loiphin

Yaaaaaaay! Got it working in Native M1015 mode as a RAID0 array under ESXI 5.1 U1. Basically it was my bios settings screwing with me. I had to enable the CSM compatibility settings to allow for the following: Set Storage controller to Legacy OpROM for going into the WebBIOS to configure your RAID array Set Storage controller to UEFI First for normal operation when booting into ESXI 5.1 U1. This setting will prevent ESXI from hanging at the megaraid_sas point at load time. For the record my mobo is a Asus P9X79 WS with latest BIOS at time of writing (3401) Also applied the latest ESXI Megaraid driver. Downloaded it from lsi.com. This should be optional, only the above BIOS settings are important. I will do a proper write up with pics and post the URL. loiphin UPDATE: Here is my post about what I did: http://www.loiph.in/2013/05/getting-ibm-m1015-raid-controller-to.html

Thanks madburg Appreciate your quick responses

Yes, I tried the following under a bootable DOS USB stick, without any luck: Wiped the card clean, as per the regular instructions. Tried to flash to IR... fail Flash to IT.. works Cross flash from IT to IR --- Fail Tried older version of IR firmware -- Fail Tried IR with or without BIOS (mptsas2.rom) --- Fail Tried IT with or without BIOS(mptsas2.rom) -- Works Reverted back to old IBM Bios and then try to reflash to IR --- Fail Tried most of the above in a UEFI Shell, and same results. Tried across six motherboards. Five render same results. Last one, P9X79 WS gives PAL error in DOS (to be expected)

Guys need your help! I have spent the past two days trying everything I can think of to get my M1015 into 9211-8i IR mode. I can successfully flash it into 9211-8i IT mode, but when I try to flash it in IR mode, I get the "Chip is in RESET state" error, and SAS2FLASH can no longer continue. I have also tried flashing the IR firmware, without adding the BIOS (mptsas2.rom) to see if that helped, but same problem. I plan to use it as a datastore for my VMware ESXI 5.1U1 box. Originally because of the megaraid_sas driver hanging in ESXI when the card was in native 9240-8i / M1015 mode, I decided to try the 9211-8i cross flashing instead. I have ended up reverting the card back to native M1015 mode using the latest Megaraid 9240-8i drivers. I really need to get this card working in RAID 0 as a datastore under ESXI. That is my primary goal. If I can get it working in ESXI under native M1015 mode, then I am a happy camper. I won't be very happy if I am stuck with an HBA and 8 separate ports (IT mode) I have tried about 6 different mobo's and most of them have worked for IT mode. I have also booted up using a EFI Shell, and still the same problem persists when trying to flash to IR Mode. So tonight I am going to try a few BIOS tweaks to see if I can get this pesky card working as a M1015/9240-8i under ESXI, and avoid the megaraid_sas driver hanging issue. BTW, the card is detected as SAS2008(B2). Not sure if the B2 is of any significance. Geez, it is frustrating. Any help appreciated. Thanks, loiphin.