Intel SR1530HSH + Intel SRCSASRB or Other RAID Controller Require IPMB Cable

On the Intel Server System SR1530HSH the SATA backplane is passive. Any hard disk management features are handled between the Intel Entry Server Board S3200SH and an add-in RAID controller if installed.

Now, when we configure Intel servers based on the pedestal style chassis with hot swap capabilities, all of the required cables to connect the backplane with the motherboard and RAID controller are included with the backplane kit.

What we have discovered is that there is no IPMB cable included with the SR1530HSH server system. That discovery was made today while troubleshooting further issues with the SRCSASBB8i RAID controller we hit the wall with firmware wise (previous blog post).

Today we worked directly with an Intel support technician to try and get to the bottom of the problems we were experiencing since our last conversation with them.

As they had recommended, we backed the firmware off to the next oldest revision on the RAID controller to see if the firmware we were experiencing would not happen again.

Once the firmware update was completed and the system was powered down, we powered back up and all three drive lights lit red indicating drive failure. Yet, the RAID controller POSTed successfully with no errors.

We let SBS 2008 boot up to see if the RAID Web Console 2 would show us any errors in the RAID controller specific logs. They were free and clear indicating a successful firmware burn, drive initialization, and OS boot.

The Intel technician eventually found some information about the need for the IPMB cable between the RAID controller and the server board.

Unfortunately, the information that he found was nowhere to be found in any of the publically available configuration for the SR1530SH or SRCSASBB8i RAID controller.

We still need to test things further as we have not fired up the server since fortunately finding an IPMB cable buried in one of our parts bins.

The required part number:

• Intel FXXIPMBCBL (10 Pack) (Live Search)

We ordered a couple of packs to make sure we have them around for our future server builds on the 1U hot swap platform that require an add-in RAID controller.

Further reading:

• Intel Server System SR1530SH-HSH Support (S3200SH)
  • S3200SH Spares, Parts List & Configuration Guide [PDF]
  • S3200SH User's Guide [PDF]
  • S3200SH/S3210SH Technical Product Specification [PDF]
• Intel® Server System SR1530SH/SR1530HSH product user's guide
• Intel® Server System SR1530SH/SR1530HSH Technical product specification

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac!

Windows Live Writer

Intel SRCSASBB8i Firmware 1.20.72-0572 = Fatal Firmware Error

We have just started to implement the SRCSASBB8i RAID controller. The system this particular one is in is our bench SBS 2008 box.

• Intel SR153HSH 1U Hot Swap.
• Intel S3200SH Server Board.
• Intel Xeon X3350 2.66GHz Quad Core CPU.
• Intel SRCSASBB8i RAID Controller.
• 320GB Seagate ES Series SATA RAID 1 + 1 Hot Spare.

We stress test any new RAID controller firmware for a couple of weeks prior to implementing the update in any client environment where it is applicable.

This is what we have been seeing with the newest firmware update on the SRCSASBB8i:

Intel SRCSASBB8i (shows SRCSASRB)

[Fatal, 3] … Fatal firmware error: Line 156 in ../../raid/1078in.c

The server will be completely locked up with either one or both of the RAID 1 array drive lights being solid green.

The 320GB Seagate drives have been tested and are in the clear.

The Intel SRCSASRB and SRCSASBB8i share the same engine, though the boards are completely different as the 8i has a PCI-E 8x where the RB has a PCI-E 4x interface.

In our testing of what seems to be the same firmware on the SRCSASRB, we have not seen an error like this at all.

We will back the SRCSASBB8i off to the previous firmware revision 1.12.172_0470 and run things up again to see if we run into the same problem. If we do, then we may be dealing with a problematic RAID controller and not bad firmware.

UPDATE 2009-03-05: Please note that the RAID controller we are dealing with is not the SRCSASBB8i, it is the SRCSASRB. My bad for that. We had two identical boxes on the bench, one with each model of RAID controller and I got them mixed up!

My apologies for the mistaken identification.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac!

Windows Live Writer

Intel SR1530SH/HSH and S3200SH Series - Xeon X3350/60 Not Supported Yet ...

When integrating server systems on the new SR1530SH or SR1530HSH (hot swap) 1U Intel server platforms or the new S32xxSH series server boards, one cannot jump into the new Xeon X3350 2.66GHz or X3360 2.83GHz CPUs right away.

From Intel's product support site:

Note 2: Support for these processors requires later BIOS revision, which will be available soon.

Intel Support Site links:

• Intel® Server Board S3200SH - Qualified and supported Intel® Processors
• Intel® Server Board S3200SH Support page

It seems we need to wait for a BIOS update to happen.

Intel S3200SH Download site: Intel Server Board S3200SH Downloads. As of today, April 6, 2008, there is not a BIOS update package yet.

We will be keeping an eye on this page as we have upcoming server builds that we would prefer to integrate with the Xeon 3300 series CPUs.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.