Port Multiplier Problem

[Rob See]

Hi,


   I've got 3 silicon image based esata port multipliers hanging off of a server running FreeBSD 8.1b1, a five bay, and an 8 bay that is divided into 2 4 bays (2 different esata cables going into it.) Recently I've started experiencing problems with one half of the 8 bay. I've started getting messages like: 

siisch2: Error while READ LOG EXT
siisch2: port is not ready (timeout 10000ms) status = 001f2000
siisch2: device ready timeout
siisch2: trying full port reset ...
siisch2: Error while READ LOG EXT
siisch2: port is not ready (timeout 1000ms) status = 001f2000
siisch2: Error while READ LOG EXT
siisch2: Timeout on slot 30
siisch2: siis_timeout is 00040000 ss 78000000 rs 78000000 es 00000000 sts 801e2040 serr 00000000
siisch2:  ... waiting for slots 38000000
siisch2: Timeout on slot 29
siisch2: siis_timeout is 00040000 ss 78000000 rs 78000000 es 00000000 sts 801e2040 serr 00000000
siisch2:  ... waiting for slots 18000000
siisch2: Timeout on slot 28
siisch2: siis_timeout is 00040000 ss 78000000 rs 78000000 es 00000000 sts 801e2040 serr 00000000
siisch2:  ... waiting for slots 08000000
siisch2: Timeout on slot 27
siisch2: siis_timeout is 00040000 ss 78000000 rs 78000000 es 00000000 sts 801e2040 serr 00000000
siisch2: Error while READ LOG EXT
siisch2: port is not ready (timeout 10000ms) status = 001f2000
siisch2: device ready timeout
siisch2: trying full port reset ...
siisch2: Error while READ LOG EXT

I've tried switching the controller card that the "bad" half is plugged into, and that didn't fix the issue. Its always the same multiplier that gives me issues, and it has gotten worse over the last couple days. Am I looking at bad backplane here, or is it possible that it might be one of the 4 drives causing issues.

Thanks,
-Rob