[geeks] IBM RAID Controller and Linux

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Mark Benson wrote:
> I ran across an issue when looking at IBM servers. The x3500 M2 we are
> looking at uses a PCI-e RAID controller for the SAS bay at the front
> and I'm getting cold feet as to whether the RAID controller is
> supported in Ubuntu Server.
> 
>>From what I can tell the IBM Card is a ServeRAID MR10i. This, from the
> IBM Manual is a rebadged LSI Logic MegaRAID 8708E (or may be ELP?)
> card. It's 8-port and half-length. IBM's install guide for the card
> (one variation at least) is here:
> 
> ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/systems/support/system_x_pdf/ibm_doc_sraidmr_10i-10.20_install-guide.pdf
> 
> That guid also mentiones the card is '1078-based' which refers to an
> LSI Logic RAID-on-chip controller which I presume is the lump under
> the black heat-sink.
> 
> I don't know if any IBM-philes here know any more about the card and
> what OSs have support for it? I have googled my fingers off and
> haven't turned up anything so far. I'll keep looking but I just wanted
> t ochuck the question out there as I know tere are some folk here who
> know IBM stuff backwards and upside down.

The canonical suggestion for this sort of problem is this:  Try to find 
the type-model (XXXX-XXX) of the machine in which the controller was 
originally installed (and sold for).  Then go to IBM's support site and 
input that type-model, then select the operating system as Linux.  You 
should be able to download a driver from the resulting links.

Peace...  Sridhar