# How to flash IBM ServeRaid M1015 to LSI9211-IT for ZFS in HP Gen8 Microserver

https://blog.cynexia.com/how-to-flash-ibm-serveraid-m1015-to-lsi9211-it-for-zfs-in-hp-gen8-microserver

Author: [Rob Aleck](https://blog.cynexia.com/pages/about) · https://github.com/mnbf9rca · https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertaleck/ · https://family-foqos.app/

Published: 2016-12-16
Categories: How-to


First things first - you do this at your own risk. I take no responsibility for anything going wrong - and it can go wrong. If you are in doubt - don't do it. And if it goes wrong - don't blame me...

1. Make a DOS USB boot stick
    1. download the very useful Rufus from [here](<http://rufus.akeo.ie/>).
    2. select “Create a bootable disk using FreeDos”:  
       
    3. flash the USB.
2. Download the firwmare files from here: [sas2008](<https://blog.cynexia.com/attachments/how-to-flash-ibm-serveraid-m1015-to-lsi9211-it-for-zfs-in-hp-gen8-microserver/8bce9-sas2008.zip>) (see footnote for original source)
3. Extract the files and place them on the root of the USB stick.
4. Download the latest LSI firmware from the [Avago](<http://www.avagotech.com/support/download-search/?productFamilyName=SAS/SATA+Host+Bus+Adapters&area2=SAS+9211-8i+Host+Bus+Adapter&area3=Firmware&area4=&dnd-keyword=>) site. You’re looking for *Firmware* for an *SAS 9211-8i Host Bus Adaptor*. At the time of writing, this is version P20.
5. Extract the LSI firmware to a folder on your machine.
6. Create a subfolder on the USB called `P20`
7. From the extracted LSI firmware, copy the following to the `P20` folder on the USB:
    1. The `2118it.bin` file from `<zip>\\firmware\\HBA_9211_8i_IT` folder
    2. `mptsas2.rom` from `sasbios_rel` folder
    3. `sas2flsh.exe` from `sas2flash_dos_rel` folder
8. Look at the back of the card and note down the SAS address - it’s something like `500605B0xxxxxxxx`.
9. put the card in the machine, and switch it on.
10. Boot to the USB stick - press F11 during POST and select USB.
11. Flash the firmware:
    1. Type the following:  
       `megarec -writesbr 0 sbrempty.bin`  
       `megarec -cleanflash 0`
    2. Type the following:  
       `megarec -writesbr 0 sbrempty.bin`  
       `megarec -cleanflash 0`
    3. Reboot, again booting from the USB stick
    4. Next, install the P10 or P11 firmware - type the following:  
       `sas2flsh -o -f 2118it.bin -b mptsas2.rom`  
       `sas2flsh -o -sasadd 500605bxxxxxxxxx (x= numbers for SAS address)`
    5. Reboot, again booting from the USB stick
    6. Finally, upgrade to the P20 firmware - type the following to change to the folder and execute flash of the new firmware:  
       `cd p20`  
       `sas2flsh -o -f 2118it.bin -b mptsas2.rom`
12. Remove the USB stick
13. Reboot.
14. Some people recommend to disable loading the Option ROM. On my machine, loading the option room caused an NMI, so i ignored it, but if you want to do it: Load the Option ROM (press CTRL-C on boot) and set “Boot Support” to “Disabled”

The original instructions for this task are [here](<http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/29059-sas2008-lsi92409211-firmware-files/>), with my additions to update to the P20 firmware - I’ve archived them here for my own reference.