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RAID Key RKSAS8R5 Identification on Server Board S2600CP2

idata
Employee
3,729 Views

Hi,

I am building a new server with an Intel S2600CP2 mainboard and a C600 RAID Key (RKSAS8R5) to allow RAID 5 for SAS drives. I have changed the Mass Controller settings in the BIOS for the SAS/SATA controller to ESRT2.

With this key I am able to enter the Embedded RAID II Configuration Utility and create a RAID 5 virtual disk but when I try to install the OS (Win 2008 x86, or 2008 x64, or 2008R2), it cannot see any disks even though I present the ESRT2 drivers for the respective OS. I have tried the ESRT2 drivers for both the S2600CP mainboard and for the AXXRAKSW5 key and neither work.

If I decide to use the SAS/SATA controller in RSTe mode I can install the OS when I present the RSTe drivers,but this does not offer RAID 5, only RAID 0 and 1 are available, which is not a solution.

I have noticed the message "Intel RAID Activation Key AXXRAKSW5 Authenticated" at the Embedded RAID II Configuration Utiltiy screen. The AXXRAKSW5 key is not meant for the S2600CP family of boards.

http://ark.intel.com/products/49593/Intel-RAID-Activation-Key-AXXRAKSW5 http://ark.intel.com/products/49593/Intel-RAID-Activation-Key-AXXRAKSW5

Without any hard disk cables connected to the mainboard this message is present. I have updated the BIOS via the Server Management CD and via EFI and this still persists. I have even cleared the CMOS and it is still displayed. I requested a replacement RAID key from our supplier and the result is the same. When comparing the labels on the boxes for the 2 keys, all numbers and IDs are the same except for the serial number, so could it be a faulty batch???

Here is a pic of this RAID key.

I have heard a source say that the key should be purple in colour (ie the plastic), whilst this key is black with a purple sticker. So have I got the correct key???

Jerome

11 Replies
Edward_Z_Intel
Employee
717 Views

Yes of course the label is purple, not the plastic itself. This key enables SAS function on all 8 SCU ports, and enables ESRT2 RAID 5 as well. The limitation is that once SAS function is enabled, RSTe RAID 5 is disabled.

So in your case you should use ESRT2 instead of RSTe. Make sure you load the latest ESRT2 driver: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20963 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20963

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idata
Employee
717 Views

Hi Edward, as I had initially described, I had used the ESRT2 drivers whilst in ESRT2 mode but had no success. What is concerning is why "Intel RAID Activation Key AXXRAKSW5 Authenticated" is displayed when the label on the key is RKSAS8R5. What should RAID Key should be displayed at the Embedded RAID II Configuration Utiltiy screen?

Thanks.

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idata
Employee
717 Views

According to Intel's Technical Advisory TA-998-01 RAID 5 is not supported on this board. http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/ta99801.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/ta99801.pdf

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idata
Employee
717 Views

Their June update (point 19) states the problem is resolved with the latest driver, but I am still not having success with that latest driver.

http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/s2600cp_msu_june12.pdf http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s2600cp/sb/s2600cp_msu_june12.pdf

Intel support have stated that the message "Intel Raid Activation Key AXXRAKSW5 Authenticated" is expected for RAID Key RKSAS8R5.

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Edward_Z_Intel
Employee
717 Views

Wondering if it's related to the RAID key and TA-998... Could you try a RAID 1 configuration and see if it works?

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idata
Employee
717 Views

According to our phone conversation with Intel tech support, the Intel Embedded Server RAID Technology 2 (ESRT2) is not supported on the Intel Server Board S2600CP2 with the current ESRT2 drivers that are available. They are currently working on a driver that will support it in the near future.

In the mean time he recommended that we exchange this board with the S2600CP4 main board.

We did upgrade to the S2600CP4 main board and the operating system loaded perfectly without a hitch.

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Edward_Z_Intel
Employee
717 Views

I have some news here - yes this is related to TA-998. The latest driver (v15.0) fixed the issue on AHCI ports, but ESRT2 configuration on SCU ports is not yet supported.

Hopefully the next release of ESRT2 driver should support SCU ports on S2600CP2.

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Edward_Z_Intel
Employee
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nsh
Beginner
717 Views

Dear all, I am planning to setup a storage server with Intel server board S2600CP2, I have also purchased C600 RKSATA8R5 with to enable all the 8 ports. I have 8 SATA 4TB Western Digital black edition HDD. Please help me out as its been few days that i am suffering to get it work but no success. I have installed the C600 upgrade key, but when I turn on the machine, I do no know how I should access the RAID utility. Im not an expert with RAID tech, but as Im under pressure by my manager, I need to make this thing ready as soon as possible. Please help me out here. What should I do, guide me please. I really appreciate it.

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Edward_Z_Intel
Employee
717 Views

Hope the demo below helps:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-032119.htm Demo: How to configure ESRT2 RAID using the BIOS console

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nsh
Beginner
717 Views

Dear all, I am planning to setup a storage server with Intel server board S2600CP2, I have also purchased C600 RKSATA8R5 with to enable all the 8 ports. I have 8 SATA 4TB Western Digital black edition HDD. Please help me out as its been few days that i am suffering to get it work but no success. I have installed the C600 upgrade key, but when I turn on the machine, I do no know how I should access the RAID utility. Im not an expert with RAID tech, but as Im under pressure by my manager, I need to make this thing ready as soon as possible. Please help me out here. What should I do, guide me please. I really appreciate it.

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