Re: PCIe --> NVMe adapters?

[Paul Goyette <paul%whooppee.com@localhost>]

On Sun, 17 Jul 2022, Tobias Nygren wrote:

> 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.

The mo-bo has a M2 slot, but it is already occupied.  I have two
empty full-size PCIe x16 slots available and I tried putting the
adapter in both slots, multiple times.  The adapter/NVMe doesn't
appear, not even in the bios.

I also have two empty x1 slots, but the x4 adapter won't fit!  :)

Thanks for the info.


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