Walkthrough: Crossflash Dell PERC H310

[Vincent Saelzler]

I hope my personal experience on this is helpful for others!

I utilized OCR software to capture some of the command outputs in text format. That's something which generally seem to be missing from forum posts on this topic.

A Dell PERC H310 was flashed, using a Dell PowerEdge R720xd.

Software Used

Dell A11 Firmware

• The release notes state that the A11 firmware is the same as the widely-recommended A10 firmware.
• A11 just fixed a bug on the SUSE installer.

Broadcom/LSI SAS 9211-8i P20 Firmware

• I wasn't able to locate the "product page" for the SAS 9211 card on Broadcom's website.
• However, this direct download link does seem to be available.

Edit: Originally, I wasn't able to find the 9211 firmware, so I was using the 9210 firmware. This post was updated once I found the 9211 firmware.

Zip File from Newcomers' Guide

• Required reading if you're going to do this. The vast majority of the steps I took follow this guide.
• The files are used to jump from Dell firmware to LSI firmware.
• Contains legacy versions of LSI installers/firmware.

Environment

Everything was done under FreeDOS, because I had trouble getting the UEFI to boot on my Dell R720xd.
The weird file/directory names throughout the post are because DOS truncates file/directory names.

The directories are as follows:

• A11 - From the Dell A11 Download
• P20 - From the Broadcom/LSI P20 Firmware Download
• _MEGAREC - From the Zip File
• _SA2F~1 - From the Zip File

Identify SAS Controllers in System

The easiest way to idenfify the card is SAS2Flash.

Code:

C:\>A11\SAS2FLSH.EXE -listall
****************************************************************************
   LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
   Version 7.15.00.00 (2011.05.02)
   Copyright (c) 2009 — 2010 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
    Num    Ctlr        FW Ver        NVDATA         x86—BIOS    PCI Addr
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    0    SAS2008(B2)    07.15.08.00 07.00.00.19    07.11.10.00    00:04:00:00
    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash.

If this doesn't work, try using MEGAREC.

Code:

C:\_MEGAREC>MEGAREC.EXE -adpList
DOS/32A —— Protected Mode Run—time Version 7.35
Copyright (C) Supernar Systems, Ltd. 1996-2005
DOS/32A warning (9004): mouse initialization failed
MegaRAID HWR Contoller Recovery tool. Version 01.01—004 February 05, 2010
Copyright (c) 2006—2008 LSI Corp.
Supports 1078 controller and its Successors.
Identfied MR Cards Count: 1
List of Identfied Cards
MR Card 0
Type: 2008
Vendor Id: 0x1000, Device Id: 0x72
Slot No: 4, Device Function: 0x0
Press a key to continue...
NOTE: If few more MR controller(s) physically present and not displayed,
Please shutdown the system and set the jumper in default position and power up.
If the controller is not displayed even after setting the jumper,
Please remove that contoller from the sytem. That can’t be recovered.

Wipe Card
Wipe the Flash

Code:

C:\_MEGAREC>megarec.exe -cleanflash 0
DOS/32A —— Protected Mode Run—time Version 7.35
Copyright (C) Supernar Systems, Ltd. 1996-2005
DOS/32A warning (9004): mouse initialization failed
MegaRAID HWR Contoller Recovery tool. Version 01.01—004 February 05, 2010
Copyright (c) 2006—2008 LSI Corp.
Supports 1078 controller and its Successors.
Erasing Flash Chip
Completed: 100%
Success

Wipe the SBR

Code:

C:\_MEGAREC>megarec.exe -writesbr 0 sbrempty.bin
DOS/32A —— Protected Mode Run—time Version 7.35
Copyright (C) Supernar Systems, Ltd. 1996-2005
DOS/32A warning (9004): mouse initialization failed
MegaRAID HWR Contoller Recovery tool. Version 01.01—004 February 05, 2010
Copyright (c) 2006—2008 LSI Corp.
Supports 1078 controller and its Successors.
Chip is in FUSION mode
Success

Flash Dell A11 (IT) Firmware

Code:

C:\A11>sas2flsh.exe -c 0 -o -f 6gbpsas.fw
****************************************************************************
   LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
   Version 7.15.00.00 (2011.05.02)
   Copyright (c) 2009 — 2010 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
Advanced Mode Set
Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image
Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
Firmware Image compatible with Controller.
Valid NVDATA Image found.
Valid Initialization Image verified.
Valid BootLoader Image verified.
Chip is in RESET state. attempting Host Boot...
Firmware Host Boot Successful !
Writing Current Adapter Settings to NVRam
Updated Adapter !
Resetting adapter...
Adapter Reset Completed.
Chip is in RESET state. Performing Host Boot...
Firmware Host Boot Successful!
Beginning Firmware Download...
Firmware Download Successful.
Resetting adapter...
Adapter Successfully Reset

Flash LSI P7 Firmware with P5 Flasher
Note the prompt about the vendor IDs not matching!

