Re: PCIe --> NVMe adapters?

[Tobias Nygren <tnn%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On Sat, 16 Jul 2022 14:32:39 -0700 (PDT)
Paul Goyette <paul%whooppee.com@localhost> wrote:

> Is anyone using such beasts on NetBSD?  For example, on a x86
> mothrboard that doesn't have an NVMe slot the adapter can convert
> an unused PCIe 3.0 x4 into an NVMe?
> 
> I have one that I recently bought, thinking that it would be a
> "slam-dunk" install.  But NetBSD-current doesn't seem to even
> see the adapter on my ASUS X99-E motherboard (not even a "blah
> not configured" message!
> 
> Anyone out there using one of these?  Does it work?  What does
> it's dmesg config info look like?
> 
> Thanks in advance.

I have a few of them. Usually it is just a passive board. Sometimes
with an active 3.3V regulator to better support high performance SSDs
since card slots have most of their power budget on the 12V rail.

However, motherboards that don't come with an onboard M2 slot might not
always have the firmware bits to allow booting from NVMe and worse
sometimes they have some initialization support but it is untested and
broken. A google search does suggest other people experiencing SSD
issues with the motherboard you have. BIOS flash update from the vendor
might help. Also re-seat the device and/or try a different slot.

-Tobias