LSI 9207-4i4e + MD1200 = No SES?

[semose]

I'm trying to set up a Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct cluster using 4 x R730, each with 2 x MD1200, connected to 2 x LSI 9207-4i4e. The internal SAS cables are each connected to one of the ports on front backplane. This gives me 8 x 2.5" drives and 24 x 3.5" drives per node.

The issue is that I don't think S2D is doing any caching/journaling for the 3.5" drives because it can't seem to get the MD1200 enclosure information through SES. Stranger still, it DOES get the information for the R730 chassis without issue.

However, I was able to update the EMM firmware and use the Windows Storage Enclosure Management Tool from Dell, which did correctly see the MD1200s.

I've Googled, but haven't found anything helpful. I feel like if I had an error message or something to go off of, I would be able to find something relevant. But S2D seems to be the only thing that can't see the MD1200s.

Any suggestions?

 

[semose]

Updating the MD1200 EMM firmware from 1.01 to 1.06 got the enclosures to register. Had to also delete and recreate the S2D first, though.

Has not resolved my poor 4K read/write speeds, though...

 

[Net-Runner]

Unfortunately, S2D is still completely hardware dependent. That is why pre-built S2D-ready nodes became so popular and various vendors offer those billing additional money to just put the "right" components that are included in HCL.

For 100% software defined storage stack I would better look at something like HPE VSA Virtual Storage: Software Defined Storage Array & Hyper-Converged Solutions or Starwinds Virtual SAN Done Right! • StarWind Virtual SAN ® that are hardware/storage agnostic.