SOLVED [SOLVED] yet another failed LSI HBA crossflash attempt...

Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Messages
577
Hi there,

I'm so far unsuccessfully attempting to crossflash a DELL PERC H310 card to IT-mode.
I've read and strictly followed the very well written guide over there: https://www.ixsystems.com/community...-lsi-9211-9300-9305-9311-hba-and-variants.54/

To run down my problem:

megarec -writesbr 0
megarec -cleanflash 0

(all successful)
Reboot
lsi-p5-sas2flash -o -f 6GBPSAS.FW
(successful)
lsi-p5-sas2flash -o -f 2118it.bin
(does not finish)
either stops with error "Failed to validate MfgPage2"
or with error "Cannot flash IT firmware over IR firmware"


I've also tried the sas2hax version, I tried a different sbr with megarec according to this guide, which is also mentioned in the newcomers guide down below: https://marcan.st/2016/05/crossflashing-the-fujitsu-d2607/
I tried different packages, the one in the newcomers guide, the one from here: https://techmattr.wordpress.com/201...-flashing-to-it-mode-dell-perc-h200-and-h310/
I tried sas2flash -e flag 6 or 7 both finish successful, but will not change the failures while flashing.

I'm really can't get my head around this. Any help would be appreciated!
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
648
Are you using Linux or FreeBSD (or FreeNAS) to flash? You might want to try making a FreeDOS USB thumbdrive and flashing under that OS.
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
648
Another thought: did you follow the "1) DELL IR -> DELL IT, 2) DELL IT -> LSI IT P7, 3) LSI P7 -> LSI LATEST (P20+)" in the post?
 

jgreco

Resident Grinch
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
18,681
Another thought: did you follow the "1) DELL IR -> DELL IT, 2) DELL IT -> LSI IT P7, 3) LSI P7 -> LSI LATEST (P20+)" in the post?

Yeah, I think the MfgPage2 error is a sign the OP didn't.

I know this seems stupid, but the LSI cards are sold to OEM's with firmware locks of various types. This sequence of card firmware "updates" (or side-grades if you will) is designed to get around that.
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Messages
577
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Messages
577
To give more detail on the issue I made some screenshots:

flashing the DELL FW provided in the package from the guide finishes fine
dellfwsuccess.jpg

what bugs me is altough the provided firmware says it's IT-mode in the filename ("DELL-A10- 6GBPSAS-8e-IT.FW"), after flashing it still gives an "IR" after Firmware Product ID, see here:
stillirfw.jpg

according to the guide it should miss the "IR", to go on crossflash the LSI fw.
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Messages
577
Ok, got it. This was the key advise, thanks to @Newfoundland.Republic
1) DELL IR -> DELL IT, 2) DELL IT -> LSI IT P7, 3) LSI P7 -> LSI LATEST (P20+)
I read that multiple times, but it seems I didn't understand it fully.
You have to start with a DELL IR FW. The one provided in the package under the newcomers thread is the "IT" FW, which comes into play in step 2.
Which means, even if your card comes shipped with IR FW you can't just skip step 1. That's what I didn't get.
I had to download the DELL IR FW from here: https://www.dell.com/support/home/de/de/debsdt1/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=8vgc6 even though it is A09.
From there it went as described in the guide.

itworks.jpg


Thanks for the help!
 

jgreco

Resident Grinch
Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
18,681
It seems to me you helped yourself, maybe with a slight nudge. I usually find that's a sign you'll do well on FreeNAS.
 
Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
648
Yep - my experience is to read the instructions 4, 5 or 6 times and then go through them line-by-line :)
 
Top