MP 7,1 Highpoint 7101A-1 solutions help needed

[Kedbear]

Hi,

I've been burned by the Highpoint 7101A-1. I'm on a mac pro 2019 and get the kernel panic when the computer goes to sleep. MY 7101A-1 is setup in raid 0 with 4x 2tb nvme's. I've pretty much given up on trying to fix the kernel panic issue. However a new problem has arisen which is that because the highpoint requires disabling secure boot my audio interface (Slate VRS8) will not pass audio into the computer. So, i'm wondering about re-enabling secure boot and using softraid instead to create a new raid. What i wanted to ask is what are the steps i should take to achieve this? For example...

- re-enable secure boot
- reformat raid in disk utility
- use softraid to create new raid
etc?

I haven't done this before so want to avoid screwing something up etc.

Thanks for any help

 

[handheldgames]

disable sleep.

 

[bob_stan]

Soft raid will also require you to disable secure boot

 

[jasonmvp]

This is timely. I just had a kernel panic due to the HighPoint Kext, but I wasn't doing anything with my system at the time. It was running, not sleeping, for what it's worth. I decided to disable the HighPoint driver after moving all of my data off the volume temporarily. I recreated the 8TB RAID10 volume using Disk Util, and moved all the data back.

Then I ran the BlackMagic disk speed test just for giggles. Damn. The new volume lost almost half of its write speed. The read speeds are pretty good, but they dropped as well.

 

[Stephen.R]

I recreated the 8TB RAID10 volume using Disk Util, and moved all the data back.

You just made a striped set over two mirrored sets right? (ie there’s no hidden option I’ve never found on DU to have it create a raid10 set in one go)?

have you used DU raid10 with success before? I’ve just got rid of mine (on mechanical media though) because it was constantly misreporting the underlying mirrors as being missing.

im wondering if it’s something about my setup or if DU just doesn’t handle nested raid sets that well.
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Also sorry to hijack the thread!

 

[jasonmvp]

You just made a striped set over two mirrored sets right? (ie there’s no hidden option I’ve never found on DU to have it create a raid10 set in one go)?

I replicated what the HighPoint had done, which was create two RAID0 sets and mirror them. Same difference, basically.

I've since undone it and gone back to the HighPoint volume. It's taking some time to move 1TB of files around between SSDs, heh.

Another fun problem I've run into has to do with the drive cooling. I've modified two HighPoint cards by removing their fans, and the end caps on their shrouds. The drives on one of the cards get up around 143*F or so, which is over their 70*C "spec". So to remedy that, I'm going to get a set of 8 EK NVMe heatsinks for the drives, and remove the shroud completely. And yes, I also have a small copper block for the controller that gets way toasty.

These things are a ... challenge.

 

[Stephen.R]

I replicated what the HighPoint had done, which was create two RAID0 sets and mirror them. Same difference, basically.

weird that they do it 0+1 - that gives you a higher risk of total failure. I wonder if it’s about performance.

 

[jasonmvp]

weird that they do it 0+1 - that gives you a higher risk of total failure.

I don't see how that's the case. Any single drive failing will only take out half of the entire mirror set.

 

[Stephen.R]

In 0+1, If a drive in both striped sets fails your array is gone.

In 1+0 if a drive in both mirrored sets fails your array is intact.

 

[Kedbear]

I replicated what the HighPoint had done, which was create two RAID0 sets and mirror them. Same difference, basically.

I've since undone it and gone back to the HighPoint volume. It's taking some time to move 1TB of files around between SSDs, heh.

Another fun problem I've run into has to do with the drive cooling. I've modified two HighPoint cards by removing their fans, and the end caps on their shrouds. The drives on one of the cards get up around 143*F or so, which is over their 70*C "spec". So to remedy that, I'm going to get a set of 8 EK NVMe heatsinks for the drives, and remove the shroud completely. And yes, I also have a small copper block for the controller that gets way toasty.

These things are a ... challenge.

Thanks. Any reason not to try using softraid?
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Soft raid will also require you to disable secure boot

Really? Bloody hell this sucks. Does the amfeltec squid or Sonnet 4x4 also require disabling secure boot?

 

[handheldgames]

Thanks. Any reason not to try using softraid?
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Really? Bloody hell this sucks. Does the amfeltec squid or Sonnet 4x4 also require disabling secure boot?

Dang... sounds like one heck of an expensive, and shiny, boat anchor.

edit: added shiny

 

[flowrider]

Really? Bloody hell this sucks. Does the amfeltec squid or Sonnet 4x4 also require disabling secure boot?

Booting from any device that is not the SSD controlled by the T2 chip, IOW any other drive, needs to have secure boot disabled. Tell me why you think that sucks? I am not using the Apple SSD and have been booting from an SSD on a Highpoint 7103 since day one. I have no issues.

Lou

 

[bob_stan]

Softraid needs secure boot disabled to work at all on any drives - not just a boot drive. Its driver does not function with the security enabled.

 

[jasonmvp]

In 0+1, If a drive in both striped sets fails your array is gone.

In 1+0 if a drive in both mirrored sets fails your array is intact.

Oh, you're trying to solve for multiple failures. Have fun with that; it's an endless cycle and not worth the time.
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Thanks. Any reason not to try using softraid?

I have no experience with SoftRAID but have never heard anything positive about it. So I continue to stay ignorant of it and avoid it.

