Can't see my hard drives

[Derek Renfro]

I can't seem to see my drives on my new build. They are brand new 6TB WD Red drives.
my equipment is:

Intel Xeon Processor E5-2603v4
CSE-826 SAS-826A
32 GB Crucial DDR4 SDRAM
SUPERMICRO MBD-X10SRL-F
920W PSU

I thought maybe the drives were to large for the backplane, but i tried a 2TB drive and it does not show up as well. I was able to install FreeNAS on a USB and i can see that drive but not the ones connected to the backplane. I can't see the drives in the bios either. I am assuming it is something to do with the backplane, but this is my first ever build so i also could be completely missing something. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE: I connected a hdd directly to the MOBO and it was able to see it. I also connected a 1TB drive to the backplane and still did not see it. I think this definitly points to a bad backplane unless im missing something. I do only have two sas connectors of the three available if that makes any difference.

 

[kdragon75]

You may want to double check the part number on the SAS expander. If that correct, its a SAS1/SATA2 chip. Its only good for 3gbs and has awful support for newer/large drives. You need the CSE-826 SAS2-826A expander.
From the ebay listing:

SAS-826A backplane is installed
Operates at 6gb/s

Double check as that 6gb/s claim may be an outright lie.

 

[danb35]

double check the part number on the SAS expander.

What SAS expander? The -A backplane is a direct-attach model with one SAS connector/four bays. I wouldn't say it can't be the problem, but I kind of doubt it.

@Derek Renfro, how is the backplane connected to the motherboard?

 

[kdragon75]

Yep the MG9071 is only the enclosure controller (provides SES-2 over I2C). Thanks for the correction.