LSI 9300-xx Firmware Update 16.00.12.00 *Does this apply to the embedded 3008 controller?*

[Johnny Fartpants]

Hi All,

Just wanted to check if this applies to the embedded 3008 controller found on the SSG-5049P-E1CTR36L?

LSI 9300-xx Firmware Update

Hey Community, If you are using an LSI 9300 HBA with FreeNAS or the soon-to-be TrueNAS CORE, you may experience some performance issues causing the controller to reset when using SATA HDDs. After working with Broadcom, we’ve come up with a...

www.truenas.com

If so I presume in the download I'd use the 9300-8i option?

Thanks

 

[blanchet]

Yes, the firmware 16.00.12.00 applies also to embedded LSI 3008 controller and I have installed this firmware on my Supermicro X10SRH-CLN4F motherboard.

Check with sas3flash -list which firmware image you have to use.
In my case I have used the 9300-8e image.

 

[Johnny Fartpants]

Thanks @blanchet this is my output of sas3flash -list. How do I tell which image to use?

 

[blanchet]

You must use SAS3_FW_Phase16.0-16.00.12.00_Firmware/9300-8e/SAS9300_8e_IT.bin

Details

• When I have received my X10SRH-CLN4F motherboard, the firmware was LSI3008-IR
• After flashing to IT mode, the board became LSI3008-IT
• But after upgrading to TrueNAS special firmware for LSI 3008, the board becomes SAS9300-8E IT

You really need to flash your LSI 3008 because you still run the IR (Raid) firmware instead of the IT (HBA) one.
Even if it may work, TrueNAS runs better with LSI 3008 in IT mode. (browse the forum for more details)

This is my sas3flash output

Code:

# sas3flash -list
Avago Technologies SAS3 Flash Utility
Version 16.00.00.00 (2017.05.02)
Copyright 2008-2017 Avago Technologies. All rights reserved.

    Adapter Selected is a Avago SAS: SAS3008(C0)

    Controller Number              : 0
    Controller                     : SAS3008(C0)
    PCI Address                    : 00:01:00:00
    SAS Address                    : 5003048-0-1cda-bb02
    NVDATA Version (Default)       : 0e.01.00.08
    NVDATA Version (Persistent)    : 0e.01.00.08
    Firmware Product ID            : 0x2221 (IT)
    Firmware Version               : 16.00.12.00
    NVDATA Vendor                  : LSI
    NVDATA Product ID              : SAS9300-8e
    BIOS Version                   : 08.35.00.00
    UEFI BSD Version               : 17.00.00.00
    FCODE Version                  : N/A
    Board Name                     : SAS9300-8e
    Board Assembly                 : N/A
    Board Tracer Number            : N/A

    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS3Flash.

According to the Broadcom documentation, only sas3flash for DOS can be use to switch from IR to IT mode

Follow this guide to create a FreeDOS Live CD

SOLVED - Remotely flash LSI 9300 with FreeDOS Live CD

Abstract This guide explains how to create a custom FreeDOS Live CD to remotely upgrade the firmware of LSI 9300 HBA on a Supermicro server. The custom LiveCD is created from a Linux computer. This guide is based on the instructions from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwPsadNho9M This guide...

www.truenas.com

 

[Johnny Fartpants]

Thanks @blanchet any particular reason why you went with the 9300-8e? The reason I ask is that my understanding was that the 'e' normally references external sas ports and the 'i' internal. Given the controller we have has two internal ports I would have guessed we should use the 9300-8i but perhaps Im missing something? My guess is that is probably doesn't matter a great deal.

Yes I am well aware of IT mode and ZFS this was how the server was shipped to me. However the company that shipped me the server tell me that IR mode is the same as IT mode so long as you don't create a RAID on it.

Many thanks for the advice and links its much appreciated.

 

[NugentS]

IR != IT and the company that shipped it to you are incorrect in their statement

 

[Johnny Fartpants]

https://www.storagereview.com/review/supermicro-lsi-sas3008-hba-review just seen this which also suggests the 9300-8i might be the best fit.

 

[blanchet]

Thanks @blanchet any particular reason why you went with the 9300-8e? The reason I ask is that my understanding was that the 'e' normally references external sas ports and the 'i' internal. Given the controller we have has two internal ports I would have guessed we should use the 9300-8i but perhaps Im missing something? My guess is that is probably doesn't matter a great deal.

I agree: using the 9300-8i is more natural choice for an embedded LSI 3008 controller.
Unfortunately, I do not remember why I have used 9300-8e image instead of 9300-8i.

Maybe both images work.