Ports order on cards when installed left to right or right to left?

Question

Just wondering. When you install a PCI card having multiple ports, depending on the location within the controller, the ports are in the order from left to right or from right to left. Is there an easy way which of both is the right one. Sometimes ports are numbered, sometimes not.... That makes it hard not to make mistakes when cabling the solution....
I know in the GUI there is a view where you can find it. But that is when installation is done. On the other hande, for a metrocluster the iwarp card is not visible this way... so the challenge is there...

andris · Accepted Answer

Hardware Universe images and LED views will usually tell you which is port “a”.

PCIe Adapter cards always have the convention that the top port is the first or “a” port. “Top” is the port furthest away from the PCIe connectors (which is the “bottom”). When onsite, if a card is horizontal, the connectors will tell you which side (left or right) is “bottom”. Generally, for horizontal PCIe card slots, the riser is on the left, which means connectors are on the left. So, the “a” port is furthest to the right, “b” is to the left and so on.