Slowing putting the pieces of my server together as they show up and I've run into an issue. I have 3x M1015s, all flashed to P14. That process went smoothly without error.

 

When I threw them into the server and tried to boot, I was met with this error:

 

 

As far as I can tell, with testing a few different scenarios. I don't think it is the individual cards.

 

This board has two PCIe 3.0 x8 slots, and two PCIe 2.0 x4 (in x8) slots.

 

I can run 2 M1015s in the x8 slots, or 1 M1015 in a x4 slot. When I try to run 3 total (2 in x8, and 1 in x4), or even just 2 total (2 in x4).. I get that message. It seems like it doesn't matter the card, or which x4 slot it is.

 

Is there some BIOS setting I'm overlooking? Or was flashing to P14 incorrect? I have a feeling I'm missing something small.

Okay, tried something new.. if I put 1 in x8, and 2 in x4, I get two of the BIOS Faults, and only one card shows up in the configuration panel.

 

Beyond confused.

I realized I had P14 firmware and I didn't update the card's BIOS to the most recent version.. did that, still fails.

 

The only change is the 3 lights blink at the same time on the top of the cards where as before it was random. I know, I'm stretching here.. I can't find any information about this error anywhere. I'm at a loss.

I'm still putting together my server, but using the same board and have 2 of the m1015 installed (going to hold onto the third card for another server since a simple 2 port card combined with the 6 onboard will cover my needs).

 

For me, I don't have this problem, but I am also not sure what version my cards are flashed to as it was pre-flashed by an ebay seller to IT mode. I'm not at home so can't check either. My cards are in the two x8 slots. In any case, I don't think the problem is with the motherboard, could just be the firmware version of the m1015 cards themselves.

I don't know if the IIF is the same, but on the original board, I had to use the 2 x8 slots (which you'll want to use anyways, they are x8 cards) and the bottom x4 slot (skipping the x4 slot in between if that makes sense.)

 

Give that a shot maybe?  Also, ensure the m/b is on latest f/w

Negative. I'm surprised I didn't try that arrangement though, I had high hopes.

 

Oh well. Still stumped, but just sold one of the cards and ordered an Intel Expander RES2SV240. I'll run the two cards into that and while I won't have the same speed as 3x m1015, it shouldn't be too much different. Thanks for the help.

This is concerning as I have three of M1015's also and was planning to get that same board and run all three cards in it.  Maybe I should just get the X9SCM-F instead?

This is concerning as I have three of M1015's also and was planning to get that same board and run all three cards in it.  Maybe I should just get the X9SCM-F instead?

 

He F may have the same issue. I had a strange occurane with multiple raid cards in mine. Had to be in a particular order.

 

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

I tried all different positions, placing each card in the different slots, and even downgraded their FW and BIOS.. no dice. Either my 3 cards didn't want to play nicely together, or more likely it is a board issue running three of them. I found no information online about it, with the exception that a similar error with a Dell branded LSI card. The error code given meant that the motherboard wasn't giving out a true I/O slot to it. That would make sense because it errors on boot, and after startup, ESXi didn't see it at all. Besides LEDs flashing, it was dead to the world.

 

My Intel Expander should be here in a few days, and I'll give that a go with 2x M1015. By my calculations, running 2x into the Expander, shouldn't be much too slower than running 3 M1015s. Because the board sees both M1015s, and I can pass them through to unRAID without issue, I think adding in the Expander will work just fine. I'll report back.

 

And RockDawg, you may want to just get the normal F. I've read multiple people here and on HardOCP running that setup without an issue. You might just need to get a dual or quad NIC card if you need additional ESXi flavored jacks.

If you want you can try to reflash one card again but this time do not flash any BIOS, just the firmware...

 

I suspect the motherboard BIOS does not have enough space to initialize three time the same BIOS.

 

Alternatively boot with a single card, go to the card BIOS menu and disable the BIOS there.

If you want you can try to reflash one card again but this time do not flash any BIOS, just the firmware...

 

I suspect the motherboard BIOS does not have enough space to initialize three time the same BIOS.

 

Alternatively boot with a single card, go to the card BIOS menu and disable the BIOS there.

 

I would boot with each card and disable each BIOS.  I don't believe there is any need for in in IT mode.

I got a reply from Supermicro support saying that BIOS Revision 2 would solve a lot of LSI related and Adaptec issues.

 

Which BIOS are you using? I have a X9SMC-F ans want to use 2 M1015/LSI2008 and a Areca ARC1200 card.

I have the X9SCM-F (not the new IIF); using Bios 2

I tried running two of them without BIOS and leaving it on the third like bcbgboy13 suggested.

 

Oh well, the third sold, and I'm now running 2 into an Expander and it's running just fine. Minor speed hit, but it works, so that is what I need right now.

Why use the bios if your running unRAID. I haven't found a reason to use bios on this controller and same main board. I'm open if someone has a compelling reason. I don't know of anything that cannot be done via megacli.

Just wanted to add that I recently tried adding a third M1015 to my X9SCM-IIF and seeing the same mpt bios fault as described in the original post.

 

if anyone have any ideas on how to get the third M1015 working, I would like to know.

 

 

thanks

the X9SCM had an issue with with 3 cards with the 2.0 bios. the 2.0a bios fixed that issue. I am running 2.0a on a x9scm with 4 cards in it right now.

the X9SCM had an issue with with 3 cards with the 2.0 bios. the 2.0a bios fixed that issue. I am running 2.0a on a x9scm with 4 cards in it right now.

 

Good to know for future upgrades on mine (I have 3 cards, 2 RAID and 1 Dual NIC) and it has run fine on 2.0 and 2.0a.

fyi.

 

I emailed supermicro and mentioned about the issue was similar to reports on the x9scm. They ended up sending me a bios to try out and now i have 3 m1015 running in my system.

 

Hi DeepSea,

 

did you flash the M1015 on the X9SCM-IIF?

 

if so, how did you manage to do that?

 

I've been suffering for the past few days with no luck