The Complete Guide to Installing StorCLI on Linux and Windows

StorCLI (Storage Command Line Tool) is Broadcom’s powerful command-line utility for managing LSI MegaRAID and PRAID controllers. Whether you’re managing hardware RAID arrays on servers or workstations, StorCLI provides comprehensive control over your storage infrastructure. This guide will walk you through the complete installation process on both Linux and Windows systems.

What is StorCLI?

StorCLI is the successor to MegaCLI and provides a unified interface for configuring and monitoring Broadcom/LSI RAID controllers. It allows you to perform critical tasks such as creating RAID arrays, monitoring drive health, checking controller status, and managing virtual drives—all from the command line.

Common use cases include managing RAID controllers like the PRAID EP400i, Broadcom MegaRAID SAS controllers, and other compatible hardware in enterprise servers and workstations.

Downloading StorCLI

Before installation, you need to download the StorCLI package from Broadcom. The latest version (as of this writing) is available at:

Download Link: https://docs.broadcom.com/docs-and-downloads/007.2705.0000.0000_storcli_rel.zip

This package (version 007.2705.0000.0000, released August 24, 2023) contains binaries for multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, VMware, and ARM platforms.

Download and extract the ZIP file:

wget https://docs.broadcom.com/docs-and-downloads/007.2705.0000.0000_storcli_rel.zip
unzip 007.2705.0000.0000_storcli_rel.zip
cd storcli_rel/Unified_storcli_all_os

You’ll see directories for different platforms: ARM, EFI, FreeBSD, Linux, Linux-PPC, Ubuntu, VMware, and Windows.

Installing StorCLI on Linux

Linux installation varies slightly depending on your distribution. StorCLI supports both package-based installation (RPM/DEB) and manual binary installation.

Ubuntu and Debian Installation

For Debian-based systems, use the pre-built .deb package:

# Navigate to the Ubuntu directory
cd Ubuntu

# Install the package
sudo dpkg -i storcli_007.2705.0000.0000_all.deb

The package installs successfully but doesn’t automatically add the binary to your PATH. The installation places the binary at /opt/MegaRAID/storcli/storcli64. To make it accessible system-wide, create a symbolic link:

# Verify the installation location
dpkg -L storcli | grep storcli64

# Create a symlink for easy access
sudo ln -s /opt/MegaRAID/storcli/storcli64 /usr/sbin/storcli

Now you can run storcli from anywhere in your system.

RHEL, CentOS, Rocky Linux, and Fedora Installation

For RPM-based distributions:

# Navigate to the Linux directory
cd Linux

# Install using RPM
sudo rpm -ivh storcli-007.2705.0000.0000-1.noarch.rpm

After installation, create the same symlink for convenience:

sudo ln -s /opt/MegaRAID/storcli/storcli64 /usr/sbin/storcli

Manual Installation (All Linux Distributions)

If you prefer manual installation or if the package installation fails:

# Navigate to the Linux directory
cd Linux

# Copy the binary to a system directory
sudo cp storcli64 /usr/sbin/storcli

# Make it executable
sudo chmod +x /usr/sbin/storcli

This method works universally across all Linux distributions and gives you direct control over where the binary is placed.

Verifying Linux Installation

Test your installation with these commands:

# Check version
storcli -v

# Show controller information
sudo storcli show

# Display detailed controller 0 information
sudo storcli /c0 show

Note that most StorCLI commands require root privileges since they interact directly with hardware. Always use sudo when running StorCLI commands.

Installing StorCLI on Windows

Windows installation is more straightforward since it doesn’t require package managers.

Installation Steps

1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a temporary location
2. Navigate to storcli_rel\Unified_storcli_all_os\Windows
3. You’ll find storcli64.exe (64-bit version)

Copy the executable to a directory in your system PATH. The recommended location is:

copy storcli64.exe C:\Windows\System32\

Alternatively, you can place it in a custom directory and add that directory to your PATH environment variable:

# Create a directory for StorCLI
mkdir C:\StorCLI
copy storcli64.exe C:\StorCLI\

# Add to PATH via System Properties > Environment Variables
# Or use PowerShell:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", $env:Path + ";C:\StorCLI", "Machine")

Verifying Windows Installation

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and run:

storcli64 -v
storcli64 show
storcli64 /c0 show

Windows requires administrator privileges for hardware access, so always run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator when using StorCLI.

