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Do not flash an HPE H220 with a 9205-8i image just because both cards have eight ports. H220 units are generally associated with the SAS2308 / LSI 9207-8i family, while the 9205-8i belongs to a different SAS2008 generation. Identify the controller first, then choose between an HPE firmware update and a carefully planned LSI cross-flash.
Short answer
The HPE H220 is an eight-link, 6 Gb/s SAS host bus adapter with a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. HPE’s specifications describe support for SAS, SATA and tape devices, with up to 48 Gb/s of aggregate link rate (a link-rate calculation, not guaranteed application throughput). See the HPE H220 QuickSpecs.
Most H220 documentation and field identification associate the card with the LSI SAS2308 / 9207-8i platform, not the SAS2008 / 9205-8i platform. Marketplace listings and old guides are often wrong. A 9205-8i, 9211-8i and 9207-8i are not interchangeable firmware targets.
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HPE firmware update
This updates the H220 while retaining HPE firmware, identity and server integration. It is normally the lowest-risk choice for an HPE ProLiant, especially when iLO monitoring, HPE support or platform-specific fan behavior matters. HPE material lists H220 firmware through 15.10.10.00 (shown on the cited Windows component as dated April 21, 2017); package availability can vary by operating system and support-page filters. Check the HPE support page and the HPE ROM Flash component.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with: LSI 9300-8i & 9211-8i; Controller: Broadcom/LSI SAS3008 (12Gb/s SAS3, 8-port)
- Firmware (FW): HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID); Data Transfer Rate: up to 12Gbps SAS, SATA 6Gbps
- Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8; Internal Connectors: 2× Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643. --Direct attach up to 8 drives, and expand via external SAS Expander for large arrays
- PERFECT FOR: ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, ESXi home-lab & NAS storage
- Packing List: HBA Card: 1; SFF-8643 to 4× SATA Cables: 2. Cables in box are for SATA drives. --They are not compatible with SAS drives. To connect SAS drives, use SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 cables (sold separately) or our matched HBA + cable kit
IT-mode conversion
Integrated Target (IT) firmware presents attached drives individually so ZFS, TrueNAS, Unraid, Linux mdadm, Ceph or another software storage layer can manage them. IT mode is a storage behavior, not simply a newer firmware number.
Cross-flash
A cross-flash replaces HPE OEM firmware with firmware intended for the matching LSI family, commonly the 9207-8i IT image for a verified SAS2308-class H220. It may improve generic-server compatibility, but it is not automatically an upgrade and can remove HPE-specific behavior.
Decide before touching the card
- Keep HPE firmware if the adapter is in an HPE server, already presents disks correctly, or HPE management and rollback support are important.
- Cross-flash to LSI IT only when the card is verified, the machine is non-HPE or needs standard LSI behavior, and you can recover from a failed flash.
- Use IR firmware only when you specifically need the controller’s limited integrated RAID features. IR is usually the wrong choice for ZFS-style direct-disk deployments. Broadcom’s RAID/JBOD table explains the distinction.
1. Identify the actual controller
Power down storage workloads and inspect the card before downloading anything. Use the boot banner, board markings, operating-system PCI information and the SAS2 utility:
sas2flash -listIn a UEFI shell, use:
sas2flash.efi -listRecord the controller number, chip family, board name, PCI vendor/subsystem IDs, current firmware and NVDATA revisions, BIOS/UEFI ROM revision, IT or IR mode, and especially the complete SAS address. The SAS2Flash reference and Broadcom’s flashing matrix are the authoritative references for utility behavior.
If the output does not identify a SAS2308/9207-8i-class controller, stop. Do not select a 9207 image, or a 9205/9211 image, by guesswork.
2. Back up and prepare
- Stop virtual machines, containers and storage services. Export or stop ZFS pools and disconnect production disks if practical.
- Save the
-listoutput and photograph or transcribe the SAS address. Make a full firmware/NVDATA backup if your utility build supports it; the exact command is version-dependent. - Download the matching HPE package or Broadcom 9207-8i package from the official source. Community archives can help locate legacy files, but verify filenames and package contents before use. Common community references identify a 9207-8i P20 image as 20.00.07.00; do not treat that version as universally required or newest for every H220.
