Odd issue with X11SSH-f and Mellanox CX3-EN

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PigLover

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Jan 26, 2011
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I was trying to duplicate a build inspired the "Low Power Ceph Node" by @niekbergboer (Low-power Ceph/ProxMox node).

Using the same CPU (i3-6100T) but a slightly different MB (X11SSH-f) and a Mellanox CX3-EN 10Gbe nic.

The Motherboard is flashed with BIOS 2.0.

No matter what I do the system won't post with the CX3 card installed.

  • With everything normal and BIOS defaults it hangs at "B2 - loading peripheral legacy OPROM"
  • If I disable loading the option prom on the Mellanox card it gets past taht but stalls at "99 - i dont remember..."
  • If I remove the CX3 card it posts normally
  • If I install a X520-DA2 it posts normally (but I can't use it because the @!#%%#$! Ubiquiti switch won't support longer DAC cables and I don't have legit Intel SFP+...
I know the CX3 card is perfect - plus I have several and have swapped in known working cards. Considering just ordering a Chelsio card because it will probably work and isn't locked to specific SFPs. I don't really have time to work with SM to debug it...

Just odd...
 

whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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I know you had said you cobbled together 'some' working DAC's and maybe if memory serves me correct you also had some optics/fiber that you had used on your Ubi 10G Switch. I know it's not the answer you were looking for but I can't imagine that ordering proper Intel LR optic and using fiber would be cheaper than buying a Chelsio unless you found one that 'fell off the truck' :-D

FWIW here is the fs.com listing for the proper Intel optic that will work w/ those X520-da2's.

Intel E10GSFPSR 1000BASE-SX and 10GBASE-SR SFP+ Transceiver | FS.COM

GL w/ build, I DO love me the idea of super low pwr CEPH nodes.
 

PigLover

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Jan 26, 2011
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Only 1 meter DACs are working with the switch. This one is living at the bottom of the rack so 1M DAC won't do. I have other reasons to hate the X520. If I do spend money it will be on a Chelsio card - if this experiment doesn't pan out the way i want the board will be moving to my FreeNAS host and freeing up a Xeon-D D-1518 board and the Chelsio cards are better supported on FreeBSD.

If I can get my hands on the 1.1 BIOS I'm considering flashing back to that to see if it has any effect.
 

whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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Hey you ain't gotta tell me abt the hate for X520's (love and hate for me), I just got rid of three of em' for MLX CX3 VPI's (HP branded crossflashed back to MCX354A FW/.bin)

Cool deal, press on!
 

PigLover

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Jan 26, 2011
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I opened a ticket with SM. Tried a few things - updated the Mellanox card to current firmware (release 10 Jan 17). Tried a few BIOS settings. No love - still hung during POST if the Mellanox card was installed.

SM send me the prior BIOS (rev 1.1). Downgraded the BIOS and viola...all is well.

Now somehow I just have to remember not to update the BIOS someday in the future.
 

gzorn

Member
Jan 10, 2017
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@PigLover - I just saw your ref to this in another thread (sorry to necro this). I've got a Supermicro X11SSI-LN4F that I had updated to BIOS 2.0. I recently got a Connect-X3 card (dual 10G-SFP+). It also refused to POST as well.

There's now a BIOS rev 2.0a for my motherboard (released in March). Updating to that seemed to fix the issue - it now POSTs and recognizes the Mellanox card. There seems to also be a 2.0a for your motherboard as well. It might fix your situation and update you.
Good luck.
 
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