Dell H310 6Gbps SAS HBA w/ LSI 9211-8i P20 IT Mode for ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
Listed for sale are what were originally Dell H310 RAID SAS controller cards that I modified for use with ZFS. They have been cross-flashed to Avago / LSI 9211-8i IT (Initiator Target) firmware version P20 (specifically 20.00.07.00). I also flashed the LSI/Avago MPTSAS2 BIOS ROM version 07.39.02.00 and UEFI 07.27.01.01 so that it is easier to access the controller's ROM without booting an OS. In addition, I replaced the full profile PCI bracket with a ventilated one to improve airflow over the heatsink.
This is a full / standard profile card.
- LSI Avago IT mode firmware version P20 (20.00.07.00)
- MPTSAS2 BIOS ROM flashed version 07.39.02.00
- MPTSAS2 UEFI ROM flashed version 07.27.01.01
- Original SAS address preserved
- Ventilated PCI bracket
These are based on the LSI SAS2008 SAS controller chipset and support PCI-E 2.0 specifications with x8 lanes. The controller has 2 SFF-8087 connectors, each carrying 4 SAS lanes. You will need a compatible cable to connect these to your hard drives or a backplane.
These cards are fully tested in my Supermicro server running ZFS on Linux (ZoL), but this setup is also ideal for other ZFS setups, FreeNAS, unRAID, Proxmox VE, etc. I have fully tested them using all 8 SAS lanes.
CAUTION: Please note that this card has Dell's SMBus signal. This can sometimes conflict with motherboards that have their own SMBus signal, causing the system not to POST or boot, or disables RAM modules. This happens most often with Gigabyte motherboards and HP computers. If you have a Gigabyte or HP computer, I recommend you choose a genuine LSI 9201-8i or 9211-8i which is equivalent to this controller. If you do run into the SMBus conflict on any platform, there is a workaround to fix the problem ; please contact me if you think you have SMBus conflict issue.
Not exactly the HBA / IT mode adapter you were looking for? Check out the HBA section at my store here.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Why buy from the Art of Server?
- I can provide technical support if you have problems
- I'm aware of counterfeit products on the market, and I make every effort to ensure that what I sell are not counterfeit.
- I ship fast, usually same or next business day!
- I have a YouTube channel with many helpful videos. Look for "Art of Server" on YouTube. (sorry, I can't link per policy)
- I fully test the HBAs I sell. See my testing process on YouTube.
- I clean the server components I sell. You will not receive something covered in dust, or have unwanted stickers/labels, etc.
- I ship electronic parts in proper anti-static bags (not the pink stuff) with bubble wrap or foam protection where needed.
- I am a server enthusiast and IT professional that has worked with many brands of servers and have also built custom servers, not just someone selling computer parts. I love what I do! :-)
- I've used ZFS for many years. I'm familiar with ZFS on Linux, FreeNAS, and many of the technologies commonly used by other enthusiasts.
- I love cats. How can you deny my cute, cuddly charm?
Who is the Art of Server?I'm a cat lover and a server enthusiast. I've operated my own rack of servers at home for almost 20 years. I've helped many friends and strangers with their servers. So, one day, I thought why not offer pre-flashed IT mode / HBA SAS controllers on to help others with their server build? Since then, I've also added other "interesting" items to my store that I think other server/computer enthusiasts would like. Oh, and I love cats. :-)
