LSI Controller FW updates IR/IT modes

Hi everyone,

Well, I must say, I approach this endeavor with a bit of trepidation.  I'm not used to working on server hardware, and the idea of flashing bios's on drive controller cards for some reason gives me the heebiejeebies.

But, thanks to madburg's original post (wow, 2011???) I successfully managed to upgrade my IBM MEGARAID card to P11.  Wasn't without it's hiccups (got a PAL error when trying to flash via my desktop server), so I ended up creating a USB dos disk. 

Also discovered why I couldn't use anything larger than 256mb as my boot device in my tower.... the original HBA card in the machine would refuse to work nicely with larger thumb drives.  I was successfully able to boot of a 8gb thumb drive for the first time after I removed the original HBA.  Now I can finally upgrade my 10+ yr old flash drive to something newer (and hopefully faster).

I don't know if madburg is still following this thread (I haven't read through more than the first 2-3 pages) but he did request uploading of the SBR extracted from my card... which I have done.

So, after all that work, I have one tiny little problem that prevents me from enjoying >3tb goodness... (the whole point of this exercise!) ... my SFF-8087 cable is about 2 inches too short now.  Gah.

Off to buy a new one.

Edit:

Got the cable!  Installed everything and it worked!  Yay!  Happily using some 3TB drives that I had laying around.  Very sweet. 

IBM1015.zip

just grabbed another m1015,

I can straight go to P19 right ?

or I need to follow P11 conversion method then upgrade to P19 ?

just grabbed another m1015,

I can straight go to P19 right ?

or I need to follow P11 conversion method then upgrade to P19 ?

Yeah, that's fine. I went straight to P20 on my 2 lsi 9220-8i cards.  All is working good.

What controller do I need to pick from Avago's site to upgrade a IBM 9220 from P11 to P19. I rather ask then brick a card.

Just need to confirm I need to use 9211 i8 P19

Also when i flash the card to P11 via the files from here, I can get all the way to the card and config the card but the system will no boot to USB nor can I get into the MB bios. Anyone run into this?

What controller do I need to pick from Avago's site to upgrade a IBM 9220 from P11 to P19. I rather ask then brick a card.

 

Just need to confirm I need to use 9211 i8 P19

Yep, that's what you want to use.

 

Also when i flash the card to P11 via the files from here, I can get all the way to the card and config the card but the system will no boot to USB nor can I get into the MB bios. Anyone run into this?

Maybe try a different slot or a different MB.

I was able to get the card upgraded t P19, thank you for the help. One thing i noticed is I am not getting drive temps from my SAS drives connected to the controller, I am also not getting SMART. Did I miss something to get this enabled?

6.1.4

I was able to get the card upgraded t P19, thank you for the help. One thing i noticed is I am not getting drive temps from my SAS drives connected to the controller, I am also not getting SMART. Did I miss something to get this enabled?

 

6.1.4

hmmm, boot into unraid with the card installed. Look in tools->system log and make sure it lists a LSI card in "initator target" mode.  Should show something like this.... Yours should list FWVersion 19.XXXX

Dec  1 08:14:50 Tower kernel: mpt2sas0: LSISAS2008: FWVersion(20.00.04.00), ChipRevision(0x03), BiosVersion(07.39.00.00)

Dec  1 08:14:50 Tower kernel: mpt2sas0: Protocol=(Initiator,Target), Capabilities=(TLR,EEDP,Snapshot Buffer,Diag Trace Buffer,Task Set Full,NCQ)

Yes I can see it loaded.

Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: diag reset: SUCCESS
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: Allocated physical memory: size(3392 kB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: Current Controller Queue Depth(1483), Max Controller Queue Depth(1720)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: Scatter Gather Elements per IO(128)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: LSISAS2008: FWVersion(19.00.00.00), ChipRevision(0x02), BiosVersion(07.37.00.00)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: Protocol=(Initiator), Capabilities=(Raid,TLR,EEDP,Snapshot Buffer,Diag Trace Buffer,Task Set Full,NCQ)[/b][/b]
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi host1: Fusion MPT SAS Host
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: sending port enable !!
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: host_add: handle(0x0001), sas_addr(0x500605b001f34d80), phys(
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: mpt2sas0: port enable: SUCCESS
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access     HGST     HUS724040ALS640  A1C4 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:0:0: SSP: handle(0x0009), sas_addr(0x5000cca05c2bb471), phy(0), device_name(0x5000cca05c2bb473)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:0:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(3)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: [sdd] 7814037168 512-byte logical blocks: (4.00 TB/3.63 TiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: [sdd] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: [sdd] Mode Sense: f7 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:1:0: Direct-Access     SEAGATE  ST3400755SS      NS25 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:1:0: SSP: handle(0x000a), sas_addr(0x5000c5000a766609), phy(7), device_name(0x0000000000000000)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:1:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(4)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: [sdd] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: Attached scsi generic sg4 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: [sde] 781250000 512-byte logical blocks: (400 GB/372 GiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:2:0: Direct-Access     SEAGATE  ST3400755SS      NS25 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:2:0: SSP: handle(0x000b), sas_addr(0x5000c5000a766ef1), phy(6), device_name(0x0000000000000000)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:2:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(5)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: [sde] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: [sde] Mode Sense: b3 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: [sde] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: Attached scsi generic sg5 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: [sdf] 781250000 512-byte logical blocks: (400 GB/372 GiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:3:0: Direct-Access     HGST     HUS724040ALS640  A1C4 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:3:0: SSP: handle(0x000c), sas_addr(0x5000cca03bc24f35), phy(1), device_name(0x5000cca03bc24f37)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:3:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(2)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: [sdf] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: [sdf] Mode Sense: b3 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: Attached scsi generic sg6 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: [sdg] 7814037168 512-byte logical blocks: (4.00 TB/3.63 TiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: [sdf] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: [sdg] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: [sdg] Mode Sense: f7 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:4:0: Direct-Access     HGST     HUS724040ALS640  A1C4 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:4:0: SSP: handle(0x000d), sas_addr(0x5000cca05c2c1df9), phy(2), device_name(0x5000cca05c2c1dfb)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:4:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(1)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: [sdg] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: Attached scsi generic sg7 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: [sdh] 7814037168 512-byte logical blocks: (4.00 TB/3.63 TiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:5:0: Direct-Access     HGST     HUS724040ALS640  A1C4 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:5:0: SSP: handle(0x000e), sas_addr(0x5000cca05c2a1521), phy(3), device_name(0x5000cca05c2a1523)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: scsi 1:0:5:0: SSP: enclosure_logical_id(0x500605b001f34d80), slot(0)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: [sdh] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: [sdh] Mode Sense: f7 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: [sdh] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sde: sde1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: Attached scsi generic sg8 type 0
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: [sdi] 7814037168 512-byte logical blocks: (4.00 TB/3.63 TiB)
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sdf: sdf1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: [sdi] Write Protect is off
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: [sdi] Mode Sense: f7 00 10 08
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: [sdi] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, supports DPO and FUA
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:1:0: [sde] Attached SCSI disk
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:2:0: [sdf] Attached SCSI disk
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sdd: sdd1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sdg: sdg1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:0:0: [sdd] Attached SCSI disk
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sdh: sdh1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:3:0: [sdg] Attached SCSI disk
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sdi: sdi1
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:4:0: [sdh] Attached SCSI disk
Dec  1 16:32:01 UnRaid kernel: sd 1:0:5:0: [sdi] Attached SCSI disk

Yeah I don't know then.  It looks like it's flashed correctly.  Maybe somebody else has an idea.  You sure the drive is actually spun up?

EDIT after looking at your log again it's showing under capabilities RAID.  Mine doesn't show that.

This is exactly what mine shows.  My bet is that your card isn't flashed fully for some reason.

Dec  1 08:14:50 Tower kernel: mpt2sas0: LSISAS2008: FWVersion(20.00.04.00), ChipRevision(0x03), BiosVersion(07.39.00.00)

Dec  1 08:14:50 Tower kernel: mpt2sas0: Protocol=(Initiator,Target), Capabilities=(TLR,EEDP,Snapshot Buffer,Diag Trace Buffer,Task Set Full,NCQ)

Mine is flashed IR, my guess is your is flashed IT, that is why you see raid on mine.

I am thinking of trying to flash IT, I only flashed IR is make sure my drives still worked after moving them from an Adaptec card that was running in the system be this card.

Mine is flashed IR, my guess is your is flashed IT, that is why you see raid on mine.

 

I am thinking of trying to flash IT, I only flashed IR is make sure my drives still worked after moving them from an Adaptec card that was running in the system be this card.

Yeah it needs to be IT mode.

I will give that a try and see what happens.

I will give that a try and see what happens.

Flashed with IT mode, still no go. I did notice that I can spin down my Cache drives on Channel 1 but I am not able to spin down my Data drives on Channel 0. When I do SMART on the drives SMART does not think the drives are spun up.

This will be my first time trying to flash a raid card, so I just wanted to post this to make sure I'm going through the steps correctly.

