Hi,

I have a recent build with i7-3770k CPU and Asrock z77 extreme4 mobo with 16GB ram. I want to virtualize this server and hardware pass through IBM M1015 sata/sas card for unraid 5.0.

 

I read through this forum and tried Exsi 5.5, XenServer and Xen on Ubuntu. but no success. Can some one advise or point me in right direction to achieve this?

 

Note: As per CPU info. i7 3770K does not support VT-d but VT-x.

 

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I have a recent build with i7-3770k CPU and Asrock z77 extreme4 mobo with 16GB ram. I want to virtualize this server and hardware pass through IBM M1015 sata/sas card for unraid 5.0.

 

I read through this forum and tried Exsi 5.5, XenServer and Xen on Ubuntu. but no success. Can some one advise or point me in right direction to achieve this?

 

Note: As per CPU info. i7 3770K does not support VT-d but VT-x.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

What you want to do required VT-d, need a non-k version processor, or a Xeon.

Thank you NotYetRated for your suggestion.

I realized this when my first attempt of pass  through failed. Looking any work around suggestions for using i7 -3770K.

Thank you NotYetRated for your suggestion.

I realized this when my first attempt of pass  through failed. Looking any work around suggestions for using i7 -3770K.

 

To my knowledge, no VT-d, no work. Intel intentionally cripples their K version processors in this manner.

oh.... :'(

Yes, K-series CPU doesn't support VT-d, you may need to change your CPU.

Update!!

 

To circumvent this Hardware pass through limitation....

 

1. Installed Ubuntu server 13.10 with SSH, & Samba server.

2. Implemented SnapRaid 4.4 in place of unRaid (no need for Hardware pass through) as this is installed on top of Ubuntu and my M1015 card is available directly to SnapRaid.

3. Now looking to install Xen or XenServer to or some other VM app to implement Virtualization.

 

Thank you all for your help!!! 

You're not "circumventing" the issue => you're avoiding it by using a Level 2 hypervisor running under Ubuntu instead of a Level 1 hypervisor that runs bare metal.

 

You can install Xen, VMware, etc. under Ubuntu => they'll work fine; but you won't get the performance level you would with a Level 1 hypervisor like ESXi.

 

That's about all you can do, however, since you bought a CPU that didn't support the features ESXi required.

 

Xen is level 1 hypervisor.

So is xenserver, which is based on xen.

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk

 

Update!!

 

To circumvent this Hardware pass through limitation....

 

1. Installed Ubuntu server 13.10 with SSH, & Samba server.

2. Implemented SnapRaid 4.4 in place of unRaid (no need for Hardware pass through) as this is installed on top of Ubuntu and my M1015 card is available directly to SnapRaid.

3. Now looking to install Xen or XenServer to or some other VM app to implement Virtualization.

 

Thank you all for your help!!! 

 

 

Why do you need unraid than?

Just use btrfs on multiple device volume in raid5 or 6 config and you get same level of protection as unraid.  The only thing you will not get is drive independence.

 

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk

 

 

Xen is level 1 hypervisor.

 

My error => I thought he'd said he was going to install this under Ubuntu; but I see that it's indeed a Level 1 hypervisor.    However, that will then have the same problem as ESXi => the controller can't be passed through to UnRAID, so there will be significant performance degradation.

 

There's simply no way to do that with native-level performance without pass-through;  and you won't get pass-through without Vt-d.    Bottom line:  The 3770k is the wrong CPU for native (Level 1 hypervisor) virtualization.

 

so while I'm highjacking,

 

What should I look for in my motherboards and CPUs for the ability to have passthrough? (current setup is AMD x4 965 black edition)

 

I'm looking to upgrade cpu, mobo and ram in the next year. what should I be looking at if I want to go the ESXi route? (Right now I run a very innefficient unRAID + Virtualbox. it's kind of backwards!

 

I'm looking to go 32gb ram (would you recommend xeon + ecc or just regular i5/i7 and nonecc?) for 4 or more VMs with room to expand.

 

also I currently have 9 drives but looking to go upwards of 20+

 

sorry for hijack!

