Hello everyone,

I'm currently on a firmware version which is known for dropping the drives connected to it under certain circumstances causing errors and wanted to upgrade to the 'latest' firmware to avoid this issue from happening again.

The current firmware version I'm on is v16.00.01.00 and I plan on going to v16.00.12.00

The current bios version I'm on is: v08.37.00.00 and I plan on going to v08.37.02.00

I just needed a quick sanity check on updating this card to make sure I'm not missing anything important.

Here are the steps I plan on doing:

Preparation:

1) Obtain sas3flash for linux (https://docs.broadcom.com/docs/Installer_P16_for_Linux.zip_p)

2) Move sas3flash from sas3flash_linux_x64_rel to a /tmp/hba_update folder

3) Modify the permissions/ownership to make the sas3flash executable

4) Obtain the v16.00.12.00 firmware and v08.37.02.00 bios from (https://docs.broadcom.com/docs/9305_24i_Pkg_P16.12_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip)

4) Move the SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin from the Firmware/SAS9305_24i_IT_P folder and mptsas3.rom from the sasbios_rel folder to the /tmp/hba_update folder

5) Modify the permissions/ownership if needed of each file

6) Obtain and write down the SAS adapter address by running sas3flash -o -listsasadd

7) Screenshot the existing array with all disk assignments and serial numbers

Performing:

1) Stop the array and ensure all activity is halted

2) Erase the IT firmware with command: sas3flash -o -e 6

3) Flash the IT firmware with command: sas3flash -o -f SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin

4) Flash the BIOS with command: sas3flash -b mptsas3.rom

5) Re-program the SAS Address with command: sas3flash -o -sasadd <sasaddress>

6) Re-check the updates by performing command: sas3flash -listall

7) Reboot

Additional Steps (if needed) since I am on an old firmware:

1) Create a new array config

2) Assign all disks exactly as shown from Prep Step 7

3) Check 'Parity is already valid'

4) Start Array

Appreciate it!

I was able to successfully update the firmware of this card. Only modification was I did not erase the existing firmware but instead updated.

In case anyone needs to do this in the future, here are the steps I took:

Download Required Files

1) Obtain sas3flash for Linux (https://docs.broadcom.com/docs/Installer_P16_for_Linux.zip_p)

2) Obtain the v16.00.12.00 firmware and v08.37.02.00 bios from (https://docs.broadcom.com/docs/9305_24i_Pkg_P16.12_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip)

Extract and Prep Files

1) Extract Installer_P16_for_Linux.zip

2) Extract 9305_24i_Pkg_P16.12_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip

3) Make a directory called hba_update

4) Copy sas3flash from Installer_P16_for_Linux\sas3flash_linux_x64_rel to hba_update

5) Copy SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin from 9305_24i_Pkg_P16.12_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows\Firmware\SAS9305_24i_IT_P to hba_update

6) Copy mptsas3.rom from 9305_24i_Pkg_P16.12_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows\sasbios_rel to hba_update

Your hba_update folder should now contain the following files:

mptsas3.rom

sas3flash

SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin

Upload to UNRAID

1) Copy the hba_update directory to /tmp/ - This puts the directory in memory and allows the sas3flash to be executable since UNRAID no longer allows files on the flash drive to have the execute permission.

2) Perform the following permission modifications:

• chown root:root sas3flash

• chmod 755 sas3flash

• chmod +x sas3flash

• chmod 644 SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin

• chmod 644 mptsas3.rom

Backup Critical Information

1) Run ./sas3flash -listall - keep the output somewhere

2) Run ./sas3flash -list - keep the output somewhere

3) Run ./sas3flash -o -listsasadd - keep the output somewhere

4) You can try to run a backup of the firmware using this command: ./sas3flash -c 0 -backup firmware_backup.bin - note: the sas3flash may not always have this functionality

• Do this after performing the UNRAID Actions below if desired

4) Take a screenshot of all Array / Pool setups with drive assignments / serial numbers - this is in case the update wipes the data

UNRAID Actions

1) Stop the UNRAID Array

2) Disable Docker

3) Disable VM Manager

Run Update

1) Run ./sas3flash -c 0 -o -f SAS9305_24i_IT_P.bin to update firmware without erasing

• If this fails, updating with erasing the firmware may be needed

2) Run ./sas3flash -c 0 -o -b mptsas3.rom to update the bios (if desired)

Verify Update

1) Run ./sas3flash -list

• Look for the output that is similar to the following:

  • Firmware Version : 16.00.12.00

  • Firmware Product ID : IT

  • SAS Address still present (previously pulled from ./sas3flash -o -listsasadd)

• If SAS Address is missing, run the following command with your sas address previously obtained: ./sas3flash -c 0 -o -sasadd ADDRESS_HERE

2) Shutdown the UNRAID Server, waiting 5 minutes or drain power after shutdown

3) Power on the UNRAID Server

4) Once booted up, run: ./sas3flash -list to verify the new firmware is still shown

5) Double check drive assignments

• If drive assignments aren't accurate, create a new config under Tools. Match your previous drive assignments and check 'parity is valid' before continuing

6) Enable Docker

7) Enable VM Manager

8) Start UNRAID Array

9) Monitor the syslog for any errors using the command: tail -f /var/log/syslog

Hope it helps!

Edited February 9Feb 9 by OrneryTaurus
Added steps performed for updating.

how is UEFI BSD? I don't see you update UEFI BSD ?

20 hours ago, tien113 said:

how is UEFI BSD? I don't see you update UEFI BSD ?

I’m only using the card for data drives, not to boot from so no UEFI BIOS update was done.

You’d might need to do the same steps as performed with the bios update but reference the x64sas2.rom if available but I’m not sure.

On 3/8/2026 at 12:08 PM, OrneryTaurus said:

I’m only using the card for data drives, not to boot from so no UEFI BIOS update was done.

You’d might need to do the same steps as performed with the bios update but reference the x64sas2.rom if available but I’m not sure.

Thanks for the detailed tutorial. I usually keep everything up to date. I was able to update the UEFI BIOS successfully using the same method described for updating the BIOS.