LSI 9211-8i Flashing IT/IR Mode - Cannot Flash IT Firmware over IR Firmware
If you have a Dell H200, IBM M1015 or other rebranded LSI 9211-8i HBA, you may run into an issue flashing IT firmware due to the error message "Cannot Flash IT Firmware over IR Firmware".
An example of such an error:
1fs0:\> sas2flash.efi -c 0 -o -f 2118it_19.bin
2LSI Corporation SAS2 Flash Utility
3Version 17.00.00.00 (2013.07.19)
4Copyright (c) 2008-2013 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved
5
6 Advanced Mode Set
7
8 Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(B2)
9
10 Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image
11
12 Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
13 Firmware Version 19.00.00.00
14 Firmware Image compatible with Controller.
15
16 Valid NVDATA Image found.
17 NVDATA Version 11.00.00.00
18 Checking for a compatible NVData image...
19
20 NVDATA Device ID and Chip Revision match verified.
21 NVDATA Versions Compatible.
22 Valid Initialization Image verified.
23 Valid BootLoader Image verified.
24
25 ERROR: Cannot Flash IT Firmware over IR Firmware!
26
27 Firmware Image Validation Failed!
28
29 Due to error remaining commands will not be executed.
30 Unable to Process Commands.
31 Exiting SAS2Flash.
After digging I found out that this error can be resolved by using the V5 version of sas2flash. Note: If you had a failed flash process, sas2flash may give an error stating that no adapters can be found. Don't panic, a quick reboot will resolve that.
An example of flashing using the V5 sas2flash:
1fs0:\> sas2flash_v5.efi -c 0 -o -f 2118it_19.bin
2
3 ****************************************************************************
4 LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
5 Version 5.00.00.00 (2010.02.10)
6 Copyright (c) 2009 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
7 ****************************************************************************
8
9 Advanced Mode Set
10
11 Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(??)
12
13 Executing Operation: Flash Firmware Image
14
15 Firmware Image has a Valid Checksum.
16
17 Firmware Image compatible with Controller.
18
19 Valid NVDATA Image found.
20
21 NVDATA Versions Compatible.
22 NVDATA Product ID and Vendor ID do not match.
23 Would you like to flash anyway [y/n]?
24 Valid Initialization Image verified.
25 Valid BootLoader Image verified.
26
27 Beginning Firmware Download...
28 Firmware Download Successful.
29
30 Verifying Download...
31
32 Firmware Flash Successful!
33
34 Resetting Adapter...
35 Adapter Reset Failed!
36
37 Due to error remaining commands will not be executed.
38 Unable to Process Commands.
39 Exiting SAS2Flash.
Regardless of error the flashing completed successfully:
1fs0:\> sas2flash_v5.efi -listall
2
3 ****************************************************************************
4 LSI Corporation SAS2Flash Utility.
5 Version 5.00.00.00 (2010.02.10)
6 Copyright (c) 2009 LSI Corporation. All rights reserved.
7 ****************************************************************************
8
9 Adapter Selected is a LSI SAS: SAS2008(??)
10
11 Num Ctlr FW Ver NVDATA x86-BIOS PCI Addr
12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
13
14 0 SAS2008(??) 19.00.00.00 11.00.00.08 No Image 00:05:00:00
15
16 Finished Processing Commands Successfully.
17 Exiting SAS2Flash.
18
19fs0:\
Useful links: