Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 - Catalina Issues https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:17:38 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/10/#post-8829 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 14:35:08 +0000 Actually, I think you ran into a macOS bug. MacOS bundles a promise driver. the kextcache may not have updated whne you installed the Promise new driver, causing the panic. Uninstalling SoftRAID reset the kextcache. We ran into this issue with kextcache's frequently and still do. When you update a driver, the newer driver should load reliably. Instead, too frequently, the extensions cache never updates to the new driver and keeps loading the bundled, older driver. This bug only exists with drivers bundled with macOS, as far as I know.

that would explain this panic, without assuming a driver conflict, which is unlikely.

The SoftRAID driver only loads when there is a SoftRAID disk connected. It is otherwise inert.

In addition, disks inside the promise box are hidden from macOS. the Promise box publishes a LUN to macOS, which is like a disk object, that has no disk format. Disk Utility would see an unformated disk object and initialize it like any new disk. that is why I believe the problem was the extensions cache.

]]> Catalina Issues SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/10/#post-8829 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8822 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 21:58:19 +0000 I included a video

https://youtu.be/0MvZQCmDwIw

 

2020 iMac 5K Catalina 10.15.7
Soft Raid 6.0.1 installed

 

I followed these steps

https://kb.promise.com/thread/how-do-i-create-a-volume-on-a-pegasus/

as I swapped all drives from my Other OWC unit which will be sold now over.

1. I installed Promise Utility and Drivers
2. I opened Promise utility created Disk array
3. I created logical drive and Mac Had a Kernel panic and restarted but drives was created.
4. I tried to format new Promise Logical drive with Disk utility and it would always create a Kernel Panic when creating drive.
5. I tried different Thunderbolt 3 configuration of Promise slaved, DAT all same result of Kernel Panic. (watch video posted)
6. Uninstalled Soft Raid 6.0.1 Drivers
7. Formatting of Logical Drive is no issue and proceeded without Kernel Panic

 

488]]> Catalina Issues steve223 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8822 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8819 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 21:16:14 +0000 What was the version of Promise utility? I can check this, I still have a Tb3 Promise box.

]]> Catalina Issues SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8819 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8818 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 21:14:20 +0000 @softraid-support not sure what you need I described all steps the Promis Utility crashed one when creating array but did create it I then could not intialise the new arrays with a disk Utility while SoftRaid drives where installed as it would cause a kernel panic. i tried several Thunderbolt cables and configuration of drive connections direct attached, attached in line with other drives all with the result of a Kerne Panic. I the uninstalled the Soft Raid 6.0.1 and I could initialise the disk without an issue. 

]]> Catalina Issues steve223 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8818 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8802 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:17:39 +0000 @steve223

I do not know of any compatiblity issues. I had tested promise TB2 and TB3 a couple years ago, no issues. Performance was comparable with identical drives, also. Both SoftRAID and Apple drivers are bundled with macOS, so it is unlikely there is a conflict, both companies would be hearing from users and hundreds have both solutions.

That was a short snippet of the crash, but if SoftRAID is involved, then it had to be on a SoftRAID controlled disk. If you were configuring the Promise enclosure when this happened, it makes little sense, unless perhaps the Thunderbolt bus hung.

 

If you are willing, give more details, so I can understand this. Disk Utility has a major bug with SoftRAID volumes, it cannot initialize them, but at least with Big Sur, it just fails, it does not cause a kernel panic.

Promise utilities only work on their enclosure's disks. Then Disk Utility takes over to create the volume, once you create the RAID 5 LUN.

]]> Catalina Issues SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8802 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8792 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 10:23:27 +0000 Soft Raid does not seem to be not compatible with Promise Pegasus Drivers

https://youtu.be/0MvZQCmDwIw

]]> Catalina Issues steve223 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8792 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8790 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 07:14:31 +0000 so received my Promise Today installed the drivers launched promises utility set up arraya. KernelPanic...

Restarted array was created so I try to format new array in Disk Utilities halfway in Kernel panic again everything pointing towards soft raid

 

0xffffff8747983ee0 : 0xffffff800d2016a4

0xffffff8747983f60 : 0xffffff800d20bb97

0xffffff8747983fa0 : 0xffffff800cabf13e

      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

         com.softraid.driver.SoftRAID(6.0.1)@0xffffff7f9301e000->0xffffff7f9305dfff

            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(2.1)@0xffffff7f8d465000

 

Tried again but lugged promise straight in mac not in daily chain still Kernel Panic when formatting.

 

Deleted SoftRaid Drivers

 

voila no issue formatting drive with Disk Utility.

 

Your software is seriously flawed guys.

]]> Catalina Issues steve223 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8790 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8754 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:19:49 +0000 @steve223

You are still a mac Youngster! I have made my living off the Mac ecosystem since the first 100 days in 1984. Quality really was terrible in the 80's and 90's.

When Jobs came back, the late 90's early 2000's much better. Then it has been downhill again. The hardware can be amazing, but bleeping limited and often buggy. The software is running way ahead of itself.

]]> Catalina Issues SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8754 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8753 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:06:55 +0000
Posted by: @softraid-support

@steve223

Coincidentally we just had contact with an Apple engineering manager who is showing interest in these issues and wants to get them resolved.

Lets hope. I understand Apple is a big ship and takes a lot to make movement, but it would be great if this and several other hanging issues were resolved. In addition to this disk renumbering issue are encryption kernel panics, APFS performance, driver installation issues, disk ejects. If these were all fixed I know I would be a much happier camper!

so would I mate after 25 years of Apple I'm seriously considering moving to Windows, I think that says everything.

]]> Catalina Issues steve223 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8753 RE: Kernel Panics in Catalina 10.15.4/Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8751 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:37:12 +0000 @steve223

Coincidentally we just had contact with an Apple engineering manager who is showing interest in these issues and wants to get them resolved.

Lets hope. I understand Apple is a big ship and takes a lot to make movement, but it would be great if this and several other hanging issues were resolved. In addition to this disk renumbering issue are encryption kernel panics, APFS performance, driver installation issues, disk ejects. If these were all fixed I know I would be a much happier camper!

]]> Catalina Issues SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/catalina-issues/kernel-panics-in-catalina-10-15-4-thunderbay-4/paged/9/#post-8751