I'm using 4.2.1. My motherboard is an eVGA e7100.

4 SATA ports

Onboard gigabit ethernet

2 PCI slots

1 PCIe 1x slot

1 PCIe 16x slot

 

I found the hard way that the onboard nVidia gigabit didn't work properly with unRAID. All would appear fine, but then the connection would crap out when trying to transfer files to the array. I ended up getting a Netgear GA311 PCI NIC, which other PCs in my network have. So far all is well. However, I've added many drives to my array since then, and after adding a Promise TX4 PCI SATA card, I have one last SATA slot left. I'd like to add another SATA card, preferably another Promise TX4 or an 8-port card. However, both my PCI slots are taken, so I want to free one. SInce the mobo has onboard Gigabit, clearly that's the easiest to free.

 

There was talk of 4.3 having support for these onboard nVidia NICs (Realtek?). Did this transpire? I believe that the Netgear GA-311 cards also have a Realtek chipset, but it seems to work fine. Any suggestions, facts, tips and pointers appreciated.

 

It is fairly easy to test yourself isn't it?

 

 

alternatively you could buy a controller card or NIC that uses the PCIe 1x slot... I have the Intel PRO/1000 1x card

nForce motherboards have generally had good networking, with built-in LAN support in the nForce chipsets, and using the forcedeth driver.  Yours is the first report I can recall ever having any problems with them.  I believe you may be thinking of the Realtec problems (actually only a few of the Realtec chipsets had problems), with v4.1 and v4.2, fixed as far as I know in v4.3.

 

Most of the nForce boards that I have seen have onboard gigabit networking, but I'm not familiar with yours.  I could not find much info, but it appears the eVga 7050 has either a 10/100 LAN on the 610i version, or gigabit on the 630i, and I could not find any info as to who made it.  I have to assume it is the onboard nForce provided LAN support.

 

Would you mind attaching a syslog?  I would like to see what unRAID is seeing on your board, especially when it 'craps out'.

 

unRAID 4.3 has the latest version of forcedeth, and you should try it out.  If it still fails, then add the PCIe X1 card, as mentioned above.

It is fairly easy to test yourself isn't it?

 

In theory, yes. However, this would require me to install a beta version of unRAID, something that has been stated on these forums as a step to take if you're completely comfortable living with the consequences and risks of using Beta software. I'm not entirely comfortable doing so unless I know that the added benefits are worth the risk, no matter how small.

 

Also, when I've changed NICs in the past, the ifconfig returned readout has been weird, still showing the old MAC address. I guess I'll bite the bullet and upgrade and test it out soon. I'm looking forward to the Cache drive feature anyway.

alternatively you could buy a controller card or NIC that uses the PCIe 1x slot... I have the Intel PRO/1000 1x card

 

Yes, I'm currently watching an eBay auction for this very card, as well as a much cheaper Broadcomm one. Good to know that the Intel one works. I was looking to get it when I built my server (Dec/Jan), but the Wiki said that although the Intel card was compatible there had been some reports of problems.

nForce motherboards have generally had good networking, with built-in LAN support in the nForce chipsets, and using the forcedeth driver.  Yours is the first report I can recall ever having any problems with them.  I believe you may be thinking of the Realtec problems (actually only a few of the Realtec chipsets had problems), with v4.1 and v4.2, fixed as far as I know in v4.3.

 

Most of the nForce boards that I have seen have onboard gigabit networking, but I'm not familiar with yours.  I could not find much info, but it appears the eVga 7050 has either a 10/100 LAN on the 610i version, or gigabit on the 630i, and I could not find any info as to who made it.  I have to assume it is the onboard nForce provided LAN support.

 

Would you mind attaching a syslog?  I would like to see what unRAID is seeing on your board, especially when it 'craps out'.

 

unRAID 4.3 has the latest version of forcedeth, and you should try it out.  If it still fails, then add the PCIe X1 card, as mentioned above.

 

Thanks, Rob

 

Now that I've had my server for a few months, and know a lot more about unRAID, I think I can play around a little. As soon as I try it out again, I'll post the syslog. I'm going to look around to see how one goes about upgrading to 4.3 from 4.2.1

 

P.S. Apologies: my motherboard is a 630i e7100, not an e7050. It does have a gigabit ethernet connection and they boast it's the industry leader in that technology.