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4,934 Views 12 Replies Last post: Jun 26, 2008 12:04 AM by Dave.Mishchen… RSS
Ametrakos Novice
Ametrakos
8 posts since
Jun 6, 2006
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Mar 19, 2008 4:23 PM

Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Can someon tell me if the "Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

" works within VMWare 3.5???

 

I would like to have this controller manage the storage of the VMs.

 

My mb is a Supermicro x7dva-e mb, with the on-board SCSI (which works likea charm)

Tags: supermicro
rpartmann Expert
rpartmann
227 posts since
Feb 8, 2007
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1. Mar 19, 2008 4:33 PM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Hi,

 

just try it.

 

and some hints under

 

http://communities.vmware.com/message/861670#861670

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm

 

probably you have to edit the /etc/vmware/pciid]/ata_piix.xml file and then tun  ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.
Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
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Nov 15, 2005
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2. Mar 20, 2008 1:04 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Looking at the SATA driver download for the motherboard,  it looks like the controller is based on the Intel ICH family so you should be to get this to work.  If you do install and get a mount root failed error after you reboot, take a look at the process here to fix that  - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/SATA_mounting_root_failed.html.

 

 

ftp://ftp.supermicro.com/driver/SATA/Intel_ESB2_RAID/Windows/WIN32.zip

Description:  Intel ESB2 SATA Drivers for Windows (32-bit)

Operating System(s):  Windows XP SP2,

Windows Server 2003 SP1,

Windows 2000 Adv. Server,

Windows 2000 Adv. Server SP4,

Windows XP Pro. SP2 

Version:  5.7.0.1011

Link:  Download

Documentation:  Documentation is unavailable

Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
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Nov 15, 2005
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3. Mar 20, 2008 1:06 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

PS - if you do get the motherboard working, please send me a PM so that I can update the list of whiteboxes that work with 3.5.  thanks.

Ametrakos Novice
Ametrakos
8 posts since
Jun 6, 2006
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4. Mar 20, 2008 7:59 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

 

Hey guys,  I'll be honest with you, I'm not a guru in ESX.  So what I did, I reinstalled 3.5 from scratch.  What I find weird, is during the install, 3.5 installer sees the SATA drive of 500GB, and asks if I want to install ESX on it.  I chose the SCSI, and continued.  When everything comes up, and I login via the VIC (v2.5), I go under the "Configuration" tab, and choose "Storage Adaptors" all I get AIC-8902 U320 OEM.  Of course under this, I have VHBA1 and 2.  If I click on "Rescan...", nothing new shows up...  ARRGGGGG!!!

 

 

I'm sure I'm close here, but what gives!!!!

 

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Anthony

 

 

Ametrakos Novice
Ametrakos
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Jun 6, 2006
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5. Mar 20, 2008 8:31 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

 

Hello from Canada !!!!!  YEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  I got it to work!!!!

 

 

I went into the BIOS and changed the "Native Mode Operation" from Auto to Serial ATA, and then "Sata Controller Mode Option" to "Compatible"

 

 

rebooted, and everything is there... ALL 500 GB!

 

 

 

 

 

For documentation:

 

 

Supermicro motherboard model X7DVA-8

 

 

Sata controller: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gps Controller

 

 

SCSI "built-in" controller: Adabtec AIC-7902 Controller

 

 

 

 

 

All specs: http://supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon1333/x7dva-8.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

Thx so much gents for your help!!!

 

 

Ametrakos Novice
Ametrakos
8 posts since
Jun 6, 2006
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6. Mar 20, 2008 8:32 AM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

 

Hi Dave

 

 

Please see my latest update.  all is working!!!

 

 

Eddymicro Novice
Eddymicro
10 posts since
Mar 9, 2008
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7. Mar 29, 2008 10:46 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

 

Hello,

 

 

I have the same Supermicro server. When you say it is working does this mean that you configured Intel ESB2 Controller in Raid mode?  If so since It supports Intel and Adaptec Raid modes which did you use?  I have 5 drives and want to create 2 mirrors with a hot spare. If I can't use the Raid mode is there any other way to mirror the drives?  Does your configuration have good performance? 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed...

 

 

Ametrakos Novice
Ametrakos
8 posts since
Jun 6, 2006
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8. Apr 22, 2008 5:15 AM in response to: Eddymicro
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Hi Ed,

 

Sorry for the delay...

 

I only had a single drive to play with, so I have no idea if this would work in RAID mode.  If memory suits me right, I believe it will not.  Sorry, you will have to try it out.

 

Anthony

Eddymicro Novice
Eddymicro
10 posts since
Mar 9, 2008
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9. Apr 22, 2008 5:26 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Hello,

 

I am out of the office until April 28st.  Please contact our office at 914-487-9001 if you need assistance.

 

Regards,

 

Ed Schwartz

Micro-Point

jlane Novice
jlane
10 posts since
Jun 16, 2008
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10. Jun 19, 2008 10:45 AM in response to: Ametrakos
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

Hi guys,

 

Just wondering if anyone has successfully got the Intel ESB2 SATA RAID controller running with ESX in RAID mode....I'm looking to do the same with a RAID10 array of 6 drives. Let me know. Thanks

wolf Enthusiast
wolf
55 posts since
Jan 27, 2005
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11. Jun 25, 2008 11:48 PM in response to: jlane
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

 

Hi there,

 

 

we have a Supermicro X7DWT which has the Intel ESB2 SATA.

 

 

If you configure it with adaptec NO RAID option it works fine and you can put VMFS on it as well

 

 

As far as I understood there is NO WAY to have RAID to be seen from WMware ESX since this controller supports only hostraid, i.e. requires drivers installed on the OS (which is not possibile in the ESX kernel). You might be able to add drivers in the service console, but that's not ESX, is the controlling console.

To have RAID working you need a controller with memory and battery backup, which is not ESB2.

 

 

I really think there is no way to have ESX to see RAID volumes on ESB2, unsless WMware adds drivers in the ESX kernel, which, I think, is not going to happen

 

 

Please post here if anybody has a "workaround"

 

 

 

 

 

Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
11,905 posts since
Nov 15, 2005
Currently Being Moderated
12. Jun 26, 2008 12:04 AM in response to: wolf
Re: Intel ESB2 SATA 3.0Gbps Controller

If you'd like to see support for this, I'd suggest a post here - http://communities.vmware.com/message/947521#947521.

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