How to verify if I have the correct firmware?

[Whattteva]

I have just bought an HP H220 (LSI 9205-8i) that claims it's already been flashed to IT mode.
How do I verify if this is true and also running the correct firmware version that matches the driver version?
I've booted it up with the card on and it seems to work fine, but I want to make absolutely 100% sure.

Also, I'm currently running CORE, but probably looking to switch to SCALE for more robust KVM, are the commands to do these flashes also the same on the SCALE side?

Also, this card feels kinda' hot. Do any of you who has a similar card mount an extra fan on it?

Thanks!

 

[Etorix]

sas2flash -listall should be a good start.

 

[Redcoat]

mount an extra fan on it

That has been done - see https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/ibm-m1015-controller-cooler-update.26516/ There have been reports here, too, but I don't recall one with pics, hence the external cite.

 

[Whattteva]

That has been done - see https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/ibm-m1015-controller-cooler-update.26516/ There have been reports here, too, but I don't recall one with pics, hence the external cite.

Thanks for the link. I was hoping that it would be a lot less involved than that and just a simple fan with some screws, but it looks like I have to do some surgery. I might go for the PCIe bracket solution instead.

 

[Whattteva]

sas2flash -listall should be a good start.

So this is the output of that command. Does that look good to go or do I need to crossflash it? Also, I just see version numbers. How do I know whether it's in IT or IR mode?

 

[Etorix]

In any case, the firmware version does not match the recommended one.
sas2flash -list 0 (of course there's one one…) should give more details.

 

[Whattteva]

In any case, the firmware version does not match the recommended one.
sas2flash -list 0 (of course there's one one…) should give more details.

So, I tried that command and it doesn't seem to work so I went ahead and tried it without the 0 and this is what I got.

Looks like from the Firmware Product ID, it is indeed in IT mode? Looks like the firmware may be a little out-of-date, but is it OK to just keep using it? Never done the flashing and don't really want to risk bricking it or anything, so if it works fine, I don't mind not running the latest. Especially since I see a lot of people on the forums and reddit having trouble flashing their cards to no success.

What's the potential downside to running the version 13 FW?

 

[Etorix]

If I get my SAS nomenclature right a 9205 has a LSI 2308 controller and should be on firmware 20.00.07.00.
13.10.53.00 looks to be far behind that, so there may be a number of issues.

My sole experience of flashing a LSI HBA was a simple matter of booting into the UEFI shell and invoking sas2flash from there. The lengthiest part was… to bring in a screen and keyboard to avoid the major pain of dealing with a Java-based ASPEED 2400 BMC.

 

[Whattteva]

If I get my SAS nomenclature right a 9205 has a LSI 2308 controller and should be on firmware 20.00.07.00.
13.10.53.00 looks to be far behind that, so there may be a number of issues.

My sole experience of flashing a LSI HBA was a simple matter of booting into the UEFI shell and invoking sas2flash from there. The lengthiest part was… to being in a screen and keyboard to avoid the major pain of dealing with a Java-based ASPEED 2400 BMC.

No need to erase first with megarec? My worry is that, from what I've read, a lot of people do this, and then end up not being able to load the new firmware and if I can avoid that issue, I'd rather just not "fix it if ain't broke".

Also, it's interesting that Aspeed 2400 gets a lot of hate because of Java. I've been using it for the last 11 years on my X10SLL-F board, and I really don't have much to complain about. It works pretty well in my experience with good latency (on ethernet). I do use the actual native Java app though, not the web-based java web start app from the web browser. Could that be the reason why?

 

[MisterE2002]

No need to erase first with megarec? My worry is that, from what I've read, a lot of people do this, and then end up not being able to load the new firmware and if I can avoid that issue, I'd rather just not "fix it if ain't broke".

You can also update it in truenas command line. Just disconnect your disks beforehand. Afaik it is almost impossible to "brick" the cards. Can not really help with the steps. I used the original supermicro firmware with my supermicro 2308 and update was easy.

Also, it's interesting that Aspeed 2400 gets a lot of hate because of Java. I've been using it for the last 11 years on my X11 board, and I really don't have much to complain about. It works pretty well in my experience with good latency (on ethernet). I do use the actual native Java app though, not the web-based java web start app from the web browser. Could that be the reason why?

We have other threads on the 2400, and yeah they suck and should be added to the community guides imho. The sole reason i went for the X11 line with the 2500 chip.

 

[Whattteva]

Thank you all for the help. I have now successfully flashed it to LSI P20 firmware!!!