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2.
Preparing Server Hardware and Drivers
2.1
Server System
Intel recommends that the server system be installed with the latest firmware package that includes the
BIOS, ME, FD, BMC, and FRUSDR utility. The best way to achieve this is to download and install the latest
published System Update Package (SUP) corresponding to the motherboard being used, which may be
found at the
Intel Download Center.
model number (e.g., S2600WFT), then click the magnifying glass icon. Set the "Download Type" dropdown to
"BIOS" or "Firmware" (depending on which option is available), and the available SUP versions will be
displayed. The specific package contains installation instructions.
2.2
Intel VROC Hardware Key
In order to enable Intel® VROC, a Hardware Key must be installed on the Intel® motherboard. There are three
separate keys supporting different RAID levels:
•
Intel® VROC Standard (MM#951605): Enables RAID levels 0, 1 and 10. Different NVMe drive
manufacturers are supported. Consult the
•
Intel® VROC Premium (MM#951606): RAID levels 0, 1, 10 and 5. Different NVMe drive manufacturers
are supported. Consult the
•
Intel® VROC Intel SSD Only (MM#956822): Enables RAID levels 0, 1, 10 and 5 but only the Intel®
NVMe drives are supported.
Refer to the corresponding system TPS document of your Intel® motherboard for VROC Hardware Key
installation instructions.
2.3
NVMe* drives
Intel® VROC only supports the U.2 form factor NVMe drives connected through supported backplanes. Intel
recommends that the drives are of the latest firmware version, and makes available the
Center Tool
utility in order to update the firmware on Intel® SSD DC family drives. Other vendors provide
similar tools.
The Intel® SSD Data Center Tool runs on top of Windows* or Linux* operating systems and can be used when
the drives are behind the VMD controllers as well as after a RAID configuration has been created. For more
detailed information on how to update the firmware on the Intel NVMe drives using the Intel* SSD Data
Center Tool, refer to Appendix B.
2.4
PCIe switches and retimers
Intel recommends having the latest firmware installed on the PCIe switches and ensuring that the BMC is
aware of such cards. If the SUP (mentioned in Section 2.1) was applied after the cards were installed, then
the BMC is already aware. In other cases, or if the cards were moved to a different PCIe slot, the BMC needs
to be made aware of such changes by booting the system into the EFI shell and running the
sdr_update_noprompt.nsh script. This script is part of the SUP.
When PCIe switches are used, it's the switch firmware who handles the drive LED management, in other
words, who handles the locate, fault and rebuild LEDs. LED management is handled in a different way when
VMD is enabled than when VMD disabled.
LED management is set to VMD disabled by default but since VMD must be enabled in order to have Intel®
VROC, it must be set to VMD enabled the first time the PCIe switch is installed. This setting is persistent, so
the it only needs to be set once. Intel provides an LED Management toggle tool to change this setting.
5
Intel® VROC Quick Configuration Guide
In the search box near the top of the page, type in the motherboard
THOL
for a full list.
THOL
for a full list.
Intel* SSD Data
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