I was recently sent pictures and got questions about the handle colors on the Power System E870 or E880 CEC and System Control Unit.

On my early ship beta test machine, the adapter carriers have terracotta (reddish) handles and on GA customer shipped machine blue.

• Terracotta handles mean customer hot-plug capable - but don't simply "grab and yank".  You must go through the HMC maintenance procedure at least for the adapter slot to be powered off to make it safe to be removed.
• Blue handles indicate that you (dear client) must not touch the handle without powering off that component (in this case of adapter slots) or the whole server.

Here is my early ship machine - build in around September 2014 - with eight terracotta handles for adapter carrier removal.

Here is the recent customer installed server - from around December 2014 - with all blue handles.

The official words (but reworded by me unofficially here):  The adapter slots in the E870 or E880 CECs are not client changeable that is an IBM service representative (IBM speak for "customer engineer" or CE) needs to change the parts so they are not Terracotta. The " IBM service representative" can do the hot-plug replacement following the HMC procedure.

Notice the brilliant white-colored rack in the lower picture. It is pretty but I still recommend factory installed into a T42 rack for a quick and fuss-free installation. 

Conclusions:

• Don't worry about the handle colours but get your "IBM service representative" to do the adapter changes.

Just for fun: The color white does make working on the machine simpler due to the extra light - something I would like in my computer room given my computer room lights broke for three weeks a few years ago. Apparently the primary lighting switching panel needed replacement and we waited for new parts. There is nothing trying to find a machine with a torch with black machines in a black rack with black cables to make you appreciate good lighting!  Honestly, I could not make up these stories, as they are so unbelievable!