M1015 to 9211-IT ...no disks detected - please help

N

NULUSIOS

n00b
Joined
Jun 17, 2013
Messages
5
OK I (think I) successfully flashed my newly acquired IBM M1015 to LSI9211-8i in IT mode.

It was a bit difficult as I needed to find a motherboard that could see the card AND flash it.
The first I tried saw the card, but froze when trying to query the card before flashing.
Next motherboard was fine.Anyway I flashed it as seen here:
http://www.servethehome.com/ibm-serveraid-m1015-part-4/
and here:
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/29059-sas2008-lsi92409211-firmware-files/page-4

I used P16 release firmware.

Note #1: None of the two was the actual motherboard I would use the card on. The card that I want the card on is ECS P45T-A (V1.0).
http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=888&MenuID=16&LanID=0
On the first PCIe x16 slot I have the VGA card and on the second PCIe x16 slot I have the controller.

Note #2: I NEVER tried it as IBM M1015 with disks (my SFF-8087 to 2xSATA cables were on order).
Anyway I installed everything on my server, put the cables in, connected 8 of my drives (note that the drives where previously working already in that system, using two smaller "stupid" controllers). So, nothing wrong with the drives, or PSU etc.
Anyway long story short: Doesn't seem to see ANY of my drives. It shows 0 drives. Also I installed MSM in Windows, it does indeed see the card, but shows 0 drives.

What could be wrong?

Extra info. When booting, BIOS screen reports:
LSI MPT SAS2 BIOS
MPT2BIOS 7.31.00.00 (2013.02.28)
And, in the ctrl-c prompt if I PRESS ctrl-c it shows:
LSI Corporation MPT2 boot ROM successfully installed.
(briefly)
...then boots and actuallyu does NOT go to configuration.
If I do NOT press ctrl-c, instead it shows a table with this info:
PCI slot FF
Vendor LSISAS2008-IT
revision 16.00.00.00
size/nvdata 10:00:00:00:06
...and boots

Windows (SBS2011 which is 2008R2 kernel), does see the card, I even installed newest drivers, but again, no drives.

Give me some feedback please.

Could it be the cables?
These are the cables:
http://www.ebw.gr/el/product/46997/SAS-SFF-8087-36PIN-SE-4-SATA-7-PIN-0-5m
(bought two)

Please help me, I don't know what to do.

---
EDIT:

I searched around and found there are issues about a "forward" and a "reverse" version of the cable?
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1613862
The cable I bought above, I don't see any clear indication... Could that be the issue?

Here I found the only proper description of the cable by Digitus that I bought (page 35)...
http://www.services.assmann.com/dow...essional2009-2010/02_copper components_en.pdf

I am not sure what to try next.
Should I order different cables? (will take days)

Maybe something wrong with the card?
(sent from HK... will be tough to send back...)

I plan to flash back to M1015 original and check what happens.
 
Could it be you did not put in the sas address? I encountered before no sas address will not get the hard disk recognized.
 
They didn't describe the cables good, cable connects 4 sata devices to 1 sas device.

You can only have a target/device at one end, and an hba at the other end. So no way to answer if you got a forward or reverse.

Though, based on my shopping, red cables are generally revese, atleast they seem to be more popular in that color.
 
Thank you all for your reply. Only forum I got a reply (from three I posted)...

kirlcheah said:
Could it be you did not put in the sas address? I encountered before no sas address will not get the hard disk recognized.
Click to expand...

If you mean this step:
sas2flsh -o -sasadd 500605b0xxxxxxxx (x= numbers for SAS address)
...then I definitely did that (with numbers from the paper tag on the card).

staticlag said:
It sounds like you got the wrong cable.
Click to expand...

Hope so. I ordered a couple of extras. LSI this time and definitely SAY they are "forward".

patrickdk said:
They didn't describe the cables good, cable connects 4 sata devices to 1 sas device.

You can only have a target/device at one end, and an hba at the other end. So no way to answer if you got a forward or reverse.

Though, based on my shopping, red cables are generally revese, atleast they seem to be more popular in that color.
Click to expand...

I agree they don't describe them good.
But the LSI cables I ordered (and also found in LSI site) and MENTION that are forward, are red.

fields_g said:
I think you are on the right path... either the flash or the cables.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10254&cs_id=1025406 are the cables that work with my m1015 - IT mode.
Click to expand...

These look very similar to mine. Then again, there is no real distinction (at least there should be paper tags on the cables describing what each side connects to).

I will do the flash anyway to be sure. If the motherboard I have the card installed allows for that (I did the initial on another motherboard and had failed once before on yet another - didn't have my current motherboard available when I flashed the card). We'll see.

Also I ordered different cables as I mention above. LSI and SAY they are forward. Should work. I am trying to return the other cables.

Thank you all for your help. I'll keep you posted. New ideas welcome in the meantime.
 
OK update.

I flashed the card back to stock M1015 firmware (latest version).
NO disks detected again.

One thing I noticed is that (like in 9211-8i IT mode WITH mptsas2 bios installed), I cannot invoke configuration screen (ctrl-h for M1015, ctrl-c for 9211-8i), without failure, but doesn't start, just boots normally.

This means one of the following:

1) Something is wrong with the card. HOPE NOT.

2) Something cannot connect with invoking the card BIOS from my motherboard BIOS (seen that before with different unrelated hardware). I don't care as in IT mode I don't ever need the configuration screen

3) This card (in M1015 or 9211-8i IT mode) does not allow invoking the configuration screen if there is no disk detected/connected. (anybody care to try that?)

So... hoping it is not #1 above, I flashed back LSI 9211-8i IT mode and wait for LSI "forward" cables I ordered from Italy (CBL-SFF8087OCF-06M)... Hope this solves it (will post update).

WIll also contact the seller of the card today, that I plan to do one more test, else I will have to return it.
 
There is also a #4 I don't want to admit.
Some more serious incompatibility of my motherboard and the card...
But this at least has a small percentage, as the card itself doesn't seem to detect the disks.
It's not that it detects them and doesn't pass them to the BIOS (or OS).

New LSI "forward" cables will arrive tomorrow.
Other cables got returned (and refunded).
I also contacted the card seller and informed of the case and we'll see how we are to cover this if needed.
 
Some motherboard BIOSes will hook accessory cards into the boot sequence in a different way.

To get into the LSI disk configuration you need to do this:

1. Power on PC.
2. Hit Key for BIOS setup screen. Computer will keep initializing cards and memory.
3. LSI should display it's message to hit CTRL+C/CTRL+H. Make sure you hit it.
4. BIOS screen should enter setup page.
5. Go to bootable devies and make sure the LSI card is your first boot option.
6. Save and Exit.
7. LSI configuration should now boot.


This is because of the motherboard you are using. I have to do the same to mine to get into the LSI configuration page.
 
The LSI bios just doesn't flat out work with some motherboards, I wouldn't get hung up on that too much. I'd presume you've ended up with reverse cables so hopefully the new ones should sort it.
 
OK...

bhm.01... You are correct in all counts (read below).

staticlag on the other hand you are way off (but thanks for the attempt). You even missed the problem at all. I never said about booting from the disks, I never said I didn't find ctrl-c or anything.
Plus the instructions were pretty basic from someone with 29 years of background in computing, more than half of them professionally. Again thanks for the attempt.

So... OK I have the final update and case close for this:

It was the cables.
I just received LSI's own "forward" cables and yes, the controller detects the drives AND my motherboard BIOS also does (if I needed to boot from them - which I don't).

Thank you all for your support.

Ah... moral of the story: Do NOT get the Digitus cables for this controller.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top