VMware Cloud Community
rodhajj
Contributor
Contributor

ESXi on Intel S5000VSASATA

Hi, First I want to thank VMWare for the free version of ESXi. I was using vmware-server on Linux Host and now I want to move to ESXi.

Since ESXi couldn't be installed on any server hardware I appreciate if you can tell me if a server with the below specs is supported or not:

- Intel® Server Board S5000VSASATA

- Xeon Quad Core 2Ghz FC-LGA6 1333Mhz 12MB cache

- 4GB 667MHz DDR2 ECC Fully Buffered CL5

- HDD 500GB SATA

- Supports RAID 1

- SATA DVD-RW

Thanks in advance for your response.

Tags (3)
Reply
0 Kudos
8 Replies
Exwork
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I've used ESX (full, not 3i) on the S5000VSA motherboard in whitebox servers. However, it's not going to be supported by VMware. I never tried the onboard RAID controller, but I wouldn't expect it to work. ESX is very picky on hardware support, and SATA is not supported.

Reply
0 Kudos
Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

What sort of local storage adapter does it have?

Reply
0 Kudos
rodhajj
Contributor
Contributor

Hi, it is Embedded SATA RAID (ESB2-E) Controller more details are below:

SATA

Controller Intel® 6321 ESB I/O Controller

Number of Drives 6

Number of Ports 6

RAID Support RAID 0, 1, 10 with optional AXXRAKSW5 for RAID 5*

Thanks

Reply
0 Kudos
bowmanb
Contributor
Contributor

Was wondering if anything was resolved on this. I have the same board, and need to know if I should bother trying to get ESXi working. (VMWare Server 2 is already)

Reply
0 Kudos
MPaskin
Contributor
Contributor

I have the same system, any chance of an answer. Having purchased a good server motherboard from Intel with hardware RAID, i expected ESX to pick the RAID drives up, and not individual drives.

I would use server 2 on a linux host, which does work, however the network trasfer speeds are appaling, evan after the official changes by setting TSO to off, they still fall after back about 20 seconds.

VMWare is such a good product, it's a shame it's let down by these problems.

Reply
0 Kudos
Erik_Zandboer
Expert
Expert

Looking at the HCL the board does not seem to be supported. It might work though, small difference in the world of VMware there. You should consider if you would like to run on unsupported hardware to start with. If the answer is "yes", I would suggest just to try it. Many SATA controllers are supported nowadays (or are not supported but do work), especially from the Intel and Nvidia line.

Buying a "nice" mainboard and then expecting VMware ESX/ESXi to run on it is generally speaking not working out, although changes are getting better and better with more SATA support being added. If you want to run a supported config just look at the HCL, and only then purchase your servers.

So the bottom line: Just try how far you can get ESXi to run on this board, and please post the results for others to learn...

Visit my blog at http://www.vmdamentals.com
Reply
0 Kudos
ojconcentrate1
Contributor
Contributor

Trying to access the RAID volume on this board using ESXi WILL NOT WORK.

The RAID controller on the board (ESB2 is the disk controller) ESRT2 (Embedded Server RAID Technology 2 is a software RAID solution therefore it requires a special OS drivers which not only provides a basic communication channel to the controller but also the driver itself does the RAID (the OS uses the driver, whether its aware of it or not to do the RAID).

Your only option would be to configure the option in the BIOS, Advanced Menu, ATA Controller Configuration,Onboard SATA Mode to 'Legacy'.

Yout BEST option would be to get an intel controller. I've tried with several and currenly am using an SRCSAS144E (older model but works great). all the Newer Intel contoller listed here;

should work fine with ESXi with the exception of the SASMF8i which also rund ESRT2 (software raid, same as the motherboard).

If you do get an intel controller (besides the ones below) make sure that when you build your volume, to enable the Read Policy to 'Adaptive Read Ahead' and the Write Policy to Write Back. uncheck the box to force it 'write through' if the battery is missing (to force it write back). this will provice you insane performance by using the cache on the controller. Be sure to have a UPS or get a compatible battery backup unit.

I haven't specifically tried the SASUC8I or the SASWT4I with ESXi but i have used them on other configurations and they provide Hardware RAID 1 which just requires the base LSI driver which should be mpt_sasso it should work.

Reply
0 Kudos
PaulRobbertse
Contributor
Contributor

Has any one got the Intel SASMF8I raid controller to work yet?

Reply
0 Kudos