I am new to unRaid, and am in process of building a box for hosting my data. I plan to go virtualized with this, as it best suites my needs as a whole, and my wants of creating a single solution hosting these needs.

 

I am looking to go ESXi, but am open to suggestions on alternatives.

 

I am looking for a few key things out of this box.

1. unRaid, used for safely storing some of my ripped media, as well as computer backups and other important information.

2. Plex Media Server/Plex Home Theater, I will be running PMS and PHT, probably on Windows 8. This will be in its own VM, with direct access to a HTPC video card, hopefully allowing for bitstreaming audio direct to my home theater. Storage space will mainly just be needed for the OS install. All media files will be on unRAID. 20GB should be plenty.

3. Windows 8, A VM for general tinkering. Again, 20GB should be plenty.

4. Linux, a VM for hosting a MySQL database, webserver and a couple other such services. 40GB will be way more than enough. Backups from the databases here will go to unRAID.

5. Windows 7/8/server, Running some home automation software and scripts. 20GB should be plenty. The home automation stuff uses exceptionally little space.

 

 

For unRaid, I have numerous disks. I would like to directly pass them through using VT-d to the unRaid instance.

 

Components I currently have available.

 

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157409

Processor - Xeon e3-1245v3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116909

RAM - 4x8GB for 32Gb total

Cases - Fractal Design, Define R3 and an Antec 900 Two

Drives -

256GB Toshiba Q series

180GB Intel 520

160GB Intel 320

4TB Seagate

3TB Seagate

2TB WD Green

2TB Hitachi

2 misc 1TB disks.

500GB Velociraptor

Power Supply - 450Watt Earthwatts Platinum

Multiple misc. USB 2.0 and 3.0 flash drives, 2GB to 32GB in size

Misc. low profile graphics card, passive cooling. Don't recall which and am not at home right now to check.

 

I am not at all familiar with unRaid. I currently have a home server on Windows Server 2012, and utilize FlexRAID. I am happy enough with it, but Plex has some issues with it that I would like to avoid. Moving to FlexRAID seems logical for me.

 

What I do not know, is the optimal way to set up the datastores for each VM, and for passing through the individual disks for unRAID. I would like to use the 4,3,2,2TB disks in unRAID. The SSD's and the Velociraptor are where I am not sure the optimal route to utilize the SSD's and Velociraptor, if needed at all. None of the VM's will have exceptionally high disk usage. The mySql database will be for a small webserver, and small Minecraft server, which will probably be the highest disk usage of everything.

 

Will placing all VM's OS installs on to the 180GB Intel SSD suffice? I believe it has advanced garbage collection, whereas the Toshiba I can find no data stating if it does.

 

Also, will I need a form of PCI SATA card, to pass my disks through on to unRAID via VT-d? Or can I utilize the motherboard SATA connectors for that, as well as for datastores?

 

Any suggestions on PC backup software/systems? I have 2 laptops, a gaming desktop, and a second desktop which I would like to have periodically backed up. Used to use WHSV1, then 2011, now currently nothing.

 

This server will be located in a server room in my basement. I have an HDMI cable run through the wall to my home theater. Gigabit ethernet throughout the home.

 

Any insight/input/suggestions are welcome. I am looking to begin tinkering this weekend, so would like to get any additional components ordered today or tomorrow, if needed.

 

Much thanks for any help offered!

Based on your link it looks like there are two sata controllers on the MB.  One is with the  Intel® C226 Haswell chipset (6 ports) that can be used for datastore drives.  The Marvell 9172 (4 ports) may or may not be able to be passed through to an unRAID VM.  I suspect it will work but don't really know since I don't have that board.  I believe I have a controller passed through with a 9172 chipset to a Windows VM.  But I could have the wrong model number.  My unRAID VMs all connect to LSI based IBM M1015s.  I have my 300GB Velociraptor's as my datastore drives because at the time I setup my ESXi servers I didn't have an advanced garbage collection SSD (still don't) and I already had the Velociraptor's.  I'm still using WHSv1 currently.  It was in a ESXi VM and mostly worked.  Lately I've had problems where it will lockup in the middle of a backup so am currently trying it on a HP N54L microserver that I just purchased off ebay.  I may switch to unRAID and VirtualBox (especially if 64 bit unRAID becomes available) and go back to a WHSv1 VM on the N54L.  Another thought is WHS2011 and tRAID (FlexRAID) but am waiting for tRAID to get out of RC's before I trust it.

Any knowledge if the 6 Intel ports can be passed through to unRAID? Would prefer that method, giving me 6 ports for unRAID and then 4 ports from the second controller for datastores...

 

A quick google did not help, but I am traveling and on a tablet, so my quick googling is limited.

 

Thanks for the info/comment.

Any knowledge if the 6 Intel ports can be passed through to unRAID? Would prefer that method, giving me 6 ports for unRAID and then 4 ports from the second controller for datastores...

