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[Sticky] Problem updating SoftRAID driver with new iMac Pro

SoftRAID Support · 2017-12-29T18:43:53Z

The new iMac Pro has an issue that causes the SoftRAID driver to require updating every restart. Note: This issue is resolved in 10.13.6! A version of the SoftRAID driver is included with every OS X installation, so any user can connect any SoftRAID disks to any Mac and the volumes will mount. The macOS bundled version of SoftRAID has minimal features, and just enables mounting of volumes. This has been the case since 10.3.x. We issue a new driver version to Apple for each OSX upgrade to maintain this compatibility. When a user installs SoftRAID, the current drivers are installed and loaded at startup, and all SotRAID driver features are available. The new "Enhanced Security" feature in the iMac Pro interferes with this process. The iMac Pro will always load the bundled 5.6.2 driver if any SoftRAID disks are connected at startup. Note: When the SoftRAID 5.6.2 driver loads, write performance will be slower and there will be no user notifications of errors. Here is what causes the problem: The iMac Pro added technology that supports "enhanced security". The goal is to prevent kernel or CPU level hacks like the intel "Meltdown" and "Spectre" vulnerabilities from being installed in core extensions at boot time. As part of these new security enhancements, a set of "immutable kernel extensions" are stored on the machine and are loaded at startup. (These are "known good/tested extensions.) Since the SoftRAID driver is bundled with OS X, the (5.6.2) version we supply Apple is included as one of these immutable drivers. Whenever a SoftRAID formatted disk is connected at boot time, the "immutable" SoftRAID 5.6.2 driver gets loaded, instead of the updated version installed in the System folder. Apple has informed us that they do not intend to fix this problem. We are discussing options with our Apple contacts. There are two workarounds to this issue 1) Disconnect your external drives, and wait until the Mac is started up before connecting them. 2) Change the "Enhanced Security" to none. Details: 1) How to install the current SoftRAID driver (while keeping the "Enhanced Security" setting on the iMac Pro): To install the latest SoftRAID driver: Download the current version of SoftRAID for your setup. Unmount your SoftRAID volumes, wait a few seconds. Unplug the cable to the enclosure(s) Restart Run SoftRAID Update the SoftRAID driver. Restart. Now connect your disks and the SoftRAID 5.6.5 driver will load. Ongoing: Before you Restart/Shutdown, unmount your volumes, disconnect your cable to your enclosure. After the machine starts up, you can plug in your enclosure again. If you ever accidentally leave your disks connected at startup, unmount your SoftRAID volumes, disconnect the cables and restart. then reconnect the cable after the system has booted to the desktop. 2) Change the "Enhanced Security" setting to "No Security". There is a new System Preference for the iMac Pro, called System Security. By default is set to "Full Security". If you set this to "No Security" then SoftRAID will load the correct driver at startup. (Note: This does not make your Macintosh more vulnerable than any other Macintosh, it only disables the "Enhanced" security measures currently only available on the iMac Pro.) We have detailed instructions posted here:Note: March 13, 2018 - We have discovered that the macOS "10.13.3 Supplemental upgrade" has a bug where it cannot install when an iMac Pro has the Enhanced Security set to "Medium Security" or "No Security". The solution is to reset Enhanced Security to "Full", install the supplemental upgrade, then go back to no "Enhanced Security". When we have a permanent solution to this problem, we will post it here.

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mustgroove

(@mustgroove)

Posts: 26

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Another bit of info that might be of use:

Secure Boot also seems to disable TRIM on external drives - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8237086

Posted : 24/01/2018 12:53 pm

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

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Topic starter

Seems like you have some volume directory damage. Disk Warrior is your friend for these kinds of issues.

Make sure the volume shows about the correct free space in the volumes tile.

Posted : 24/01/2018 2:43 pm

joema

(@joema)

Posts: 6

Member

Not yet. We are working on getting an iMac Pro in, as we have been unable to figure this out remotely.

Apple has ignored our bug report so far...

I encountered this problem today when upgrading to SoftRAID 5.6.5. I finally figured out what was happening and disabled SecureBoot per Apple's instructions: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208330

At the end of this article, it mentions speculation Apple may force SecureBoot as the only option, but so far they have not: https://twocanoes.com/secureboot-imac-pro/

That would obviously be a grave situation for all iMac Pro users running SoftRAID.

Do you have any update or response from Apple on your bug report? Can you state the bug #?

Posted : 25/02/2018 10:24 am

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

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We have not heard back yet about this issue.

Let me find out if I can publicly post the RADAR number.

Posted : 25/02/2018 12:50 pm

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

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Here is the Apple bug number for this issue: 36311786

Posted : 26/02/2018 2:27 pm

jahavri

(@jahavri)

Posts: 2

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The new iMac Pro ...

We will update this thread as we learn more. When we are confident we have a permanent solution, we will replace the steps above with the final steps.

This is not working. Please post a fix soonest.

Posted : 02/03/2018 9:50 am

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

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Post 28 has the "fix" i.e, workaround, until Apple fixes this.

What is not working?

Posted : 02/03/2018 1:27 pm

jahavri

(@jahavri)

Posts: 2

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OBE. Turns out I had a bad disk. SoftRAID helped to narrow it down and find it.

Posted : 02/03/2018 2:20 pm

BamaFinancial

(@bamafinancial)

Posts: 1

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Please add my name to your list. I'm afraid to depend on my SoftRAID XT and ThunderBay 4 for anything critical with my new iMac Pro due to these issues.

Posted : 25/03/2018 1:45 pm

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

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Send an email to support @ softraid and ask to be added, we will.

thanks

Posted : 25/03/2018 11:07 pm

cjshumate

(@cjshumate)

Posts: 1

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It's the end of May, is there really no fix for this yet?

Send an email to support @ softraid and ask to be added, we will.

thanks

Posted : 29/05/2018 3:28 pm

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

Posts: 9200

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Topic starter

This cannot be fixed by us, only Apple. Apple is loading an older driver at boot time, over-riding the installed driver in the system.

We are trying to get a fix in place, but no success. The two workarounds are all there is at present.
(disconnecting the disks at startup, or disabling "enhanced" security.

Posted : 30/05/2018 12:25 pm

mattbeardsley

(@mattbeardsley)

Posts: 2

Member

Oh man, this iMac Pro vs. SoftRAID issue is a big problem in my workflow. I have 3 TB3 Thunderbays that are glitchy and problematic and it's really hurting my work as a professional editor. I'd recommend iMac Pro users look elsewhere for RAID solutions. This problem has been handicapping this system since it was new.

Posted : 03/06/2018 3:40 pm

SoftRAID Support

(@softraid-support)

Posts: 9200

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Topic starter

There are two workarounds, changing the "enhanced Security" to none, or connecting your drives after startup.

We hope Apple addresses this soon. We are told there may be a fix in 10.13.6 coming.

Posted : 04/06/2018 11:18 am

EvanRobinson

(@evanrobinson)

Posts: 1

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Confirming this OS bug on a new iMac Pro running 10.13.4 and SoftRAID 5.6.7.

Both workarounds work, so I'm downgrading security. It works, but sucks.

Posted : 07/06/2018 12:50 pm

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