ibm m5015 vs ibm 5110

[fca]

Hi to all, first post

i have a ibm m5015 with a 6 disk raid5, can i replace the the m5015 with the 5110, i mean will the 5110 recognize the raid groups ?
What is the lsi model of the the 5110,
my 5015 is very slow on boot from what i read over here i can change it to a lsi to it boot fast, what files do i need to use to this upgrade ?

Can i do the same conversion ibm->Lsi on the 5110 ?

Thanks a million

 

[mobilenvidia]

M5015 = SAS2108 = LSI9260-8i
M5110 = SAS2208 = LSI9265-8i

Array will import from either controller (but be careful)

The M5110 may boot a little faster from memory as my M5016 (also SAS2208)
If you want fast boot you need to setup your system to boot in UEFI mode, even the M5015 will boot quick including with IBM SBR

 

[fca]

Thanks, my board don't have uefi as far as i know (asus p58d i think)
i read read and still didnt get can use an ssd disk as "cache" acelearator for the all disks/arrays that exist on the controller ?
what is the name of that feature ?
ServeRAID M5100 Series SSD Performance Accelerator or ServeRAID M5100 Series SSD Caching Enabler for IBM ?

hoe does this work ?

M5015 = SAS2108 = LSI9260-8i
M5110 = SAS2208 = LSI9265-8i

Array will import from either controller (but be careful)

The M5110 may boot a little faster from memory as my M5016 (also SAS2208)
If you want fast boot you need to setup your system to boot in UEFI mode, even the M5015 will boot quick including with IBM SBR

 

[fca]

hi i installed the M5110 today in my asus p6x58d premium and it hangs on poweron (not even a beep) ...
if i remove the 5110 and install the M5015 the machine start ok ...
So do i have a faulty m5110 or something to do with the pCIe bus ?

on lsi page it says that 9265 have pcie2 but on ibm site it says pcie3
"The ServeRAID M5110 and M5110e SAS/SATA controllers are optimized for high-performance, internal data storage with integration of the dual-core chip architecture, DDR3 1333 MHz cache memory, and PCIe 3.0 host interface. A portfolio of building blocks allows clients to design around a bottom-up approach and caters to a wide array of storage requirements. Upgrade features, such as support for RAID 6/60, performance optimization, and caching with SSDs, no longer require a hardware key. They are implemented through Features-on-Demand (FoD) software licenses."


has my mboard have only pcie2 could this be a problem ?
any sugestion for troubleshooting the m5110 leds light on ..

Regards

 

[mobilenvidia]

PCIe 3.0 is backwards compatable with Gen 2.x and 1.x so shouldn't be that.
But then my M5015 won't work in my PCIe Gen1 Mobo

LSI 9265 = PCIe Gen 2.0
IBM M5110 = PCIe Gen 3.0
They both use the same ROC (SAS2208)

IBM Performance enhance key has all the features, SSD caching feature is the most useful, but CacheCade is also beneficial to speed up Spindle arrays.
They do work differently.

Try the M5110 in a different Mobo
There could be a jumper that does a factory reset, you may have to DL the M5110 manual from IBM to see which one it is (the M5015/LSI9260 has one)
Also have a look in the System BIOS and have a play with any PCIe settings that might be there.

 

[fca]

Hi
Already tried in another mobo and the same behavior ...
A lot of jumpers near the bracket as the m5015...
But is a brand new m5110 could it need a fact reset ??
How do you make one in the 5015 ?
No setiing in my bios for the pcie
Thanks

 

[mobilenvidia]

Just looked up quick install guide http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/systems/support/system_x_pdf/81y1386.pdf
No Fac reset jumper on the M5110, so that won't work and seeing its brand new shouldn't really need it.

Call IBM or retailer and get another card, it should work.

 

[fca]

Hi , realy something todo with my mobos..
Tryit in both my x58 intel boards and the same behavior machine not even show bios ..
Black screen, no beeps no nothing ..
Strange the 5015 work fine...
Now I have tested the m5110 on Ibm server and it works even that server also have a pcie 2.0

So something strange With wks boards and this card ..

