MP 7,1 Mac Pro 2019 with T2 chip - Cannot disable secure boot for RAID unit

[Oriblind]

Hello everyone,

We bought a new Mac Pro to act as our server in our office, completed the initial setup and started to activate server services and when we plugged in the RAID unit (OWC Thunderbay 4), we had a warning that we needed to deactivate secure boot in order to install Softraid XT.

So, I followed the instructions which lead me to the recovery boot and when I access the secure boot utilities there's a window that appears that tells me I need to input an admin password.

That's where the isssue is, the indow only has one option, a button that says: "Enter macOS password..." when I click this button, absolutely nothing happens, no matter how often I click it and I also restarted multiples times to the same results...

Anyone has an idea to what to do?

 

[priorytools]

I have a memory of reading that you cannot boot from a RAID.

 

[profdraper]

You should be asking Apple to fix this immediately & as part of Apple Care. You could also return the machine. If you want to waste your own time: blow it away, reset NVRAM & SMC, re-install clean OS.

You don't mention details about the OS or the computer, however, my mac pro on Big Sur 11.1, Thunderbay 6 (RAID 4) & SoftRAID v6b all works as it should with security & OWC drivers etc. I 'seem' to recall seeing your screen message once during an earlier beta of Big Sur, but don't recall the exact details. Whichever, recovery boot & security settings all work as they should, ie, my settings always have been 'no security' & 'allow booting from external media' & no firmware password.

 

[profdraper]

I have a memory of reading that you cannot boot from a RAID.

The OP does not indicate any desire to boot from a RAID, rather, simply wants to install SoftRAID drivers.

 

[Oriblind]

I have a memory of reading that you cannot boot from a RAID.

I am not trying to boot from the RAID, merely installing the SoftRAID drivers. See attached file

You should be asking Apple to fix this immediately & as part of Apple Care. You could also return the machine. If you want to waste your own time: blow it away, reset NVRAM & SMC, re-install clean OS.

You don't mention details about the OS or the computer, however, my mac pro on Big Sur 11.1, Thunderbay 6 (RAID 4) & SoftRAID v6b all works as it should with security & OWC drivers etc. I 'seem' to recall seeing your screen message once during an earlier beta of Big Sur, but don't recall the exact details. Whichever, recovery boot & security settings all work as they should, ie, my settings always have been 'no security' & 'allow booting from external media' & no firmware password.

I tried Apple Care live chat and they said since it's for an office, they would have to schedule a call back, which they did but each time the line was cut on their end...

Sorry, should have included the details:

Mac Pro 7.1
12 cores
32 GB ram
1TB SSD
RX 580 Video card.

The OS is Big Sur 11.1 as well.

I will try to contact apple again, thanks for the replies!

 

[Oriblind]

Just a quick update, I did a SMC reset and it seems to have resolved the issue!

Thanks for the hint profdraper!

 

[chabig]

I thought SoftRAID drivers are part of macOS and don't require installation.

 

[Oriblind]

I thought SoftRAID drivers are part of macOS and don't require installation.

SoftRAID requires it's own driver

 

[DrEGPU]

SoftRAID requires it's own driver

I think they meant macOS has the ability to create RAID partitions itself. No drivers or other software necessary.

 

[Theophilos]

Is it possible you have FileVault enabled and this is the step to decrypt your disk? I remember reading about several users who had trouble with decryption at this stage.

 

[priorytools]

Good to hear you’re sorted.

 

[timerickson]

I think they meant macOS has the ability to create RAID partitions itself. No drivers or other software necessary.

macOS can create RAID 0 or 1 sets, but not 5, 6 or other combinations of 0 and 1. SoftRAID offers this and a bit more insight and control of the RAID set, hence why people use it