SAS Expander - Does it appear in Devices?

[DoeBoye]

Hey folks,

 

I have no experience with SAS expanders, so I'm not sure what to expect. I purchased an Adaptec 82885T expander to work with my Adaptec 72405, but though the expander shows in the Adaptec utility during boot, the drives do not appear in Unraid (and they don't show up in the Adaptec utility either), and the expander does not show up in the devices list.

 

Do I have a bum expander card, or am I missing something?

Edited May 21, 2021 by DoeBoye

[Vr2Io]

Do you have link the expander to HBA ?

[DoeBoye]

12 minutes ago, Vr2Io said:

Do you have link the expander to HBA ?

Yup. 2 sas ports connected from controller to expander.

 

Note: I am using power from a molex connection and do not have it plugged into the motherboard, but everything I've read in their documentation seems to say that's fine... And it does appear in the controller's utility at boot, just no drives and no device in Unraid...

[Vr2Io]

Just now, DoeBoye said:

that's fine

Yes

 

Pls also post diagnostic.

[DoeBoye]

Ok. Diagnostic attached. Thank you so much for looking!

 

 

Edited May 21, 2021 by DoeBoye
[removed upload]

[Vr2Io]

In lsscsi.txt, the expander show and list out

 

[1:3:0:0]    enclosu ADAPTEC  Virtual SGPIO       1  -          /dev/sg16
  state=running queue_depth=1 scsi_level=6 type=13 device_blocked=0 timeout=30
  dir: /sys/bus/scsi/devices/1:3:0:0  [/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/0000:09:00.0/host1/target1:3:0/1:3:0:0]
[1:3:1:0]    enclosu ADAPTEC  AEC-82885T       B025  -          /dev/sg17
  state=running queue_depth=1 scsi_level=7 type=13 device_blocked=0 timeout=30
  dir: /sys/bus/scsi/devices/1:3:1:0  [/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/0000:09:00.0/host1/target1:3:1/1:3:1:0]

 

Two disk also detect

 

May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: mdcmd (26): import 25 sdf 64 13672382412 0 WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_9LG7G82G
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: md: import disk25: (sdf) WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_9LG7G82G size: 13672382412 
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: mdcmd (27): import 26 sdg 64 13672382412 0 WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_X0H5MG4C
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: md: import disk26: (sdg) WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_X0H5MG4C size: 13672382412 

 

2 hours ago, DoeBoye said:

2 sas ports connected from controller to expander

Pls try use one link and plug in different expander port and confirm forward cable ( SFF8643 to SATA ) were use.

 

If still doesn't work, pls try another HBA or update firmware in HBA / expander.

Edited May 21, 2021 by Vr2Io

[DoeBoye]

12 hours ago, Vr2Io said:

In lsscsi.txt, the expander show and list out

 

[1:3:0:0]    enclosu ADAPTEC  Virtual SGPIO       1  -          /dev/sg16
  state=running queue_depth=1 scsi_level=6 type=13 device_blocked=0 timeout=30
  dir: /sys/bus/scsi/devices/1:3:0:0  [/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/0000:09:00.0/host1/target1:3:0/1:3:0:0]
[1:3:1:0]    enclosu ADAPTEC  AEC-82885T       B025  -          /dev/sg17
  state=running queue_depth=1 scsi_level=7 type=13 device_blocked=0 timeout=30
  dir: /sys/bus/scsi/devices/1:3:1:0  [/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/0000:09:00.0/host1/target1:3:1/1:3:1:0]

 

Two disk also detect

 

May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: mdcmd (26): import 25 sdf 64 13672382412 0 WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_9LG7G82G
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: md: import disk25: (sdf) WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_9LG7G82G size: 13672382412 
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: mdcmd (27): import 26 sdg 64 13672382412 0 WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_X0H5MG4C
May 20 21:03:24 Tower kernel: md: import disk26: (sdg) WDC_WD140EDFZ-11A0VA0_X0H5MG4C size: 13672382412 

 

Pls try use one link and plug in different expander port and confirm forward cable ( SFF8643 to SATA ) were use.

 

If still doesn't work, pls try another HBA or update firmware in HBA / expander.

Well that's interesting! I removed one cable from controller to expander, and moved one forward breakout cable to a different port, and now one of the drives is appearing! It's [1:1:31:0] disk ATA WDC WD30EZRX-00M 80.0 /dev/sdr 3.00TB. Why would only one drive appear?

 

Progress of sorts!

 

The firmware on the HBA is the most current, but not sure about the expander as I can't see it to check/flash it...

 

Regarding the cables. The SFF-8643 to SFF-8643 cables are both new (never tested), but the SFF_8643 to SATA cables were in use before on my controller and worked without issue.

 

I've uploaded a new diagnostic bundle, just in case something changed.

 

Thanks again! I really appreciate your help!!

 

Edited May 21, 2021 by DoeBoye
[removed upload]

[Vr2Io]

That's good.

 

You could try update firmware on expander to overcome above issue.

https://storage.microsemi.com/en-us/support/sas/sas/aec-82885t/

Edited May 21, 2021 by Vr2Io

[DoeBoye]

Ok. So more info. I moved both breakout cables to the same group of sas ports at the back of the card (The 7 internal ports are grouped 4 at the back of the card, and 3 at the front). With the 2 breakout cables and 1 controller to Expander cable, all the drives appeared!! A soon as I added a second controller cable, drives disappeared... So either the second port is bad, or maybe it's only used if the second 'group' of sas ports are needed...

 

Thanks again for your help @Vr2Io! Though I'm still not clear as to the issue, at least i got all my drives to show up!!

[Vr2Io]

You could keep current firmware because it work now.

I haven't try all combination on my 82885t, but no such issue found so far. ( my firmware were latest )

[DoeBoye]

10 hours ago, Vr2Io said:

You could keep current firmware because it work now.

I haven't try all combination on my 82885t, but no such issue found so far. ( my firmware were latest )

Sounds like a plan! Did you find you had to populate specific SAS ports first (The ones at the back of the card)? I'm a bit concerned that maybe the front ports might be bad... Also, why does it not like having 2 'incoming' connections from my Controller? I assumed it would double my available bandwidth and would be a good thing...

 

Thanks again! You've been a great help

[Vr2Io]

1 hour ago, DoeBoye said:

Did you find you had to populate specific SAS ports first (The ones at the back of the card)?

 

When I first got my 82885t, I seems have test it with LSI 9211 in dual-link without problem, btw test were take in some times ago I really can't confirm, the only minor issue was it cause my backplane disk's FAULT LED all on, so I need fix it and lucky update firmware have correct this. I also blind plug controller / device in different port without problem, otherwise I need troubleshoot and remember this.

 

Currently I use LSI 9300-4i4e or Microsemi 1000-8e with 82885t in enternal enclosure, so I no need dual link. As we have different HBA, so we may got different issue.

In that time, Adaptec firmware can't fix my problem, I flash it from Intel, but now Adaptec relaese the one seems have same ver. as Intel.

 

You need decide update firmware or not ( take the risk ) !!

Edited May 21, 2021 by Vr2Io