 

[Kedbear]

Booting from any device that is not the SSD controlled by the T2 chip, IOW any other drive, needs to have secure boot disabled. Tell me why you think that sucks? I am not using the Apple SSD and have been booting from an SSD on a Highpoint 7103 since day one. I have no issues.

Lou

I am booting from the internal SSD. It sucks because I have to have secure boot disabled in order to use the 7101a drivers. This sucks heavily becuase it means I can’t get ANY audio into my computer because with secure boot disabled the Mac will not allow you to record audio via an external audio interface. I’m recording and writing music so this is a complete disaster.

 

[jasonmvp]

This sucks heavily becuase it means I can’t get ANY audio into my computer because with secure boot disabled the Mac will not allow you to record audio via an external audio interface. I’m recording and writing music so this is a complete disaster.

Something else is wrong with your Mac then. The first thing I do with any Mac I own is disable that accursed secure boot. And I've never had any issues recording audio via any USB-connected ADC or other input. Even on my Mac Pro.

 

[Kedbear]

Something else is wrong with your Mac then. The first thing I do with any Mac I own is disable that accursed secure boot. And I've never had any issues recording audio via any USB-connected ADC or other input. Even on my Mac Pro.

Incorrect. This is well known and verified by Slate Digital who's interface (VRS8) i own. I can get an audio input and monitor it via my audio interface on my mac pro 2019 but i can not get Logic X to hear it and record it into logic. This is due to secure boot disallowing the use of the microphone. This was initially in order to stop hackers being able to record and monitor your audio via your in built microphone or mic input via an audio interface. What audio interface are you using on your mac pro and what DAW and can you verify you are able to record (not monitor) audio.

 

[jasonmvp]

What audio interface are you using on your mac pro and what DAW and can you verify you are able to record (not monitor) audio.

A USB-attached Sound Blaster X7 DAC/ADC. I can record through any of the NLEs I use, as well as through Logic.

 

[Kedbear]

A USB-attached Sound Blaster X7 DAC/ADC. I can record through any of the NLEs I use, as well as through Logic.

I think high end interfaces running via thunderbolt etc is a different matter then.

 

[jasonmvp]

I think high end interfaces running via thunderbolt etc is a different matter then.

I'd bet one of my paychecks against that. Something else is going on there. Don't assume "high end" actually means anything other than "I can charge you more for this than that."

 

[Kedbear]

I'd bet one of my paychecks against that. Something else is going on there. Don't assume "high end" actually means anything other than "I can charge you more for this than that."

There is a difference between a high end interface (metric halo, rme, slate, prism etc), with complex internal routing, multiple preamps, low latency, high end AD/DA and your sound blaster. It really isn’t worth getting into a discussion about that here because there are many facts that will prove that to be the case. The manufacturer of my interface has stated that with secure boot on mic inputs are blocked. It would be great to know why that is but i’m sure it’s due to Catalina and the t2 chip and could be rectified by apple.

 

[jasonmvp]

There is a difference between a high end interface (metric halo, rme, slate, prism etc), with complex internal routing, multiple preamps, low latency, high end AD/DA and your sound blaster.

Is this interface pushing 20 or 40Gbits/sec to/from the Mac? If there's a poisonous interaction with the T2 chip, it has nothing to do with the mechanics of using DAC/ADC which is all your interface is (I'm an audio guy, I'm not arguing with you, I'm telling you) from the Mac's perspective. It MAY, and I can't emphasize MAY enough, have something to do with the Thunderbolt connection you're using.

Any way to use a plain-Jane USB connection instead?

 

[Kedbear]

Is this interface pushing 20 or 40Gbits/sec to/from the Mac? If there's a poisonous interaction with the T2 chip, it has nothing to do with the mechanics of using DAC/ADC which is all your interface is (I'm an audio guy, I'm not arguing with you, I'm telling you) from the Mac's perspective. It MAY, and I can't emphasize MAY enough, have something to do with the Thunderbolt connection you're using.

Any way to use a plain-Jane USB connection instead?

From the manufacturer of the vrs8

“Do not buy a HIGHPOINT 7101A-1 for a 4X4 NVME RAID with a Mac with a T2 chip & VRS8. The PCIe setting requires for the T2 chip to be turned off, and audio will not flow to any DAW.

I am not aware of any work arounds for this.. Seems to be a PCie limitation with the new Mac Pro and these Raid cards”

It’s a thunderbolt only interface due to low latency. I doubt it’s to do with the thunderbolt connection. Currently i’ve now created a raid in disk utility and turned secure boot back on so it’s working but i’d prefer to use the high point drivers and get the speed benefits.

 

[OkiRun]

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From the manufacturer of the vrs8

“Do not buy a HIGHPOINT 7101A-1 for a 4X4 NVME RAID with a Mac with a T2 chip & VRS8. The PCIe setting requires for the T2 chip to be turned off, and audio will not flow to any DAW.

I am not aware of any work arounds for this.. Seems to be a PCie limitation with the new Mac Pro and these Raid cards”

It’s a thunderbolt only interface due to low latency. I doubt it’s to do with the thunderbolt connection. Currently i’ve now created a raid in disk utility and turned secure boot back on so it’s working but i’d prefer to use the high point drivers and get the speed benefits.

Is VRS8 your only option?

 

[Kedbear]

```

Is VRS8 your only option?

It’s what I currently own so yeah. If I could do it again and had £2k to spare i’d get the metric halo lio8. Anyway, do other people have an interface by eg rme etc and are you able to record into logic etc with secure boot turned off?