If an HP ProLiant Gen8 shows an NMI red screen when you open the setup utility for an LSI SAS2008 HBA, one owner reported that changing its SAS BIOS option ROM from 7.39.02 to 7.39.00 stopped the error. That is a model-specific community report—not a confirmed fix for every HP Gen8, controller, or NMI. Before looking for mptsas2.rom, identify the exact adapter and confirm that the problem occurs when entering its legacy BIOS utility.
What the 7.39.00.00 report says
In a March 2023 Reddit post about an HP MicroServer Gen8 and an LSI SAS2008 HBA, the owner reported an NMI red screen when accessing the HBA BIOS. The owner said changing the option ROM from 7.39.02 to 7.39.00 allowed the utility to open without the red screen. The account does not establish that the same ROM is suitable for other controllers or that the change fixes NMI errors with different causes.
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Other owners have described similar experiences: a TrueNAS Community thread about a DL380p Gen8 mentions an NMI screen on entry to the Avago SAS setup utility and a 7.39.00 workaround. An installation account for an LSI 9211-8i in an HP MicroServer Gen8 also describes an NMI screen. These are user accounts, not controlled compatibility tests.
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The reported fix concerns an LSI SAS2008-class adapter and its SAS BIOS option ROM, commonly associated with the mptsas2.rom filename. The filename alone does not identify a compatible file: HPE-branded controllers and retail or rebranded LSI cards can differ, even when related names or chipsets appear in descriptions.
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- Record the server model and the adapter’s exact model or OEM branding.
- Record the controller firmware version and the BIOS/option-ROM version separately. The reported version change is for the option ROM, not a general firmware revision.
- Note when the NMI occurs and capture the exact POST or Integrated Management Log (IML) message.
An HPE advisory pairs version 7.39.00.00 with an H210i context, but it concerns a particular BL420c Gen8/B320i update situation. It does not establish compatibility with every SAS2008 retail card. For an HPE-branded controller, use the HPE advisory and model-specific controller documentation rather than treating the shared version number as proof that a ROM is interchangeable.
Decide whether you need the legacy HBA BIOS
The option ROM is the controller’s pre-OS BIOS utility. If you need to boot from disks attached to the HBA or configure it before the operating system loads, removing or changing that ROM can affect that workflow. If you do not need the legacy utility, the Reddit poster said a P20 firmware package worked for their setup without its BIOS ROM; that is one user’s experience, not a universal boot-configuration recommendation.
Do not change or omit the ROM until you understand how the server boots and whether you rely on the HBA’s pre-OS configuration screen. A controller firmware update and an option-ROM change are distinct operations; identify which component you intend to change.
Use a model-matched, verifiable package—not a filename alone
The Reddit post identifies HPE component CP031288 as the source from which the poster extracted the ROM. Its current availability, authenticity, contents, and suitability for a particular reader’s adapter have not been independently established here. A file named mptsas2.rom is not sufficient evidence that it matches your card.
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- Prefer a package or procedure from the vendor of the exact controller model.
- Check the package’s model and version applicability before extracting or flashing any component.
- Do not use an HPE H210i reference as a compatibility guarantee for a retail or rebranded SAS2008 adapter.
- If you cannot verify the package and its match to the card, stop and consult the controller vendor’s documentation or support.
Back up before making any flash change
The community post describes listing the adapter, backing up its existing BIOS, and writing another ROM with sas2flash. Those are user-reported steps, not a universally safe official procedure. Commands and available options can vary by adapter and tool version, so use the instructions for your exact controller rather than copying an unverified command.
- Confirm the adapter model and determine whether the legacy BIOS ROM is required for your boot or configuration setup.
- Follow the matching vendor procedure to identify the adapter and save its existing firmware and option ROM before writing anything.
- Preserve the SAS address and other adapter-specific data; do not proceed unless you know how they will be retained and restored if needed.
- Only use a ROM and flashing procedure explicitly appropriate to that adapter. If the model match, backup, or recovery path is uncertain, do not flash.
If the NMI still appears
If changing the option ROM does not resolve the error—or the NMI occurs outside the HBA BIOS utility—do not assume mptsas2.rom is the cause. Record the exact POST and IML message, identify the controller, and diagnose the reported event before making further firmware changes. The available user reports do not establish a fix for unrelated NMI events, drive-detection problems, or every Gen8 controller variant.
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- Suitable 2.5" chassis
- Compatible DPN: For 651687-001, 651699-001
- Compatible Models: For DL120 G9, DL160 G8/G9, DL320e G8/G9, DL360 G9, DL360e G8/9, DL360p G8/9, DL380 G9, DL380e G8/G9, DL380p G8/G9, DL385p G8/G9, DL560 G8/G9
- Compatible Models: For SL230S G8/9, SL250s G8/G9, BL420c G8/G9, BL460c G8/G9, BL465c G8/G9, BL660c G8/G9, WS460c G8
- Compatible Models: For ML310e G8/G9, ML350e G8/G9, ML350p G8/G9
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