IBM ServeRAID BR10i LSI SAS3082E-R

oli · 4th April 2011, 2:59 PM

When I bought my Adaptec 3805 I had to initialise the drives when first connected which meant all the data was wiped. This wasn't a problem as it was a new setup anyway.

I am thinking of getting a IBM ServeRAID BR10i LSI SAS3082E-R and want to know if the initial setup requires this kind of formatting as well if I just want to use the drives in JBOD/Single Drive mode. Can anyone with this controller answer that for me please?

GoofyHSK · 4th April 2011, 3:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oli

When I bought my Adaptec 3805 I had to initialise the drives when first connected which meant all the data was wiped. This wasn't a problem as it was a new setup anyway.

I am thinking of getting a IBM ServeRAID BR10i LSI SAS3082E-R and want to know if the initial setup requires this kind of formatting as well if I just want to use the drives in JBOD/Single Drive mode. Can anyone with this controller answer that for me please?

It is possible to update to IT (non raid) firmware. AFAIK the IR firmware should allow single drive mode though

oli · 4th April 2011, 3:20 PM

What's involved in flashing the firmware on these devices? I have never done this to a disk controller.

FWIW I'm using Linux on a Asus M2N32 WS Professional board.

Hive · 4th April 2011, 3:27 PM

Freedos disk and LSI's firmware, lets you chose between IT and IR mode.

oli · 4th April 2011, 3:30 PM

Great, the fun of configuring a USB bootable drive to do it.

Cheers guys

GoofyHSK · 4th April 2011, 3:33 PM

In windows - http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...3&postcount=17
Ubuntu LiveUSB/CD - http://www.hillsidekonnection.com/st...ux_3_6G.tar.gz

source drivers: http://www.lsi.com/storage_home/prod...e-r/index.html

MetalPhreak · 4th April 2011, 11:16 PM

Pretty sure you can access drives in IR mode too without initializing them. IT mode just disabled all the *optional* raid stuff so you have less overheads.

Dropbear · 5th April 2011, 9:03 AM

i got one of those recently,second hand from these forums.. not sure if it's flashed to IT to be honest but it recognised my single drives right away...

I exported ZFS pool, plugged drives into new adapter, switched on, imported pool... stupidly simple process...

MetalPhreak · 5th April 2011, 9:52 AM

Heh, just remembered, my fileserver OS is on a pair of drives in Raid1, which is setup on the BR10i, which also has single drives on it

So yeah, can definitely plug single drives in with data safely, even with IR firmware on it

samarium · 2nd November 2011, 5:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hive

Freedos disk and LSI's firmware, lets you chose between IT and IR mode.

I downloaded LSI's SAS3081ER_Package_P21_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDO S_Windows.zip, and unpacked it into a USB Freedos boot image, moved the DOS sasfhlash.exe file over the top of the windows sasflash.exe file, and proceeded to cross flash using hbaflash.bat.

It asked me if I wanted to flash LSI firmware over IBM firmware.

It asked me is I wanted to flash IT firmware over IR firmware.

So now my IBM BR10i IR looks like a LSI 3081ER IT.

And I still can't get into the controller card bios configuration screen on my ASUS M4A785-M motherboard.

Interestingly, the first flash drive I tried just would not work on the M4A785-M. It would work in another motherboard however. I copied the image onto another flash drive, and it worked OK. YMMV.

4th April 2011, 2:59 PM	#1
oli Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Internet Posts: 7,188	IBM ServeRAID BR10i LSI SAS3082E-R When I bought my Adaptec 3805 I had to initialise the drives when first connected which meant all the data was wiped. This wasn't a problem as it was a new setup anyway. I am thinking of getting a IBM ServeRAID BR10i LSI SAS3082E-R and want to know if the initial setup requires this kind of formatting as well if I just want to use the drives in JBOD/Single Drive mode. Can anyone with this controller answer that for me please?

4th April 2011, 3:33 PM	#6
GoofyHSK Bracket Mastah Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Adelaide Hills Posts: 1,544	In windows - http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...3&postcount=17 Ubuntu LiveUSB/CD - http://www.hillsidekonnection.com/st...ux_3_6G.tar.gz source drivers: http://www.lsi.com/storage_home/prod...e-r/index.html __________________ i7-3770k, ASRock Z77-E ITX, 16GB Crucial 1600, EVGA 570SC, Corsair H100, Crucial 256gb, 2x 3Tb, 2x 22", BitFenix Prodigy, 7 Pro E3-1230, SMicro X9SCM-F, 16Gb Crucial ECC, Seagate 320 + 80Gb, 24x 2Tb, Norco 4224 Tony_L on #overclockers \| Folding@Home 3,260,363 Points \| ATX Connector Guide

5th April 2011, 9:03 AM	#8
Dropbear Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 8,943	i got one of those recently,second hand from these forums.. not sure if it's flashed to IT to be honest but it recognised my single drives right away... I exported ZFS pool, plugged drives into new adapter, switched on, imported pool... stupidly simple process... __________________ 500Px \| Model Mayhem \| Flickr \| DeviantArt

4th April 2011, 3:20 PM	#3
oli Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Internet Posts: 7,188	What's involved in flashing the firmware on these devices? I have never done this to a disk controller. FWIW I'm using Linux on a Asus M2N32 WS Professional board.

4th April 2011, 3:30 PM	#5
oli Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Internet Posts: 7,188	Great, the fun of configuring a USB bootable drive to do it. Cheers guys

4th April 2011, 11:16 PM	#7
MetalPhreak Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Perth Posts: 1,735	Pretty sure you can access drives in IR mode too without initializing them. IT mode just disabled all the optional raid stuff so you have less overheads.

5th April 2011, 9:52 AM	#9
MetalPhreak Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Perth Posts: 1,735	Heh, just remembered, my fileserver OS is on a pair of drives in Raid1, which is setup on the BR10i, which also has single drives on it So yeah, can definitely plug single drives in with data safely, even with IR firmware on it