questions about AHCI and NCQ on smart array P400

[James Sp]

Hi,

I have some dl385G2 with P400 controllers. These controllers do not seem to support NCQ despite having firmware version which is supposed to support this. They are Rev B hardware version.

Can someone please tell me, is there a command which will enable SATA NCQ support on this controller or am I out of luck as it is a Rev B card?

Can someone tell me if SATA AHCI is supported and used by this controller?

Smart Array P400 in Slot 1
Bus Interface: PCI
Slot: 1
Serial Number:
Cache Serial Number:
RAID 6 (ADG) Status: Disabled
Controller Status: OK
Chassis Slot:
Hardware Revision: Rev B
Firmware Version: 4.06
Rebuild Priority: Medium
Expand Priority: Medium
Surface Scan Delay: 15 sec
Cache Board Present: True
Cache Status: OK
Accelerator Ratio: 100% Read / 0% Write
Drive Write Cache: Disabled
Total Cache Size: 256 MB
Battery Pack Count: 0
SATA NCQ Supported: False


Thanks

[u84823]

Even if you could get it working, I would think you'd get a considerably bigger performance improvement by fitting the BBWC option for this board, TBH.

[James Sp]

Hi u84823,

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

My questions are not all performance related so whether BBWC improves performance or not is not relevant.

I am really only interested in answers to my specific questions as they are the ones I can't easily find on the Internet.

I did see another post where someone thought that NCQ was not supported on the older hardware revisions but that was not conclusive so I would kind of like an official answer or an answer from someone who has specific experience with this.

The official info is very vague - eg something like NCQ is supported on controllers that support NCQ. And NCQ requires firmware 4.06 or above. But that does not explain why my controller says "SATA NCQ Supported: False"

My best guess here is NCQ is not supported on Rev B hardware. Still - just a guess. Maybe there is a command to enable it? Maybe I need a sata disk plugged in before it shows as enabled? Who knows?

I can't find any information regarding wether AHCI is supported or not by this controller so I would still appreciate an answer to that. This is more for compatibility reasons with the storage I was hoping to use rather than for performance.

[Sameer_Nirmal]

The customer notice c01800086 says it all.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=115&prodSeriesId=3884113&prodTypeId=3709945&objectID=c01800086

[James Sp]

Hi Sameer Nirmal,

Thanks for your response. I've seen that notice before and it does not answer my questions.

It says NCQ on my controller should be supported with firmware 4.06, but it does not explain why my controller says "SATA NCQ Supported: False" when it has the right firmware version. It does not tell me how to enable NCQ.

It does not mention anything about AHCI.

So still looking for answers.

[beovax]

Did you ever find an answer to this?

I have a a supported p400 controller and disks and would like to enable NCQ -

the qucik specs say you must enable this feature on both the controller and disks by default it is disabled.

Must admit I havent had a look through cli yet - but if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated

[Cyford]

I am  forced searching for the same answers,  the controller says my drives  support it and is enables on them,  but it disables them for my raid ,  How do i force it to enable on the controller itself?

      Logical Drive: 1
         Size: 29.8 GB
         Fault Tolerance: 0
         Heads: 255
         Sectors Per Track: 32
         Cylinders: 7655
         Strip Size: 128 KB
         Full Stripe Size: 128 KB
         Status: OK
         Caching:  Enabled
         Unique Identifier: 600508B100104A39535453334D520002
         Disk Name: /dev/cciss/c0d0
         Mount Points: /boot 298 MB
         OS Status: LOCKED
         Logical Drive Label: A0002286PA2240J9STS3MRA8E1
         Drive Type: Data

      physicaldrive 1I:1:8
         Port: 1I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 8
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 32.0 GB
         Firmware Revision: 1.6     
         Serial Number: 1A29I3J662R163PBI526
         Model: ATA     OCZ-ONYX        
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps


   Array: B
      Interface Type: SATA
      Unused Space: 0  MB
      Status: OK
      Array Type: Data



      Logical Drive: 2
         Size: 931.5 GB
         Fault Tolerance: 5
         Heads: 255
         Sectors Per Track: 32
         Cylinders: 65535
         Strip Size: 64 KB
         Full Stripe Size: 128 KB
         Status: Recovering, 71% complete
         Caching:  Enabled
         Parity Initialization Status: Initialization Failed
         Unique Identifier: 600508B100104A39535453334D520003
         Disk Name: /dev/cciss/c0d1
         Mount Points: / 8.0 GB
         OS Status: LOCKED
         Logical Drive Label: A0004EEFPA2240J9STS3MR2999
         Drive Type: Data

      physicaldrive 2I:1:1
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 1
         Status: Rebuilding
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5ZT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 34
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps

      physicaldrive 2I:1:2
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 2
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5YT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 34
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps

      physicaldrive 2I:1:3
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 3
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5XT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 33
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps


[root@CyfordSan-00 ~]# hpacucli
HP Array Configuration Utility CLI 9.40.12.0
Detecting Controllers...Done.
Type "help" for a list of supported commands.
Type "exit" to close the console.

