Hey folks, I've got this LSI 9300-8e card set up in IT mode for my Unraid server, originally planning to hook up a JBOD. Tried connecting some SATA drives directly using an SFF-8644 to SATA breakout cable to see if it would work without the full setup. Used a few different drives like Exos and WD white labels, and powered them with a standard 2.4 ATX PSU, but nothing shows up in the system.
For reference, when I plug the drives straight into the motherboard via SATA cables, they work fine, so the card itself seems okay. Wondering if I'm missing something here, like, is this even possible, or are these external ports meant only for backplanes or expanders? I've heard about passive vs active cables making a difference, and maybe power delivery issues could be at play.
Anyone else run into this? What's your go-to for mixing SATA and SAS setups? Sharing any tips on cables, configurations, or alternatives would be great, thinking about direct connections or other HBA options. Let's hear what works for you!
