SuperMicro X10SL7 - LSI2308 - Drives not visible (NOOB)

[ryanw]

Hi,
I've just got a SuperMicro X10SL-F from Ebay to try to build a first NAS.
16GB ECC RAM
3 x 250 GB WD drives (just whilst I test things out)
Xeon E3-1230L V3 1.8Ghz CPU

I can happily get it all up and running on the onboard SATA ports, however no drives are seen if I plug the same connectors into the LSI2308 ports instead.

I've already flashed (and confirmed it changed) with the 20.00.04.00-IT.
I've seen it is enabled in the SAS Config Utility in BIOS startup too.

Any ideas what I am missing please?

 

[NugentS]

Do you see the drives in the LSI BIOS. If not then it would suggest wrong cabling

 

[ryanw]

Should I see them in the LSI SAS Config utility? Or in the BIOS itself somewhere?
I wondered about cables so I bought these CABLEDECONN High Speed 6Gbps 4pcs/Set Sata Cable SAS Cable for Server 0.5M (https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010PAP3O2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) I've tried them but they have made no difference.
Are they correct or should I be trying some others?

 

[Redcoat]

Is the SAS Enable jumper JPS1 set 1-2? Do you have a SAS Heartbeat Light LED2 flashing?

I'm wondering about the firmware version you flashed to - take a look at @Spearfoot 's posts in this thread https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/x10sl7-f-lsi-sas-2308-fw-for-freenas-11-3-stable.83085/

 

[ryanw]

Is the SAS Enable jumper JPS1 set 1-2? Do you have a SAS Heartbeat Light LED2 flashing?

I'm wondering about the firmware version you flashed to - take a look at @Spearfoot 's posts in this thread https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/x10sl7-f-lsi-sas-2308-fw-for-freenas-11-3-stable.83085/

Thanks Redcoat.

Yep the jumper is correct and the LED is flashing green.

The link to IT firmware phase 20.00.07.00 on that link you kindly sent just takes me to the Supermicro homepage now.
Are you thinking I should be trying 20.00.07.00 rather than the 04 I have?
Do you happen to know where I can get it now?

 

[ryanw]

Thanks Redcoat.

Yep the jumper is correct and the LED is flashing green.

The link to IT firmware phase 20.00.07.00 on that link you kindly sent just takes me to the Supermicro homepage now.
Are you thinking I should be trying 20.00.07.00 rather than the 04 I have?
Do you happen to know where I can get it now?

I see it in a zip on that link - sorry I must be getting tired.

 

[Redcoat]

Are you thinking I should be trying 20.00.07.00 rather than the 04 I have?

Yes, that's what I am thinking. @Spearfoot is highly regarded here for knowledge and sound advice and I'd expect him to chip in if this develops further.

 

[ryanw]

Yes, that's what I am thinking. @Spearfoot is highly regarded here for knowledge and sound advice and I'd expect him to chip in if this develops further.

@Spearfoot - in this thread https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/x10sl7-f-lsi-sas-2308-fw-for-freenas-11-3-stable.83085/ there is a zip file. It seems to suggest 20.00.04.00-IT. Is that the correct file I should be flashing, or is there another one 20.00.07.00-IT that I should be using? I can't find it on the Supermicro site you linked to?

 

[ryanw]

Yes, that's what I am thinking. @Spearfoot is highly regarded here for knowledge and sound advice and I'd expect him to chip in if this develops further.

Struggling to find that 20.00.07.00 driver download

 

[Redcoat]

I see it in a zip on that link - sorry I must be getting tired.

That's not the right file. You do need the .07 version. I've been looking for it, haven't found it yet.

 

[Redcoat]

Well, I cannot find the 07 version. But I did find comments, including one from @Spearfoot, that the .04 version ran fine, that the .07 version had a few fixes but that addressed unusual circumstances. I didn't see anything that suggested that non-visible drives would appear, for instance. It doesn't look as if it's the fix you need. @Spearfoot may have some words of wisdom.

There's a manual for the 2308 at https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/other/LSI_HostRAID_2308.pdf. It has an IT mode section and there appear to be some configuration options ... I can't tell if there's a potential fix there, though.

 

[ryanw]

Thanks @Redcoat

Reading through that manual made me start to think and as I had an SSD hanging around I decided to plug it in to the LSI port and hey presto the SSD showed up!

Those WD drives that I was trying are rather old, so I guess they just don't have the appropriate firmware or are just on their way out to be able to be picked up.

Forced me into the 'real' drive purchase so I have 3 shiny new WD Red Pro drives en route... hopefully they'll show up in Truenas or it could be an expensive mistake. I'll post back the results once I try plugging them in.

Thanks for looking for that firmware.

 

[Ericloewe]

Are they SATA 1.5 Gb/s disks by any chance?

 

[ryanw]

Are they SATA 1.5 Gb/s disks by any chance?

They may well be. Would that cause the issue do you reckon?

 

[Ericloewe]

I know that LSI SAS3 controllers no longer support SATA 1.5Gb/s, but the SAS 2308 is supposed to still support them. Could be a firmware bug nobody noticed/cared about or something like that.

 

[Redcoat]

Reading through that manual made me start to think and as I had an SSD hanging around I decided to plug it in to the LSI port and hey presto the SSD showed up!

Interesting and encouraging! A small win...

Out of interest, where did you find the .04 firmware that you flashed with?

 

[Jailer]

Interesting and encouraging! A small win...

Out of interest, where did you find the .04 firmware that you flashed with?

I run ths 04 firmware on my X10SL7F and have for a while now without issue. Supermicro emailed it to me when it became available so I would assume it would be available for download from Supermicros site.

 

[ryanw]

New drives arrived and installed.... and they show up.
Those previous drives must have just been too old.
At least problem solved now.
Thanks everyone for support.