Essential StorCLI Commands

Once installed, here are the most useful commands to get you started:

Basic Controller Information

# Show all controllers
sudo storcli /cAll show

# Show specific controller (controller 0)
sudo storcli /c0 show

# Display controller 0 with all drives
sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show

Virtual Drive Management

# List all virtual drives
sudo storcli /c0 /vAll show

# Show detailed virtual drive information
sudo storcli /c0 /v0 show all

Physical Drive Information

# Show all physical drives
sudo storcli /c0 /eAll /sAll show

# Show specific drive details (enclosure 7, slot 0)
sudo storcli /c0 /e7 /s0 show all

Creating RAID Arrays

# Create RAID1 with two drives
sudo storcli /c0 add vd type=raid1 drives=7:0,7:1

# Create RAID5 with four drives
sudo storcli /c0 add vd type=raid5 drives=7:0-3

# Create RAID10 with four drives
sudo storcli /c0 add vd type=raid10 drives=7:0-3

Monitoring and Health

# Check controller health
sudo storcli /c0 show all

# Show event log
sudo storcli /c0 show events

# Check battery backup unit status
sudo storcli /c0 /bbu show all

Real-World Example: Adding Storage to a Proxmox Server

Here’s a practical example from a Proxmox server running a PRAID EP400i controller with an existing RAID1 array:

The initial configuration showed:

• Controller: PRAID EP400i
• Existing RAID1: 2x 1.745TB SSSTC SSDs in Drive Group 0
• Enclosure with 16 slots (14 slots available for expansion)
• Virtual Drive named “main2” serving as primary storage

To add additional storage capacity, you can install two more SSDs and create a second RAID1 array:

# After physically installing the new drives, check for unconfigured drives
sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show

# New drives will appear as "UGood" (Unconfigured Good)
# If they appear at slots 7:1 and 7:2, create a new RAID1:
sudo storcli /c0 add vd type=raid1 drives=7:1,7:2

# Verify the new virtual drive
sudo storcli /c0 /vAll show

Proxmox (and most Linux systems) will automatically detect the new virtual drive as a new block device (like /dev/sdb). You can then format it and add it to your Proxmox storage configuration without requiring a reboot.

This demonstrates StorCLI’s power in managing multiple RAID arrays on a single controller, allowing you to expand storage capacity incrementally as needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Command Not Found After Installation

If you get “command not found” after installing the package, the binary isn’t in your PATH. Find it and create a symlink:

# Find the binary location
find /opt -name storcli64

# Create symlink (adjust path if different)
sudo ln -s /opt/MegaRAID/storcli/storcli64 /usr/sbin/storcli

Permission Denied Errors

StorCLI requires root/administrator privileges:

# Linux - use sudo
sudo storcli /c0 show

# Windows - run Command Prompt as Administrator

No Controllers Detected

If StorCLI doesn’t detect your controller:

1. Verify the RAID controller is properly installed and detected by the OS
2. Check if the appropriate kernel driver is loaded (Linux: megaraid_sas)
3. Ensure you’re running StorCLI with administrator/root privileges
4. Verify BIOS/UEFI settings have the controller enabled

# Linux - check if driver is loaded
lsmod | grep megaraid

# Check PCI devices
lspci | grep -i raid

Conclusion

StorCLI is an indispensable tool for anyone managing Broadcom/LSI RAID controllers. Whether you’re running a single server or managing enterprise storage infrastructure, understanding StorCLI installation and basic usage is essential for effective storage management.

The installation process is straightforward on both Linux and Windows platforms, and once configured, StorCLI provides powerful command-line control over your storage arrays. From creating and monitoring RAID configurations to expanding storage capacity on-the-fly, StorCLI gives you the flexibility and control needed for professional storage management.

Remember to always run StorCLI with appropriate privileges, keep regular backups of your RAID configurations, and monitor your storage health regularly using the built-in event logging and status commands. With this foundation, you’re well-equipped to manage your RAID infrastructure effectively.