SMI300XS Practice Exam Questions with Answers Supermicro MI300X GPU Service Specialist (SMI300XS) Exam Certification

InSupermicro MI300X GPU systems, theNVMe backplane is located behind the motherboard tray, meaning the tray must be removed first.

Why is this step necessary?

The NVMe backplane is physically secured behind the motherboard trayto support high-speed PCIe connectivity.

Removing the motherboard tray provides clear accessto NVMe connectors and MCIO cables.

Skipping this step may cause unnecessary strain on cables, leading to potential connector damage.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro Service Guide for NVMe Systemsconfirms that themotherboard tray must be removed firstbefore working on the NVMe backplane.

Why Must the Motherboard Tray Be Aligned With the Grooves?

TheSupermicro MI300X chassisis designed withbuilt-in alignment groovesthat helpprecisely position the motherboard tray.

If the tray is notaligned properly:

ThePCIe slots and mounting points will not line up correctly.

Thebackplane connections may be misaligned, leading to system boot errors.

Improper installation can block airflow, leading to potential overheating issues.

Step-by-Step Proper Reinstallation Process:

?Step 1:Identify thealignment grooveson the chassis.?Step 2:Slowly slide the motherboard tray into place, ensuring it follows the grooves.?Step 3:Verify that the tray sitsflushwith the chassis.?Step 4:Secure the tray with screws only after confirming proper alignment.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?

B (Shake the tray to confirm fit)? Shaking the traycan loosen connectors and potentially damage components.

C (Screw in randomly before aligning)? If screws are installedbefore alignment, it can causeuneven seating and difficulty in securing other components.

D (Tilt the motherboard tray at an angle)? The tray should be insertedstraight into the grooves, not at an angle.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Installation Guideconfirms thatthe motherboard tray must be aligned with the chassis grooves before securing it.

Why Must PSUs Be Removed Before Midplane Removal? (Option A)

Power must be fully disconnectedbefore handling the midplane to avoidelectrical damage.

Themidplane is directly linked to the power distribution system, and removing it while PSUs are still connected can cause:

Short circuits

Residual electrical charge damage

Connector arcing and failure

Why Must PCIe, Motherboard, and GPU Trays Be Disengaged? (Option C)

These traysobstruct access to the midplane, meaning they must bedisengaged firstbefore midplane removal.

While they do not need to becompletely removed, they must beloosened and moved slightlyto allow for safe midplane extraction.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?

B (Remove MCIO cables)?MCIO cables should be disengaged, but full removal is not requiredbefore midplane removal.

D (Remove fans and fan shutters)? Fan assemblies are separate from the midplane anddo not need to be removedduring this step.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Disassembly Manualexplicitly states thatremoving PSUs and disengaging trays are necessary steps before midplane removal.

Why is the Purple 5V Power Connector Critical?

InSupermicro MI300X systems, thepurple 5V power connectorisresponsible for delivering stable low-voltage powerto specific components.

Consequences of Incorrect Power Connector Placement:

????1. System Failure or Non-Booting State

If the5V power connector is plugged into the wrong port, the systemmay not receive proper voltage, leading to failure.

?2. Component Damage

Overvoltage or incorrect voltage levelsmayfry sensitive system components(e.g., NVMe controllers, PCIe devices).

????3. Risk of Short Circuit

Plugging the power cable into an incorrect portmay cause short circuits, leading topermanent hardware damage.

Proper Connection Steps:

?Step 1:Identify thepurple 5V connectoron the PSU and NVMe backplane.?Step 2:Match it with the correct5V porton the system board.?Step 3:Ensure asecure and firm connectionbefore powering the system back on.

Why is False Incorrect?

IfFalse were correct, it would imply thatincorrectly plugging the power connector has no consequences, which iswrong.

Supermicroexplicitly warns against incorrect power connectionsdue topotential damage risks.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Electrical Guidestates thatincorrect power connections can lead to irreversible hardware failure.

Why Does the Support Bar Have 6 Screws?

Thesupport bar at the rear of the motherboard trayis designed to:

Provide additional structural stability

Prevent vibration-related failures

Ensure proper alignment of PCIe slots and backplane connectors

It is secured using6 screws, arranged as:

3 screws on the left side

3 screws on the right side

Correct Removal Procedure:

?Step 1:Identify thesix screws securing the support bar.?Step 2:Loosen themevenly from both sidesto prevent stress on the chassis.?Step 3:Carefully remove the support bar without twisting it.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?

B (24 screws)? Excessively high number; no component in this section has 24 screws.

C (12 screws)? Incorrect count; only6 screwsare present.

D (6 screws but uneven distribution)? There are3 screws per side, not 1 on one side and 5 on the other.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Disassembly Guideconfirmsthe support bar is secured with 6 screws (3 on each side).

Before removing theNVMe backplanein aSupermicro MI300X GPU system,all NVMe drives must be disengaged but not fully removed.

Why is this necessary?

Ensures safe backplane removal

NVMe drives are directly connected to the backplane viaMCIO or U.2 connectors.

Keeping them engaged couldput stress on the connectors, causing damage.

Prevents accidental disconnects

Removing the drives completely isnot necessary, butdisengaging them ensures they do not obstruct removal.

Avoids power damage

If the drives remain engaged during backplane removal, they may still haveresidual power, which can causeconnector damage or electrical failure.

Why other options are incorrect?

B (Disengage PSUs)? While power should be off,removing PSUs is not required for NVMe backplane removal.

C (Disengage fans)? Fans are independent components anddo not interfere with the NVMe backplane.

D (Disengage the field engineer)? Not a valid answer; field engineers are not system components.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro NVMe Storage Disassembly Guiderecommendsdisengaging NVMe drives but not fully removing thembefore backplane removal.

Theflap door mechanismis a protective feature inSupermicro MI300X systemsdesigned tosecure ribbon cable connections.

How to open it correctly?

Press down on the top of the flap door? This disengages the locking mechanism.

The flap door will "pop open" safelywithout damaging the ribbon cable.

Forcing the flap without pressing down properly may break the connector.

Official Documentation Reference:

Supermicro AS-8125GS-TNMR2 Maintenance Manualprovidesspecific instructionsonpressing down the flap door before opening it.