Broadcom LSI 9240‑4i PCIe2.0 RAID‑Mode Controller (Flashable to IT‑Mode HBA)

Basic Parameter Table

Core Product Features

1. PCIe 2.0‑generation MegaRAID SAS RAID‑controller built‑on SAS2008 chip. Out‑of‑factory it runs in IR‑RAID mode, supporting hardware RAID‑0, RAID‑1, RAID‑10 for entry‑level business servers. It can be re‑flashed to IT pass‑through firmware to function as an HBA card for ZFS, TrueNAS, FreeNAS, unRAID NAS systems.
2. PCIe 2.0 x8 bandwidth, one SFF‑8087 internal port supporting up to 4 SATA/SAS hard‑disk drives installed inside the server chassis.
3. Dual‑mode capability:
   • IR‑RAID mode: hardware‑level RAID function for regular file‑server deployments.
   • IT‑mode (after firmware flash): pass‑through mode, the operating system controls each disk individually for software‑defined‑RAID (ZFS‑RAID‑Z, md‑raid), disabling the onboard hardware‑RAID logic.
4. Fan‑less passive heat‑sink, zero‑noise operation, stable for 24/7 long‑term continuous runtime in compact home‑lab and rack‑mounted servers. It includes full‑height and low‑profile mounting brackets.
5. Hot‑swap is available for internal hard‑drives after being flashed to IT‑mode; all physical disks are exposed directly to the host OS.
6. Compact 4‑port design, a cost‑effective option for small‑scale 4‑bay DIY NAS and secondary server drive expansion.

Application Scenarios

1. Default IR‑RAID mode: Entry‑level small‑business file‑servers requiring hardware RAID‑0/1/10.
2. IT‑flashed HBA mode: Compact 4‑bay ZFS/TrueNAS NAS, mini‑ITX home‑lab storage, media‑archival NAS.