Hello everyone,
I'm experiencing a persistent issue with the onboard Intel X722 10GbE NICs on a Supermicro X11DDW-NT motherboard and have exhausted most troubleshooting options. Hoping someone here has encountered and solved this issue.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
PROBLEM SUMMARY
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
• Board: Supermicro X11DDW-NT (dual Xeon board)
• NICs: 2x Intel X722 10GBASE-T (onboard)
• Symptoms:
- No physical link (green LEDs never light with cables connected)
- NICs detected in OS (Windows/Linux) and BIOS PCI enumeration
- BIOS never shows NICs as "connected"
- Flash status shows: "40G Protected flash (FEFE)" in DOS tools
- Works on 1GbE switch: NO
- Direct connection to working X11SPI board with X722 NICs: NO
- Firmware version: Currently 3.25 (NVM), tried various updates
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
WHAT I'VE TRIED (EXTENSIVELY)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
FIRMWARE UPDATES:
✓ Updated using Supermicro DDW3A_NUP package (from support)
✓ Ran fwupdate.sh multiple times in Linux
✓ Ran fwupdate_force.sh multiple times
✓ Updated from EFI shell (fwupdate_force.nsh, nvmupdate64e.efi)
✓ Tried firmware versions: 3.25, 5.96
✓ Used CH341B hardware programmer to flash patched BIOS
BIOS MODIFICATIONS:
✓ Flashed official BIOS 4.6 via IPMI
✓ Enabled JPME2 (Factory/Manufacturing mode) jumper
✓ Reflashed with FDR (Flash Descriptor Region) update
✓ Created patched BIOS combining official BIOS + firmware from backup
✓ Checked Legacy Option ROM settings
✓ Verified all onboard devices enabled in BIOS
DRIVER/OS TESTING:
✓ Installed Intel driver version 1.13.104.0 (from working X11SPI board)
✓ Tested on Windows Server 2022
✓ Tested on Ubuntu 22.04
✓ Tested from DOS with Intel tools
✓ Forced various link speeds (Auto, 1Gbps, 10Gbps)
MAC ADDRESS WORK:
✓ Reprogrammed MAC addresses using eeupdate
✓ Used BootUtilw64e.exe
✓ Discovered flash protection preventing writes
✓ MAC addresses currently showing as 00:00:00:00:03:14 (corrupted)
✓ Correct MACs should be: AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F0 and AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F1
HARDWARE TESTING:
✓ Tested with both 1 CPU and 2 CPUs installed
✓ Tried different Ethernet cables
✓ Tried different switch ports
✓ Tested on 1GbE switch (same switch where X11SPI X722 works fine)
✓ Direct connection to working X722 ports on X11SPI board - NO LINK
✓ Checked jumper JPL1 (LAN enable) - in correct position
✓ PCI detection works fine (8086:37D2 detected properly)
DIAGNOSTICS RUN:
✓ nvmupdate64e -i (shows firmware versions)
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /ADAPTERINFO
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /PCIINFO (shows correct PCI enumeration)
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /IDFLASH (shows "40G Protected flash (FEFE)")
✓ ethtool in Linux (no carrier detect)
✓ dmesg analysis
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COMPARISON WITH WORKING BOARD
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
I have TWO working X11SPI-TF boards with X722 NICs that work perfectly:
• Same X722 chipset
• Same 1GbE switch - works fine
• Direct X11SPI to X11SPI connection - works fine
• BIOS shows NICs as "connected"
• Green LEDs light up properly
• Different architecture: X11SPI uses UEFI drivers, X11DDW uses legacy Option ROM
CRITICAL FINDING: X11DDW's X722 ports won't link even when directly
connected to the working X11SPI X722 ports, suggesting a PHY or
firmware initialization issue specific to X11DDW.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TECHNICAL DETAILS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Current Status (from DOS eeupdate):
• NIC1: Bus 27 Dev 00 Fun 00, Vendor-Dev: 8086-37D2
• Firmware Version: 3.1, API: 1.5
• NVM Version: 3.25, MAP: 1.97
• MAC Address: 00:00:00:00:03:14 (should be AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F0)
• Flash Status: 40G Protected flash (FEFE) - Status: Protected
• PCI Info: Appears normal, no errors
BIOS Information:
• Version: 4.6 (latest from Supermicro)
• ME Firmware: Updated with FDR
• All onboard devices enabled
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
RESEARCH FINDINGS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Found on Proxmox forums:
• X722 NICs on Supermicro boards need STAGED firmware updates
• Recommended path: Update to 4.11 first, THEN to 5.50
• Generic Intel firmware may not work - need Supermicro-specific versions
• Version 5.96 (which I tried) may be too new/incompatible
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1. Has anyone successfully recovered X722 NICs showing "Protected flash (FEFE)" status?
2. Does anyone have Supermicro firmware versions 4.11 and 5.50 specifically for X11DDW-NT?
3. Is there a way to force-erase the protected flash to factory reset the NICs?
4. Could this be a hardware PHY failure, or is it recoverable via firmware?
5. Are there any special Intel recovery tools for X722 NICs in this state?
6. Has anyone dealt with X11DDW-NT specifically having this issue?
7. Could the "40G Protected flash" status indicate the wrong firmware type was flashed?
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
NOTES
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
• Board purchased secondhand - no warranty
• X11DDW-NT has ONLY the 2x 10GbE ports (no separate 1GbE ports)
• IPMI port works fine
• Willing to try any recovery procedures
• Have CH341B programmer and comfortable with low-level work
• Can boot DOS, Windows, Linux, or EFI shell
Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is a capable dual-Xeon board
that's essentially unusable without working network ports.
Thank you!
