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Callsign_Vega
07-30-2012, 03:27 PM
I have a ASRock Extreme 11 motherboard inbound that has a LSI 2308 integrated RAID controller. I've only dealt with the easy to use Intel RAID controller that comes up before the BIOS.

How do you set up and implement RAID as a boot-up disk with LSI controller? I have eight Vertex 4's inbound to RAID 0 up and would rather know the process now instead of when I get it.

So far I can find that LSI has a floppy driver (which I'm sure you use during windows 7 install after you have created the array), a LSI MegaRaid utility which looks like it is used once Win 7 is installed. I guess the grey area would be how do you set up the RAID array and set it as the boot disk.

This is what I can find so far:

http://www.lsi.com/downloads/Public/...User_Guide.pdf
Kain665
07-30-2012, 03:42 PM
Depends on what FW the 2308 has. If it's in HBA mode (Either IR/IT FW), I believe all arrays are bootable by default. If it's in MegaRaid mode, then you have a GUI that you create a virtual disk through and set it as bootable. Then it's up to selecting the correct boot device in your boot manager.
Callsign_Vega
07-30-2012, 05:13 PM
Sweet, thanks.
Callsign_Vega
08-02-2012, 12:27 AM
Depends on what FW the 2308 has. If it's in HBA mode (Either IR/IT FW), I believe all arrays are bootable by default. If it's in MegaRaid mode, then you have a GUI that you create a virtual disk through and set it as bootable. Then it's up to selecting the correct boot device in your boot manager.

Kain one more question. I set up my drives in RAID 0 in theLSI config menu but at no time did it ask me for the stripe size. Is this normal? I couldnot find anything referencing stripe size in the config menu at bootup.
Computurd
08-02-2012, 07:36 PM
HBAs do not allow a configurable stripe size. they default to 64KB. sucks.
mobilenvidia
08-02-2012, 08:47 PM
HBAs do not allow a configurable stripe size. they default to 64KB. sucks.
You could cheat, setup a RAID0 array on a LSI926x controller with larger/smaller stripe then import the array on to the SAS2308/2008 HBA
Computurd
08-02-2012, 11:50 PM
I like your thinking :)
Kain665
08-03-2012, 09:02 AM
I'm pretty sure the IR FW allows stripe adjustment. Could be wrong though.
mobilenvidia
08-03-2012, 04:01 PM
I like your thinking :)
Idea was right, but execution is a no go :(

Just tried it on my IBM M5015, made RAID0 array with 32KB stripe.

IBM M1015
MSM - scan for foreign configuration nothing found
MSM - load configuration (saved from M5015) won't load
BIOS - no option to scan for configuration

Any LSI HBA (SAS2008/2308) you cannot change the Stripe size from it's default 64KB, in BIOS or MSM
Wonder if some trickery with MegaCLI could do it
Computurd
08-03-2012, 04:07 PM
yeah HBA suxors when it comes to stripes, and dammit you had me stoked :) i was actually about to give it a shot with some P400Es in RAID i am testing...oh well, outside the box thinking sometimes leads to great stuff :)
mobilenvidia
08-03-2012, 06:56 PM
yeah HBA suxors when it comes to stripes, and dammit you had me stoked :) i was actually about to give it a shot with some P400Es in RAID i am testing...oh well, outside the box thinking sometimes leads to great stuff :)
MegaOEM also doesn't see HBA's, so my other evil plan to modify the default Stripe size in the firmware also came to naught.

Only thing left is to try is crossflash the M1015 to LSI9240, then make a RAID0 array, can't remember if this allows different stripe sizes.
Flash the card back to LSI9211 IR mode
Eek, alot of work to find out, but I probably won't sleep till I know ;)
Callsign_Vega
08-03-2012, 11:41 PM
If anyone here hasn't seen this thread, maybe you can help with slow RAID issue:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?282326-LSI-RAID-Controller-help-2308-chip-on-board-ASRock-Extreme-11-motherboard-is-slow!
Brother Esau
08-30-2012, 12:41 PM
Why buy LSI when Areca is the best performing Raid Controller on the Market? Also too, the new Areca 18802 Cards have the LSI Logic chipset on their controllers
Nizzen
08-30-2012, 01:19 PM
Why buy LSI when Areca is the best performing Raid Controller on the Market? Also too, the new Areca 18802 Cards have the LSI Logic chipset on their controllers

Maybe because 1882 v3 is't for sale every where yet?
I only bought the new lsi to play with. In the server and main computer I use Areca 1880. Hoping for 1882 v3 soon.
Yes I am areca fanboy :D
Brother Esau
08-30-2012, 02:12 PM
Yes, must be mindful that there are people from all over the world on this forum. I have not been a frequent on XS for a number of years now.

It is time for me to upgrade my Areca controller this year. I have been running the 1231ML in my sig since 2007 without 1 issue ever, since I purchased it.

Will be getting my first SSD Intel 520 drive this week and I already have plans on getting one of the new Areca Raid controllers over the next couple of months.
Gilgamesh
09-03-2012, 06:40 AM
Anandtech's review on Extreme11:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6228/asrock-x79-extreme11-review-pcie-30-x16x16x16x16-and-lsi-8way-sassata/10

8x ADATA XPG SX910 256GB
Nizzen
09-04-2012, 08:00 AM
Someone here have a nice guide how to flash LSI controllers with sasflash in "dos" mode?

Need to flash my lsi 9207 from it to ir mode :)

Want to test 8xm3p r0 as an OS drive
mobilenvidia
09-04-2012, 10:39 AM
Someone here have a nice guide how to flash LSI controllers with sasflash in "dos" mode?

Need to flash my lsi 9207 from it to ir mode :)

Want to test 8xm3p r0 as an OS drive
I have one here (http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/29059-sas2008-lsi92409211-firmware-files/) for the IBM M1015 (LSI9211), but should work just as well for the LSI9207.