Intel SSD DC P4501 not detected

[Brendan]

Hi,

I have an Intel S2600STB server board and an Intel DC P4501 Series SSD( 1.0TB, 2.5in PCIe 3.1 x4). I have connected the SSD to the M.2 connector on the motherboard using a U.2 to M.2 SSD cable. I would like to boot from the SSD.

1. Do I need to supply SATA power to the dongle on the U.2 to M.2 cable, or does it get all its power from the M.2 connection?
2. Do I need to adjust anything in the BIOS to boot from the SSD? I can't see any BIOS option related to M.2 and when I boot Linux from USB, the SSD is not detected. Can I verify SSD detection from the BIOS?

Thanks

[SergioS_Intel]

Hello Brendan,

In regards to your first question, you should supply SATA power to the dongle on the U.2 to M.2 cable. 

Also, PCIe* M.2 devices will be detected and visible by BIOS only when boot mode is set up to uEFI. SATA M.2 devices are detected and visible by BIOS in both legacy and UEFI boot modes.

You can find more information on page 54 of the Intel® Server Board S2600ST Product Family Technical Product Specification

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/server-products/Intel_S2600ST_TPS.pdf

Additionally, please take in consideration that the Intel DC P4501 Series SSD has 110mm form factor and the Intel® Server Board S2600STB support 80mm M.2 cards, and that usage of the dongle might be causing the problem.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance.

Best regards,

Sergio S.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Under Contract to Intel Corporation

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit :https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[Brendan]

I have the 2.5" drive version of the DC P4501, so the form factor is not an issue. The Intel M.2 to U.2 cable fits in to M.2 slot as it should. I connected SATA power to the cable (as well as tested the SATA power connection on a SATA HDD). I am UEFI booting. There are no other drives as I am booting from USB. I have tried plugging the cable in both the upper and lower M.2 slots. SSD not detected.

[SergioS_Intel]

Hello Brendan,

Have you tried connecting the driver without the M2 to U2 directly to the board?

Have you tried to test the drive on another system?

Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further assistance.

Best regards,

Sergio S.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Under Contract to Intel Corporation

For firmware updates and troubleshooting tips, visit :https://intel.com/support/serverbios

[Brendan]

I do not understand "connecting drive without the M2 to U2 directly on the board". In Physical Installation Instructions for PCIe* NVMe* U.2 and Add-In Card Solid State Drives, see section "Installation steps for the SSD 2.5-inch U.2 form factor drive", subsection for M2 connection. The motherboard only has SATA connectors and this is a U2 drive. Unfortunately I do not have another system on which to test a U2 drive. BIOS is up to date.