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An “NVDATA” message from an AVAGO MegaRAID SAS-MFI controller can describe different situations, and the right response depends on the exact wording and where it appears. A boot-time invalid-image error calls for the correct NVDATA image and firmware package; certain “fatal firmware error” entries in controller logs after clearing NVDATA or moving a controller may be benign. Do not flash firmware or dismiss an error until you have matched it to the documented case.
First identify which NVDATA problem you have
NVDATA is controller configuration data associated with its firmware. The phrase “NVDATA problem” alone does not identify a fault. Broadcom documents separate cases involving an invalid image at boot, log entries after NVDATA was cleared, and a controller-subsystem mismatch reported during a flash operation.
| When it appears | Wording or context | What it points to |
|---|---|---|
| During boot or preboot | “NVDATA image is invalid – reflash NVDATA image” or BOOT_MSG_NVDATA_IMAGE_MISSING | The firmware did not find a valid NVDATA image. See Broadcom’s 12Gb/s MegaRAID SAS Software User Guide. |
| In MSM or controller logs after NVDATA was cleared or a controller was moved | Paired “Fatal firmware error” entries naming raidpci.c and 2108vI2o.c | Broadcom says these entries are expected in that specific context if the event log was not cleared afterward. See its Fatal firmware error support article. |
| During a firmware flash | “NVDATA Image does not match Controller Subsystem ID” or a subsystem mismatch | The image and controller identity may not be compatible. Use the exact model’s package and instructions; Broadcom’s flashing firmware and BIOS on LSI SAS HBAs article describes a limited SAS3Flash case. |
What to record before changing firmware
Write down the complete message exactly as displayed, including any code or file name. Also record the controller model, PCI and subsystem identity, firmware and BIOS versions, and the flashing utility and version if a flash was attempted. Note whether the message appeared at boot, during flashing, or only in MSM or controller logs. These details determine which vendor instructions apply.
- Do not treat “NVDATA image is invalid” and “NVDATA Image does not match Controller Subsystem ID” as interchangeable errors.
- Do not infer that a firmware package for another MegaRAID or SAS controller is suitable just because the model family sounds similar.
- Keep a record of the current firmware version and the storage configuration before an update.
If the boot message says the NVDATA image is invalid
Broadcom’s guide defines BOOT_MSG_NVDATA_IMAGE_MISSING as firmware failing to find a valid NVDATA image. Its guidance is to program a valid image, flash the correct firmware package containing the proper NV Data image, and check the current firmware version. The required image and package must match the exact controller; the error does not establish that a generic firmware file or another card’s image is safe.
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Before updating, account for the storage configuration. Broadcom notes that a firmware update may require importing foreign volumes. If the controller manages arrays or disks that appear foreign, understand the import implications for your configuration before proceeding; do not assume an update alone will preserve or automatically expose the volumes.
- Confirm the full boot message and identify the exact controller model and identity.
- Check the installed firmware version and match the vendor firmware package and NVDATA image to that controller.
- Review the controller’s volume state and the vendor’s update guidance, including whether foreign-volume import may be needed.
- Use only the model-specific programming or flashing procedure. If the correct package or recovery path is unclear, stop and consult Broadcom or the system vendor rather than experimenting with images.
If “fatal firmware error” appears only in logs
Broadcom describes a narrow benign case: MSM or controller logs contain paired messages naming raidpci.c and 2108vI2o.c after NVDATA was cleared or a controller was installed or moved, and the event log was not then cleared. In that context, Broadcom says the user-action-related messages do not indicate a hardware or firmware problem.
Only apply the benign interpretation when both the wording and circumstances match. A similar-looking message at boot, during a flash, or without the described context is not established as harmless by that guidance.
For the documented log scenario, Broadcom lists these options:
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- Disregard the entries.
- Reboot the system.
- Clear controller events and the termlog with StorCLI.
- Change MSM event-notification configuration.
The support article does not make these log-management actions a fix for an invalid NVDATA image at boot.
If a flash reports a controller subsystem mismatch
A subsystem mismatch is a compatibility issue to resolve against the exact controller identity and firmware package. Broadcom’s HBA flashing article explains that firmware flashing validates controller identity and NVDATA compatibility. It also gives a utility-version-specific workaround for one 12Gb/s SAS3Flash subsystem-ID mismatch scenario. That workaround is not a general remedy for every MegaRAID/MFI controller or NVDATA error.
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Verify the card model, PCI/subsystem IDs, firmware image, and flashing utility version against the applicable vendor instructions. Do not copy a command or workaround from another controller’s case: the wrong image or procedure can leave the controller unable to start.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the controller fails POST after a firmware change
A POST failure needs recovery instructions for the exact controller and failure mode. Broadcom’s separate downgrade procedure covers MegaRAID 9260/9280 in a stated POST-failure scenario and uses particular firmware and utility operations. It should not be applied to an unidentified SAS-MFI controller. Check the model-specific vendor support documentation or contact the system vendor for the matching recovery path.
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