I've been trying to get my spanking new X9SCM to recognize a confirmed working LSI 3442 storage controller for the past 2 weeks. I've tried everything I can think of under the sun :
1. Ensured that my motherboard has the latest BIOS (Rel 1.1a).
2. Ensured that the controller has the latest Firmware and Bios (P20 download from LSI website).
3. Put the controller in ALL the different slots on the board (both x8 and x4 PCIe slots).
4. Cycled through ALL PCIe BIOS settings of the motherboard with the card plugged into each of the slots.
I just can't seem to get the motherboard to recognize the controller. The controller's LEDs all light up when plugged into the motherboard - so I do know that that there's at least electrical connection between the 2. And I've verified that the motherboard can initialize a PERC 5i controller that I have sitting around. I've also confirmed that the controllers works on a P915 motherboard that I have and I've even managed to get it to flash when plugged into a Asus Z8NA-D6C motherbaord that I have. All of these combinations work just fine and the controllers is fully recognized when booting into Windows 7 on the Asus and into Solaris Express 11 on the P915.
But on the X9SCM neither does the controller's BIOS get instantiated during the POST process and neither does Solaris Express 11 recognize the controller (again cycling through ALL the slots of the motherboard). At this point I'm at my wits end as to what to try next.
Hence the call for help to the gurus on this forum.....Please help....
Dear gurus, some addtional pieces of information :
1. The controller has a (B1) rev. 1068E processor (not sure if that matters).
2. LSI's latest firmware revision (P21) does not have a firmware file for the B1 revision. It only has firmware updates starting from B2 on...
3. When I run a SASFLASH -list I get the following output :
4. I did notice the following in the output :C:\Users\GROOVE\Downloads\SAS3442ER>sasflash -list
****************************************************************************
LSI Corporation SAS FLASH Utility.
SASFlash Version 1.30.00.00 (2011.08.24)
Copyright (c) 2006-2011 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
****************************************************************************
Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS 1068E(B1):
Controller Number: 1
Controller: 1068E(B1)
PCI Address: 00:09:00:00
SAS Address: 500605b-0-0027-2850
NVDATA Version (Default): 0x2d03
NVDATA Version (Persistent): 0x2d03
Product ID: 0x2204
Firmware Version: 01.32.00.00
NVDATA Vendor: LSILogic
NVDATA Product ID: SAS3442E
BIOS Version: 06.34.00.00
BIOS Alternate Version: N/A
Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
Exiting SASFlash.
EFI BSD Version: N/A
FCODE Version: N/A
I wonder if these are the missing links that are causing the X9SCM to trip up. I really do not know how to fix these or even if they matter in any way.
I would really appreciate it I someone can help me here. Time are tough and I'd really like to see if I can avoid hunting down a new controller for my new build. With prices of HDDs going through the roof, I've already shot my budget. So if possible I'd like to save some cash by getting my existing card going.
I have contacted Supermicro for help but have not heard back from they. I'm sure they're also scratching their heads.....
Thanks in advance.
Groove