A systems administrator is tasked with upgrading an aging production database server to improve I/O performance for a new application. The plan is to install a new PCIe-based NVMe RAID controller and several high-capacity NVMe drives. To minimize project risk and ensure system stability, which of the following is the most critical first step for the administrator to take before purchasing the new components?
Verify that the combined power draw of the new components does not exceed the server's PSU capacity.
Ensure the selected NVMe drives are certified as compatible by the RAID controller's manufacturer.
Update the server's BIOS/UEFI and all other firmware to the latest available versions.
Consult the server vendor's Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
The correct answer is to consult the server vendor's Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). The HCL is the authoritative source that lists all hardware components, such as RAID controllers and drives, that have been tested and certified to work with a specific server model. Verifying components against the HCL before purchase is the most critical step to prevent incompatibility issues, which could cause system instability or prevent the server from booting entirely. Updating firmware is a necessary step but should be done after confirming the hardware is compatible, as the HCL often specifies required firmware versions. Checking power consumption is part of the overall installation plan but is secondary to ensuring basic hardware compatibility. Relying on compatibility between the card and drives alone does not guarantee they will work with the specific server motherboard and its BIOS/UEFI.