Supermicro Build - Using most of the hardware

[silvesj]

& I should be able to do all of this via Putty correct?

 

[Mirfster]

& I should be able to do all of this via Putty correct?

Not the BMC Firmware (not that I have tried). I usually just use a USB DOS Boot (made with Rufus) that I throw the stuff on. Boot up to that and apply the BMC Firmware.

 

[silvesj]

Thanks I'll give this a go tonight or tomorrow and let you know how it turns out! I appreciate all the help Mirfster!

 

[silvesj]

OK, so I booted to freedos and ran the dos.bat which then says it needs to reset firmware, and create a virtual usb. I say OK, it says it then needs to reboot to create virtual drive, which it does. But then cannot boot from drive. That may be why you don't use it lol. Fans still loud.

 

[Mirfster]

Okay, here is how you get "socflash.exe" and then make the folder to flash the BMC..

1. Make an empty folder that you will be copying to the USB
   • I called mine "BMC170"
2. Go to http://poweredgec.dell.com/latest_fw.html
   • Download the "07/20/2012 pec2100bmc179.exe"
     • Extract the contents (can run the EXE or simply use 7Zip)
     • We just want to grab two executable files from this
   • Download the "07/12/2012 pec2100bmc170.zip"
     • Extract the contents
     • We just want the "firm.bin" file from this
3. In the extracted "pec2100bmc179" folder
   • Navigate to the "SOCFLASH\dosflash" folder
     
   • Copy "DOS4GW.EXE" and "socflash.EXE" to the "BMC170" folder
4. From the "pec2100bmc170" folder; copy the "firm.bin" to the "BMC170" folder
5. In the "BMC170" folder; make a *.bat file
   • I called mine "dosflash.bat" (like Dell did)
   • Edit the file and put just put this in there: socflash cs=2 option=fc if=firm.bin skip=0x200
6. Copy the entire "BMC170" folder to your bootable USB Stick
7. Boot up using that stick and in DOS, just change to the "BMC170" folder and run the "dosflash.bat" in there.

That should get you where you need to be. Just so you know once it is flashed and after you reboot; it may reboot once more (I think mine did since it was applying the "ME" update as well). Also, it might reset the BMC Settings (password to the default as well as to use "Shared NIC" instead of "Dedicated NIC"); but you can change that in the BIOS.

 

[silvesj]

So the socflash worked! Fans are significantly quieter! Thanks.

However; during the IT flash I get:

Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image

Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
Firmware Version 15.00.00.00
Firmware Image compatible with Controller.

Valid NVDATA Image found.
NVDATA Version 0f.00.00.00
Checking for a compatible NVData image...

NVDATA Device ID and Chip Revision match verified.
NVDATA Versions Compatible.
Valid Initialization Image verified.
Valid BootLoader Image verified.

ERROR: Cannot Flash IT Firmware over IR Firmware!

Firmware Image Validation Failed!

Due to error remaining commands will not be executed.
Unable to Process Commands.
Exiting SAS2Flash.

 

[Mirfster]

ERROR: Cannot Flash IT Firmware over IR Firmware!

Okay, so your card currently is in IR mode. So this is the process then:

1. Put the "sas2flsh" into "Advanced Mode" and Erase Existing Flash
   • Command: sas2flash -o -e 6
2. Flash H200 to IT Mode (with Bios as well):
   • Command: sas2flash -o -f 2118it.bin -b mptsas2.rom

Guess I should have looked closer at your "sas2flash -list" results... It showed "Firmware Product ID : 0x2713 (IR)"...

*** Edited to correct sas2flsh to sas2flash... was thinking the DOS version instead of within FreeNas....

 

[silvesj]

OK, so it says no LSI adapter found?

[admin@nas] /mnt/temp% sas2flash -o -e 6
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 16.00.00.00 (2013.03.01)
Copyright (c) 2008-2013 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved

No LSI SAS adapters found! Limited Command Set Available!
ERROR: Command Not allowed without an adapter!
ERROR: Couldn't Create Command -e
Exiting Program.

 

[silvesj]

What's weird is even the other command is now throwing the same error?

admin@nas] /mnt/temp% sas2flash -o -f 2118it.bin -b mptsas2.rom
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 16.00.00.00 (2013.03.01)
Copyright (c) 2008-2013 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved

No LSI SAS adapters found! Limited Command Set Available!
ERROR: Command Not allowed without an adapter!
ERROR: Couldn't Create Command -f
Exiting Program.

 

[Mirfster]

Okay, normally I do this all via a dos boot disk. I have updated the firmware once it was flashed to IT mode within FreeNas though. Think you know enough to copy the appropriate files to your USB Boot disk? The files needed should already be in the firmware you downloaded from LSI. I think the "sas2flsh.exe" is in a folder called "sas2flash_dos_rel" from the extracted media.

Also, you will just ensure to use type in "sas2flsh" instead of "sas2flash" in DOS.

 

[silvesj]

Also now have this error in FreeNAS web interface:

WARNING: May 13, 2016, 1:31 a.m. - Firmware version 7 does not match driver version 20 for /dev/mps0. Please flash controller to P20 IT firmware

 

[Mirfster]

WARNING: May 13, 2016, 1:31 a.m. - Firmware version 7 does not match driver version 20 for /dev/mps0. Please flash controller to P20 IT firmware

Is to be expected since the card is not >= 20.4... That will go away once you flash it correctly.

 

[silvesj]

Yea I'll try from a boot disk this evening and let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.

 

[silvesj]

So I booted from Freedos and the first command worked, the second one says Chip is in RESET stat, firmware host boot successful.

However; it also says "Writing current mfg page 2 settings to NVRAM. Failed to validate MFG page 2!"

Due to error remaining commands will not be executed.

EDIT:

sas2flsh.exe -list - throws a bunch of errors.

 

[Mirfster]

K, well then you can first flash it to Dell's SAS HBA first and then do the LSI one...

1. From http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=K161K download
   • File Format:Hard-Drive
   • File Name:SASHBA_Firmware_6GBPS-SAS-HBA_07.03.06.00_A11_ZPE.exe
2. Extract it and copy the contents to a folder in your USB (say "DellSAS")
3. Boot to the USB, go to the "DellSAS" folder; then run the "flash.bat"
   • May have to run sas2flash -o -e 6 first, but let's try without it
4. If all that goes well, then you can reboot and do the ones for the LSI

Give that a whirl

 

[silvesj]

Well that doesn't appear to be working either :\

I did it yesterday as directed and it ran for 3 hours! Just sitting at the Searching for compatible 6gbps SAS controller on the system. So this AM I fired it up and did the reset first. It's been about 15 min, but also sitting at the same spot.

 

[Mirfster]

Sorry you are having so many issues. Please see this thread that is a good write-up on how to flash that H200: https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/how-to-flashing-a-dell-h200-with-a-dell-r610.32919/

 

[silvesj]

Looks like that did it! Thanks for all of your help along the way!

 

[Mirfster]

Not a problem, sorry it took so long. /nursing a hangover... ;)

 

[silvesj]

haha understood. Either way drives aren't here yet, so I was in no hurry. No drives aside really happy you recommended this unit! Thanks again.