What should I look for in my motherboards and CPUs for the ability to have passthrough? (current setup is AMD x4 965 black edition)

 

I'm looking to upgrade cpu, mobo and ram in the next year. what should I be looking at if I want to go the ESXi route? (Right now I run a very innefficient unRAID + Virtualbox. it's kind of backwards!

 

In the Intel world it's known as VT-d, in the AMD world it's known as AMD-V. Both the CPU and motherboard have to support it.

What should I look for in my motherboards and CPUs for the ability to have passthrough? (current setup is AMD x4 965 black edition)

 

I'm looking to upgrade cpu, mobo and ram in the next year. what should I be looking at if I want to go the ESXi route? (Right now I run a very innefficient unRAID + Virtualbox. it's kind of backwards!

 

In the Intel world it's known as VT-d, in the AMD world it's known as AMD-V. Both the CPU and motherboard have to support it.

 

Anything else? Can the virtual cores be allocated? (like say a 4real4virtual vs a 4real, would the latter be the same in this type of env or can allocated cpus hyperthread?)

 

Also ECC or no ECC what's the general consensus? I want to go with yes, but then I have to go xeon do I not?

 

any specific mb the general consensus "great mobo for esxi"?

Anything else? Can the virtual cores be allocated? (like say a 4real4virtual vs a 4real, would the latter be the same in this type of env or can allocated cpus hyperthread?)

 

Also ECC or no ECC what's the general consensus? I want to go with yes, but then I have to go xeon do I not?

 

any specific mb the general consensus "great mobo for esxi"?

 

I don't currently virtualize, so can't answer your first question.

 

ECC RAM is the general consensus.  If you're considering a serious virtualized build you should really be going Xeon anyway.

 

The Supermicro server mobos, especially the x9 and x10 series are the favorites for virtualized builds around here and are very highly regarded.

Anything else? Can the virtual cores be allocated? (like say a 4real4virtual vs a 4real, would the latter be the same in this type of env or can allocated cpus hyperthread?)

 

Also ECC or no ECC what's the general consensus? I want to go with yes, but then I have to go xeon do I not?

 

any specific mb the general consensus "great mobo for esxi"?

 

I don't currently virtualize, so can't answer your first question.

 

ECC RAM is the general consensus.  If you're considering a serious virtualized build you should really be going Xeon anyway.

 

The Supermicro server mobos, especially the x9 and x10 series are the favorites for virtualized builds around here and are very highly regarded.

 

So I can't really be going the way I'mgoing with a phenom II X4 965?

 

I mean it'll work. I would just like the added benefit of ecc ram... damn!

 

So I can't really be going the way I'mgoing with a phenom II X4 965?

 

I mean it'll work. I would just like the added benefit of ecc ram... damn!

 

...if you *want* to stick to the CPU, go for an ASUS AM3+ board.

Almost al of them support ECC ...and still support AM2+ AM3 socket CPUs as well.

Like with the M5A99FX PRO R.2.0: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A99FX_PRO_R20/#specifications ..ECC and support for your CPU...the 990FX chipset will support IOMMU...no idea if this is enabled in BIOS though.

I made the same mistake with my first ESX build and bought a K CPU. It's still a good CPU but not vt-d so it defeated the whole point of buying it for me. Was a wonderful ESX box otherwise for most VMs but obviously nothing hardware passes. Wasn't exactly well documented at the time either and I had to dig to find the information. Grrr!

 

 

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Wasn't exactly well documented at the time either and I had to dig to find the information.

 

Actually Intel's Processor Spec Finder has been available for years -- and lists all of the detailed capabilities for every CPU.    You DO, of course, have to know what features you need, and look at the specifics for the CPU's you're considering.    But there's not really any "digging" to find the details.

http://ark.intel.com/

 

So I can't really be going the way I'mgoing with a phenom II X4 965?

 

I mean it'll work. I would just like the added benefit of ecc ram... damn!

 

...if you *want* to stick to the CPU, go for an ASUS AM3+ board.

Almost al of them support ECC ...and still support AM2+ AM3 socket CPUs as well.

