Pfsence 2.7.2 and SCSI Perc 4/SC

[flipflip]

Hello everyone,

I have a Dell PowerEdge 1800 server with SCSI drives connected on a perc4/SC card. I start the installation process from a USB key but unfortunately the disks are not recognized. I checked the compatibility list and the perc 4/SC card is supported by FreeBSD, is there any particularity with PfSense?

This configuration was fully functional in version 2.6.x.

Thank you in advance.

[stephenw10]

How did 2.6 see the disk(s) or controller?

It's almost always better to disable hardware raid controller and use a ZFS if you need that though.

Steve

[mvikman]

I have noticed from multiple threads that Dell Perc-controller seem to require hw.mfi.mrsas_enable="1" to work...

[flipflip]

Hello, thank you for your responses.

@stephenw10 I'm not very familiar with ZFS, but in its current state, I'm unable to connect the disques to anything other than the perc card on this server.

@mvikman For the parameter hw.mfi.mrsas_enable="1", at what point should it be indicated? During the boot options?

[mvikman]

Here's a post with instructions
https://forum.netgate.com/post/102137

[flipflip]

@mvikman OK, I just tested it and when I enter the command

set hw.mfi.mrsas_enable="1"

I get an "unknown command" error.

I tried replacing the " with ' and I no longer get the error, but the installer does not detect the disks during partitioning (automatic or manual) and only offers the partition of the USB key.

I also tested the solution in that post https://forum.netgate.com/topic/184640/mfi0-i-o-error-as-soon-as-the-installation-starts-need-to-use-mrsas-driver-instead-mfi-how-to-do-that-please/9

[stephenw10]

You'd have to enter that command at the loader prompt: OK>

[flipflip]

@stephenw10 Yes

[stephenw10]

So how did/does the disc appear in 2.6?

[flipflip]

Hi,

It is recognized immediately by the installer without any particular action on my part.

With the 2.7.2 installer, I only see the partition of my USB key da0.

[stephenw10]

Hmm, interesting. It's because the amr driver doesn't exist in 2.7.X:

DEPRECATION NOTICE
       The amr driver is not present in	FreeBSD	14.0.

I'm not sure there anything we can do about that. How old is that hardware?

[flipflip]

Darn, I'll have to find another server. Too bad, it was working really well :(

The machine must be 15 years old, but at the time it was a powerful server.

Thank

[stephenw10]

Well can you connect the disk(s) directly without that controller? Since they are not SAS.