SOLVED x553 networking support

[keylevel]

I'm thinking about using an A2SDi-2C-HLN4F Supermicro board in a system running FreeNAS 11.

This has an x553 NIC which appears to be supported by FreeBSD 11, but can anyone confirm if this plays nicely with FreeNAS?

 

[Ericloewe]

I don't think anybody's actually tried it yet, since that is the only board available with C3000 processors, and it's a very cut-down version.

 

[Ericloewe]

If you do buy that board, be sure to tell us how that C3338 performs. At a little over 200 bucks, it's an interesting entry-level board for small servers, if performance is acceptable.

 

[keylevel]

Will do - just need to decide if I want to risk £200 (UK, so we get to pay more for some reason!) to see if it works...

 

[Arwen]

This site says FreeBSD 11 64 bit is not supported, though another similar product is supported.

https://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/OS/Denverton.cfm
My guess is that it is simply a matter of time. (The other 3 products don't yet have web pages.)

Of course, they mis-spelled FreeBSD as FressBSD. (At least I hope it's a mis-spelling! :)

 

[MrToddsFriends]

https://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/OS/Denverton.cfm

The table shown there states that while most (upcoming) Supermicro Denverton motherboards are compatible with FreeBSD 11 64bit there is an exception: The A2SDi-TP8F is not but it is compatible with FressBSD 11 64bit.

Thanks for pointing out this mis-spelling! :D

 

[keylevel]

So, does that mean it is supported, or that table can't be trusted?

 

[Ericloewe]

The latter is most likely. All the parts are pretty standard.

 

[heinemml]

Hi,

I've also been looking at this board for quite some time now to replace my old AMD e-350 Build.

I stumbled across this Comment on a review [1].

The issue ServeTheHome brings up is that the older versions of the linux ixgbe driver don’t recognize the device id of the X553 so the driver won’t load. So it’s not a “new” driver or even radically new controller, it’s Intel’s proven 10gbe logic embedded into the C3000 SoC and they gave it a new device ID because there certainly have been some changes to weld it into the SoC. To my knowledge no one has reported any problems with it beyond getting old distros to recognize it because of the new device ID.

In the "FreeBSD Quarterly Status Report - First Quarter 2017" [2] I found this update:

ix/ixv:
* Added support for X553 SoC devices based on the Denverton platform

But I'm not familiar enough with the FreeBSD development process to judge if this is already in the FreeBSD Version used as base for the current FreeNAS. Can anybody familiar with the release processes clarify if this already included or when this might happen?

[1] http://www.cnx-software.com/2017/07...tom-c3338-denverton-processor/#comment-543966
[2] https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-announce/2017-May/001795.html

 

[johnp4]

Any update on this?

I'm looking at getting the Supermicro A2SDI-8C+-HLN4F-O, but I wanted to make sure it was compatible before buying. This one only has gigabit, but it's my understanding that even gigabit on this platform requires an X533 driver.

Thanks!

 

[Daniel Claesson]

Hi,

I have the SuperMicro A2SDi-2C-HLN4F MLB and i can confirm that Intel X533 network card doesn't work with the latest FreeNAS 11 iso (FreeNAS 11.0-U4).

Also USB boot is very iffy on the board and Legacy boot in any form doesn't work. I have a support case with SuperMicro to figure out the USB and Legacy boot issues.
They have supplied me with a BETA UFEI/BIOS that made it possible to pick between UEFI and Legacy boot. This option was not present at all on the shipped UEFI/BIOS.

Do anyone know when FreeNAS will be shipped with support for this Intel X533 NIC?

Regards
Daniel Claesson

 

[Ericloewe]

I have the SuperMicro A2SDi-2C-HLN4F MLB and i can confirm that Intel X533 network card don't work with the latest FreeNAS 11 iso (Freenas 11.0-U4).

Well, we already knew that much. The interesting part is if 11.1 does support it.

Please try the nightlies and tell us your results.

 

[Stux]

If it doesn’t I’d suggest a feature request quick-smart

 

[Daniel Claesson]

Well, we already knew that much. The interesting part is if 11.1 does support it.

Please try the nightlies and tell us your results.

I will, i think i found the "nighties" iso's. No that easy to find or i might just su_k at searching.
I'm downloading this iso "FreeNAS-11-FREEBSD-HEAD-201710200432-0845d0d.iso" that i think is the latest one atm.

Correct?

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

 

[Daniel Claesson]

Ops, i think that was the wrong iso. I didn't boot at least.

I dug around a little more and i think i found the right one this time.
I downloaded "FreeNAS-11-MASTER-201710200502-0845d0d.iso" and will try that one instead.

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

 

[Daniel Claesson]

Still no luck, server won't boot that iso either.
Do anyone have a direct link to the latest nightly iso?

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

 

[BigDave]

Still no luck, server won't boot that iso either.
Do anyone have a direct link to the latest nightly iso?

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

https://download.freenas.org/11/MASTER/201710200502/

 

[Daniel Claesson]

https://download.freenas.org/11/MASTER/201710200502/

Thanks, i will try that one on Monday morning when i'm back at work.

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

 

[Stux]

Thanks, i will try that one on Monday morning when i'm back at work.

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson

Heh. There’ll be a new nightly on monday ;)

 

[Daniel Claesson]

I'm downloading this Mondays latest release.

Some more info from SuperMicro, at the moment the board don't support any form of Legacy boot and only option is to install with UEFI boot support. Installing FreeNAS from ISO is the best option (through iKVM) as the USB boot is still a bit iffy.
I will try the latest ISO and report back.

Best Regards
Daniel Claesson