ASUS P5B-VM DO and 2x SASLP-MV8

[mason]

Hi all,

 

i just swapped my 2nd Adaptec 1430 for a Supermicro SASLP-MV8.

 

Previous i had one SASLP-MV8 in the PCI-E x16 and the Adaptec 1430 in the PCI-E x4 slot, working fine.

 

But now, the second SASLP-MV8 doesn't get detected by the bios, even if i remove everything the card won't show up at boot, I'll swapped both cards to make sure they are working. They do, but just in the x16 slot...

 

I would guess that this is no 'exotic' configuration since the Asus board was the recommended one for unraid. Anyone have this combination up and running?

 

I tried everything, from reseting the BIOS to default, trying all options... nothing! (Bios is recent version)

 

Someone have any idea? Or is it time just to buy a new board? If so ... any recommendations with 2x Supermicro cards?

 

Thanks .. mason

[SSD]

If you go back to have the Adaptec in the x4 slot and the SAS in the x16 slot, does everything work again?

[mason]

Yep, this is working flawless...

[SSD]

And if you swap them - Adaptec in x16 slot and SAS in x4 slot?

[mason]

The Adaptec gets detected, and the Supermicro not ... i don't get it

[SSD]

I have same setup as you. Adaptec in x4 and SAS in x16. I remember trying to hook up other way round and having a problem with my cable lengths and had to swap  them. But I also seem to remember not seeing the SAS BIOS screen until I got it in the x16 slot. Figured something was loose.

 

BTW why are you getting 2nd SAS. With mb, SAS, and Adaptec you have 20 slots.

[mason]

To get rid of the clutter, it's easier and nicer with the breakout cables, also i would like to stay 'upgradable' since I mostly maxed out my configuration. With the the Asus have 7x sata onboard + 4x Adaptec + 8 Supermicro you have 19 slots but i have capacity for 22HDDs in the case.

 

Somewhere in the board i found a link for a FW upgrade for the SASLP-MV8, currently it's 3.1.0.15N, on the Supermicro FTP theres a 3.1.0.21. I'll try to flash the controller with the new one and see how that's playing out.

 

(for future ref : ftp://ftp.supermicro.com/driver/SAS/Marvell/MV8/Firmware)

[SSD]

There is an eSATA port. You can buy an eSATA to SATA cable and loop it into the case to run an 8th MB drive (jmicron on mb).

 

I also am using an old 2 port PCI card. No drives hooked to it but available for preclears as needed.

 

None of this helps with clutter but thought might be of interest.

[mason]

Sure i could use that port, but since i allready bought the card and would like to use it I'm looking for alternatives.

 

Upgrading the FW didn't change anything, maybe I try to make a support request with Supermicro but I don't expect any outcome of this. Otherwise I'll might upgrade to the SuperMicro MBD-C2SEE-O since this seems to be the new 'default' and I found some affordable ones on ebay.

 

Why the hell could these things never work out... welcome to technology.

 

 

[SSD]

First off, hope you backed up your config directory.

 

Did you try booting unRaid and looking for signs of the SAS card in the x4 slot?  Or did you just not see the BIOS screen and assume it was not being recognized?

[mason]

Of course i made screen shots of the configuration to go back... should i haved save some files? I didn't change the port of the parity drive, so i assumed i would be just fine reassigning the drives.

 

I'll booted the server up with both Supermicro cards, but all HDDs on the 2nd controller where missing. I will try again and crawl through the syslog to find any traces of it but I don't have much hope.

 

Just booted back up again, this is the syslog from right now, no sign of the second controller as far as i see it

 

I'll checked the devices with lspci, but just got one controller

 

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82Q963/Q965 Memory Controller Hub (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82Q963/Q965 PCI Express Root Port (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82Q963/Q965 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev f2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HO (ICH8DO) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HR/HO/HH (ICH8R/DO/DH) 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 SCSI storage controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. MV64460/64461/64462 System Controller, Revision B (rev 01)

 

I guess it just don't work.. the devil knows why not

syslog.txt

[SSD]

Of course i made screen shots of the configuration to go back... should i haved save some files? I didn't change the port of the parity drive, so i assumed i would be just fine reassigning the drives.

 

There are times that the backup of the files is important.  I just do it out of habit before doing anything significant to my array.

 

I'll booted the server up with both Supermicro cards, but all HDDs on the 2nd controller where missing. I will try again and crawl through the syslog to find any traces of it but I don't have much hope.

 

Just booted back up again, this is the syslog from right now, no sign of the second controller as far as i see it

 

I'll checked the devices with lspci, but just got one controller

 

Was a long shot.

 

I guess it just don't work.. the devil knows why not

 

Sorry can't help further.

 

Could you return it the new SASLP controller?  With a cheap eSATA to SATA cable and (if you have one in your old parts bin) a 2 port PCI card, you might be able to make do until the whole 3T+ drive issue gets resolved.  Could be you will need to get new MB and controller cards to support larger disks - no one really knows yet.

 

If you do go with the Supermicro C2SEE-O MB, will be interested in your impressions relative to the P5B VM DO.  I bought one during the recent frenzy.  It does have 2 fewer MB SATA ports (6 vs 8 ) but does have an x1 slot.  So for me to move to it I'd need to buy a PCIe x1 controller (or upgrade my Adaptec controller to a SASLP like you have).

[mason]

Appreciate your help bjp999, I'll reverted back to the old configuration for the time beeing.

 

I'll keep the second controller, since it was a pain in the ass to get these in the first place in germany.

 

I need to think about it, going the C2SEE-O MB will cost me another 150Euros including some new memory. I'll report back if I move forward with this...

[mason]

bjp999 I'll upgraded to the Supermicro Board, compared to the Asus it's not much of a difference. For me it feels a little more 'stable' since i had trouble with the fully developed on board SATA ports. But in whole it makes a solid appearance, got the 2 controllers working now flawless and it's working pretty smooth since. Only thing I am still struggling is the WOL feature of the board, but this is something for another threat. As far as you happy with the Asus there is imho no advantage for replacing it.