Mellanox ConnectX3-Pro, & DS1821+! Is it worth - doing any firmware upgrades! Width x4 (downgraded)

[tigo]

Seeking an opinion from anyone that has the above setup, or anyones' thought on the bandwidth downgrade to 4 channels as opposed to the 8.

I've installed a ConnectX3-Pro MCX312B-XCCT - dual sfp+ card into the DS1821+, and it worked straight out of the box. Connected at 10Gb with both ports to the switch, and running iperf3 - confirmed 11.0 GBytes 9.43 Gbits/sec at each port. Running a Disk Speed test - gave a result of 921MB/s read, and approx. 700MB/s write. Looks all good.

But, after ssh'ing to the NAS box, I found that it was only using 4 channels - downgraded channel speed.

LnkCap: Port #8, Speed 8GT/s, Width x8, ASPM L0s, Exit Latency L0s unlimited
ClockPM- Surprise- LLActRep- BwNot- ASPMOptComp+
LnkCtl: ASPM Disabled; RCB 64 bytes Disabled- CommClk+
ExtSynch- ClockPM- AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
LnkSta: Speed 8GT/s (ok), Width x4 (downgraded)

The card came loaded with firmware rev. 2.36.5150. I had read on an nvidia support forums, that synology prefers - finicky - on firmwares, and the supported firmware is 2.33.5100.

Should I downgrade the firmware to the 2.33.5100? Would that resolve the channels downgrade? Or is it a dead end? Any thoughts...

Thanks,

 

[pimposh]

Reading product datasheets/manuals never hurts...

 

[tigo]

I need new reading glasses....I had checked the manuals, and skimmed over the actual hardware spec.....hahahaha - many thanks buddy

 

[i386]

In general I would say that newer firmware is better than older ones.
But like @pimposh pointed out it's not the card (or it's firmware)

 

[tigo]

Yup, extremely happy with the card - it cost a fraction (a sixth) of the cost of the Synology one here in Oz. I did go ahead with upgrading the firmware to the latest revision - (it fixes a bunch of bugs) - and it'll be long while before I bother with opening the box again to muck about with it...- It's running smoothly....- happy with the purchase! Now next shop is for some new HDDs when on sale....