Maximum PC

Howdy,
I've been wanting to build a home server for ages, and the recent build-it in the magazine finally got me off me duff to do it. Like the example build, I'm using a HighPoint RocketRaid card (I think the model's different, though). Mine, the 2680, has two SAS ports. I've plugged in 5 Seagate 1.5 TB drives via two Mini-SAS-to-SATA adapter cables.
At boot, I get into the RocketRaid BIOS screen, but there are no drives shown. I've tried re-seating the cables and power cables. I even double-checked to make sure the SAS end of the cable isn't upside down (it's not). I know the drives are getting power because they're warm when I open the case and I can feel them vibrate when the cover is off.
HighPoint's tech support advised updating drivers. I did so, and still no luck.
I've had the thought that maybe flashing the card's BIOS might help, but can't find any good instructions on how to do so. Does anyone know how to do that. Again, not the mother board BIOS, but the card's BIOS.
Also, I'm running Windows Home Server 2011 on a Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2V motherboard. Processor is FM1 AMD A5.
Thanks

I use a Rocket 620 on a WHS '11 H61 chipped board, so I kind of see what you're using. It's not purty, it isn't clear, but it's a good screen to work with. At first glance, this seems to be RAW drives and trying to boot from them though. I don't boot off the card and use the onboard stuff, so addition of the other 2 drives are more simple. The Adaptec RAID 6405 was a bit more tricky to boot from.

I think you're really into teething issues with a new build (help me build/buy) and could cure this by simply booting off a board drive to get to the controller or figuring out your particular board's "boot other" selections in the BIOS.

If I have to be snarky, it's the use of a SAS controller with SAS drives in a WHS. Mind you that WD Green Drives do well in WHS builds and SAS are keyed more for "real" servers. If you'd just Keep It Simple, you'd have S/ATA drives plugged into a board and be up and running. If Maximum PC recommended server parts, they should be lashed because it's not the same thing. You don't have an SMP side-banding Xeon in this do you? I didn't read the article because I no longer subscribe for obvious reasons. Last issue I received had duct tape involved, so read into that as you will. I presume they told you that you need SAS drives for a WHS build, and that's flat out incorrect.

Back it up a bit. I'm sorry if they told you this stuff, but you don't need that complication. A WHS is simple, not complicated. No SAS, no RAID...just a basic build that holds and hosts data to a narrow network. It's a server by definition, but not a server. My 1st WHS was a Pentium III w/ IDE drives. My latest uses the up-to-date H61/1155 stuff and isn't faster at all. You don't need fancy server stuff in order to have a server. Again: Keep it simple.

Thanks Chumly.
I'm not booting from the RAID. I did get WHS installed on another drive, and it's running just fine. The RAID is for storage.
I can't say for sure, but this really seems like an issue with the board's BIOS needing updated. The drives feel like they're working. It's unlikely (though not impossible, I know) both cables are bad. And the appearance of the card BIOS screen leads me to think the hardware's fine (though I guess the SAS ports themselves could be bad while the onboard chip works).
There is a BIOS revision, but I'm unclear on how to flash the BIOS of an add-in card. I've always been too chicken to do it with a motherboard, as I always heard that if everything works it's an unnecessary risk.
Any thoughts on flashing the BIOS?

Is the firmware update an .exe or application file? If so it is done from windows like you update an optical drive or router.

Nasty

Thanks Nastyman. That wasn't as dreadful as I had anticipated.
I've flashed the BIOS, and it lists the updated version at boot.
But still no disks.
Now I'm completely out of ideas...

...it still lists no disks...in windows or at boot? Did you look in disk management for the array? They should be listed during post in the raid array.

Nasty

The RAID card BIOS lists no disks. Can't even get far enough to build an array.

Either you have a bad card and should call the manufacture or you may have bad converter cables....or you can't use the converter cables because they are not compatible with the raid card.

Nasty

Are there compatibility issues with cables? I've got Rosewill cables and the HightPoint card. It's the right connectors and everything. But there is a price difference (more expensive, natch) for HighPoint cables.