IBM ServeRAID M5110e flash to IT Mode

[viniciusferrao]

Hello guys,

I've got an IBM System x3650 M4 with an onboard IBM ServeRAID M5110e and the JBOD mode doesn't work as expected. It creates an mfisyspdX device which is not detected by SMART and other things, so I need to flash it to IT Mode.

So the question is: someone have any success with those controllers?

Thanks in advance,

 

[cyberjock]

AFAIK those are Rebranded Megaraid cards and there is no IT mode for them.

 

[Ericloewe]

LSI SAS 2208. No IT mode, unfortunately.

 

[viniciusferrao]

Hm. Unfortunately I can't swap the controller, any advices? Using it as mfisyspdX will compromise ZFS in general or I'll just lose the smartctl controls of FreeNAS?

Or this controller is a *no go* and should be "trashed"?

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

Or this controller is a *no go* and should be "trashed"?

A controller that doesn't have a proper JBOD mode is not suitable for use with FreeNAS.

 

[cyberjock]

It should be trashed if you want to use ZFS. This isn't a debate, and there's no going around it.

What Robert said... either get the proper hardware or give up on ZFS and FreeNAS totally.

 

[Richard Gomes]

The documentation says it supports JBOD, but I'm not certain about the details or if it applies in this case.

https://lenovopress.com/tips0857-serveraid-m5110-m5110e

Support for Integrated MegaRAID (iMR) mode (no cache memory upgrades installed) or MegaRAID (MR) mode (requires 512 MB, 1 GB, or 2 GB cache memory upgrade)

• iMR mode (no cache memory upgrades installed) supports:
  • RAID 0, 1, and 10, and, optionally, 5 and 50
  • Fixed stripe unit size of 64 KB
  • Self-encrypting drives with optional Zero Cache/RAID 5 FoD upgrade
  • Both RAID and JBOD (pass-thru mode with system drives) configurations
    • Up to 16 drives are supported in a RAID configuration.
    • Up to 63 drives are supported in a JBOD configuration. (JBOD drives can be used as bootable drives.)

 

[Richard Gomes]

This thread suggests that you'd better scrap it (and I'd better find another card).

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/507262?start=0&tstart=0

 

[Stux]

The important question is do you have room for a hhhl PCIe2 8x card?