T440: adding SATA disks using the embedded s140 controller

Hello magma,

You can use S140 or PERC controller, but not both.

Take a look over the Backplane cable routing page 59-61

https://dell.to/3AAW150

PN#C71W4 - ASSY,CBL,SATA,MB,X8BP,T440 -  X8 Backplane to Motherboard SATA Cable, (Poweredge T440) (figure 47)

Pn#N8KMW - ASSY,CBL,PWR,SATA HDD,ODD,T440 - ASSY Motherboard/PSU to HDD/ODD SATA+Power Cable, (Poweredge T440) (figure 50)

 is for cabled hard drives. It is not compatible with a system with a backplane.

@Dell -Charles R  :  You can use S140 or PERC controller, but not both.

Thank you for the answer. However, I'd like some clarification. Does that mean the use of a PERC controller should render the internal S140 controller unusable?

I was under the impression both could work in parallel for the following reason : in addition to the 8 x 3.5" HDDs connected to the backplane/PERC, I have a standalone SSD connected to the ODD SATA port at the moment (not the SATA_A/SATA_B couple, the standard SATA port on the motherboard). I can boot from it and it shows up as "Disk 11 on Embedded AHCI Controller 2" in the iDRAC.

I'd like to keep the 8 backplane disks running off the PERC, and add the max amount of cabled SSDs running off the internal controller. Is there a technical limitation preventing such a scenario?

Hello again @magma,

Do you currently have a PERC controller then (other than the the S140)?

Regards.

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@DiegoLopez:  Yes. It is like this. If you use a PERC Controller, the S140 will not be activated.

Is there an exception for the ODD SATA port then, since I am able to boot from it ("Disk 11 on Embedded AHCI Controller 2"), while seeing the disks connected to the PERC (in HBA mode)?

Hello @magma

Does that mean the use of a PERC controller should render the internal S140 controller unusable? -> Yes. It is like this. If you use a PERC Controller, the S140 will not be activated.

Regards.

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@DiegoLopez:  Do you currently have a PERC controller then (other than the the S140)?

Yes, as outlined above, I have a PERC card tied to the 8 x 3.5" backplane (PCIe PERC H730P in HBA mode).

I also have a cabled 2.5" SSD plugged into the ODD SATA port (iDRAC sees it as "Disk 11 on Embedded AHCI Controller 2"), from which I am currently booting the OS.

Since the ODD SATA port is tied to "AHCI Controller 2", can I assume SATA_A & SATA_B ports relate to "AHCI Controller 1"?

Hello magma,

You can connect only one controller to the backplane and that controller controls all the drives connected to the backplane. There is not a split backplane that two controllers could control a different set of drives.

You may be able to use the onboard SATA to connect additional drive(s) but it is not supported. We wouldn't sell a configuration that has drives just floating, there would be factory mounting. You can try by trial and error to see what you can make work.

In rearguard to SATA_A and SATA_B -  These are not SATA ports.

They are to connect cables from the S140 to backplane :

https://dell.to/3ODln8o

PN#C71W4 - ASSY,CBL,SATA,MB,X8BP,T440

Page 59 figure 47

https://dell.to/3EWD2ED

@magma​ Did you ever try the SATA-A/SATA-B break out cable in conjuction with the PERC card or any other dual configuration??? Also looking for options to add SSD's.

Have you also tried any M.2 PCIE expansion cards in the T440??

Thanks in advance.

@Ronyart​ I dont know if you are more intrested in SATA M.2 to PCIe SSD rather than NVMe M.2 to PCIe SSD but if you are intrested perhaps to make the T440 more compatible and 100% for sure  bootable with NVMe to PCIe SSD check the HighPoint variety of PCIe controllers adapters for example the SSD7202 adapter which I am currently using and successfully booting with Windows 10 PRO OS, link below

https://www.highpoint-tech.com/nvme2/ssd7202

https://www.highpoint-tech.com/nvme-gen3-category-page

@Ronyart​, I can confirm M.2 SSD with an expansion card (cheap passive one from Axagon) does work in the T440. Haven’t tried to boot off it, but Truenas Scale is detecting and using the drive outright. I also have a x4x4 Asus card for 4 SSDs, but I haven’t tried it, since I have only one CPU in my home T440 and the x16 pcie slot runs off the second CPU. 

@panayotn​ I have a T440 with dual CPUs and can tell you an ASUS Hyper M.2 Dual NVMe PCIe x16 card in the T440 only shows 1 NVMe SSD whereas a Cheap Dual NVMe x8 card  in an x8 slot shows 2 NVMe SSDs. I guess there is no bifurcation on the x16 port. Haven't tried booting... yet.