Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 09:54:12 +0300 From: Theodor-Iulian Ciobanu <thciobanu@nth.ro> To: Paul Schmehl <pschmehl_lists@tx.rr.com> Cc: FreeBSD Hardware <freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Dell Perc H200A Message-ID: <20120909095412.00005a47@unknown> In-Reply-To: <CBFFB82A066EA9FF93D814B7@Pauls-MacBook-Pro.local> References: <CBFFB82A066EA9FF93D814B7@Pauls-MacBook-Pro.local>
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On Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:34:14 -0500 Paul Schmehl <pschmehl_lists@tx.rr.com> wrote: > I tried to install FreeBSD 9.0 Release on a Dell R410 with Perc H200A > today. When I tried ran the new installer it failed. So I switched > to sysinstall, but it couldn't recognize the disk. > > I googled and found out that there's been a problem with no driver > for that controller. If I understand it correctly, the mps driver > works, but you had to use something called JBOD mode. I have no idea > what that is or how to set it up. I'm not real knowledgeable about > RAID and controllers and the like. > > All I want to do is install FreeBSD on this box. Is there a version > of FreeBSD that will work with the Perc H200A? If so, how do I get > it? I don't know if this is still the case, but there was a time when you could use LSI2008 (the chipset) cards only with IT firmware (JBOD mode) in FreeBSD. To flash the H200A with the IT firmware, you had to go through some hoops, as switching modes for this kind of cards is not done in one step: http://kb.lsi.com/KnowledgebaseArticle16266.aspx And as this is a rebranded 9211-8i controller, you also had to use an older version first. I remember using firmware directly from LSI to be able to get from IR to IT (p7 with the WinXP sasflash.exe, as the other ones all reported errors), then upgraded to the lastest version the usual way. (I don't know if it will work with the PowerEdge 6Gbps SAS HBA firmware - Dell's version of this card in IT mode). I was then able to use my discs with software raid, with massive performance improvements, as this card does not have any on-board cache and the Dell IR firmware forces disc write-cache off. You are of course doing all of this at your own risc, your warranty will be void etc. > Paul Schmehl, Senior Infosec Analyst > As if it wasn't already obvious, my opinions > are my own and not those of my employer. > ******************************************* > "It is as useless to argue with those who have > renounced the use of reason as to administer > medication to the dead." Thomas Jefferson > "There are some ideas so wrong that only a very > intelligent person could believe in them." George Orwell -- Theo
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