I'm experiencing a persistent issue with the onboard Intel X722 10GbE NICs on a Supermicro X11DDW-NT motherboard and have exhausted most troubleshooting options. Hoping someone here has encountered and solved this issue.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
PROBLEM SUMMARY
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
• Board: Supermicro X11DDW-NT (dual Xeon board)
• NICs: 2x Intel X722 10GBASE-T (onboard)
• Symptoms:
- No physical link (green LEDs never light with cables connected)
- NICs detected in OS (Windows/Linux) and BIOS PCI enumeration
- BIOS never shows NICs as "connected"
- Flash status shows: "40G Protected flash (FEFE)" in DOS tools
- Works on 1GbE switch: NO
- Direct connection to working X11SPI board with X722 NICs: NO
- Firmware version: Currently 3.25 (NVM), tried various updates
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
WHAT I'VE TRIED (EXTENSIVELY)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
FIRMWARE UPDATES:
✓ Updated using Supermicro DDW3A_NUP package (from support)
✓ Ran fwupdate.sh multiple times in Linux
✓ Ran fwupdate_force.sh multiple times
✓ Updated from EFI shell (fwupdate_force.nsh, nvmupdate64e.efi)
✓ Tried firmware versions: 3.25, 5.96
✓ Used CH341B hardware programmer to flash patched BIOS
BIOS MODIFICATIONS:
✓ Flashed official BIOS 4.6 via IPMI
✓ Enabled JPME2 (Factory/Manufacturing mode) jumper
✓ Reflashed with FDR (Flash Descriptor Region) update
✓ Created patched BIOS combining official BIOS + firmware from backup
✓ Checked Legacy Option ROM settings
✓ Verified all onboard devices enabled in BIOS
DRIVER/OS TESTING:
✓ Installed Intel driver version 1.13.104.0 (from working X11SPI board)
✓ Tested on Windows Server 2022
✓ Tested on Ubuntu 22.04
✓ Tested from DOS with Intel tools
✓ Forced various link speeds (Auto, 1Gbps, 10Gbps)
MAC ADDRESS WORK:
✓ Reprogrammed MAC addresses using eeupdate
✓ Used BootUtilw64e.exe
✓ Discovered flash protection preventing writes
✓ MAC addresses currently showing as 00:00:00:00:03:14 (corrupted)
✓ Correct MACs should be: AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F0 and AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F1
HARDWARE TESTING:
✓ Tested with both 1 CPU and 2 CPUs installed
✓ Tried different Ethernet cables
✓ Tried different switch ports
✓ Tested on 1GbE switch (same switch where X11SPI X722 works fine)
✓ Direct connection to working X722 ports on X11SPI board - NO LINK
✓ Checked jumper JPL1 (LAN enable) - in correct position
✓ PCI detection works fine (8086:37D2 detected properly)
DIAGNOSTICS RUN:
✓ nvmupdate64e -i (shows firmware versions)
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /ADAPTERINFO
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /PCIINFO (shows correct PCI enumeration)
✓ eeupdate /NIC=1 /IDFLASH (shows "40G Protected flash (FEFE)")
✓ ethtool in Linux (no carrier detect)
✓ dmesg analysis
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COMPARISON WITH WORKING BOARD
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
I have TWO working X11SPI-TF boards with X722 NICs that work perfectly:
• Same X722 chipset
• Same 1GbE switch - works fine
• Direct X11SPI to X11SPI connection - works fine
• BIOS shows NICs as "connected"
• Green LEDs light up properly
• Different architecture: X11SPI uses UEFI drivers, X11DDW uses legacy Option ROM
CRITICAL FINDING: X11DDW's X722 ports won't link even when directly
connected to the working X11SPI X722 ports, suggesting a PHY or
firmware initialization issue specific to X11DDW.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TECHNICAL DETAILS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Current Status (from DOS eeupdate):
• NIC1: Bus 27 Dev 00 Fun 00, Vendor-Dev: 8086-37D2
• Firmware Version: 3.1, API: 1.5
• NVM Version: 3.25, MAP: 1.97
• MAC Address: 00:00:00:00:03:14 (should be AC:1F:6B:41:8E:F0)
• Flash Status: 40G Protected flash (FEFE) - Status: Protected
• PCI Info: Appears normal, no errors
BIOS Information:
• Version: 4.6 (latest from Supermicro)
• ME Firmware: Updated with FDR
• All onboard devices enabled
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
RESEARCH FINDINGS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Found on Proxmox forums:
• X722 NICs on Supermicro boards need STAGED firmware updates
• Recommended path: Update to 4.11 first, THEN to 5.50
• Generic Intel firmware may not work - need Supermicro-specific versions
• Version 5.96 (which I tried) may be too new/incompatible
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1. Has anyone successfully recovered X722 NICs showing "Protected flash (FEFE)" status?
2. Does anyone have Supermicro firmware versions 4.11 and 5.50 specifically for X11DDW-NT?
3. Is there a way to force-erase the protected flash to factory reset the NICs?
4. Could this be a hardware PHY failure, or is it recoverable via firmware?
5. Are there any special Intel recovery tools for X722 NICs in this state?
6. Has anyone dealt with X11DDW-NT specifically having this issue?
7. Could the "40G Protected flash" status indicate the wrong firmware type was flashed?
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
NOTES
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
• Board purchased secondhand - no warranty
• X11DDW-NT has ONLY the 2x 10GbE ports (no separate 1GbE ports)
• IPMI port works fine
• Willing to try any recovery procedures
• Have CH341B programmer and comfortable with low-level work
• Can boot DOS, Windows, Linux, or EFI shell
Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is a capable dual-Xeon board
that's essentially unusable without working network ports.
Thank you!
