Can't Boot from Second RAID Controller

Question

Greetings,

I just dropped an LSI 3041E SAS RAID controller (PCIE) into my Precision 690. The integrated SAS 5/iR wasn't satisfying my needs (VMware ESX Server incompatibility), so I decided to go with a card that's on VMware's hardware compatibility list.

I've disabled the onboard SAS controller in the BIOS. When I boot into the ESX Server install CD, the new HBA (and attached drive) is recognized and I'm able to install ESX with no problem.

However, when I reboot, I get the "No boot device available" message. Apparently, even though the system can see the card with no problem, it's not configured to recognize it as a bootable device.

I know that you can get the 690 with the PERC 5/i card as an option. How is the system configured to boot using _that_ device?

I've flashed the system BIOS with A02 with no luck. I also flashed the 3041E with the latest firmware.

What am I missing here?

Thank you,

-Randy

mombodog · Answer

In the System section of the Bios,

Does it show in the PCI Info, or boot sequence? Set it as first boot device.

"BOOT SEQUENCE

Determines the order in which the system searches for boot devices during system startup.

NOTE: If you insert a boot device and restart the computer, this option appears in the system setup menu. To boot from a USB memory device, select the USB device and move it so it becomes the first device in the list."

kreitzr · Answer

I see the SCSI device sitting in the first PCI slot under PCI info. However, there's no comparable entry in the Boot Sequence menu. Do you happen to know if the BIOS in the 690 supports EFI? LSI has a EFI MPT configuration utility that sounds like it would work, but I have my doubts that I'll be able to apply it to the BIOS.

There's got to be another way to configure this card.

Btw, I tried a mock installation of Windows XP on this HBA (boot to Windows CD, press F6, install HBA's driver) and it went on the drive without a hitch. However, when Windows rebooted to complete the install, the system couldn't find the boot device.

Either the card isn't responding to the system's discovery request or the system isn't performing PCI discovery correctly.

Any other ideas?

Thank you,

-Randy

mombodog · Answer

If you F12 at boot, is the card available as a boot device?

Dev Mgr · Answer

To your question about EFI availability; the only Dell systems with an EFI are the Itanium based systems (Poweredge 3250, 7150, 7250 (not sure if the Precision Workstation 730 has EFI or a bios)).

JeffreySweeney · Answer

Did you figure the issue out?

Storage, Drives & Media

Can't Boot from Second RAID Controller

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