Question MegaRAID Storage Manager fail

[boondocks]

I have followed the instructions to the letter, over and over to get MSM working. I can not login because it does not see my pc as a server, all though my Windows static IP is displayed on the login page.
I have used the recommended Java flavor, (8u282-b08) and set a system variable JRE_HOME pointing to the Java folder.
I have placed javax.activation.jar in the BIN folder of Java.

I found a complete set of install files and directions on servethehome, where he uses not the same version of Java but still an x86 version. Basically that's the only difference from the instructions in the MSM readme.
Still no joy.

I plan to set up RAID on a series of 18TB drives soon.

Here is the login attempt and results:


Help? I just am at an impasse here it seems. In fact I'm pretty sick of this constant installing, just to uninstall it all and start over, and over, over. lol! (not really)

Appreciate some direction here if you have a clue what is happening.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Is your host system the same as where you’re running the software?

If so, try 127.0.0.1 as the IP

Is the adapter installed in a compatible system?

Is the adapter at a compatible firmware level with the software?

Also ensure the host firmware is all up to date. Then ensure all drivers are up to date

 

[boondocks]

Is your host system the same as where you’re running the software?

If so, try 127.0.0.1 as the IP

Is the adapter installed in a compatible system?

Is the adapter at a compatible firmware level with the software?

Also ensure the host firmware is all up to date. Then ensure all drivers are up to date

Yes

Did not work

All I can say is it's working well. All drives show up in Windows. First card I've had in this mobo that my mobo wasn't fussy about and/or had to boot in CSM & disable boot BIOS on card.

Don't know?

Drivers are latest I could find. I need to do another check on firmware but believe it's latest.
If the MSM installed any services I can't find them....

I also installed LSA, (LSI Storage Authority), and some of the page views are not available, i.e. I can't configure the drives, so it just shows a list of JBOD's. It appears to have the right services installed (AFAIK).

 

[ch33zw1z]

Can you access the card on boot and see if config options are available there?

Unfortunately I’ve never initial configed a MR adapter from the software, always built the array from the card gui / text interface.

 

[boondocks]

Can you access the card on boot and see if config options are available there?

Unfortunately I’ve never initial configed a MR adapter from the software, always built the array from the card gui / text interface.

I tried spamming Ctrl+C and Ctrl+A on CSM boots and could not enter the card's BIOS. Maybe a different key combo??
First card I've had that would not indicate key combo to access the card. Hopefully someone knows.

BTW card has latest BIOS and confirmed latest drivers from Broadcom site.

 

[boondocks]

Ah I see now can't access card BIOS on boot, has to be configured through other means. Off to search the mobo BIOS.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I tried spamming Ctrl+C and Ctrl+A on CSM boots and could not enter the card's BIOS. Maybe a different key combo??
First card I've had that would not indicate key combo to access the card. Hopefully someone knows.

BTW card has latest BIOS and confirmed latest drivers from Broadcom site.

Hmm, it’s been sometime, but I think it was ctrl + I (the “eye”) key.

Edit: might be ctrl + H

It’s been a while lol

 

[boondocks]

Hmm, it’s been sometime, but I think it was ctrl + I (the “eye”) key.

Edit: might be ctrl + H

It’s been a while lol

Apparently the BIOS isn't available on boot from what I read on the Broadcom docs. Apparently must be managed by software, which is my goal anyway.

I did allow HHI in my mobo BIOS and the card shows up in the BIOS but there's no configuration options.

Uninstalled/reinstalled LSA and still no good on that front either as it won't show the configuration pages. Don't know what is going on. Starting to wish I had splurged on a different (newer) card but retirement dollars are already stretched thin.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Which adapter model is this? What are server specs?

 

[boondocks]

9400-16i card.
Server is my pc. Specs in sig.

 

[manly]

LOL Java 8 SMDH.

Just use MegaCLI:

How to Set Up Hardware RAID Using MegaCLI | phoenixNAP KB

Follow this guide to quickly set up a hardware RAID setup using MegaCLI. Get started managing your RAID devices and configurations.

phoenixnap.com

Edit:
I guess I'm too old, and this model supports StorCLI.

 

[ch33zw1z]

LOL Java 8 SMDH.

Just use MegaCLI:

How to Set Up Hardware RAID Using MegaCLI | phoenixNAP KB

Follow this guide to quickly set up a hardware RAID setup using MegaCLI. Get started managing your RAID devices and configurations.

phoenixnap.com

Another option there that I’ve long forgotten about lol

 

[Steltek]

Probably a stupid question, but since the card is showing JBOD to the system, could it have been flashed to IT mode?

 

[boondocks]

Probably a stupid question, but since the card is showing JBOD to the system, could it have been flashed to IT mode?

Supposedly HBA mode. I am far from an expert though. I just need some software with a GUI that works. Not going the command line stuff, and I don't do Linux.

 

[Steltek]

Supposedly HBA mode. I am far from an expert though. I just need some software with a GUI that works. Not going the command line stuff, and I don't do Linux.

HBA mode is IT mode. So, you are good there if that is what you wanted. If you wanted hardware RAID mode, you would want IR mode to be set (i.e. Megaraid, which requires a different firmware flashed to the card).

