MP 7,1 Shucked 20TB requires cold boot to be recognized

[Auggie]

Recently installed a shucked WD EasyStore 20TB in my Sonnet Fusion Flex J3i to one of the internal SATA ports (alongside an existing shucked 18TB) and it requires I cold boot in order for the 7,1 to "see it;" any restarts then it's gone.

Anyone else experiencing this issue with the 20's?

 

[Auggie]

I resolved this issue by switching the 20TB to the other internal port (top drive slot on the Flex cage). Now I can reboot all day long and the drive on the lower (or middle) Flex cage mounts (I did switch the 18TB for a 16TB as I needed the 18 for my NAS).

 

[Auggie]

Just a follow-up for anyone experiencing similar issues:

I downgraded my 20TB to a 10TB so I could repurpose the 20TB into one of my NAS's and the warm-boot issue reappeared: this time with the 10TB, which was installed on the top slot formerly hosting the 20TB.

I switched the 16TB to the top slot and 10TB to the "middle" slot on the Flex cage and the warm-boot issue was resolved.

So my take away is this: the largest capacity drive should be installed in the top slot. This equates to internal SATA port 2 if the cable bundle order is manufactured the same as that which came with my Flex cage:

If not, or you are using a different aftermarket kit, then just ensure the largest capacity drive is connected to SATA port 2.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Thanks for sharing. That truly is weird though.

 

[Auggie]

Thanks for sharing. That truly is weird though.

Definitely one of those head scratching moments trying to make sense of why the SATA ports are so sensitive to drive size ordering.

I wonder if this condition exists under the newest 2023 Mac Pro...