No hard drives found

[dejv]

Hi,

I am new to freenas and am trying to setup my server.

I have a IBM X3650 with 5x 150 GB, 10gb ram and would like to setup a home server for file backup.

When I remove the hardware array the freenas isnt finding any hard disks





When creating the RAID
take a screenshot











images hosting

 

[MisterIce]

You've set the 5 x 150GB drives as a RAID5 in the hardware controller and then you are trying to import the RAID5 array into ZFS. That's why it's showing up as 1 disk in the 'Volume Manager'.

You need to passthrough all the drives to FreeNAS so it can see them. Then it'll say 5 x 150GB instead of 1 x 586.8GB

Edit: Has your hardware controller the correct firmware?

 

[dejv]

If I disable the raid, it should automatically show all the hard disks available

the raid controller firmware has been like this for more than 4 years and server has been running windows without any problems.



P.s. freenas has been installed on a kingston 32gb pendrive

Edit: I created Raid 0 using hardware raid, and now they are available? is this the correct way or it isnt suggested

 

[Mirfster]

If you plan on using these disks with FreeNAS and there is no data on those drives you want to save:

1. Either in the Raid BIOS or elsewhere, wipe those drives
   
2. Remove the Hardware Raid Controller from the system
3. Attach the drives directly to the Motherboard or an HBA if you lack the ports
4. FreeNAS will now have direct access to the drives and you should be all set

 

[dejv]

when removing the hardware raid controller from the server, server is switching on but after few seconds switches off.

 

[Mirfster]

That is the memory/cache for the Raid Card itself.

 

[dejv]

is it the below? if so I cannot remove it as there are no sata connectors on the motherboard





bdw thanks for the help :)

 

[Mirfster]

No, that looks like the backplane/SAS Expander. What is attached to the other end of the cable? That card should also have a SFF-8087 (Mini SAS connector - Assuming) as well.

P.S. while you are in there you might want to clean out all that dust buildup. ;)

 

[dejv]

the cable is connected directly to the motherboard. It is on my todo list to clean it but first must get it to work :)

 

[Mirfster]

Okay, then you need to check the BIOS and see if there are any settings as far as disabling RAID and possibly it being able to run in native JBOD mode.

There are multiple flavors of the IBM X3650 so I don't really know which one you have. If you have the full Make/Model that would help.

Another option (leaning towards this because I am doubtful of your Raid) would be to get a LSI 9211-8i, IBM M1015, Perc H200 or Perc H310 to use instead. They would simply plug into a PCIe Slot and you would hook the SFF-8087 to that and the Backplane.

 

[dejv]

Machine Type: 7976
Model: KJG

below are some screenshots of the bios

 

[Mirfster]

Alright as I initially suspected that card is NOT to be used with FreeNAS. Ditch it, Disable it in the BIOS, whatever it takes to make that thing invisible to FreeNAS. Get yourself a real HBA (LSI 9211-8i, IBM M1015, Perc H200 or Perc H310) and attach the backplane to that. *** It will use the same Mini-SAS Connector.

References:
IBM System x3650 M2 Product Guide

Disk Controllers
All SAS-equipped x3650 M2 models include an integrated hardware based ServeRAID-BR10i SAS/SATA controller. This controller supports up to twelve internal SAS, SATA or solid-state drives.

The integrated ServeRAID-BR10i controller offers hardware RAID-0/1/1E support. The controller provides data transfer speeds of up to 3Gbps per SAS port on an 8-lane 2.5 Gbps PCIe card. It connects to both SAS and SATA HDDs , SSDs and tape drives.

ServeRAID-BR10i controller can be installed and replaced without tools.

@jgreco 's "Confused about that LSI card? Join the crowd ..."

If you have an older controller of some sort, one that doesn't do SATA-III, you may need some other drivers and you will also be limited to no more than 2TB drives. If you are considering buying one, don't, unless you're getting it for $10 or free or something like that... such controllers include the IBM ServeRAID BR10i and Intel RAID Controller SASUC8I (LSI SAS3082E-R/LSI SAS1068E chipset) and are driven in FreeBSD by the LSI Logic Fusion-MPT SCSI driver ("mpt"). It is possible to crossflash these cards to be a generic LSI SAS1068E card, but the silicon is still capped at 2TB drives.

Really, I am questioning the entire Server and even wondering if the backplane can see individual drives over 2TB in size? While I am not sure, I am wondering due to what they say in the "HDD Storage Capacity" Section of the manual (not going to copy/paste that info since it is too much).

Anyways, decision is up to you. You can find a Perc H200 HBA on eBay for ~ $45.00; install it and give it a whirl if you so desire or you *could* try to cross-flash that Raid Controller, but that is really not worth the effort at all.

 

[dejv]

I have another older server

IBM X3400
Machine Type: 7976
Model: KJG

what about this one is it ok ? if not will get the card you suggested.

 

[Mirfster]

Kinda the same boat I would assume:
http://www-304.ibm.com/shop/americas/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/ataglance/x3400/

 

[dejv]

so basically I get the card, remove the cable from the backplate to the moterboard and connect it from backplate to the new card.

 

[SweetAndLow]

Needs to be flashed with it mode and have correct firmware version. But yes you just plug it in.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[dejv]

ok will check what cards I find locally before as the ones from ebay are either from usa or hong kong which will take approx a month to arrive :/

 

[Stux]

IBM/Lenovo ServeRAID M1015/M1115 are also Lsi9211-8i compatible cards.

 

[dejv]

I will resume the above project as it was put aside and got some more questions:

I will use a IBM System x3650 due to ecc ram (instead of a home pc) my question is that for testing purpose I installed freenas and was getting an error that smart was not running, was it because of the raid controller (which I will be replacing as per above suggestions) or there is a setting that needs to be done or the hard disk/or current raid card does not support it ?

Regarding hard drives was thinking of getting: the 4 of the below for raid z2
WD Red Hard Drive 2 TB 3.5 "SATA 6Gb / s 5400 rpm Buffer: 64 MB internal (WD20EFRX)