LSI 9267-8i and CacheCade - yay or nay?

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chrispitude

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Dec 14, 2017
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Hi all,

I purchased an LSI 9267-8i controller card and an L3-25188-00A hardware key from Ebay. I *thought* the L3-25188-00A enables CacheCade 2.0. However, in the Advanced Software Options section of the WebBIOS configuration screen, only RAID5 and RAID6 are listed. If I remove the L3-25188-00A hardware key, then the Advanced Software Options section is empty.

In the CacheCade marketing literature at


the following controllers are listed as supported:

LSI00290: Compatible with MegaRAID 9265-8i, 9266 (-4i, -8i), 9270-8i, 9271 (-4i, -8i, -8iCC), 9285 (-8e, CV-8e), 9286 (-8e, CV-8e, CV-8eCC), 9361 (-4i, -8i), 9380 (-8e)​

The 9267-8i is not listed, but then it's not really listed in *any* LSI marketing literature; it seems to be an odd duck. It also has no details listed in the following comprehensive list:


The CacheCade hardware key part number is LSI00290. From searching, I thought this was the same as the L3-25188-00A key. But given what I see, I suspect one of the following is true:

  • The L3-25188-00A hardware key does not enable CacheCade.
  • The L3-25188-00A hardware key enables CacheCade, but the 9278-8i doesn't support it.
  • The 9267-8i is running an earlier firmware that doesn't know about CacheCade. (Is this possible?)
  • I need to do some kind of registration/configuration/etc. to get CacheCade enabled or working.
Any suggestions?
 

i386

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LSI00290: Compatible with MegaRAID 9265-8i, 9266 (-4i, -8i), 9270-8i, 9271 (-4i, -8i, -8iCC), 9285 (-8e, CV-8e), 9286 (-8e, CV-8e, CV-8eCC), 9361 (-4i, -8i), 9380 (-8e)
The 9267-8i is running an earlier firmware that doesn't know about CacheCade. (Is this possible?)
That's possible. I think cachecade 2.0 was added to the firmware images in 2012/2013.
 

chrispitude

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Dec 14, 2017
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That's possible. I think cachecade 2.0 was added to the firmware images in 2012/2013.
Ah, that's great information! My 9267-8i shows the following:

Code:
Firmware version: 3.140.95-1967
Firmware package version: 23.1.1-0017
Firmware time: Oct 12 2012; 16:19:25
WebBIOS version: 6.1-21-Rel

and all the CacheCade stuff seems to be dated December 2012 or later, so I think you might be on to something.

The tricky part is, how do I update the firmware on my 9267-8i? It's not shown as in the list of cards in the downloads section. Perhaps I should contact their support and ask how I can obtain the latest firmware for this card.
 

i386

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Where exactly are you looking for firmware downloads?

Broadcom lists this raid controller on their website and there are downloads for drivers, firmware and managing software: MegaRAID SAS 9271-8i

Edit: realized that I'm looking for the wrong raid controller oO
 

chrispitude

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Dec 14, 2017
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Allentown, PA
Where exactly are you looking for firmware downloads?

Broadcom lists this raid controller on their website and there are downloads for drivers, firmware and managing software: MegaRAID SAS 9271-8i

Edit: realized that I'm looking for the wrong raid controller oO
Thanks for looking though! :)

I've opened a support case to ask where to find the latest firmware for the 9267-8i, and if it supports CacheCade with the L3-25188-00A hardware key. I'll reply back once I have answers.
 

chrispitude

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Dec 14, 2017
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LSI replied and said the 9267-8i is an NEC-branded controller. There is no branding information on the card itself, but there is a part number on a sticker (N8103-150) that shows up in an NEC RAID controller document:

http://www.58support.nec.co.jp/global/download/pdf/NECRAIDControllerR1.0.pdf

Taking the chart in there and cross-referencing it with the document at

http://www.nec.com/en/global/prod/express/rack/r120d-2e/collateral/R120d-2E_CG.pdf

I get the following:

NEC N8103-149 RAID Controller (512MB, RAID 0/1)
LSI MegaRAID SAS 9267-8i
RAID 0/1/10, 512MB, Int. 8, PCIe 2.0 x8, SAS 6Gb/s, SATA 6 Gb/s
CacheCade supported? NO

NEC N8103-150 RAID Controller (512MB, RAID 0/1/5/6)
LSI MegaRAID SAS 9267-8i
RAID0/1/5/6/10/50/60, 512MB, Int. 8, PCIe 2.0 x8, SAS 6Gb/s, SATA 6 Gb/s
CacheCade supported? NO

NEC N8103-151 RAID Controller (1GB, RAID 0/1/5/6)
LSI MegaRAID SAS 9267-8i
RAID0/1/5/6/10/50/60, 1 GB, Int. 8, PCIe 2.0 x8, SAS 6Gb/s, SATA 6 Gb/s
CacheCade supported? YES

NEC N8103-160 RAID Controller (1GB, RAID 0/1/5/6)
LSI MegaRAID SAS 9285-8e
RAID0/1/5/6/10/50/60, 1GB, Ext. 8, PCIe 2.0 x8, SAS 6Gb/s, SATA 6 Gb/s
CacheCade supported? NO

It looks like only the 1GB variant of the 9267-8i supports CacheCade. I have an N8103-150, and it came with a L3-25188-00A hardware key. When I remove it, RAID5/RAID6 no longer show up in the available features list. So it's likely that the -149 and the -150 are the same base card, just with or without that key. I'm *hoping* I can go pick up an LSI-branded controller, move that key over, and I'll get CacheCade enabled.
 
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chrispitude

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LSI/BRCM support also confirmed that the L3-25188-00A hardware key has nothing to do with CacheCade:

According to your description "L3-25188-00A", this is also a OEM NEC Key.

Number:L3-25188-00
ActiveTitle:MEGARAID SAS PREMIUM FEATURE KEY, 2208, R5/6 UPGRADE, NEC

I do not know if OEM Keys work on Channel Controllers. I will not want to do such a test. It might damage the channel Controller or the key itself!