From owner-freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Tue Aug 23 00:52:13 2016 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-fs@mailman.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 54DB2BB7CD1 for ; Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:52:13 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from wonkity.com (wonkity.com [67.158.26.137]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (Client CN "wonkity.com", Issuer "wonkity.com" (not verified)) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 08FCC1CA4 for ; Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:52:12 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from wonkity.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by wonkity.com (8.15.2/8.15.2) with ESMTPS id u7N0q7hK040431 (version=TLSv1.2 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 bits=256 verify=NO); Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:52:07 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from localhost (wblock@localhost) by wonkity.com (8.15.2/8.15.2/Submit) with ESMTP id u7N0q7dI040428; Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:52:07 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:52:07 -0600 (MDT) From: Warren Block To: Karl Denninger cc: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Recommended HBA for ZFS, contemporary In-Reply-To: <580a6ea8-9c84-3e99-5a7d-7b2434c84e67@denninger.net> Message-ID: References: <580a6ea8-9c84-3e99-5a7d-7b2434c84e67@denninger.net> User-Agent: Alpine 2.20 (BSF 67 2015-01-07) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-4.4.3 (wonkity.com [127.0.0.1]); Mon, 22 Aug 2016 18:52:07 -0600 (MDT) X-BeenThere: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.22 Precedence: list List-Id: Filesystems List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:52:13 -0000 On Mon, 22 Aug 2016, Karl Denninger wrote: > I have a number of the Intel 6-port expanders in production servers and > have never have had any trouble with them; they just plain work. The > only note I'll make on the expanders (and these host cards) is to make > sure you have sufficient airflow in the chassis; they're passive > heat-sink cooled so airflow matters. In any sort of proper server > chassis this is probably not going to be an issue but if you're going > for something that doesn't sound like an old 707 jet on take-off you > need to pay attention to make sure there's sufficient cooling airflow. There is an article on converting the Dell H200/H310 cards to LSI 9211 where they show a picture of a fan mounted on the heatsink but do not discuss it: https://techmattr.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/updated-sas-hba-crossflashing-or-flashing-to-it-mode-dell-perc-h200-and-h310/ I'm not happy with that article because it says "here is a CD of all the firmware and tools you need", but does not list sources to download them yourself . Call me crazy, but that makes me nervous. Anyway, I tried touching the heatsink of my new/used H200 while the card was idle, and yes, it gets surprisingly hot. Untouchably hot, some would say. A 40mm fan fits perfectly. The standard trick of using screws that just fit between the fins and bite in a little works. Like most, it was a 12V fan, but did not need that much power for this job. At 5V, it runs and keeps the heatsink cool enough to touch. I have another H200 to convert, and mean to document the process. I also have vendor sources for the files required.