First time posting here so please be gentle. I've checked through the forums and determined that my issue is probably due to the cables I purchased being reverse breakout cables inatead of forward. I've contacted the seller on eBay and am awaiting a reply, but in the meantime, I'll post my question here too. The label on the cables say Molex 79576-3500 which I can't seem to dig up any info on.vthe eBay listing where I bought them from is as follows:

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360507242585?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2369wt_1120

 

No mention there of forward or reverse breakout cable type. Both sas2lp-mv8 cards spin up the drives okay according to the post screens, but not physical drives are connected even when checking in the cards bios screen. Loading unraid doesn't show them either.

 

In preparation for these being the wrong cables, I've found a seller in China on eBay that has the cables for cheaper and looks like the correct ones based on the description.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AMPHENOL-422763500002-Mini-SAS-8087-to-4-SAS-SATA-HD-drives-RAID-CABLE-20-/261124047418?pt=US_Drive_Cables_dapters&hash=item3ccc34c23a&_uhb=1#ht_3777wt_922

 

Being that I am based in Australia, the cheapest I can get these for is around $23 AUD each (need 4) and $14 delivery for a total cost of $106 from a place called PC Case Gear where the eBay ones from China will set me back $27 inc post. So, I just want to confirm that the cables are my issue and that the Chinese cables will do the trick. Then I wait another week or two for delivery and then I can get the unRaid server back on its feet again.

Don't know about your current cables, but the 8087 should work fine.

Got a reply back from the eBay seller and they couldn't tell wether they were forward or reverse so I am going to assume they are the wrong cables. So next step I guess will be to order from the second eBay seller in china.

 

@shat: I assume you meant the second lot of cables will work (from china)