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The-Kevster
Contributor
Contributor

SATA Support Clear as Mud!?

From the updated I/O sheet this is what's mentioned on supported SATA controllers....

Supported SAS/SATA Dual Controllers

ESX Server 3.5 supports selected SATA devices connected to dual SAS/SATA controllers. This support is limited to ESX Server 3.5. It is not included with ESX Server 3.0.x.

The supported dual SAS/SATA controllers are:

  • mptscsi_2xx (PCIE) ‐ LSI1078*

  • mptscsi_pcie ‐ LSI1068E (LSISAS3442E)*

  • mptscsi_pcix ‐ LSI1068 (SAS 5)*

  • aacraid_esx30 ‐ IBM serveraid 8k SAS controller*

  • cciss ‐ Smart Array P400/256 controller*

So what is the best PCIE card for me to put into my S5000PAL server that will use the above driver, if only someone could make a list :smileygrin:

Thanks,

Kev

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342 Replies
The-Kevster
Contributor
Contributor

The HP Smart Array P400 Controller looks good, anyone have any opinions?

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

im guessing over the next few weeks people will try different cards and report back what works.

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divintas
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

FYI .... For my Test environment I used the ASUS KFN4-D16SAS. There is an LSI 1068 onboard. It worked with 3.0.2 and the noapic boot option. I'll try it with 3.5 asap and post if it works.

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mcwill
Expert
Expert

Works great on a simple embedded Intel® ICH6R SATA controller

Motherboard is a Supermicro P8SCi

Each SATA channel is seen as a separate scsi controller.

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

I have a HP ML115 and I can confirm that the onboard SATA does not work with 3.5.

It installs ESX and creates the VMFS on the drive. However when it reboots after install, comes up with

"mounting root failed"

Doh!!!

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The-Kevster
Contributor
Contributor

I've just spent £450 on two of these so hopefully they will work. I'll post my results on Thursday.

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ascheale
Contributor
Contributor

I would be glad if the 3Ware controllers will work.

Can someone check this ?

Regards, Alex

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jssoeldn
Contributor
Contributor

Neither an old 3ware 8006-2LP nor a brand new 9650SE-2LP seem to work.

I guess we're out of luck.

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ascheale
Contributor
Contributor

That makes me said Smiley Sad

Thank you for the info.

Alex

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tsugliani
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

I'm quite sure all the supported devices are listed into the following ESX directory : /etc/vmware/pciid/*.xml

Check sata*.xml files Smiley Happy

All models are listed there, with their IDs

Hope this helps.

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ascheale
Contributor
Contributor

That sounds good.

Thanks

Alex

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

looking at the xml files I see that the Adaptec 1210sa card is supposidly compatible.

I've got one of these coming on monday.

I'll be sure to post the results.

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pdewild
Contributor
Contributor

Blackforce, any updates on the issue yet? As I'm looking into buying an ML115 for testing server.

I've got the same issue on my current white-box testing server, however, when I install on a "normal" IDE drive, it works! Smiley Happy

(obviously the SATA disk is just a VMFS store then!)

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

the card is set to be delivered on the 17th.

The ML115 SATA does not work. I have tried everything to get it working. Basically the onboard SATA controller is crap on it. It doesn't even do proper raid.

I tried :-

  • Installing as JBOD (mounting root failed)

  • Installing with raid 1 active (ESX still sees the disks as JBOD)

  • Installing with raid 0 active (ESX still sees the disks as JBOD)

  • installing with IDE as host for ESX and sata for VMFS (ESX cant see the SATA disk at all once booted)

I think the problem is that the kernel used during setup supports the controller, but the vmkernal dont. hence why we get the "mounting root failed"

I will post my findings once I have got the card and tested it.

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pdewild
Contributor
Contributor

Hmmm, have you figured out which SATA controller it is, in the ML115? The HP site is very unclear about this one... Some websites state a nVidia MPC55... ?!

Can you send me a lspci? Smiley Happy

It appears to be a issue with the XML file :).... Can you actually boot it up to a prompt? If so, try to edit the sata_nv.xml file, and copy/paste this part:

<device id="037e">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_nv</driver>

</vmware>

<name>MCP55 SATA Controller</name>

</device>

And add another one, stating the <device id="037f"> (as it appears to have that one, according to some sites!)

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Raudi
Expert
Expert

The on board SATA of my SuperMicro X7DBE shows 6 controllers too. Even when i configure it to use the Adaptec Host RAID.

lspci shows:

00:1f.2 RAID bus controller: Intel Corporation 631xESB/632xESB SATA Storage Controller RAID (rev 09)

But no RAID, i see both harddisks as single disks in the VI client...

Best regards

Stefan

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oreeh
Immortal
Immortal

HostRAID always requires some driver logic / support - so HostRAID adapters are really software RAID with a supporting ASIC.

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

Tried what u suggested pdewild. Cheers for the help. Although it didn't work.

Here is a dump of lspci.

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pdewild
Contributor
Contributor

Hmmm, could be that the driver doesn't contain this particular nVidia controller.... crap... Will look into it monday... It is a tempting offer, one of those ML115's Smiley Wink

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