What's a Good Hard Drive Controller Card?

[Rickinfl]

Hi,

I'm building a FreeNAS system with about 8 hard drives. They are 6gbs drives. I've been reading and reading and can't seem to get a straight answer on which card to use. If someone could point me to a ready to go card for FreeNAS 11 using zfs that would be great. I'd rather buy it off Amazon.

Thanks

 

[Rickinfl]

I found this card

https://www.amazon.com/SAS9211-8I-8...=UTF8&qid=1516551026&sr=8-4&keywords=hba+card

 

[Redcoat]

Did you read this: https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/confused-about-that-lsi-card-join-the-crowd.11901/#post-54912 ?

 

[Rickinfl]

Seems to be the LSI 9211-8i is the card to get. I'd rather just buy that card instead of flashing 1 over to it. My question would be if I buy the LSI 9211-8i card.. Do I need to flash it to IT mode? or is it already in that mode because it's a true LSI 9211 card?

Thanks for the link that's a great link.

 

[Redcoat]

My guess is that you'll have to flash it. Plenty detailed guides here on that process.

 

[jgreco]

You can get OEM LSI cards (Dell H200, H310, IBM M1015, etc) in the $30 range on eBay if you shop carefully and patiently.

 

[danb35]

...and whether you get the LSI-branded cards or one of the other brands, odds are still good that you'll have to flash the most current firmware to it.