MP 1,1-5,1 Innie: A fix for PCI drives seen as external

[MIKX]

I really don't mind having my Samsung NVMe PCIe 970 EVO & 960 EVO drives shown as external. This way I definitely know that they are not part of the Mac Pro internal SATA chain. I don't see what the fuss is all about. At the exorbitant prices the above-mentioned drives were selling at up until this year I surmise that most serious cMP users would have named any external drives accordingly as a reminder as to how they are connected.

 

[cdf]

Will this be updated
For Catalina

Yes, an update is planned.

How would that be run in terminal

Disable SIP. Then run

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"

To remove the boot arguments, run

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g;s/ -lilubeta -inniebeta//')"

 

[cdf]

I really don't mind having my Samsung NVMe PCIe 970 EVO & 960 EVO drives shown as external. This way I definitely know that they are not part of the Mac Pro internal SATA chain. I don't see what the fuss is all about.

And yet:

It would be so nice if the final release of Mojave includes seeing PCIe drives as internal

 

[GSXB]

Yes, an update is planned.


Disable SIP. Then run

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"

To remove the boot arguments, run

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g;s/ -lilubeta -inniebeta//')"

many thanks i will try that now and let you know

 

[GSXB]

many thanks i will try that now and let you know

it didn't work

nvram: (usage: no such option as -l)

nvram [-x] [-p] [-f filename] [-d name] [-c] name[=value] ...

-x use XML format for printing or reading variables

(must appear before -p or -f)

-p print all firmware variables

-f set firmware variables from a text file

-d delete the named variable

-c delete all variables

name=value set named variable

name print variable

Note that arguments and options are executed in order.

gsxb@Marks-Mac-Pro ~ %

 

[cdf]

it didn't work
nvram: (usage: no such option as -l)

Double check the command. You shouldn't passing the option "-l"...

 

[MIKX]

And yet:

Yes, it would be nice but I don't need it.
Booting from PCIe USB 3 drives would be nice too .. I need that.

 

[GSXB]

Double check the command. You shouldn't passing the option "-l"...

I’ve copied and pasted the command as stated in your reply several times and I get the same result each time. Just can’t work out where I'm going wrong

 

[cdf]

I’ve copied and pasted the command as stated in your reply several times and I get the same result each time. Just can’t work out where I'm going wrong

OK. Let's try something else:

1) Make sure that SIP is disabled:

csrutil status

2) Check your current boot arguments:

nvram boot-args

If you have no boot arguments, you will get an error message. That's OK. Otherwise, you will see "boot-args" followed by a large space followed by the arguments separated by spaces. In this case, copy the arguments (everything after the large space).
3) Next:

sudo nvram boot-args="paste_arguments_here_if_any -lilubeta -inniebeta"

Make sure that you replace paste_arguments_here_if_any with what you copied in Step 2 if you copied anything.
4) Make sure that your new boot arguments have been updated:

nvram boot-args

 

[GSXB]

OK. Let's try something else:

1) Make sure that SIP is disabled:

csrutil status

2) Check your current boot arguments:

nvram boot-args

If you have no boot arguments, you will get an error message. That's OK. Otherwise, you will see "boot-args" followed by a large space followed by the arguments separated by spaces. In this case, copy the arguments (everything after the large space).
3) Next:

sudo nvram boot-args="paste_arguments_here_if_any -lilubeta -inniebeta"

Make sure that you replace paste_arguments_here_if_any with what you copied in Step 2 if you copied anything.
4) Make sure that your new boot arguments have been updated:

nvram boot-args

Ok will try later when the office is colder it’s 34* at the moment to hot to move

 

[firedownunder]

It is well known that macOS sees PCI drives in a cMP as external. In the past, there have been several attempts to fix this annoyance, typically through codeless kexts and driver patches. However, these approaches are far from perfect.

Codeless kexts affect the properties of all (even non-PCI) drives. We therefore have to settle for calling all drives SATA or PCI. Patches can be dangerous, especially if applied to critical kexts. After system updates, these modifications can prevent the system from booting. There are also bootloader approaches, but these are better suited for hacks and not real Macs.

The problem is not just cosmetic. Improperly identified drives can cause issues for Boot Camp Assistant and the macOS installer.

I am currently working on an actual kext that addresses the problem. The kext simply changes the pertinent properties of PCI drives so that they can be seen as internal. So far, the approach works nicely with the 256 GB Apple SSUBX and the 240 GB Kingston HyperX Predator, the drives which I possess. This is how the drives now appear, for example, under Storage in About this Mac:

View attachment 780549

If there is interest in the community for the kext, I will make it available. However, to support other drives, particularly NVMe ones, I would need the names of PCI drives reported in System Information:

View attachment 780555

And, of course, some brave testers. Let me know if you're interested!

Current device list: Innie should now work with any SATA (AHCI) or NVMe drive.

Please refer to Post #9 for the kext and installation instructions.