Code:

C:\_SA2F~1>LSI-P5~1.EXE -c 0 -o -f LSI-P7~1.BIN
****************************************************************************
   LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
   Version 5.00.00.00 (2010.02.10)
   Copyright (c) 2009 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
Advanced Mode Set
Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(??)
Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image
    Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
    Firmware Image compatible with Controller.
    Valid NVDATA Image found.
    NVDATA Versions Compatible.
    NVDATA Product ID and Vendor ID do not match.
    Would you like to flash anyway [y/n]? y
    Valid Initialization Image verified.
    Valid BootLoader Image verified.
    Beginning Firmware Download...
    Firmware Download Successful.
    Verifying Download...
    Firmware Flash Successful!
    Resetting adapter...
    Adapter Successfully Reset.
Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
Exiting SAS2Flash.

Update LSI P7 to LSI P20

Code:

C:\P20\SAS2FL~1>sas2flsh.exe —c 0 -o —f ..\firmware\hba_92~2\2108IT.BIN
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 20.00.00.00 (2014.09.18)
Copyright (c) 2008—2014 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved
Advanced Mode Set
Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image
    Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
    Firmware Version 20.00.07.00
    Firmware Image compatible with Controller.
    Valid NVDATA Image found.
    NVDATA Version 14.01.00.00
    Checking for a compatible NVData image...
    NVDATA Device ID and Chip Revision match verified.
    NVDATA Versions Compatible.
    Valid Initialization Image verified.
    Valid BootLoader Image verified.
    Beginning Firmware Download...
    Firmware Download Successful.
    Verifying Download...
    Firmware Flash Successful.
    Resetting adapter...
    Adapter Successfully Reset.
Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
Exiting SAS2Flash.
Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
Exiting SAS2Flash.

Install Boot ROMs

• If you are booting from one of the disks connected to the PERC H310, this is required! Otherwise it's optional.
• I utilized the Dell boot loaders to maximize compatibility with the PowerEdge R720xd.
• The mptsas2.rom is the BIOS based booter.
• The x64sas2.rom is UEFI.

Code:

C:\A11>sas2flsh.exe —c 0 —o —b x64sas2.rom
****************************************************************************
   LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
   Version 7.15.00.00 (2011.05.02)
   Copyright (c) 2009 — 2010 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
    Advanced Mode Set
    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
    Executing Operation: Flash BIOS Image
        Validating BIOS Image...
        BIOS Header Signature is Valid
        BIOS Image has a Valid Checksum.
        BIOS PCI Structure Signature Valid.
        BIOS Image Compatible with the SAS Controller.
        Attempting to Flash BIOS Image...
        Flash BIOS Image Successful.
    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash.

Code:

C:\A11>sas2flsh.exe —c 0 —o —b mptsas2.rom
****************************************************************************
   LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
   Version 7.15.00.00 (2011.05.02)
   Copyright (c) 2009 — 2010 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
    Advanced Mode Set
    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
    Executing Operation: Flash BIOS Image
        Validating BIOS Image...
        BIOS Header Signature is Valid
        BIOS Image has a Valid Checksum.
        BIOS PCI Structure Signature Valid.
        BIOS Image Compatible with the SAS Controller.
        Attempting to Flash BIOS Image...
        Flash BIOS Image Successful.
    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash.

Add SAS ID
I just used a random hex string generator.

Code:

C:\P20\SAS2FL~1>sas2flsh.exe —c 0 -o -sasadd 0BA569B0C1264D9E
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 20.00.00.00 (2014.09.18)
Copyright (c) 2008—2014 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved
    Advanced Mode Set
    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
    Executing Operation: Program SAS Address
    SAS Address Successfully Programmed!
    Resetting adapter...
    Adapter Successfully Reset
    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash.

The Result

Once done, it should look something like this:

Code:

C:\P20\SAS2FL~1>sas2flsh.exe —c 0 -list

LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 20.00.00.00 (2014.09.18)
Copyright (c) 2008—2014 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved

    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)

    Controller Number            : 0
    Controller                    : SAS2008(B2)
    PCI Address                    : 00:04:00:00
    SAS address                    : 0ba569b—0—c126—4d9e
    NVDATA Version (Default)    : 14.01.00.08
    NVDATA Version (Persistent)    : 14.01.00.08
    Firmware Product ID            : 0x2213 (IT)
    Firmware Version            : 20.00.07.00
    NVDATA Vendor                : LSI
    NVDATA Product ID            : SAS9211-8i
    BIOS Version                : 07.11.10.00
    UEFI BSD Version            : 07.02.04.00
    FCODE Version                : N/A
    Board Name                    : SAS9211-8i
    Board Assembly                : N/A
    Board Tracer Number            : N/A

    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash.

Edit: Originally, the firmware for a 9210 card was installed, because I couldn't find the firmware for the 9211. Switching from 9210 to 9211 had the following effects:

• NVDATA Product ID: SAS9210-8i to SAS9211-8i
• Board Name: SAS9210-8i to SAS9211-8i
• NVDATA Version (Default): 14.01.00.06 to 14.01.00.08
• NVDATA Version (Persistent): 14.01.00.06 to 14.01.00.08