Silverstone Tek Server-Grade HBA 9211-8i Expansion Card with Dual SFF8087 Connectors ECS02 ? ? ?

[solarisguy]

I have searched the forum and there are only two threads that mention this particular HBA card. And both posters are at the planning stage :D
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/new-build-replacing-existing-freenas-box.36505/
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/silverstone-cs01-hs-w-8-drives.36976/

I am willing to be a lab rat, but before I risk hundreds of dollars, I would like to ask here whether it makes any sense.

I would like to use it for 4-8 (undecided yet) 6TB WD Red drives. The remainder would come from C224 chipset on an Intel motherboard.

No manual on silverstonetek.com. Please read the manual from the included CD they say...

And a newbie question... Would these be the right types of the cable ?
Monoprice 0.75m 30AWG Internal Mini SAS 36-Pin Male with Latch to 7-Pin Female Forward Breakout Cable
Monoprice 1m 30AWG Internal Mini SAS 36-Pin Male with Latch to 7-Pin Female Forward Breakout Cable

Thank you in advance for any advice!

 

[danb35]

From the item number, it sounds like it's just a rebadged LSI 9211-8i, which works very well once flashed to IT mode firmware of the appropriate version. The cables you mention sound like what you need. What you don't want are reverse breakout cables.

 

[solarisguy]

Thank you danb35! Money spent... should have it in a week. Downloaded:

• 9211_8i_Package_P16_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip
• 9211_8i_Package_P20_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip

and now I am waiting, and waiting, and waiting... ;)

 

[Ericloewe]

Edit: It does look like a simple LSI SAS 9211 rebadge.