Will this SuperMicro HBA work in Truenas Scale/Core?

[PePeComputing]

Hi all,

Due to my previous HBA controllers being broken. I'm in search of a new HBA.

I found this one: SUPERMICRO AOC-S2308L-L8E - LSI 2308L I can't find alot about it on the internet if it is compatable with TrueNas, so that's why I would like to ask here if anybody has any experience or can see if this card will work in combination with TrueNas!

I will be adding it into my server with an i9 10900k + MSI Z590 Plus motherboard.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MisterE2002]

I have this exact card in use. The last "e" means it is IT mode only. That is fine for your requirements.
This card is based on the 2308 chipset. The 2008 and 2308 are the most used chipsets (for spinning rust).

Make sure you update to the latest firmware
Example of mine card, before the update.

Code:

root@truenas[~]# sas2flash -list
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 20.00.00.00 (2014.09.18)
Copyright (c) 2008-2014 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved

    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2308_1(D1)

    Controller Number              : 0
    Controller                     : SAS2308_1(D1)
    PCI Address                    : 00:02:00:00
    SAS Address                    : 5003048-0-1bd1-e200
    NVDATA Version (Default)       : 11.00.00.04
    NVDATA Version (Persistent)    : 11.00.00.04
    Firmware Product ID            : 0x2214 (IT)
    Firmware Version               : 19.00.00.00
    NVDATA Vendor                  : LSI
    NVDATA Product ID              : LSI2308-IT
    BIOS Version                   : 07.37.00.00
    UEFI BSD Version               : 07.26.01.00
    FCODE Version                  : N/A
    Board Name                     : LSI2308-IT
    Board Assembly                 : N/A
    Board Tracer Number            : N/A

    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash

I also dumped the current versions to file. But this is optional.

Flashing using UEFI failed in my case (“InitShellApp: Application not started from Shell”). So finally i just used the command line of Scale. Use the " .nsh" file and make sure you KNOW YOUR SAS NUMBER BEFOREHAND. It will ask the last 9 chars.

Let me know if you need more information. Documented all the steps :)

 

[PePeComputing]

I have this exact card in use. The last "e" means it is IT mode only. That is fine for your requirements.
This card is based on the 2308 chipset. The 2008 and 2308 are the most used chipsets (for spinning rust).

Make sure you update to the latest firmware
Example of mine card, before the update.

Code:

root@truenas[~]# sas2flash -list
LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
Version 20.00.00.00 (2014.09.18)
Copyright (c) 2008-2014 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved

    Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2308_1(D1)

    Controller Number              : 0
    Controller                     : SAS2308_1(D1)
    PCI Address                    : 00:02:00:00
    SAS Address                    : 5003048-0-1bd1-e200
    NVDATA Version (Default)       : 11.00.00.04
    NVDATA Version (Persistent)    : 11.00.00.04
    Firmware Product ID            : 0x2214 (IT)
    Firmware Version               : 19.00.00.00
    NVDATA Vendor                  : LSI
    NVDATA Product ID              : LSI2308-IT
    BIOS Version                   : 07.37.00.00
    UEFI BSD Version               : 07.26.01.00
    FCODE Version                  : N/A
    Board Name                     : LSI2308-IT
    Board Assembly                 : N/A
    Board Tracer Number            : N/A

    Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
    Exiting SAS2Flash

I also dumped the current versions to file. But this is optional.

Flashing using UEFI failed in my case (“InitShellApp: Application not started from Shell”). So finally i just used the command line of Scale. Use the " .nsh" file and make sure you KNOW YOUR SAS NUMBER BEFOREHAND. It will ask the last 9 chars.

Let me know if you need more information. Documented all the steps :)

Thanks for your reply!

Flashing firmware to an HBA is new to me, is that something that can be done from the bios?

 

[MisterE2002]

Yeah, i tried using the "EUFI shell" feature of my supermicro motherboard. Probably not a feature of your MSI board. As said, you can also flash using the Scale command line.

So, basic steps
* (update based on Ericloewe reply): disconnect drives/pool
* wget https://www.supermicro.com/wdl/driver/SAS/Broadcom/2308/Firmware/IT/PH20.00.07.00-IT.zip
* unzip PH20.00.07.00-IT.zip
* cd /root/PH20.00.07.00-IT/IT/UEFI

Steps like “SMC2308T.nsh”, i did them manually
sas2flash -o -e 7
sas2flash -f 2308T207.ROM
sas2flash -b mptsas2.rom
sas2flash -b x64sas2.rom
sas2flash.efi -o -sasaddhi 5003048

Last command will asked for the 9 remaining characters.

 

[PePeComputing]

Oh nice! Thank you! That's something that I can definetly do!

But then I first need to get past this screen of "Welcome to GRUB!" The new HBA worked perfectly thus far...

https://www.truenas.com/community/threads/stuck-on-welcome-to-grub.105629/

I placed another thread about getting further from this screen, if a solution is found I will definetly upgrade my firmware, thanks!

 

[Ericloewe]

"EUFI shell"

UEFI.

Probably not a feature of your MSI board.

You can actually get a UEFI shell and boot to it from a USB flash drive or something. Some boards, like modern Supermicro boards, do include a UEFI shell in the firmware image, typically.

As said, you can also flash using the Scale command line.

Same for TrueNAS Core. It's very convenient, but: do not update a controller that has disks that are part of a mounted pool. You will corrupt data!

So, if you're going to flash an LSI SAS controller from TrueNAS, be sure to export all pools that use disks attached to SAS controllers first.