LSI HBA to Expander Issues

theskaz · December 24, 2020

Hi guys/gals,

I am trying to get my LSI 9206-16e to connect to my supermicro SC847 JBOD Array. its the 45 drive chassis. I have updated the firmware to P20(IT Mode) on both controllers (it has 2) and have tried a few different ways of hooking it up. It cannot see any drives. the backplane in the chassis is the BPN-SAS2-846EL1.

J0 is connected to the 9206

and J0 here is connected also:

One thing I have noticed is that the HDD cages turn on when I start the chassis, and then all lights go off. im not sure if the HBA is supposed to init them and then they turn green, or if the expander does that.

theskaz · December 24, 2020

I took out all the fans so i can hear the drives, and they do spin up. Here is pics of the leds

Jarsky · December 25, 2020

I assume you've tried with a single HBA? I'm not sure that backplane likes 2 independent controllers.

Also I see you have a breakout cable, so you've confirmed a drive is visible connected direct to the HBA with that cable for testing purposes?

theskaz · December 25, 2020

3 hours ago, Jarsky said:

I assume you've tried with a single HBA? I'm not sure that backplane likes 2 independent controllers.

Also I see you have a breakout cable, so you've confirmed a drive is visible connected direct to the HBA with that cable for testing purposes?

That cable has the same connector on the other side and was connected to the main backplane.

I pulled everything out and put it up on a test bench to do more troubleshooting. As soon as i hooked it up, it saw all hard drives. I guess someone sprinkled FM dust on it to make it work....