Dell PowerEdge 1950 with LSI SAS1068E/aka DeLL SAS-6 HBA: howto update firmware with FreeBSD?

[O. Hartmann]

We run a Dell PowerEdge 1950 Server which is equipted with a LSI Logic
LSISAS1068E SAS HBA, branded as a Dell SAS-6 HBA (MPT). The firmware is
dated to 2007 and is not capable of handling hard disks larger than 2 TB.

We got now a 3 TB SATA harddrive (WD WD30EZRX) which doesn't get
recognized properly and is traeted as a 2TB disk.
I found at Dell's website a proper firmware for this type of SAS
controller, but I wasn't able to flash a new firmware (firmware found at
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&deviceid=13856&libid=46&releaseid=R197383&vercnt=3&formatcnt=0&SystemID=PWE_1950&servicetag=&os=WNET&osl=en&catid=-1&dateid=-1&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&impid=-1&checkFormat=true).

This fails. The windows alternative is not applicable, how should it ...
A FreeDOS solution - like LSI Logic offers - is obviously not in sight
at Dell, the offer a RedHat only solution. I tried with a FedoraLive CD
(Fedora15, 64Bit), but the process fails either with a non-found
builVer.sh-error or, when using a emergency-Linux CD like Knoppix 6.4.4
(famous in Germany), it's missing some utilities (rpm, stty or whatsoever).

So, I'm floating like a dead man in the water, having a full old 2 TB
harddrive, an exchange 3TB harddrive which is recognized as 2 TB
harddrive and no chance to update the controller's firmware.

Is anybody out here with a solution under FreeBSD?

The box is running FreeBSD 8.2-STABLE with a most recent buildworld.

Thanks in advance,

Oliver

P.S. Please CC me, I'm not subscribing list "questions".

[Vincent Hoffman]

Post by O. Hartmann
We run a Dell PowerEdge 1950 Server which is equipted with a LSI Logic
LSISAS1068E SAS HBA, branded as a Dell SAS-6 HBA (MPT). The firmware
is dated to 2007 and is not capable of handling hard disks larger than
2 TB.
We got now a 3 TB SATA harddrive (WD WD30EZRX) which doesn't get
recognized properly and is traeted as a 2TB disk.
I found at Dell's website a proper firmware for this type of SAS
controller, but I wasn't able to flash a new firmware (firmware found at
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&deviceid=13856&libid=46&releaseid=R197383&vercnt=3&formatcnt=0&SystemID=PWE_1950&servicetag=&os=WNET&osl=en&catid=-1&dateid=-1&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&impid=-1&checkFormat=true).
This fails. The windows alternative is not applicable, how should it
... A FreeDOS solution - like LSI Logic offers - is obviously not in
sight at Dell, the offer a RedHat only solution. I tried with a
FedoraLive CD (Fedora15, 64Bit), but the process fails either with a
non-found builVer.sh-error or, when using a emergency-Linux CD like
Knoppix 6.4.4 (famous in Germany), it's missing some utilities (rpm,
stty or whatsoever).

No idea on doing it under freebsd unfortunately but you could try a
CentOS (RHEL rebuild) livecd.
(http://wiki.centos.org/Manuals/ReleaseNotes/CentOSLiveCD5.6)
Dell semi support Centos as a redhat compatible.

Vince

Post by O. Hartmann
So, I'm floating like a dead man in the water, having a full old 2 TB
harddrive, an exchange 3TB harddrive which is recognized as 2 TB
harddrive and no chance to update the controller's firmware.
Is anybody out here with a solution under FreeBSD?
The box is running FreeBSD 8.2-STABLE with a most recent buildworld.
Thanks in advance,
Oliver
P.S. Please CC me, I'm not subscribing list "questions".
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