This is basically a copy paste of TechSomething instructions with helpful images:

Scope: #

I have a controller, LSI SAS9217-4i4e, wit IR firmware and want to switch it to IT firmware.

Why: #

I believed I could not access my disks directly over the shell with hdparm
later I figured out that havin the LSI Raid card on IT mode was not the solution. Instead using sdparm would have been it
For these SAS controllers there are 2 operating modes:

• IR: raid features, your machine won’t see the disk directly but will see the raid volumes from the raid controller
• IT: passtrough or pure-HBA mode, you machine will see the disks directly and you’ll be able to manage them

I want the IT mode because I have some SAS disks I need to format and I can’t do it as I like in IR mode.

Ok, but I meant „why you need a SAS controller“: #

Well it’s not obvious?
In case it isn’t, I have some drives lying around and wanted to wipe them.
Also I should be able to play around with some SAS drive enclosure (a box that contains many SAS drives and exits with one or more sas cables).

Steps: #

Congrats!

Download the files from broadcom site:

from here: https://www.broadcom.com/site-search?q=SAS9217-4i4e

download: 9217_4i4e_Package_P20_IR_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip

download: Installer_P20_for_UEFI.zip

With Rufus (on Windows, yes I know..) create a USB key

not bootable since we are using UEFI

Create the usb key:

download the EFI Shell from: https://github.com/tianocore/edk/raw/master/Other/Maintained/Application/UefiShell/bin/x64/Shell_Full.efi

add it to your usb key in the root renamed shell.efi

Copy the SAS controller files, from the archies fcopy these files to the root of your usb drive::

from Installer_P20_for_UEFI.zip copy:

/Installer_P20_for_UEFI/sas2flash_efi_ebc_rel/sas2flash.efi (the flash utility)

from 9217_4i4e_Package_P20_IR_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows.zip copy:

/9217_4i4e_Package_P20_IR_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows/sasbios_rel/mptsas2.rom (the controller bios)

/9217_4i4e_Package_P20_IR_IT_FW_BIOS_for_MSDOS_Windows/Firmware/HBA_9207_4i4e_IT/9207-4i4e.bin (the controller firmware)

The final folder structure should be like this:

. ├── 9207-4i4e.bin ├── autorun.ico ├── autorun.inf ├── mptsas2.rom ├── sas2flash.efi ├── shell.efi └── System Volume Information └── WPSettings.dat

Prepare the PC:

disconnect as many disks/peripherals you can from your pc leaving just the controller if possible

connect your usb drive

Start the EFI shell (tested on my Asus motherboard):

boot your pc

go in the BIOS pressing F2 at boot or the key you displayed to enter the BIOS of your Motherboard; Not the Bios of you Raid Card (LSI 9217)

in the last page select „Open EFI shell from USB drive“

in the EFI shell:

execute „map“ to see the drivesm they will be „fs0, fs1 etc..“

identify your correct disk (for example there is written „USB“ in the description)

mount the drive: „mount fs1“

change folder „fs1:“

list folder content: „dir“

fs1:

Flash the controller:

execute „sas2flash.efi -listall“ to list the controller

execute „sas2flash.efi -o -e 6“ to clear the controller bios

execute „sas2flash.efi -o -f 9207-4i4e.bin -b mptsas2.rom“ to flash the new firmware and bios on the controller

execute „sas2flash.efi -listall“ to list the controller

Check your work:

reboot the computer

enter in the controller bios (when prompted press „CTRL+C“

select the controller and you’ll see that it’s now in IT mode