

helps to confirm that, as SSD 600p is PCIe x4, certainly it would have M-key form factor.

B+M keyed drive (left) and a M keyed drive (right)

The different keys are what indicated the maximum number of PCI-E lanes the socket can use and physically limit what drives can be installed into the socket.. A "B key" can utilize up to two PCI-E lanes while a "M key" can use up to four PCI-E lanes. Right now, however, the majority of M.2 sockets use a "M key" even if the socket only uses two PCI-E lanes. As for the drives, most PCI-E x2 drives are keyed for B+M (so they can work with any socket) and PCI-E x4 drives are keyed just for M.

Please check if my understanding is correct.

Best wishes,

[NCard2]

Hi Andres,

I am concerned already about operating system.

I read that Pre-Installed Operating System for Aero Board is Linux* 4.4.3-yocto-standard OS powered with Yocto Project* 2.1 (Krogoth), but looking at SSD 600p page I found that Linux is not supported for it (please see below). Do you have any recommendation?:

Best wishes,

copied from (https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/memory-and-storage/000022378.html https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/memory-and-storage/000022378.html)

Operating system

What operating systems (OS) does the Intel® SSD 600p/Pro 6000p Series support as the primary boot drive?

Supported operating systems:

• Windows 7* (64-bit)
• Windows 8.1* (64-bit)
• Windows® 10 (64-bit)

32-bit operating systems do not support UEF

I.Is Linux* a supported operating system?

No, Linux* is not a supported operating system.

How do I install the Windows 7* OS on the Intel® SSD 600p/Pro 6000p series drives as a boot drive?

Windows 7* doesn't contain the in-box NVMe* driver for the OS installation as Windows 8.1* and later do.To see the NVMe* drive, depending on the system configuration:

• Use the http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941 Microsoft® KB Hotfix and installation steps.NoteYou may need to add USB drivers to the Windows 7* image. See the https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/solid-state-drives/000023002.html installationprocess.
• Use the https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST- Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) driver. Install the driver during Windows 7 installation.NoteThis method only works on platforms that support flexible input/output (remapping). These platforms include 6th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors and later.

The https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/solid-state-drives/000023002.html installation guide outlines both of these methods.

Can I migrate my operating system to the Intel® SSD 600p/6000p Series drive?

You must use the UEFI drivers and BIOS settings with the NVMe devices. Existing OS installations may not have these settings. We recommend a fresh installation.

[idata]

Hello NewtonBCardoso,

Your understanding is correct, I double-checked with an Aero Compute Board and noticed the little "M". Also, the module fits to the opening of the connector facing inwards, that is why I mentioned that those SSDs fit in the Enclosure Kit.Regarding the operating system, I checked the link you provided, and in this particular case "Linux* is not supported" stands for "any issue regarding the use of this product in a Linux operating system is out of the scope of this technical support team". In other words, it doesn't mean that the SSD is not compatible.I hope you find the previous information useful.Have a nice day.Regards,Andres V.