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but exactly what kind of configuration are you trying to do on the drives that LSI Storage Authority won't let you do?

 

[boondocks]

HBA mode is IT mode. So, you are good there if that is what you wanted. If you wanted hardware RAID mode, you would want IR mode to be set (i.e. Megaraid, which requires a different firmware flashed to the card).

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but exactly what kind of configuration are you trying to do on the drives that LSI Storage Authority won't let you do?

LSA is not showing me any configuration pages. All I can see is the controller, and the drives.

 

[Steltek]

LSA is not showing me any configuration pages. All I can see is the controller, and the drives.

If it is in HBA mode, I think that is all it is supposed to be showing you. You can't set up a RAID configuration in HBA mode. The advantage of it is, though, other software (like TrueNas) can.

 

[boondocks]

So...where does that leave me in terms of software managing RAID from within Windows?

 

[boondocks]

I'm not going any homemade NAS route.

 

[Steltek]

Did you try to do it through Windows Disk Management on the drives exposed by the HBA? You are supposed to be able to set either a striped set (RAID 0) or mirror (RAID 1) there. I

EDIT: It may now be under Storage Spaces. You would create a new pool there, then under Fault Tolerances select the type of RAID.

I have never bothered with Windows RAID, so I'm not sure, but one of those two methods should work. I would suggest looking for a Win10/Win11 tutorial on how to do it to make sure you know how to do it.

 

[boondocks]

Did you try to do it through Windows Disk Management on the drives exposed by the HBA? You are supposed to be able to set either a striped set (RAID 0) or mirror (RAID 1) there.

EDIT: It may also be under Storage Spaces. I have never bothered with Windows RAID, so I'm not sure.

Storage spaces should. Don't know how much management options and disc information can be gleaned from it though: never used it.

 

[Steltek]

Storage spaces should. Don't know how much management options and disc information can be gleaned from it though: never used it.

The way you are set up, though, you have to do it using some external software as the whole purpose of the HBA mode on your LSI card is to allow this to happen.

Most people use something like TrueNAS or Unraid to do it. However, I would think Windows Storage Spaces should work just fine so long as you keep good backup processes in place (and a good UPS). I remember reading that RAID 0 and RAID 1 were the only reliable things to use, though.

Granted, I haven't researched it at length. I am planning to go the opposite way -- a Proxmox server running a virtualized NAS. I hope to eventually virtualize a pihole and maybe even a router in the long run.

Alas, the retirement income has sucked for me, too. Darned stock market....

 

[boondocks]

Granted, I haven't researched it at length. I am planning to go the opposite way -- a Proxmox server running a virtualized NAS. I hope to eventually virtualize a pihole and maybe even a router in the long run.

See I don't have a clue what that means. Just sounds like a lot of work. I just want something I can set up, works, and not have to futz with anything. I have over 30TB of surround music I want to mirror. My collection is constantly being added to, and copying to this drive/folder and on and on is a timesuck.
I'm outdoors working a lot, having experienced 2 hurricanes within a years time, many trees down and, well, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, pitchforks and rakes are no stranger.
In my downtime I'd rather listen to music, not copy it all over the place.

 

[Steltek]

See I don't have a clue what that means. Just sounds like a lot of work. I just want something I can set up, works, and not have to futz with anything. I have over 30TB of surround music I want to mirror. My collection is constantly being added to, and copying to this drive/folder and on and on is a timesuck.
I'm outdoors working a lot, having experienced 2 hurricanes within a years time, many trees down and, well, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, pitchforks and rakes are no stranger.
In my downtime I'd rather listen to music, not copy it all over the place.

When I do my setup, I'll be doing it as much as a project to exercise my mental faculties as anything else. The potential of Proxmox virtual containers running virtual machines seems fascinating, at least to me.

However, it sounds like for simplicity then a RAID 1 mirror may be what you want. However, do remember, that no version of RAID is in any way suitable for use as a substitute for proper backups (especially if you are depending on Microsoft to do your RAID for you -- just look at how Windows 11 is turning out). I mean, you could take a chance, but 30TB of music is a major investment to possibly have to replace.

So, you still need to puzzle out a backup option. If you have good Internet, a cloud backup might work. And, though I've never used it, Backblaze advertises a single computer backup for $9/mo or $99 a year. I'm sure someone here will chime in as to whether it is worth a subscription or not.

 

[In2Photos]

See I don't have a clue what that means. Just sounds like a lot of work. I just want something I can set up, works, and not have to futz with anything. I have over 30TB of surround music I want to mirror. My collection is constantly being added to, and copying to this drive/folder and on and on is a timesuck.
I'm outdoors working a lot, having experienced 2 hurricanes within a years time, many trees down and, well, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, pitchforks and rakes are no stranger.
In my downtime I'd rather listen to music, not copy it all over the place.

So is this going to be your backup device or your storage/backup device? I have an UnRAID server. It's made up of an old Dell i5-2500, 8GB of RAM and 4 hard drives. 1 drive acts as a parity drive while the other 3 make up the array. It's simple to set up, easy to use and access on all my other devices. No special hardware unless I need more SATA ports. When I need more storage I can just add a drive to the array. There's a whole lot of stuff you can do with it but I just use it as a NAS.