Like with the M5A99FX PRO R.2.0: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A99FX_PRO_R20/#specifications ..ECC and support for your CPU...the 990FX chipset will support IOMMU...no idea if this is enabled in BIOS though.

 

I gave up on ECC and ended up with this board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262

 

I will miss the 4 pcie slots that the one you mentioned has, but other than that (and ECC) these two should serve the same purpose yeah?

Good motherboard.

 

I have tested ESXi, XenServer and running Xen / KVM on various Linux Distros (all running unRAID in a VM).

 

You can passthrough 4 of the 5 sata ports and leave the 5th one for the OS and a data store.

 

Hi ddeeds / Ford Prefect / Rest

 

Been thinking about going down the XenServer route and messing about with it on my microserver to learn how to configure it, this is a totaly new area to me i know next to nothing about.

 

Before I even attempt to try it on my main server is there a list somewhere of compatible AMD boards and CPU'S that support the needed AMD-V that's been mentioned here.

 

Pretty sure my budget built server doesn't lol, don't want to spend a fortune if I can help it but looking to get an idea on cost for the parts.

 

Current spec below in sig.

 

Edit: According to cpuworld my current cpu supports VT guess only way to find out is install xenserver and see if it works.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AMD-Sempron%20190%20-%20SDX190HDK22GM.html

Good motherboard.

 

I have tested ESXi, XenServer and running Xen / KVM on various Linux Distros (all running unRAID in a VM).

 

You can passthrough 4 of the 5 sata ports and leave the 5th one for the OS and a data store.

 

so on the extreme4 I can passthrough 4 of the ports? Sweeeeeeet!

 

I'm gonna have to devise a plan to mount a HDD and an SSD inside my antec 1200. I have 4 norco 500 drive bays all across the front for my unRAID vm, so my SSD is going to be my datastore and the HDD is going to be the snapshot and backup of the datastore I wanna make sure the 20 drive bays are all dedicated to unraid. got 2 M1015s and another 4 port controller for it. the passthrough just adds to the awesomeness if you did mean the extreme4!

 

yeehaw

 

I got my AMD-FX8340 and ASRock 970 Extreme 4 for $240 and added a $60 water cooler.

 

Memory, Case, Drives, Power Supply, etc. are cheap and I had them already from a previous machine.

 

With the AMD FX-8350, ASRock 970 Extreme 4, using 4 of the 5 onboard sata ports for unRAID, 4 TB drives you could have 12TB with a parity drive. You will not need a cache drive because you will use a VM for CouchPotato, Sickbeard, etc. and have plenty of CPUs (You have 8 total) to use for Windows, Pfsense, etc.

 

Hi ddeeds

 

I see you got the FX-8350 would something like the FX-4100 be OK or FX6300, I know its not got as many cores but wouldn't need that much power as  it will be for unRAID + Another VM Running torrent, web-server + maybe own-cloud and maybe 1 other vm for testing stuff,

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMD-FX-4100-3-6-GHz-Quad-Core-FD4100WMW4KGU-Processor-/310801090529?pt=UK_Computing_CPUs_Processors&hash=item485d3047e1

 

Looking at cpuworld they all have the the needed VT, is there anything else to look out for?

 

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series%20FX-8350.html

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series%20FX-4100.html

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series%20FX-6300.html

 

With regards to the motherboard it says the ASRock 970 Extreme3 is compatible also, could get a deal on that on eBay aswell

 

My case memory and other bits should be fine, just after a board and cpu.

 

This could get interesting hehe.

I'm gonna have to devise a plan to mount a HDD and an SSD inside my antec 1200.

 

If all your unRAID drives are on the M1015s, you wouldn't need to passthrough your onboard sata ports. That leaves you 5 which you could use for datastores / snapshots.

 

2 015s only give me 16 ports as far as I know. But either way its good news!

Ah so if I got the 4 core version I could only assign say 2 cores to unraid and 2 cores to the plugin VM I wouldn't be able to run another VM as there would be no cores free?

 

If that's the case I take its the same for memory, USB ports, etc etc.

 

Sorry if that sounds stupid, still very very new to virtualization.