I recently got "LSI Internal SATA/SAS 9211-8i 6Gb/s PCI-Express 2.0 RAID Controller" off of ebay. I should be able to install it in my unraid server and flash it with "LSI SAS2008 Controllers(P11)Linux.rar - 3.16 MB (unRAID)" listed on the first page of this post, with the "LSI SAS2008 chipset" section, right? MY initial though was to install it in my desktop for the flashing, but I might as well do it in the unraid box if I can. After that I should be able to see the mode as IT in the server logs, correct? Also, how would I go about testing the card itself to make sure all is well with it (since I got it from ebay used)? Thanks in advance.

P20 is the latest firmware from LSI/Avago that you can flash on that card!

http://www.avagotech.com/products/server-storage/host-bus-adapters/sas-9211-8i#downloads

Can't think of a test you could do to see if the card is "well".

If the firmware update is going well, it is a good sign.

Run a parity check with your old setup and check again with the fully populated

new controller. If there are no differences there is another good sign.

Crosscheck new writes to the array by comparing checksums.

Have a backup.

Thanks for the reply and the link fireball3. Would I be able to do this with the card in the unraid box using "Installer_P20_for_Linux" or would I need to have it in a windows box first and use "9211_8i_Package_P20_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows"? I'll try loading the card up with drives and doing a parity check, like you said. That makes sense to ensure all the drives are seen on the card and its good to go. Thanks in advance.

My H310 controller cannot be found by dell flash tool here is the picture from boot screen any points?

The list.out file shows the following:

****************************************************************************

  LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.

  Version 7.15.00.00 (2011.05.02)

  Copyright © 2009 - 2010 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.

****************************************************************************

No LSI SAS adapters found! Limited Command Set Available!

ERROR: Command Not allowed without an adapter!

ERROR: Couldn't Create Command -listall

I used the utility from the first page and was able to successfully patch the H310 conroller with Dell IT firmware

Exiting Program.

Hey guys,

I just bought RS2wC080 (SAS9240-8i) hoping that reconfig to IT mode was straight-forward. With small amount of reading here I'm quickly learning it may not be...

So, appologies for the noob question, but do I just install LSI MegaRAID SAS2008 Controller.zip - 5.32 MB  posted on the first page, and will there be a windows gui to provide me an option to flash it in IT/pass through mode? Is there a step-by-step instruction burried in this 60+ pages post?

I tried going through first couple pages, and my brain started hurting...

Hello all, I got myself a SAS3041E-HP card off Ebay because it was cheap. I knew that I had to flash the card to IT firmware and that it does not support drives larger than 2.2TB (well it does but not able to use all space).  I couldn`t flash the card with the files from LSI (avagotech) website using freedos. Kept getting the pal error on 3 motherboards even an old one. Had to use an old MSI board but using an old win98 dos disk via usb, freedos would not work.

So I have a working  SAS3041E-HP card with the SAS1064ET (b1) chipset working. I`m going to do a parity check to see if my speeds improve over the SiI 3114 card, they should do.

I got to be a pro at this when I upgraded my cards and also did several for other users on here on the forum for free. It was actually hard to brick a card. I still have my notes and could look them up if needed, and still have all files I used. One thing I do remember to avoid manufacture checks was to use an older version of SAS2FLSH. I do remember when using the latest version that came with P20 complained also.

Has anyone been able to get an IBM M1015 working with a Supermicro X8SIL-F Board? Pulling my hair out trying to get the board to recognize the card (settings tweaked, bios updated etc etc) but I still get the "no MR controller found" message when running the megarec -adlist tool. Cannot get it to be recognized in another Gigabyte board either.

I suspect its DOA...

Has anyone been able to get an IBM M1015 working with a Supermicro X8SIL-F Board? Pulling my hair out trying to get the board to recognize the card (settings tweaked, bios updated etc etc) but I still get the "no MR controller found" message when running the megarec -adlist tool. Cannot get it to be recognized in another Gigabyte board either.

 

I suspect its DOA...

When the computer boots up you'll see it being initialized. Do you see that?

Has anyone been able to get an IBM M1015 working with a Supermicro X8SIL-F Board? Pulling my hair out trying to get the board to recognize the card (settings tweaked, bios updated etc etc) but I still get the "no MR controller found" message when running the megarec -adlist tool. Cannot get it to be recognized in another Gigabyte board either.

 

I suspect its DOA...

 

When the computer boots up you'll see it being initialized. Do you see that?

No sir, nothing. No LEDs and a cold heatsink.

No sir, nothing. No LEDs and a cold heatsink.

It probably DOA, mine are Dell H310 but there’s a led regularly flashing from power on and the heatsink will feel warm to the touch after 30 seconds.