Lenovo 4C57A15026 SR860 V2 2.5-Inch NVMe Backplane

Overview

The Lenovo 4C57A15026 is a 2.5-inch NVMe backplane assembly designed for the ThinkSystem SR860 V2 platform — a four-socket enterprise server built for high-density compute and storage workloads. At 60 lb, this is a substantial server infrastructure component intended for data center and enterprise rack environments where NVMe storage expansion is part of the architecture.

The SR860 V2 platform sits at the top of Lenovo's four-socket rack server line. Adding or replacing the 2.5-inch NVMe backplane (4C57A15026) allows integrators and IT architects to expand direct-attached NVMe storage capacity within the chassis — relevant for workloads requiring low-latency storage access, such as database engines, virtualization hosts, or large-scale video storage backends.

Key Features

• NVMe Backplane Form Factor: Designed for 2.5-inch NVMe drives, enabling high-throughput, low-latency direct storage attachment inside the SR860 V2 chassis — the right choice when SAS/SATA bandwidth is a bottleneck in your storage stack.
• Platform-Specific Fit: Built specifically for the ThinkSystem SR860 V2; verify chassis bay compatibility against your server's current configuration before ordering to avoid fitment issues.
• 60 lb Shipping Weight: Plan for two-person handling during data center rack work — this is not a field-portable component.

Integration & Compatibility

The 4C57A15026 is a Lenovo ThinkSystem component. Compatibility is limited to the SR860 V2 server platform. Confirm your chassis revision, existing backplane configuration, and firmware level with Lenovo's compatibility matrix before installation. Do not assume interchangeability with SR860 V1 or other ThinkSystem models — backplane pinouts and power connectors differ across generations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which server platform is the 4C57A15026 compatible with?

A: The 4C57A15026 is designed for the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR860 V2 server platform. Verify compatibility with your specific chassis revision before ordering.

Q: What drive size does the 4C57A15026 support?

A: This backplane is designed for 2.5-inch NVMe drives. It is not intended for 3.5-inch or SAS/SATA-only configurations.

Q: Is the 4C57A15026 compatible with the original SR860 (V1)?

A: The 4C57A15026 is specified for the SR860 V2. Cross-generation compatibility with the V1 chassis is not confirmed in available evidence — consult Lenovo's official compatibility documentation before attempting installation in a V1 chassis.

Q: What is the shipping weight of the 4C57A15026?

A: The 4C57A15026 ships at 60 lb. Plan for appropriate handling resources during data center installation.

Marty Allison

The 4C57A15026 is a platform-specific NVMe backplane for the ThinkSystem SR860 V2 — a four-socket server where storage architecture decisions matter as much as compute. At 60 lb, this isn't a casual field swap; it belongs in a planned data center expansion or storage reconfiguration project.

Technical Highlights:

• NVMe Interface: NVMe backplanes deliver significantly lower latency than SAS/SATA equivalents — critical when the SR860 V2 is running database or virtualization workloads where storage I/O is the bottleneck.
• 2.5-Inch Bay Format: The 2.5-inch form factor supports the high-density NVMe drive ecosystem, giving you access to current-generation enterprise SSDs without adapters or trays.
• Platform Lock-In: This component is engineered to the SR860 V2 chassis specification — not a universal backplane. That precision fit means reliable power delivery and signal integrity, but it also means you must confirm the exact chassis revision before procurement.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify your SR860 V2's current backplane configuration and available bays before ordering — chassis variants ship with different default storage configurations, and adding this backplane may require corresponding cable and firmware updates.
• At 60 lb, this component requires two-person handling for safe data center installation; do not attempt single-person rack work with this assembly.

The 4C57A15026 is the right call for SR860 V2 deployments where NVMe expansion is part of a planned storage scale-out — not a general-purpose upgrade for mixed server environments.