Firmware Intel Integrated RAID Module RMS25JB080 in IT mode
This small article may be useful for owners of the RMS25JB080 module or for administrators who are looking for a good solution for building inexpensive disk storages.
There was a need to work out a budget and reliable solution that could be used in video surveillance systems or as data storage based on the ZFS file system. The main requirements were: versatility and replication of the solution, good processor performance and the ability to store large amounts of data (many disks, regular read / write, no need to use a raid, the ability to quickly replace the disk without unwinding the case). It was decided to use an Intel motherboard with an Xeon E3 v3 processor , as well as an 8 SAS / SATA hot-swappable drive case without an expander. When choosing a raid controller for connecting disks, the choice was given to the Intel integrated RAID module ( HBA controller with 2 x SFF-8087 mini ports, based on the LSI 2308 chip, but having a price 1.5 - 2 times lower than the same PCI-E controllers on 8 SAS ports).
Unfortunately, in Ukraine it is impossible to purchase these RAID modules for free sale. So I had to order and wait 4-5 weeks until they were brought. Then everything is simple, collect / buy all the necessary iron in a heap, install everything in the case and connect it.
')
Note! Motherboard S1200V3RPS , DOES NOT HAVE a physically unsoldered connector connecting the raid module, unlike the other 3 models - RPL , RPO , RPM ( it also supports Intel integrated graphics ).
After the launch, a message appeared standard for LSI raids about the need to press the < Ctrl-C > key to enter its BIOS for configuration. (By the way, the message appeared only after it was connected to the backplane of the disks. Before that, the controller showed itself, with only one line of the model in the Storage Module field of the “ Mass Storage Controller Configuration ” section of the BIOS of the motherboard).
The MPT Firmware Revision line contains the version and type of firmware - IR (which, respectively, supports the ability to configure RAID 0, 1, 1E, 10, JBOD). Since I don’t need all of this, there is an incurable desire to upgrade it to IT mode , and get a fast and “stupid” SAS controller.
Based on the experience, the campaign on ark.intel.com was first carried out and the archive with the latest version of the controller firmware was downloaded: ph17_2013.12.17 , with the date of December 21, 2013. But the magic daddy “IT” is not there.
After googling on the Internet, many articles were found on reflashing LSI controllers, including embedded ones (usually in SuperMicro motherboards or Dell servers). But they all described working with controllers built on chips 2108, 2008 or earlier. Adventurism led me further to the official site LSI.com . Based on the 2308 chipset, LSI produces two controller models with eight internal ports: 9207-8i and 9217-8i . I download firmware for both models (version P19 from March 18, 2014). I am glad that the updates are not last year, I unpack them and I am pleased to see that in the folder HBA_9207_8i_IT and in HBA_9207_8i_IT lies the same file " 9207-8.bin ".
Firmware found, it remains the case for small - pour everything into the controller, the benefit of this information is a lot.Pulling back for courage Prayer, we begin preparations for a flashing. To do this, copy the following file list to the USB flash drive:
We insert the USB flash drive into our system, turn on, load ( F2 ) the BIOS setting of the motherboard. Next, go to the menu item " Save & Exit ", select " UEFI: Build-in EFI Shell " and go to the USB flash drive by typing its name in the system - " fs0: ".
ATTENTION! If there are other LSI controllers in the system, then it is necessary to find all controllers using the " sas2flash –listall " command . After that, in the output of the command, find and remember the number ( Num ) of the raid module that you plan to flash. And in the future, in all commands to specify this number with the key " -c {Num} ".
Before flashing you must save the SAS controller address ( SAS WWN ). Execute the command:
We write it on a piece of SAS Address (without spaces and separators), it will come in handy for us later.
In all articles, it was described that IT firmware is poured only into the controller, previously cleared from the IR firmware. Erasing is performed with the command:
Updating the controller firmware and BIOS:
And the final touch, the restoration of SAS WWN:
Reboot using power off / on. Now in the boot process, you can observe the following picture when initializing a raid module (enjoying the letters IT and all the advantages of this mode):
I hope that this article will be able to help those who have the same need.
