How to assign PCI slots (HAB card) to virtual machine?

[Bhanudas]

Hi

I have installed ESX 3.5 and added 2 HBA cards on DEll 2950 Server. I need to create two vertual machines and want to assign individual HBA card on both machine.

Shall i do? How?

Thanks

Bhanudas

[abhilashhb]

Hi Bhanudas,

You will have to use them as PCI cards on your VM. This can be dome by passthrough. You need to go to Configuration--->Hardware---->Advances settings and configure both the HBA's as passthrough and then assign them to VM as PCI devices. And then install the Required vendor drivers on OS

[marcelo_soares]

On ESX 3.5 this is not possible. For using PCI Passthrough (VMDirectPath) you will need at least an ESX 4.x, I recommend using the last version - anyway, this feature have a lot of configuration checks and supported scenarios, you can check information here: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsp_4_vmdirectpath_host.pdf

[Bhanudas]

I done this

following message has came.

"Host does not support passthrough configuration "

I want to tell you that now I am using evaluation edition for VSphere Client. I am going to procure license for it.

Thanks

Bhanudas

[abhilashhb]

Like Marcelo said its not supported with ESXi 3.5. please upgrade to 4.x and then try it.

[Bhanudas]

Hi

I have already upgraded it to ESXi 5.0

[abhilashhb]

Damn!

ESXi 4.1.0 U2 used to support it.

There's a command you have to run to enable it on the host. But that command is not supported by VMware.

Are you using this for production?

[Linjo]

Exactly what hardware do you have?

Not all servers/CPU:s supports the feature that is needed for passthrough. (VT-D)

// Linjo

[Bhanudas]

Hi

I am using "Dell EM801" Server. How i can check whether it is supporting for passthrough?

[Bhanudas]

Hi

I was using “Dell Power Edge 2950” for passthrough configuration, but now I came to know that this server does not support for passthrough. That’s why I have started work on “Dell Power Edge R610”. Now it is working fine.

But  two virtual machine are already running on R610. Those VM’s does not need passthrough configuration that’s why I am planning to move these VM’s to dell 2950, so that I can use dell R610 only for those VM’s need passthrough configuration.

Will any one please let me know how to move these VM’s without data lose. I have installed ESXi 4.0 on both servers.

Thanks

Bhanu

[abhilashhb]

Are they managed by vCenter? If yes you can migrate them from one host to another using vmotion.

[Bhanudas]

Hi

I am using VSphere 4.0 to manage vm’s.

Thanks

Bhanu

[abhilashhb]

Are the hosts standalone? or are they managed by a vcenter? Do you log into the hosts individually?

[Bhanudas]

Yes these hosts are standalones.

They are managing by VSphare 4.0.

I can log into the host individually.

I just want to move both hosts from one server to another.

Thanks

Bhanu

[abhilashhb]

If you want to move machines from individual hosts you need to use converter if you don't want the machines to be powered off.

If you can power them off you can bring them up on the other host by giving the storage that's seen  by one host to another host.

[ruby12]

Hi

Welcome to the communities.

did you folwed below kb ?

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=103153...

There is no limit to courage.