HP sas expander and INTEL DH67GD

[riste]

Hi
I have just tried to install a hp sas expander card to my Intel Desktop Board DH67GD. The card lits up but i cant find any drives in bios nor FreeNAS. Any thoughts what might be the problem?
//
Nicklas

 

[Mirfster]

What Make/Model HP SAS Expander.. I just discovered (yesterday?) that Expanders need to be driven by an HBA... So perhaps that is the issue?

Can you elaborate on how this is installed and setup?

 

[riste]

What Make/Model HP SAS Expander.. I just discovered (yesterday?) that Expanders need to be driven by an HBA... So perhaps that is the issue?

Can you elaborate on how this is installed and setup?

I will try to be more specific...

First of here is the card... HP 24 Bay PCI-E SAS Expander Card 468.406-B21 487.738 to 001

I have this card installed in a pci-e x16 slot. With 6s 8087 cables connected to the backplanes of this case https://www.xcase.co.uk/collections...lue-rm-424-24-hotswap-bays?variant=9205909957

AM SUCH A NOOB...
Been reading about expanders and hbas...
to make this simple
backplane to HBA to optional expander?

 

[Mirfster]

For reference, I will direct you to this Thread.

I *don't think* that is the way it works, I think that you still need an HBA; but will defer to others (like @Ericloewe)

 

[riste]

For reference, I will direct you to this Thread.

I *don't think* that is the way it works, I think that you still need an HBA; but will defer to others (like @Ericloewe)

AM SUCH A NOOB...
Been reading about expanders and hbas...
to make this simple
backplane to HBA to optional expander?

 

[Ericloewe]

I will try to be more specific...

First of here is the card... HP 24 Bay PCI-E SAS Expander Card 468.406-B21 487.738 to 001

I have this card installed in a pci-e x16 slot. With 6s 8087 cables connected to the backplanes of this case https://www.xcase.co.uk/collections...lue-rm-424-24-hotswap-bays?variant=9205909957

AM SUCH A NOOB...
Been reading about expanders and hbas...
to make this simple
backplane to HBA to optional expander?

That'd be very nice. If you wanted the drives to talk to each other (and if they could).

SAS expanders do not communicate anything over PCI-e. The PCI-e card edge connector on that thing is only there as an alternative source of power and/or a neat way of placing it in a server. You need an SAS HBA - and you won't be able to run 24 drives off that expander.

 

[Mirfster]

AM SUCH A NOOB...

Nah, I didn't know until yesterday myself... :)
One of the best attributes about these forums is the wealth of knowledge from the contributors.

 

[Ericloewe]

backplane to HBA to optional expander?

No.

The expander is like a network switch. You just use it to run more than four drives off a single SFF-8087 connector from an HBA.

Code:

Code:
Host ---> HBA ---> Expander ---> HDD
                            ---> HDD
          ---------------------> HDD

 

[riste]

THX for the replys!

 

[riste]

No.

The expander is like a network switch. You just use it to run more than four drives off a single SFF-8087 connector from an HBA.

Code:

Code:
Host ---> HBA ---> Expander ---> HDD
                            ---> HDD
          ---------------------> HDD

Hi i am trying to solve my noob issues...
IF i connect my sas expander to this http://storage.microsemi.com/en-us/support/raid/sas_raid/sas-6405e/ would that make it possible to utililize the ports on the sas expander card?

 

[Mirfster]

I think that is a Hardware Raid and not capable of providing FreeNAS direct access to the drives like a HBA. If that is the case, I say not to use that with FreeNAS.

 

[Ericloewe]

Hi i am trying to solve my noob issues...
IF i connect my sas expander to this http://storage.microsemi.com/en-us/support/raid/sas_raid/sas-6405e/ would that make it possible to utililize the ports on the sas expander card?

Something of the sort, but that's a poor choice. You want an LSI HBA.

 

[riste]

Something of the sort, but that's a poor choice. You want an LSI HBA.

I only have One pci e 16x the other ones are pci or pci e 1x. So i cant use any lsi card i have found.... They are atleast 4x.

I just want to be able to connect my 24 drives... So any other solution am all ears.

 

[Stux]

I only have One pci e 16x the other ones are pci or pci e 1x. So i cant use any lsi card i have found.... They are atleast 4x.

I just want to be able to connect my 24 drives... So any other solution am all ears.

What's wrong with putting the LSI in the x16 slot?

 

[riste]

What's wrong with putting the LSI in the x16 slot?

Sorry for being unclear. The sas card is 8x i believe. It wont fit a pci e 1x

 

[Stux]

Normally a sas expander card does not need to be in a PCIe slot and they can be powered using an alternative method.

Put the LSI HBA in the x16 slot.

 

[riste]

Normally a sas expander card does not need to be in a PCIe slot and they can be powered using an alternative method.

Put the LSI HBA in the x16 slot.

Can it be powered by the sff8087 cable?

 

[Stux]

Can it be powered by the sff8087 cable?

All the ones I've seen have a mloex or some other connector to supply power.

 

[riste]

All the ones I've seen have a mloex or some other connector to supply power.

here is my card

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-24-Bay-SAS-Expander-Card-487738-001-468405-002-New-Bulk-/141853886808

cant see how this card will get power from anything but pci-e...?

 

[Ericloewe]

Can it be powered by the sff8087 cable?

No chance in hell.

here is my card

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-24-Bay-SAS-Expander-Card-487738-001-468405-002-New-Bulk-/141853886808

cant see how this card will get power from anything but pci-e...?

Yeah, that's poor design.

A flatflex PCI-e extension from x1 to x16 might work and allow you to place it wherever you want in the chassis.