RimBlock

Would have to disagree with that. I build clients machines based on desktop (i.e. Intel Q67) boards and processors (i3/i5 if VT-d is required) as well as server boards and processors. It is true that the majority of items on the HCL are server grade products but these are just the ones certified to work correctly and are not an extensive list of the only items that will work with ESXi. The difference is that if it is not on the HCL then you take the risk of it not working. A number of Supermicro boards are not on the HCL but work fine with ESXi (X9SCM-F for example). RB

Firstly, nice write-up up. VT-d only allows the passthrough of the controlling chipset (ie the LSI 2008 on the M1015 card), not the devices connected to that chipset. For the M1015 this means that it is all or nothing and you cannot select individual drives. On another note, some other decent boards to look at for an ESXi build include; Supermicro X9SCL/X9SCL-F (C202 so only SATA II and less PCIe slots but otherwise the same as the X9SCM-F). Intel S1200BTL/S1200BTS (C204/C202 ESXi certified boards. BTL has a separate connection for a 4 port SAS controller). Supermicro X9SCI-LN4 (C204, 4 ESXi supported lan ports on the board but limited expansion slots). If you want to go small (rare in the world of masses of storage I know) you could look at the Intel S1200KP mITX C206 board (ECC or non-ECC ram, Dual lan - one natively supported by ESXi, PCIe x16 slot - add a storage controller maybe). Should be a fair bit cheaper than the Supermicro mITX boards. Cheaper still, the Intel DQ67EP mITX board supports VT-d and works well. RB

I have just managed to flash 2 M1015 controllers with the IT firmware. It was a bit of a challenge . Here are some results which I hope may help others going down the same route... Both M1015 controllers were new build pulls with a manufacturing date of 16th Jan 2011. Motherboards flashing tried on; MSI P45-C51 = Failed. 'Cannot initialize PAL' issue. Asus P8H67 = Failed. as above. ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 = Failed. See peculiar observations below. MSI ??? = Success. I will checkout the board model when I get home tonight. It is an old red PCB board with a 775 socket and built in VGA video (just in case someone can guess the model). Peculiar observations with the ASRock board: Megaraid Card not detected in 16x or 8x PCIe 2.0 slots Megaraid Card was detected in 4x PCIe 2.0 slot. Megaraid Bios backed up and erased but after reboot, came up with the same 'Cannot Initialize Pal' again. Luckily the board that does work has internal video, a couple of ram sticks in it and so just need to hook up a PSU and put the flash drive in and it is up and running to flash the cards. Ha, maybe I should offer a flashing service . Another interesting point is that the links to LSI provided here concerning the 'PAL' issue state that the machine should not be rebooted after clearing the ROM or it will brick the controller. This is clearly not the case from my own experience. RB