Thank you very much. Your kext worked perfect on my Accelsior E2, allowing me to update to High Sierra (I know, I'm usually a couple years behind. Took me forever to upgrade to El Capitan, just recently to Sierra, etc ). Initially was stuck on the inability to update the firmware, thought it was due to drive being identified as rotational vs ssd. Already had Lilu so installed Innie via kextbeast and update went without a hitch. Drive still seen as rotational so file system still HFS+ but HS installed and running perfect. No APFS not a big deal for my use. I've said it before, but this forum has been the best source for info/help of any on the net and I appreciate all the technical/creative minds who contribute their time year in/year out. Cheers

 

[alphascorp]

Hi everybody,
Lilu 1.3.8 with Innie 1.0.9 (built-in) works fine in Catalina, my 2 NVMe SSD are seen as internal disks, it worked after using this code below:

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"

Another big thank you!

 

[GSXB]

View attachment 853964

Another big thank you![/QUOTE]

Hi everybody,
Lilu 1.3.8 with Innie 1.0.9 (built-in) works fine in Catalina, my 2 NVMe SSD are seen as internal disks, it worked after using this code below:

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"

View attachment 853964

Another big thank you!

Did you install innie and lilu as per post 9

 

[alphascorp]

Did you install innie and lilu as per post 9

Hello @GSXB

yes of course and with the @cdf's code in the Terminal, everything works fine, my 2 disks NVMe are no longer seen as external disks in Catalina (tested with DP5 and DP6).

 

[GSXB]

Do you think other addons associated lilu would work ie Apple hda and whatever green to fix the hdmi audio issue just a thought.

 

[cdf]

Do you think other addons associated lilu would work ie Apple hda and whatever green to fix the hdmi audio issue just a thought.

Yes, see post #168.

 

[GSXB]

Yes, see post #168.

So something like this
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta -AppleALCbeta -WhateverGreenbeta

 

[cdf]

So something like this
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta -AppleALCbeta -WhateverGreenbeta

Yes. But the additional boot arguments in question are -alcbeta and -wegbeta, which are documented in the official repositories for these projects.

 

[GSXB]

Yes. But the additional boot arguments in question are -alcbeta and -wegbeta, which are documented in the official repositories for these projects.

ive installed Lilu as directed in post 9, plus I've added AppleALC and WhateverGreen
and run this command
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta -alcbeta -wegbeta
and my Mac now sees pic m.2 as internal and I have HDMi sound

 

[cdf]

ive installed Lilu as directed in post 9, plus I've added AppleALC and WhateverGreen
and run this command
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta -alcbeta -wegbeta
and my Mac now sees pic m.2 as internal and I have HDMi sound

Glad to hear that you got Innie working with Catalina. As for the other plugins, they should already support macOS 10.15 (without the boot arguments).

 

[jsl2000]

OK. Let's try something else:

1) Make sure that SIP is disabled:

csrutil status

2) Check your current boot arguments:

nvram boot-args

If you have no boot arguments, you will get an error message. That's OK. Otherwise, you will see "boot-args" followed by a large space followed by the arguments separated by spaces. In this case, copy the arguments (everything after the large space).
3) Next:

sudo nvram boot-args="paste_arguments_here_if_any -lilubeta -inniebeta"

Make sure that you replace paste_arguments_here_if_any with what you copied in Step 2 if you copied anything.
4) Make sure that your new boot arguments have been updated:

nvram boot-args

Thanks it worked at 10.15 beta6 & beta7 in my Z87 & Z97 hackintoshs.

 

[GSXB]

Glad to hear that you got Innie working with Catalina. As for the other plugins, they should already support macOS 10.15 (without the boot arguments).

Hi there installed DP 7 last night lilu and innie are Loaded but still sees my m.2 as external
Any thoughts
When I pasted the last command all it says is quote ???
Update
All good now I forgot the quotation mark at the end of this command
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"
All sorted now and my m.2 is now internal again with the added bonus of HDMI sound

 

[GSXB]

Hi there installed DP 7 last night lilu and innie are Loaded but still sees my m.2 as external
Any thoughts
When I pasted the last command all it says is quote ???
Update
All good now I forgot the quotation mark at the end of this command
sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"
All sorted now and my m.2 is now internal again with the added bonus of HDMI sound
Ain’t typo errors a bitch

Installed on Catalina DP 8
The kexts are loaded but not working
Any thoughts

 

[GSXB]

Hello @GSXB

yes of course and with the @cdf's code in the Terminal, everything works fine, my 2 disks NVMe are no longer seen as external disks in Catalina (tested with DP5 and DP6).

Have you had any success with Catalina DP 8

 

[alphascorp]

Have you had any success with Catalina DP 8

Hello @GSXB
Yep it work! I just installed DP8
At first boot after installation my 2 Samsung NVMe PCIe were seen external but after typing this code in the Terminal

sudo nvram boot-args="$(nvram boot-args | sed $'s/boot-args//;s/\t//g') -lilubeta -inniebeta"

and after a restart everything is back in order, my 2 NVMe PCIe were seen internal.