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[Sticky] Important notes regarding Big Sur and SoftRAID

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(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
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Topic starter
 

@jamesmathers

Attach a SoftRAID tech support. Either the driver is not loading, or the volume has directory damage.

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 11:01 am
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
Member Admin
Topic starter
 

Ether the driver is not loading, or the volume has directory damage.

If the driver is loading, there will be a "Disk Identifier" in the volume tile, not a -.

If there is a Disk Identifier, like disk6, then it is a directory issue, and you may need to repair the directory using Disk Warrior.

You can attach a support file if you want me to check for you.

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 11:04 am
(@jamesmathers)
Posts: 8
Active Member
 

@softraid-support

 

I thought I had sent this a few days ago when first requested.  Anyway, the SoftRAID Tech Report is attached.

Thanks,

James Mathers

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 11:22 am
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
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Topic starter
 

Disable Secure Boot. I think it may be enabled. Secure Boot MUST be disabled.

https://srforums.wpengine.com/pages/support/faq/faq_imacpro_secureboot.html

 

Then run through these steps:

https://srforums.wpengine.com/pages/support/5.8_Volumes_Not_Mounting.pdf

 

If this does not work, something is blocking the driver. We had a forum user who discovered an obsolete extension, OpenVPN may have been blocking his SoftRAID driver from loading. Does not make sense, but possible.

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 11:40 am
rexbinary
(@rexbinary)
Posts: 42
Member
 

@softraid-support

Thank you for all the help and information you have been sharing. I have a request. Since v6 is going to be in beta for quite some time, would it be possible to disable or tone down the frequent warnings reminding you that you are running a time limited beta? They are a bit annoying.

EDIT: I seldom post without an edit.

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 1:48 pm
(@jamesmathers)
Posts: 8
Active Member
 

@softraid-support

I can't imagine what headaches a new Apple OS must create for you.  As an update, I have gotten the ThunderBay to mount; the only issue now is that there is no icon, but I can access it via the finder.  

FYI, the Secure boot instructions seem to need updating; to get into the mode, you have to hold down Shift+Command+Option until just after the Apple icon appears.  Then what you see in the drop down menu is all different than the instructions.  There is no longer a lock icon in the dropdown menu under utilities that says "Startup Security Utility," at least not Big Sur.  

Thanks for all your efforts and my sympathies for your headaches.

James Mathers

 

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 2:20 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
Member Admin
Topic starter
 

I will bring up the beta warning alert idea. It should be less frequent for this beta.

 

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 8:01 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
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Topic starter
 

@jamesmathers

 

I was testing the icon issue last night and found (at least in part), it is caused by System Preferencs/Security, if you did not "Allow" OWC as a developer, then there is no icon. I was able to replicate this, then after "allow" was selected, the icons came back to the desktop. See if that is it.

I will also look into the Secure Boot instructions. I know they also changed with M1's, I did not think to test with Big Sur, I thought it was set into hardware. ;-)

 
Posted : 18/11/2020 8:04 pm
(@ironpig)
Posts: 17
Active Member
 

Im in the unenviable position of not being able to use my OWC ThunderBay and ThunderBlade drives with the new Mac mini I received today.  I would love to get any beta to try just so I can hopefully get these drives mounted.  If not, I feel it's the end of the road for me and OWC Raid drives.  Between this and the T2 security issue with SoftRaid it's been a frustrating year.  I have been a loyal OWC RAID buyer for as long as I can remember, but I just need to simplify things.  I never thought this thunder blade wouldn't work with the new Mac mini.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 1:36 am
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
Member Admin
Topic starter
 

We should have this soon. Give us a day or two, we were hoping to have this today, but ran into issues and are getting help from Apple. We have a working driver, but something in the version of Big Sur on the M1 is blocking the SoftRAID driver from loading.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 1:50 am
(@jamesmathers)
Posts: 8
Active Member
 

@softraid-support

Sorry, I'm not sure how to access the ability to Allow OWC in System Preferences/Security settings.  I just don't see where that selection is made.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 11:43 am
(@ironpig)
Posts: 17
Active Member
 

@softraid-support Appreciate the follow up.  For what it's worth, Apple/UPS were a day late with my Mac mini.  I'm really hoping you guys can get a working driver and soft raid client so I don't have to give up on these OWC drives with Macs.  I know Apple doesn't make your lives easy, but on the other hand it's hard to pay such a penny for these OWC drives that require soft raid and not know if they are going to work.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 1:51 pm
Craignos
(@craignos)
Posts: 19
Eminent Member
 

@softraid-support I have full confidence in your developers team, and thank you for your hard work! I'm looking forward to test out I/O on my 4-bay OWC drive with FCPX and AE.

Question for you: Does the M1 architecture (or whatever it is 🤪) provide any benefits to running Softraid? Or are you guys just adapting to the times 😄? So far I'm happy with the M1 MacBook Pro 13" and trying to decide if I'm stinking to it or return it and keep on using the 2019 16" MacBook Pro...

Looking forward to see my drive on my desktop! Cheers!

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 3:58 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
Member Admin
Topic starter
 

There are changes both ways. On the plus side, drivers are moving (eventually) to userland, so no more Secure boot issues. Performance is excellent, all the RAID calculations are going to be faster.

It will be an experience, as there are issues being discovered all the time.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 4:32 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8008
Member Admin
Topic starter
 

@ironpig

We have our M1. Now we are trying to deal with new changes! We will get out a Apple Silicon driver literally ASAP.

 
Posted : 19/11/2020 4:34 pm
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