Hello, I feel my z800's built-in/on-board/embedded 1068e RAID is causing performance issues.  MB part # 461437-001

 

I've been googling for days now and everything I find in regards to trying to get the RAID into an HBA or IT mode is for the PCI card versions of RAID and the software and procedures do not work for the embedded type.

 

Anyone have some pointers as to flashing this thing to HBA/IT mode?  It does not make virtualization impossible, but the lag and lack of performance is really bad.  The options found in the BIOS and LSI BIOS are very limited, so that doesn't seem to be an option.

I highly doubt its possible to flash the onboard controller, if they added any new features or options they would be in a newer BIOS but I assume you are running the most recent version. Better to get a card then run onboard, more features and options and likely ports with a card.

So stubborn me kept looking- in fact I wrote it off somewhat and even have an LSI PCI card on the way- but some casual searching and I found a post on this forum- page 53 second post down in the link--  https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12767.msg358131;topicseen#msg358131- that actually has a working tutorial on how to flash this darn embedded 1068e chip.

 

I can't believe someone figured out to use a totally different part number firmware but it supports the 1068e.  Pretty much follow the instructions, but adding to it- when in DOS select PCI-e, and 3081. 

 

I rebooted and ESXi sees the 1068e, and lists my drives individually and not in the RAID 10 it was in before (super super slow RAID 10).  Looking forward to having a software RAID setup and faster performance.