I’ve been trying to get my LSI 9200-8E host bus adapter up and running on my Ubuntu system, but honestly, it’s been quite a headache! I’ve gone through a few guides, but they all seem to differ in steps, and I’m just losing track of what’s really necessary.
First off, I understand that I need to check if the hardware is detected by the system. I tried running `lspci` in the terminal, but I didn’t really know what to look for. I think I saw something that looked like it could be the adapter, but I’m not sure. Should I be looking for a specific string or number to confirm that it’s recognized?
Once I’ve confirmed it’s detected, I know I need to download some drivers. There seems to be a few options out there, but I’ve read that this particular model has driver support built into the Linux kernel. Is it as simple as updating to the latest kernel version? Or do I need to compile something from source? I’m a bit of a newbie when it comes to driver installation, so if someone could walk me through that, I’d really appreciate it!
Then there’s the part about configuring the adapter. Do I need to change any settings in the BIOS first? I’ve heard some folks mention that enabling certain options makes a big difference, but I didn’t delve too deep into that aspect yet. Once I get everything set up there, what’s the next step? I think I read about using `lsmod` to see if the driver is loaded, but I’m not entirely sure how to interpret the output.
Finally, what’s the best way to verify that everything is working properly? Is there any specific command I should run, or perhaps some logs I should check? I just want to make sure it’s all running smoothly before I dive into actually utilizing the storage. Anyone who has gone through this process, could you lend a hand? Any tips, tricks, or steps that I should definitely not overlook would really help! Thanks!
Getting Your LSI 9200-8E Up and Running on Ubuntu
Okay, first things first! You’re right to check if your hardware is detected. When you run
lspciin the terminal, look for a line that mentions “LSI” or something like “SAS” or “SCSI”. You should see something along these lines:If you see something like that, congrats! Your adapter is detected!
Driver Stuff
Now, about the drivers. For the LSI 9200-8E, you’re in luck because it generally has driver support built into the Linux kernel. If you’re running a fairly recent version of Ubuntu, you probably just need to make sure your system is updated. Here’s how to do it:
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can check your kernel version with
uname -r. If it’s really old (like a couple of years), you might consider upgrading it. Compiling from source is usually not necessary unless you run into specific issues.Configuring BIOS
As for BIOS settings, it’s a good idea to check that the adapter is enabled. When you boot up, press the key (often
F2,Delete, orEsc) to enter BIOS settings. Look for anything related to “SAS” or your RAID controller, and make sure it’s enabled. This can sometimes give you better performance or even allow the OS to recognize the device correctly.Loading the Driver
Once you’re back in Ubuntu, run
lsmodto see if the driver is loaded. Just type:If you see something like
mptsasin the output, it means the driver is loaded and all is good!Verifying Everything
To check if everything is working, you can use
dmesgto look for messages related to your HBA:You might also want to check for devices recognized under
/dev. Runningls /dev/sd*should list your drives if everything’s set up right.Lastly, don’t forget to check out
lsblkto see a list of all block devices. If your drives are attached and recognized, they should show up there with their respective names! If you see your drive listed, you should be good to go!Take it step by step, and don’t worry if things take a bit longer than expected. It can seem overwhelming at first, but just keep at it, and you’ll get there!
To begin the setup of your LSI 9200-8E host bus adapter on your Ubuntu system, you’ll first want to ensure that the hardware is properly detected. Running the `lspci` command in the terminal will list all PCI devices attached to your machine. Look for entries that include “LSI” or “SAS,” which can indicate your adapter. Specifically, if you see a line similar to “LSI Logic / Symbios Logic 9200-8E,” this means it has been recognized. If you need further confirmation of success, you can also check the system logs using the command `dmesg | grep -i lsi` to see if there are any relevant messages regarding your adapter’s detection during the startup sequence.
Once confirmed that the hardware is detected, the next step involves driver considerations. For the LSI 9200-8E, you are correct that the necessary drivers are typically included in the Linux kernel. Before proceeding, it’s a good idea to ensure your system is up to date with the latest kernel version, which can usually be done via your package manager (e.g., `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade`). After that, running `lsmod | grep mpt` will show you if the MPT drivers (which support the 9200-8E) are loaded. Configuration in the BIOS may be required, so be sure to enable any settings related to PCIe or your RAID settings, if applicable. Lastly, to verify everything is operational, you can run `lsscsi` to list your connected SCSI devices or check the `/var/log/syslog` and `/var/log/dmesg` logs for any errors or confirmations that the adapter is functioning as expected.