IBM SERVERAID M1015 CROSS FLASHING TO A LSI9211-8I Hard Drive Issue

[rkwallace]

I successfully flashed both my M1015 to LSI9211-8i-it. I used firmware v.20 and installed the driver v.20 to by /boot/kernel. All warnings are cleared. I also ensured both cards had a different number "boot order" however each card only registers 4 hard drives whereas I have 8 connected to each card. I'm sure this is just a minor problem I may have overlooked but maybe somebody can save me some time. Suggestions?

Robin

P.S. I'm like 24 hours noob into the freenas stuff so be easy on me

 

[Ericloewe]

Does FreeNAS see all drives?

If so, not a problem. If you want to fix it, try the following:

• make sure you have the right version of the BIOS extension ROM
• Try the UEFI version of the extension ROM instead
• just get rid of the ROM

 

[rkwallace]

Does FreeNAS see all drives?

If so, not a problem. If you want to fix it, try the following:

• make sure you have the right version of the BIOS extension ROM
• Try the UEFI version of the extension ROM instead
• just get rid of the ROM

I'm gonna try this now, thank you.

 

[rkwallace]

BIOS Version and extension is the same, I cannot try UEFI because my motherboard doesn't support this, however I'm going to crossflash again without ROM.

UPDATE: This didn't work, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[rkwallace]

I know the problem has to do with my cross flash of the IBM ServerRAID M1015. I just need to know where I went wrong. Maybe I just used the wrong firmware.

 

[gpsguy]

Did you flash both the cards without the ROM?

If you try each of the cards, one at a time, do they see all 8 drives?

 

[rkwallace]

Did you flash both the cards without the ROM?

If you try each of the cards, one at a time, do they see all 8 drives?

Yes, I tried them one at a time. With, without BIOS and IR. I think either I have defective cards or cables. I purchased the cards recently on Ebay and rolled the dice on this one.

 

[rkwallace]

Yes, I tried them one at a time. With, without BIOS and IR. I think either I have defective cards or cables. I purchased the cards recently on Ebay and rolled the dice on this one.

Cross flashed back to original firmware, still only sees 4 hard drives. It's bad cards.

 

[Fuganater]

Just buy 9211-8i cards. Upgrading them is super easy.

 

[jgreco]

The 9211-8i's cost about twice as much, which is a showstopper for many of these guys.

 

[Ericloewe]

Two bad cards? That's odd. Are you sure all the cables are working properly?

 

[Fuganater]

The 9211-8i's cost about twice as much, which is a showstopper for many of these guys.

Cheapest M1015 on Ebay is $85. I'd say the extra $10 is well worth it.

 

[BigDave]

Two bad cards? That's odd. Are you sure all the cables are working properly?

^^^^^^^^^ Yes to this!

Is it possible you flashed with the 4i firmware by mistake, I don't even know if this
is possible.

installed the driver v.20 to by /boot/kernel.

Why did you need to "install" the driver

I also ensured both cards had a different number "boot order"

I'm confused by this as well...

 

[Ericloewe]

I'm confused by this as well...

I assume that's the order in which the extension ROMs are loaded.

Why did you need to "install" the driver

I missed that and it's a bad omen...

 

[BigDave]

I assume that's the order in which the extension ROMs are loaded.

Would that apply if you were booting from a drive on one, of say, two controller cards?
Just trying to learn from you Eric, you always give me these pearls of wisdom and I've
started writing them down. NOT kidding :)

 

[Ericloewe]

Would that apply if you were booting from a drive on one, of say, two controller cards?

Yeah, it would determine the boot priority.
I'm not sure about the details (I've never written a BIOS), but the extension ROM has to register the card to provide boot services. Then the boot devices (built-in and cards) are called in order.

I've started writing them down. NOT kidding :)

Well, that's a surprise. :p

 

[rkwallace]

^^^^^^^^^ Yes to this!

Is it possible you flashed with the 4i firmware by mistake, I don't even know if this
is possible.

Why did you need to "install" the driver

I'm confused by this as well...

I used the correct firmware but I returned the cards and found actual LSI9211-8i cards for the same price. So I bought the originals. I assume the person I purchased the cards for did a firmware update and maybe screwed something up.

I installed the drivers so I wouldn't get the version errors. I matched the firmware to the drivers in FreeNAS, it worked.

 

[rkwallace]

Cross flashed back to original firmware, still only sees 4 hard drives. It's bad cards.

Cross flashed back to original firmware, still only sees 4 hard drives. It's bad cards.

I took your advise and purchased 2 LSI9211 Cards and will update them.

 

[esamett]

Not sure if relevant but IR firmware is not recommended. IIRC: IT is the way to go.

http://www.servethehome.com/ibm-serveraid-m1015-part-4/