- Prepare a compatible UEFI shell (preferred) or DOS environment. Broadcom supplies
sas2flash.efifor UEFI andsas2flsh.exefor DOS-style flashing. Disable Secure Boot when unsigned utilities or shell components will not run.
3. Select the exact image
For a verified H220/SAS2308/9207-8i controller, select the matching 9207-8i IT firmware package. Confirm the controller family, IT versus IR mode, firmware filename, utility generation and whether matching NVDATA is included. Do not use a 9205-8i image simply because it has eight internal links.
Rank #2
- Compatible with: LSI 9300-8i; Controller: LSI/Broadcom SAS3008 (12Gb/s SAS)
- Firmware (FW): HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID); Data Transfer Rate: up to 12Gbps SAS, SATA 6Gbps
- Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8; Internal Connectors: 2× Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643. --Direct attach up to 8 drives, and expand via external SAS Expander for large arrays
- PERFECT FOR: ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, ESXi home-lab & NAS storage
- Packing List: HBA Card ×1; 2× SFF-8643 to 4× SATA cables (8× SATA ends). --Cables in box are for SATA drives. They are not compatible with SAS drives. To connect SAS drives, use SFF-8643 to 8482 SAS cables (sold separately) or our matched HBA + cable kit.
A boot BIOS/UEFI ROM is optional. Data-only systems normally do not need it. Add a ROM only when you must boot from disks attached to the HBA or want the LSI configuration prompt; omitting it reduces boot-time clutter.
4. Flash conservatively
There is no safe universal erase command. Broadcom’s transition matrix distinguishes same-mode updates from IT-to-IR and IR-to-IT changes; erase requirements and levels depend on the controller, utility and transition. Some community procedures use:
sas2flash.efi -o -e 6while others use:
sas2flash.efi -o -e 7These are not interchangeable recommendations. Follow the matrix for your verified controller and transition; never copy an erase step from a different SAS generation.
After any required erase, a representative IT flash syntax is:
sas2flash.efi -o -f 9207-8.bin -b mptsas2.romUse the exact filenames in your package. Omit -b when you do not need the boot ROM. Broadcom documents the general -f firmware and -b BIOS syntax in its official guide.
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Rank #3
- Designed as an 8-port HBA for direct-drive storage setups. Compatible with: LSI 9207-8i & 9300-8i IT; Controller: SAS3008.
- Configured for drive passthrough rather than hardware RAID. Firmware (FW): HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID); Data Transfer Rate: 12Gb/s SAS or SATA 6Gb/s.
- Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8; Internal Connectors: 2x SFF-8643. Direct attach up to 8 drives, expandable via compatible SAS expander.
- PERFECT FOR: ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, ESXi home-lab & NAS storage. Suitable for JBOD and software-defined storage builds.
- Packing List: HBA Card: 1; SFF-8643 to 4x SATA Cables: 2. Cables in box are for SATA drives. They are not compatible with SAS drives. To connect SAS drives, use SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 SAS cables (sold separately) or our matched HBA + cable kit.
5. Restore the SAS address if necessary
Run sas2flash.efi -list immediately after flashing. If the original SAS address is missing, restore it using the utility’s documented SAS-address command and the value you recorded. Do not invent an address or reuse one from another controller. Syntax and high/low address handling vary by utility version; use the reference guide and confirm the result before reconnecting production storage. A community guide may show a placeholder form such as:
sas2flash.efi -o -sasaddhi XXXXXXXThat is not a complete universal command.
6. Verify before trusting the pool
Run:
sas2flash.efi -listConfirm the expected controller family, IT firmware and revision, unchanged SAS address, intended BIOS-ROM state, and absence of NVDATA, adapter or checksum errors. Then boot the operating system and check that:
- Every expected drive appears exactly once with the correct serial number and capacity.
- The storage OS sees raw disks rather than a virtual RAID volume.
- SMART passthrough and enclosure topology work if required.
- No duplicate disks or enclosures appear.
- Storage pools import cleanly and kernel or system logs show no controller errors.
- The card does not overheat and HPE fan or iLO behavior remains acceptable when applicable.
Do not infer performance, TRIM support or fan-noise improvements from a firmware label alone; those results depend on the platform, operating system, drives and workload.
