Lenovo 930-8i (LSI 9460-8i) to LSI 9460-8i firmware

[rsumperl]

Hello everyone,
Is it possible to flash the Lenovo 930-8i card back to the LSI 9460-8i firmware? I'm trying to figure out why Lenovo would take a 9460-8i card, that's labelled 9460-8i, and put their firmware on it. With the Lenovo firmware, this card will not do NVMe drives, and I'd like that functionality back.

Thanks
Ray

 

[KLMR]

A few months ago I had the same question regarding using tri-mode on 9460-8i or 16i.
The answer was no: you cannot flash with broadcom/avago firmware a lenovo-branded equivalent raid card. At least to use as a Raid card with nvme, cachevault, tri-mode, etc.

They implemented the "software unlock" firmware features (raid5, raid6, cache, tri-mode, etc.). You can buy licenses for features for your raid card. Thus, I presume, lenovo and other brands get "feature locked" firmwares for their clients, thus, you. Thus, they may have mechanisms to prevent cross firmware updates to force license purchases.

Read this thread:

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/lenovo-930-8i-to-broadcom-sas-9460-8i-sas3508.22404/post-214225

 

[huacz_2004]

yes,930-8i is same as 9460-8i,if you have the vtboot file, you can flash 930-8i with broadcom firmware,then can use NVMe drives,but something like MFC can't change this way

 

[rsumperl]

How do I get the vtboot file????

 

[gfhryhj]

I have a bit different flavour of 9460-8i it's NEC 946N-8i but I think its behavior mostly the same. I was successful to flash it with Broaadcom firmware by storcli.efi using vtboot.rom and shorting J4 but during a next boot it stuck the BIOS at PCI Bus Initialisation stage and that's it.

Something prevent from booting controller with Broadcom firmware. My be someone know about the nature of this protection?

P.S.: try to search through forum for vtboot as I remember @Sleyk has published it.

 

[gfhryhj]

@Sleyk it doesn't work with shortened J4 otherwise BIOS sticks at PCI Bus Initialisation...

 

[KLMR]

So did anyone managed to make it work as an "original" broadcom controller in mode 13 (nvme+raid)?

 

[Laithan]

Hey all, reviving this old thread. I am joining the journey of trying to make this Lenovo SAS-930i realize that it is really a 9460-8i. I think I've been down a majority of the rabbit hole at this point. I've tried both EFI and Windows, multiple versions of storcli in all operating systems, trying to use the Lenovo flash script but replacing the firmware with the Broadcom version, of course none of that works. I feel like this might be the right place. Just to clarify, I am NOT seeking IT mode, I would like to keep MR.

Reading here, it can work with vtboot but might get stuck at boot? Is there a definitive answer for this? I am willing to use my card as a Guinea pig .

I did notice that even with the Lenovo BIOS it hangs at boot and I cannot see any output but if I hit enter and then space (probably only one of those is needed) it continues the boot.

Thanks in advance if anyone can jump back in

 

[Laithan]

Is there a flasher that ignores the ID and just flashes it anyway or is it more complicated than that?

 

[Laithan]

I still cannot seem to figure out how to bypass and allow me to flash the Broadcom firmware. I will remain interested in finding a solution if anyone can chime in but I don't think this is the controller I am going to use for this build.