I will update the firmware on the server and retry on asus board ..

update: try it on a lenovo m58 workstation and i got this:

Four sets of three beeps ->> cause: DRAM memory error Perform the following actions in order.

actions:
1. Make sure the memory module(s) are properly seated in the connector(s).
2. Replace the memory module(s).
3. Replace the system board.

why a board can give memory errors !!!!
this all so strange

 

[fca]

Hi
i upgrade firmware to the latest version and i'm at the same point..

this the megalcli output on the ibm server :

Versions
================
Product Name : ServeRAID M5110
Serial No : S#########
FW Package Build: 23.7.1-0009

Mfg. Data
================
Mfg. Date : 11/28/12
Rework Date : 00/00/00
Revision No : 27E
Battery FRU : N/A

Image Versions in Flash:
================
BIOS Version : 5.35.00_4.12.05.00_0x05180000
FW Version : 3.190.105-1983
NVDATA Version : 2.1206.03-0115
WebBIOS Version : 6.1-52-e_52-Rel
Preboot CLI Version: 05.04-06:#%00011
Boot Block Version : 2.05.00.00-0009
BOOT Version : 07.26.13.219

will it possible/worth cross flash it to a real 9265 instead of m5110 ?
how can i do that where can i get the files need it ?

thanks a million.

 

[mobilenvidia]

I don't think crossflashing SAS2208 controllers is easily achieved as Megarec doesn't see the cards.
You need megarec to change the SBR

And I don't think it will make any difference, its most likely a HW conflict somewhere.
LSI controllers can be fussy.

I have to switch Mobo's for megarec to work, and the reverse happens with Megacli

 

[fca]

Hi
following this
http://www.overclock.net/t/359025/perc-5-i-raid-card-tips-and-benchmarks

tapping pin 5&6 of pcibus get me to have the ctrl recognized and windows drivers installed..

what side effects can this trick have ? in terms of reliability/behaviour of the ctrl, i mean will i loose any function ?

thanks

 

[mobilenvidia]

Have you tried it and it works, I had forgotten about this trck.
I've done that in an effort to get a card to work that had a bad flash, it didn't work.

I just cut a very thin strip of electrical tape and covered the 2 pins.
Makes for easy removal if it doesn't work.

Should have no side affects other than SMBus not doing its thing at boot.

 

[norman]

i have the same problem with the M5110
it does not work/boot in pcie 2.0 slots ( i have tested 4 different motherbords / black screen and beep or blick code )
when i put it in a pcie 3.0 slot it works fine

when will we see a cross flash solution for the M5110 ?

 

[rick]

Hi all....

I really would like to know how this M5110 performs with some SSD's in RAID 0 and with or without the cache module, so a plain M5110. Is this going to be any faster then the M1015 that I have now ?
I'm using the M1015 with 8 x 256GB Samsung 830's in RAID 0.

Unfortunately there is not much to find about reviews or benchmarks with the M5110. Maybe someone can help with this info ?

Thanks already!

 

[Biren78]

The M5110 is a SAS2208 card. Without the cache module it is basically an 800mhz dual core chip. the m1015 is 533mhz. may be faster due to on card read caching (dram) since you don't have a bbu. What kind of applicaiton? If you aren't using the read cache --- the m1015 is probably ok topping out around 4GB/s i think

 

[rick]

The M5110 has no onboard cache, it's optional. I just would like to know if there is a difference in performance if you use this controller without cache and with cache, both for RAID 0. I don't need a BBU, you can just force Write Back Cache without BBU.
With the M1015 I get 2.9GB/s.

 

[norman]

4 x SSD corsair force 3 - 120GB - Raid 0 ( 64k raid / 64k NTFS )





M5110 without cache module
vs.
M5110 with IBM option part 00D7085 512MB
( read ahead + write back enabled )

 

[rick]

Thanks norman for testing.

Without the cache module is it possible to turn read ahead and write back on or are these options not available without the cache ?

 

[mrkrad]

enable disk cache and try again with nora, wt , direct io

anyone got a lead on some of these cards? m5016 or m5110 or anything with fastpath ??

 

[norman]

read ahead and write back are NOT available without the module
these Sandforce SF-2281 SSD do NOT have disk cache