 

A quick google did not help, but I am traveling and on a tablet, so my quick googling is limited.

 

Thanks for the info/comment.

Normally NO.  You have to have datastore drives and that usually means the MB chipset ports (Haswell ports in your case).  If the Marvel 9172 chipset is on the ESXi supported chipsets then you MIGHT be able to switch them but I would not expect it to work if it isn't supported.  I use ESXi 5.0 so 5.1/5.5 might have changes to support the Marvel.  If i'm right about my card being 9172 then I know it isn't supported by 5.0 but works in pass through just fine.  You are probably going to have to purchase a card for unRAID if you go to more than the 4 drives you listed.  Based on that list your 4TB drive will have to be parity for the 3TB and 2TBs.  So if you wanted those 4 drives as data then you will likely have to get a controller right off to get more than 4 drives so that you have parity.  Although I have seen some post they are not using parity I don't recommend that as I want at least SOME fault tolerance on my arrays.  The good news is that you could setup a VM and try the free version of unRAID to see if pass through works and the drives are recognized.  Then buy a plus or pro license depending on how many drives you expect to add later.

 

Edit: Well looked up my RocketRaid 622 and it is NOT a 9172 it is a 9128 so really can't say whether it will work in ESXi or not - sorry.  Since ESXi is free and unRAID has a free version you could try it before you buy it.

Processor and RAM will be in today, motherboard hopefully tomorrow. Newegg dropped the ball on shipping! Ordered from Amazon a day later than Newegg and they will beat Newegg out by a day haha.

 

Will update post once I get started with the build. I currently plan to throw all of the VM's OS on to the Intel 180GB. Should be more than enough space, and performance for that. It also has native advanced garbage collection.

From what I've read online, it's not possible to passthrough the Haswell chipset onboard sata controllers in ESXi. This holds true for the consumer grade motherboards (Z87). A quick google search doesn't leave much hope to the Marvell 9172 chipset either. Hopefully the C226 will be different.

 

You can also try Xen or KVM instead.

 

Keep us posted.

From what I've read online, it's not possible to passthrough the Haswell chipset onboard sata controllers in ESXi. This holds true for the consumer grade motherboards (Z87). A quick google search doesn't leave much hope to the Marvell 9172 chipset either. Hopefully the C226 will be different.

 

You can also try Xen or KVM instead.

 

Keep us posted.

The only thing I've had problems passing through so far are PCI USB 3.0 controllers - PCI-e versions work fine.  As long as the MB will recognize the card (a couple of different older Marvel chipsets but not a 9172) I've been able to pass through the controller on the PCI-e buss.  Does sound like either would be more likely to work but ESXi was so easy to install I prefer it.

Okay, a whole bunch of no luck this weekend with tinkering around.

 

I did manage to get ESXi 5.5 installed, but it was quite annoying. It would not complete the install from a bootable flash drive. I had to find one of my old burners and burn the ESXi installer to a disk. I have not had a disk drive in my systems for many years now, no need!

 

After getting ESXi installed, I went on to set up a simple Windows 7 VM. I have a Radeon 4650 which I passed along to it, as well as a USB controller giving me direct mouse/keyboard support. After running all of the windows updates, I installed the ATI drivers. Drivers installed without a hitch, but the system does not detect the monitor I plugged in to the card. No amount of fiddling worked, tried multiple reboots, disabling/enabling the vrtualized drivers. Then I installed VMware tools, and got a BSOD. Also have the annoying issue where I cannot assign over 2GB RAM to the system without a startup error. Have not looked in to that in depth, but did see a couple threads where it looks like there is a fix.

 

Moved on to unRaid to see about any success. ESXi sees the two Marvell SE8172 SATA controllers, two separate controllers each containing two SATA ports. I passed them along to unRaid. unRaid boots fine but does not detect any drives attached to the controllers. ESXi also does not detect these controllers in it's controller configuration page. It does detect the 180GB intel SSD I have plugged in to port 0 of the 6 C226 ports.

 

I moved in to a new house Friday, (first time home buyer), unpacked Saturday and got 1/10 settled then spent parts of Sunday tinkering as I mentioned above with unRaid. Have not done a ton of google research, but my initial impressions leave me with a feeling of doubt.

 

If I cannot get the two onboard Marvell controllers to successfully pass through the SATA ports to unRaid, then I can buy a SATA expansion card, such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101358, giving me a (for me) future proof 8 drive capacity. I have read through Johnm's Atlas post, so I feel confident this controller would work in ESXI/unRaid.

 

However, if I cannot successfully pass through a video card, allowing me for bitstreaming audio via Plex Home Theater, then the whole virtualization idea is a wash for me. It is a primary need.

 

I had thoughts of getting the system up with unRaid and with a Windows 7 box, with Windows 7 passing a video card along to a TV in my living room. Eventually, I would add a second card and pass through a second VM to my bedroom, allowing me to have two separate rooms fed Plex without the need for any PC's in either room.

