can't update firmware on 9440-8i

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drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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I have a broadcom 9440-8i and I cannot update the firmware. it is currently on 50.5.0-1859. I have tried flashing 4 different new firmware files from the latest I could find to what looked like just one version up. They all come back with an image corrupted error. any ideas?
 
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BLinux

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Jul 7, 2016
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"image corrupted" usually means exactly that. either you are using the wrong file, the file is compressed (or encrypted), file is encoded (or did not get decoded correctly), or the file is just corrupted.
 

drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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normally I would agree with you, but I find it odd that 4 different firmware files, all downloaded direct from broadcom, unzipped on 2 different machines would fail like this. The readmes all say they are for a 9440-8i and if I do storcli64.exe /c0 show it tells me its a 9440-8i on the machine.

also I am trying to flash using:storecli64 /c0 download file=xxxx.bin
 

BLinux

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well, it doesn't matter how many firmware files you download, if the process of downloading and unzipping you are using is the problem, the same thing is going to happen every time you download the file, even if done over 100 times. i'm not saying that's definitely the case, but your argument that you've repeated the same process doesn't exclude you from having a corrupted file.

have you looked at the contents of the file you're using in a hex editor or run 'file' on it?

is the "image corrupted" error happening before it even attempts flashing process? if so, it sounds like the program is doing some sort of checksum and that's failing. if it is happening *after* the flashing, some of these programs will read the contents of the flash back out and do a checksum to see that the flash content is correct, then it might have something to do with a bad flash chip and the read out doesn't match what was written.

in the end, i don't have a clue what your problem is... but that's the line of thought I would pursue if it were mine. good luck.
 

drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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I looked at the file in a hexeditor. I do not know exactly what I am looking for but I do see some info in the header referencing the 9440-8i so that is probably a good sign.

Here is the command and output I have been using to try and flash:

Code:
C:\IT\50.6.0-1375_9440-8i_SAS_MR_FW_IMAGE>storcli64.exe /c0 download file=9440-8i_nopad.rom
Download Completed.
Flashing image to adapter...
CLI Version = 007.1211.0000.0000 Nov 07, 2019
Operating system = Windows Server 2019
Controller = 0
Status = Failure
Description = image corrupted
Here is some info from the show command on the card

Basics :
======
Controller = 0
Model = AVAGO MegaRAID SAS 9440-8i
Serial Number = xxxxxxxxxx
Current Controller Date/Time = 08/04/2022, 10:31:24
Current System Date/time = 08/04/2022, 10:31:24
SAS Address = 500605b00e7c3910
PCI Address = 00:41:00:00
Mfg Date = 09/23/18
Rework Date = 00/00/00
Revision No = 19001


Version :
=======
Firmware Package Build = 50.5.0-1859
Firmware Version = 5.050.01-1767
SBR Version = 5.0502.01-0334
Boot Block Version = 7.02.00.00-0017
Bios Version = 7.05.02.0_0x07050400
NVDATA Version = 5.0500.01-0009
Driver Name = megasas35.sys
Driver Version = 7.716.02.00


Bus :
===
Vendor Id = 0x1000
Device Id = 0x17
SubVendor Id = 0x1000
SubDevice Id = 0x9441
Host Interface = PCI-E
Device Interface = SAS-12G
Bus Number = 65
Device Number = 0
Function Number = 0
 

drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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Appreciate the help. I think I figured out the issue. I think this is actually Dell card (no labels anywhere). I noticed I saw the subdevice 9441 and the only place I could find that anywhere was the flash file released from dell for their 9440. I grabbed one of their firmware files for the the 9440 and instantly flashed without issue.
 
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michaelsandy

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May 18, 2023
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I have this problem too...ie purchased a Broadcom 9440-8i from a Chinese vendor, but discovered that its subdeviceID is actually 9441.
VMware (ESXi, 8.0u1) reports the card's parameters but it doesn't work properly, it won't boot unless DEL is pressed repeatedly.
The problem might run deeper as when in BIOS I can't see the raid setup.
I understand its not possible to modify /hack the subdeviceID setting.
Not expecting solutions from this post other than to share the adverse experience ...
(edited - more info added)
 
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drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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What motherboard do you have? I forget what it's called but it requires a certain feature to pass through to the controller.

I had one card that wouldn't work in esxi, but it ended up being a bad card. The 9441 cards worked fine, the bios was just very out of date until I got them flashed.
 

drock

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Nov 25, 2017
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I think I had issues like this before. It was something with uefi and the pcie slot. Do you have any settings for the pcie slot it's plugged into. Also did you try configuring from the shell? You can boot to the uefi shell and run megaraid from the terminal
 

huacz_2004

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May 5, 2020
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Vendor Id = 0x1000
Device Id = 0x17
SubVendor Id = 0x1000
SubDevice Id = 0x9441

SubDevice Id = 0x9441 it is a OEM part,mybe DELL