S3700 at only 3.0 Gb/sec

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.

ISRV

Member
Jul 11, 2015
72
8
8
42
can someone help me understad what's going on?

so i got supermicro x10sll-f and seem to be original (not ES, HP or DELL) intel s3700 400gb

i installed freshest debian 8.2 and here's the problem:
Code:
 hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   29922 MB in  2.00 seconds = 14976.04 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 778 MB in  3.00 seconds = 259.05 MB/sec
only ~250MB/sec read speed instead of 500

here's seem to be the core of a problem:
Code:
smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep "SATA Version is:"
SATA Version is:  SATA 2.6, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
looks like the drive is in SATA-II mode instead of SATA-III
i double checked that the cable goes to a white 6 Gb/s port:




so what's going on? where's SATA-III and 500MB/sec?
what am i doing wrong?
 

ISRV

Member
Jul 11, 2015
72
8
8
42
Code:
BIOS Version : 1.1a
BIOS Build Time : 08/20/2013
seem to be way outdated. but i've never updated BIOS on such mainboards.
there's a BIOS update menu in IPMI, but it wants "Please register the product key to enable BIOS update feature."
where to get that key?

i got a .zip from here:
Supermicro | Products | Motherboards | Xeon® Boards | X10SLL-F
"Update Your BIOS" link

i wonder, can i just build an .iso image with that .zip and plug it into IPMI virtual media, then boot and flash my BIOS?
 

T_Minus

Build. Break. Fix. Repeat
Feb 15, 2015
7,625
2,043
113
I would update BIOS first, and then test.

Bootable USB + the updated BIOS from Supermicro = all you need.
 

Naeblis

Active Member
Oct 22, 2015
168
123
43
Folsom, CA
can someone help me understad what's going on?

here's seem to be the core of a problem:
Code:
smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep "SATA Version is:"
SATA Version is:  SATA 2.6, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
looks like the drive is in SATA-II mode instead of SATA-III
i double checked that the cable goes to a white 6 Gb/s port:
caveat google might not be my friend here

You need to pass boot time kernel parameters using grub. Search libata.forceusing this doc. Example to force 1.5G and 3.0G: libata.force=1:3.0G,2:1.5G
 

canta

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2014
1,012
216
63
43
caveat google might not be my friend here

You need to pass boot time kernel parameters using grub. Search libata.forceusing this doc. Example to force 1.5G and 3.0G: libata.force=1:3.0G,2:1.5G
that is the last resort to foce sata speed.
ex: if you have issue running your HD/SSD with full speed. lowering to sata1 or sata2 could fix problem.


linux kernel will try to set the best speed.
 

canta

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2014
1,012
216
63
43
chekc on syslong messages, sometime kernel will tell the reason to set 3.0 speed.
 

canta

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2014
1,012
216
63
43
if it is intermittent then
a) try different port
b) force higher
c) RMA mother board
I do not recommend to force higher speed :p
there is something fishy: BIOS update, SSD update..

whe BIOS and SSD on newer firmware and still stuck on 3.0g

I would see syslong msg to know. what is on earth the kernel set to sata2
 

Naeblis

Active Member
Oct 22, 2015
168
123
43
Folsom, CA
while not the same problem, i have had switches "auto negotiate" to 100mb on a 10GB switch. a google of intel sata 3 running at sata 2 brings up, brings up many items. (put time frame for last year)
 

canta

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2014
1,012
216
63
43
while not the same problem, i have had switches "auto negotiate" to 100mb on a 10GB switch. a google of intel sata 3 running at sata 2 brings up, brings up many items. (put time frame for last year)
switch (ethernet) is different platform than SSD

on my understanding, syslog would tell you why the kernel set 3.0

on ethernet, syskernel will tell you, when the kernel set lower than expected. basically kernel module (or could be kernel) failed to auto negotiate and set whatever the defult speed. most of this issue are kernel module bugs (neet fix/patch) or incompatible auto-negotiate between switch <-> HW.


this just happens with my new build. I reuse SATA cable on a new 1U build with intel SSD. the SSD connects randomly to 1.5g during rebooting.
I know this is the cable issue that I need to replace,since syslong shows something negotiation is not finalized (errors) and kernel set to the lowers speed 1.5G.
 

OBasel

Active Member
Dec 28, 2010
494
62
28
I doubt that's cable related but if you have an extra one... it is a $2 fix maybe
 

ISRV

Member
Jul 11, 2015
72
8
8
42
to exclude OS from the sources of a problem, i've installed Win10.
and... everything's even slower :(



smart shows SATA 2.6 (3.0 Gb/s)



what's the problem?
 

T_Minus

Build. Break. Fix. Repeat
Feb 15, 2015
7,625
2,043
113
Have you tried another port?

BIOS updated?

It looks weird like that though in windows because it's your OS drive, although the performance is still lower than it should be.
 

ISRV

Member
Jul 11, 2015
72
8
8
42
how to make sure?
see the photo above. there's no DELL or HP labels on it.
i've had HP S3700 and in doesn't provide power_on_hours and host_writes info in SMART.
this drive - shows everything correctly.



i haven't updated m/b BIOS yet. supermicro site have a huge warning saying i should do that only when i'm 101% sure that i have BIOS related issue.
i'm still not sure about that.
maybe it's SSD firmware or something...
 

canta

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2014
1,012
216
63
43
fron syslog
....
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 1.936805] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: version 3.0
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 1.936916] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: irq 50 for MSI/MSI-X
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 1.936961] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: AHCI 0001.0300 32 slots 6 ports 6 Gbps 0x3f impl SATA mode
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 1.936962] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: flags: 64bit ncq pm led clo pio slum part ems apst
< this is good, the kernel see AHCI is enabled and see 6X6G ports are available>
...
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296649] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296667] ata3: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296684] ata1: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296699] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296716] ata2: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Dec 6 20:48:27 ua-kiev-2 kernel: [ 2.296732] ata5: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
< kernel sees the max speed is 3.oG from the device (SSD).

I do not see error on AHCI/SATA detection...
and the motherboard is detected to support 6g ports by kernel.


are you sure that the SSD firmware is capped to 3.0G? can you flash to newest firmware..



I doubt that's cable related but if you have an ex
tra one... it is a $2 fix maybe
yap, do Not see issue on cable connection in syslog...
 

ISRV

Member
Jul 11, 2015
72
8
8
42
intel datacenter tool and ssdtoolbox says that it has the latest firmware