Prehistory
There was a need to work out a budget and reliable solution that could be used in video surveillance systems or as data storage based on the ZFS file system. The main requirements were: versatility and replication of the solution, good processor performance and the ability to store large amounts of data (many disks, regular read / write, no need to use a raid, the ability to quickly replace the disk without unwinding the case). It was decided to use an Intel motherboard with an Xeon E3 v3 processor , as well as an 8 SAS / SATA hot-swappable drive case without an expander. When choosing a raid controller for connecting disks, the choice was given to the Intel integrated RAID module ( HBA controller with 2 x SFF-8087 mini ports, based on the LSI 2308 chip, but having a price 1.5 - 2 times lower than the same PCI-E controllers on 8 SAS ports).
Quest start
Unfortunately, in Ukraine it is impossible to purchase these RAID modules for free sale. So I had to order and wait 4-5 weeks until they were brought. Then everything is simple, collect / buy all the necessary iron in a heap, install everything in the case and connect it.
')
Note! Motherboard S1200V3RPS , DOES NOT HAVE a physically unsoldered connector connecting the raid module, unlike the other 3 models - RPL , RPO , RPM ( it also supports Intel integrated graphics ).
After the launch, a message appeared standard for LSI raids about the need to press the < Ctrl-C > key to enter its BIOS for configuration. (By the way, the message appeared only after it was connected to the backplane of the disks. Before that, the controller showed itself, with only one line of the model in the Storage Module field of the “ Mass Storage Controller Configuration ” section of the BIOS of the motherboard).
The MPT Firmware Revision line contains the version and type of firmware - IR (which, respectively, supports the ability to configure RAID 0, 1, 1E, 10, JBOD). Since I don’t need all of this, there is an incurable desire to upgrade it to IT mode , and get a fast and “stupid” SAS controller.
Problem
Based on the experience, the campaign on ark.intel.com was first carried out and the archive with the latest version of the controller firmware was downloaded: ph17_2013.12.17 , with the date of December 21, 2013. But the magic daddy “IT” is not there.
After googling on the Internet, many articles were found on reflashing LSI controllers, including embedded ones (usually in SuperMicro motherboards or Dell servers). But they all described working with controllers built on chips 2108, 2008 or earlier. Adventurism led me further to the official site LSI.com . Based on the 2308 chipset, LSI produces two controller models with eight internal ports: 9207-8i and 9217-8i . I download firmware for both models (version P19 from March 18, 2014). I am glad that the updates are not last year, I unpack them and I am pleased to see that in the folder HBA_9207_8i_IT and in HBA_9207_8i_IT lies the same file " 9207-8.bin ".
Flashing process
Firmware found, it remains the case for small - pour everything into the controller, the benefit of this information is a lot.
- from any of our archives with LSI controller firmware — 9207-8.bin (firmware file from the Firmware \ HBA_9207_8i_IT folder or Firmware \ HBA_9207_8i_IT folder);
- from the Intel firmware archive - sas2flash.efi (firmware utility for UEFI BIOS), mptsas2.rom and x64sas2.rom (bios [s?] controller).
We insert the USB flash drive into our system, turn on, load ( F2 ) the BIOS setting of the motherboard. Next, go to the menu item " Save & Exit ", select " UEFI: Build-in EFI Shell " and go to the USB flash drive by typing its name in the system - " fs0: ".
ATTENTION! If there are other LSI controllers in the system, then it is necessary to find all controllers using the " sas2flash –listall " command . After that, in the output of the command, find and remember the number ( Num ) of the raid module that you plan to flash. And in the future, in all commands to specify this number with the key " -c {Num} ".
Before flashing you must save the SAS controller address ( SAS WWN ). Execute the command:
fs0:\> sas2flash.efi -o –listsasadd We write it on a piece of SAS Address (without spaces and separators), it will come in handy for us later.
In all articles, it was described that IT firmware is poured only into the controller, previously cleared from the IR firmware. Erasing is performed with the command:
fs0:\> sas2flash.efi - - 7 Updating the controller firmware and BIOS:
fs0:\> sas2flash.efi - –f 9207-8.bin -b mptsas2.rom -b x64sas2.rom And the final touch, the restoration of SAS WWN:
fs0:\> sas2flash.efi -o –sasadd { SAS Address} Reboot using power off / on. Now in the boot process, you can observe the following picture when initializing a raid module (enjoying the letters IT and all the advantages of this mode):
I hope that this article will be able to help those who have the same need.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/230343/
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