How to test raid controller bought on ebay before updating FW to IT mode?

[Zeus]

Hi, I'm preparing to create my first unraid machine. I purchased a Dell Perc H200 from ebay with stock FW and was wondering what would be the best method to fully test the card and make sure it's all working before updating it to the IT firmware. Hopefully so that if there is an issue with the card itself I can send it back and get another one.

 

The Dell Perc H200 has 2 mini sas ports so I bought two of the 1x mini sas to 4x sata breakout cables and have a spare hard drive for testing. Is it safe to keep the hard drive running and switch sata ports and see if the hard drive is detected on each port of the breakout cables or will that damage it? It would be ideal since I can test both the controller and the cables.

 

Some info about the Dell Perc H200:

• 8 ports
  
• PCIe x8
  
• Sata 3
  
• SAS2008
  
• rebranded LSI 9240-8i
  
• (info from the great wiki by lime-technology)
  

 

Thanks in advance.