Prerequisites:
-1)
a) move your H200 card from storage slot to another PCI-E slot;
b) get longer cables from DELL to connect the backplane to the H200;
c) verify the system is still working well.
The procedure for flashing DELL H200 SAS card (LSI 9211-8i based) is the following:
0) Download the following packages:
a) firmware for DELL 6GBP SaS HBA
the current latest is:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/sas-non-raid/DELL_6GBPS-SAS-HBA_A08_R306009.exe
b) download all the firmwares for LSI 9211-8i
they are available at:
http://www.lsi.com/Search/Pages/downloads.aspx?k=P00049 assettype:Firmware&start1=1
the version to download are named like:
9211_8i_Package_P12_IR_IT_Firmware_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows
I suggest you to download the P7, P8, .. until the latest which now is P12
2) get a bootable iso cd, I sugget the DELL diag utility, the latest is:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/diags/DELL_32-BIT-DIAGNOSTICS_5154-1_R302859.exe
a) Extract it, usually it places its files in:
C:\dell\drivers\R302859
b) Create a directory inside the DIAGS folder, e.g. 6GBPSAS, then create the following subfolders:
D24/ P07/ P08/ P09/ P10/ P11/ P12/
In D24 extract the DELL 6GBP SaS HBA firmware
In P07 extract the following LSI P7 firmware files: 2118ir.bin 2118it.bin mptsas2.rom
Do the same for P08, P09 ... P12
c) create the iso cd or the bootable images depending the boot device you want use: Virtual Media, usb key or portable cd.
3) Boot your server. When DELL DIAGS ask for a choice press 4: you will have a DOS prompt.
4) Type:
C:
CD 6GBPSAS
CD D24
Now you can flash the H200 controller to IT mode:
sas2flsh -o -f 6gbpsas.fw -o mptsas2.rom
It behasves as e DELL 6GB SAS HBA controller (IT mode)
You can reboot then, when Controller initializes press control-C to define boot device, and then go into the system bios for set boot device.
5) If you wish to switch to LSI original firmware (with all amenities) you have to:
CD ..\P07
sas2flsh -o -f 2118it.fw -o mptsas2.rom
When it will prompt about not matching vendour ID and product press yes.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.
From DELL IR go to DELL IT (6GBPSAS.FW)
From DELL IT go to LSI IT P7 (using sasflash -o -f ... )
From LSI IT P7 go to LSI IT PX (where X is any firmware version)
If you wish you can try other firmware version... not all of them are compatible with DELL Backplane.
Right now, the P12 version works like a charm! So;
CD ..\P12
sas2flsh -o -f 2118it.fw -o mptsas2.rom
Reboot, eventually adjust controller and bios settings.
If you prefer the DELLized firmware you can flash back to your preferred firmware.
Hope this can be helpful to you!