=> ctrl all show config detail

Smart Array 642 in Slot 0 (Embedded)
   Bus Interface: PCI
   Slot: 0
   Serial Number: P9226AN9SW804Y
   RAID 6 (ADG) Status: Disabled
   Controller Status: OK
   Hardware Revision: B
   Firmware Version: 2.80
   Post Prompt Timeout: 0 secs
   Cache Board Present: True
   Cache Status: Not Configured
   Total Cache Size: 64 MB
   Total Cache Memory Available: 32 MB
   No-Battery Write Cache: Disabled
   Battery/Capacitor Count: 0
   SATA NCQ Supported: False



Smart Array P400 in Slot 1
   Bus Interface: PCI
   Slot: 1
   Serial Number: PA2240J9STS3MR
   Cache Serial Number: PA82C0J9VVZ1OI
   RAID 6 (ADG) Status: Enabled
   Controller Status: OK
   Hardware Revision: B
   Firmware Version: 7.24
   Rebuild Priority: Medium
   Expand Priority: Medium
   Surface Scan Delay: 15 secs
   Surface Scan Mode: Idle
   Wait for Cache Room: Disabled
   Surface Analysis Inconsistency Notification: Disabled
   Post Prompt Timeout: 0 secs
   Cache Board Present: True
   Cache Status: OK
   Cache Ratio: 25% Read / 75% Write
   Drive Write Cache: Enabled
   Total Cache Size: 256 MB
   Total Cache Memory Available: 208 MB
   No-Battery Write Cache: Enabled
   Cache Backup Power Source: Batteries
   Battery/Capacitor Count: 1
   Battery/Capacitor Status: Failed (Replace Batteries)
   SATA NCQ Supported: False

   Array: A
      Interface Type: SATA
      Unused Space: 0  MB
      Status: OK
      Array Type: Data



      Logical Drive: 1
         Size: 29.8 GB
         Fault Tolerance: 0
         Heads: 255
         Sectors Per Track: 32
         Cylinders: 7655
         Strip Size: 128 KB
         Full Stripe Size: 128 KB
         Status: OK
         Caching:  Enabled
         Unique Identifier: 600508B100104A39535453334D520002
         Disk Name: /dev/cciss/c0d0
         Mount Points: /boot 298 MB
         OS Status: LOCKED
         Logical Drive Label: A0002286PA2240J9STS3MRA8E1
         Drive Type: Data

      physicaldrive 1I:1:8
         Port: 1I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 8
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 32.0 GB
         Firmware Revision: 1.6     
         Serial Number: 1A29I3J662R163PBI526
         Model: ATA     OCZ-ONYX        
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps


   Array: B
      Interface Type: SATA
      Unused Space: 0  MB
      Status: OK
      Array Type: Data



      Logical Drive: 2
         Size: 931.5 GB
         Fault Tolerance: 5
         Heads: 255
         Sectors Per Track: 32
         Cylinders: 65535
         Strip Size: 64 KB
         Full Stripe Size: 128 KB
         Status: Recovering, 73% complete
         Caching:  Enabled
         Parity Initialization Status: Initialization Failed
         Unique Identifier: 600508B100104A39535453334D520003
         Disk Name: /dev/cciss/c0d1
         Mount Points: / 8.0 GB
         OS Status: LOCKED
         Logical Drive Label: A0004EEFPA2240J9STS3MR2999
         Drive Type: Data

      physicaldrive 2I:1:1
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 1
         Status: Rebuilding
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5ZT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 34
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps

      physicaldrive 2I:1:2
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 2
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5YT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 34
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps

      physicaldrive 2I:1:3
         Port: 2I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 3
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: SATA
         Size: 500 GB
         Firmware Revision: AX001A  
         Serial Number:            83JTPT5XT
         Model: ATA     TOSHIBA MQ01ABD0
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 33
         Maximum Temperature (C): 36
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 1.5Gbps