Troubleshooting
“No LSI SAS adapters found”
Check that you used the right utility generation and boot mode, that UEFI settings expose the PCIe slot, and that Secure Boot is not blocking the utility. Try the supported UEFI utility on another slot or system. An OEM subsystem ID or an incorrectly identified card can also prevent a match.
“No compatible NVDATA image found”
Stop rather than force-writing. Recheck the SAS2308/9207-8i identification, board revision, port variant, package contents and utility version. The stored subsystem identity may require a staged transition.
Rank #4
- Chipset: LSI SAS2308.
- Firmware (FW) version: P20 (20.00.07.00) IT Mode.
- Interface: 2 * SFF-8087 internal, PCI-e 3.0 x8.
- Package: controller card, full-height bracket, low-profile bracket.
The flash completes but the controller will not reset
- Power the machine fully off and remove AC power briefly.
- Disconnect all drives.
- Try another PCIe slot or a different host.
- Use the alternate supported flashing environment.
- Run
-listagain before attempting any erase or force-write.
Repeated blind erases can turn a recoverable mismatch into a dead adapter.
Duplicate disks or a lost SAS address
Stop the storage service, verify the SAS address and controller mode, and inspect kernel logs and expander paths. Do not attach a controller with a duplicated address to a multipath or clustered system. Broadcom documents duplicate-drive behavior in some upgrade scenarios; a successful flash message is not sufficient validation.
HPE fan or iLO changes
Cross-flashing may remove HPE-specific monitoring or thermal-policy behavior. Effects vary by ProLiant generation and firmware; there is no universal “quiet fan” result. Retain HPE firmware if that integration is important.
Can you revert to HPE firmware?
Often, but not always with a one-click rollback. Preserve the original HPE package, SAS address, board identity and pre-flash -list output. Reversion must use the HPE package and a transition supported for that controller and current mode. If the card is no longer detected, move it to another host and use the appropriate Broadcom recovery procedure rather than repeatedly forcing images.
Compatibility notes
TrueNAS, ZFS, Unraid, Proxmox and Linux software RAID generally need reliable individual-disk presentation, not a particular brand string. A correctly functioning H220 in IT mode can satisfy that requirement; cross-flashing is not automatically necessary. Windows or an HPE server may benefit from retaining HPE firmware and its integration. For a new build, a factory LSI/Broadcom HBA already in IT mode or a newer-generation HBA may be a lower-risk choice than cross-flashing legacy hardware.
Best Value
- Designed for LSI 9207 & 9300-8i compatibility; built with SAS3008 controller. Operates in IT Mode to enable direct disk passthrough functionality.
- Firmware: IT Mode (Non-RAID). Supports transfer speeds up to 12Gb/s for SAS and 6Gb/s for SATA. Ideal for JBOD setups and software-managed storage.
- Equipped with PCIe 3.0 x8 interface and dual SFF-8643 internal ports. Supports up to 8 drives directly, with expansion capability via SAS expanders.
- Suitable for ZFS, TrueNAS, FreeNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, ESXi, and NAS environments. Ideal for home labs, server builds, and disk passthrough applications.
- Package includes 1 HBA card and 2 SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 SAS cables. Included cables support SAS drives only. SATA drives require separate SFF-8643 to SATA breakout cables.
Bottom line
Treat “H220 / 9205-8i” as an identification warning, not a firmware recipe. Verify that your card is actually an H220/SAS2308/9207-8i, record its SAS address, choose HPE firmware or the matching 9207-8i IT package based on your use case, follow Broadcom’s transition-specific erase rules, and validate disks and topology after reboot. If the existing HPE firmware already provides clean passthrough, leaving it unchanged is often the safest update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every HPE H220 a 9207-8i?
H220 units are commonly associated with the SAS2308/9207-8i family, but verify the actual chip, board identity and firmware output with sas2flash -list. Do not assume from the product label alone.
The Tool Desk
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No. The requirement is reliable individual-disk/IT-style presentation. If the HPE firmware already provides that behavior, cross-flashing is unnecessary.
Should I install the LSI BIOS ROM?
Only if you need to boot from HBA-attached disks or want the LSI configuration screen. A data-only HBA normally works without it.
What should I do if the SAS address disappears?
Stop production use, restore the original address with the utility’s documented syntax, and verify it with sas2flash -list before reconnecting storage.
Quick Recap
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