 

If anyone has any suggestions for either of my WIndows 7 Video Card issues, or my unRaid controller issues please let me know!

 

I have never tried to pass through a video card.  All of my ESXi servers are headless.  You may need to go to the VMware forums for answers to the graphics card pass through problems.  I know graphics card pass though can work because I have read success stories but it may be limited to specific graphics cards and MBs.  What I wanted to do for my living room box that I know doesn't work was to pass through the CPU graphics on my i7 3770S in ESXi.  I eventually settled on SnapRaid running on a Windows 7 box to get my parity protection and SageTV client/server running in the living room.

I have never tried to pass through a video card.  All of my ESXi servers are headless.  You may need to go to the VMware forums for answers to the graphics card pass through problems.  I know graphics card pass though can work because I have read success stories but it may be limited to specific graphics cards and MBs.  What I wanted to do for my living room box that I know doesn't work was to pass through the CPU graphics on my i7 3770S in ESXi.  I eventually settled on SnapRaid running on a Windows 7 box to get my parity protection and SageTV client/server running in the living room.

 

Will give the VMware forums a shot for the video card passthrough support. I also know ti is possible, as I have read a few success stories. Hopefully I can make it happen on the hardware I currently have haha. Thanks!

No luck on this so far, no real assistance from VMware forums yet either.

 

After some reading, it appears graphics card passthrough on EWXi 5.5 is still incredibly wonky.

 

I gave XenServer a try last night, and despite being quite bad with Linux, had a Windows 7 VM with graphics card and USBpassthrough allowing for bitstreaming DTS-MA HD video through Plex Home Theater. Very pleased with the set-up there.

 

Though, still a no-go on passing the Marvell controller to unRaid.

 

I did find a post from a couple years ago, which seems to explain that this SATA chipset is simply not identified properly. Link: http://theangryangel.co.uk/blog/marvell-88se9172-sata3-under-linux-as-of-320/

 

At this point I don't know if/how this can help me though. Still too much of a Linux beginner.

 

Would really like to be able to utilize all on-board ports before the need to install any SATA cards. 10 on board ports split 6/2/2 on my motherboard is more than enough to server my current and near future storage needs. Just need to get these Marvell chips working.

 

Thinking about attempting a Xen install on something like a newer Ubuntu to see how that goes...

My unRAID VMs all connect to LSI based IBM M1015s. 

 

Hi Bob

 

I'm embarking on a new server build. Can only get mATX MB and have 12 drive slots so will need an HBA of some description. The M1015 sounds ideal, but  I'm new to SAS. The specs say it supports upto 32 devices. It has two mini-SAS ports, so is there a cable that would let me connect 6 to each (or 4 to each and use 4 on yet to be purchased MB)?

 

TIA

 

Mark

My unRAID VMs all connect to LSI based IBM M1015s. 

 

Hi Bob

 

I'm embarking on a new server build. Can only get mATX MB and have 12 drive slots so will need an HBA of some description. The M1015 sounds ideal, but  I'm new to SAS. The specs say it supports upto 32 devices. It has two mini-SAS ports, so is there a cable that would let me connect 6 to each (or 4 to each and use 4 on yet to be purchased MB)?

 

TIA

 

Mark

As far as I know the M1015 only comes in an 8 drive slot version when directly connecting to the drives.  You can connect a M1015 to a SAS expander like an Intel RES2SV240 (or RES2CV240) which will increase the drive count to a max of 24 drives - 20 drives connected to the RES2SV240 and 4 directly to the M1015.  An Intel RES2CV360 would let you go to 32 on the expander and 4 on M1015 (I believe but don't know since I don't own one).  I believe the max drive count on an M1015 and SAS expander is 128 not 32 but I could be wrong.  If you don't want to use a SAS expander there are cards that can handle 24 drives like the one in this thread - HighPoint RocketRaid 2760a.  That was the first one I had heard of that didn't contain a built in Expander on the card to go to 24 drives.  The cables are SFF-8087 connectors at the M1015 or SAS expander end and whatever connection you need for your backplane and/or drives at the other end.  Common cables are SFF-8087 forward breakout cables for connection directly to drives.  If going to a backplane it could be another SFF-8087 at the other end (which the Intel RES2SV240 comes with - short ones to go from M1015 to RES2SV240 and longer cable to go to back plane).  I have a 4 x 1 2.5 inch drive cage that has a SFF-8484 connector so I had to get a SFF-8087 to SFF-8484 cable for it. If you are going to a backplane that has SFF-8087 connectors you might want to use a reverse breakout cable that will let you go from your discrete MB SATA ports to the back plane.  All these cables handle 4 drives each cable.

In regards to video card passthrough I am using ESXi 5.1 and passing a Radeon 6450 without issues.  5.1 will not pass USB mice or keyboards though, so you'll have to use 5.0 if you need that.

Thanks intoran

 

Do you have HDCP support?

 

I'm concerned about starting off an entire strategy being stuck on "old" releases.