• I have a couple questions regarding visualization via xen.
  I changed up my original plans and decided to go with unRAID as the host instead of having Arch as dom0 and unRAID as a vm.
   
  Here is the current hardware I have:
  Main System
  Case 1: Norco RPC-470
  CPU:    Intel i7 4770
  Mobo:  undecided
  RAM:    16GB
  GPU:    EVGA nVidia GTx770
              ATI HD5450
  RAID:    IBM M1015
  Misc:    PCI Networking card (pfsense)
   
  Dummy Box (DAS) for Hard drives only
  Case 2: SuperMicro 24 Bay
  Mobo:    A dummy motherboard for power only
  RAID:    HP SAS Expander
   
  I plan on doing:
  
  • unRAID:          dom0 ( pci passthru of M1015 -> HP SAS Expander DAS box )
    
  • Arch2:              vm1  ( nginx, sickbeard, mySQL, etc )
    
  • Windows 8.1:  vm2  ( with VGA passthru, but no output - will act as my steam in-home streaming host )
    
  • steamOS:        vm3  ( in-home streaming client, also with XBMC )
    
  • openELEC:      vm4  ( ATI HD5450 -> XBMC to living room
    
  • pfsense:        vm5
    

 

 

Now onto my questions:

[*] Is it possible to pass-through the integrated HD Graphics 4600 from my i7 4770 to my vm3 steamOS/XBMC vm?  Which would leave dom0 headless (which I am fine with)

[*] I think I remember reading once on these forums that nVidia cards have some issues, would my GTX770 work or would I have to buy an ATI based card.

[*] Is there a way for my vm2 (Windows) vm to access my games share from unRAID(domU1)?  That doesn't require NFS, something maybe a little faster (since they're on the same thing I thought there might me some type of xen magic)?

 

I have tried researching some of these topics, but found the results often contradictory or confusing.  So if you could answer any of them at all that would be great.

 

One additional thing I would like some suggestions for is a motherboard, it has to be a socket 1150, minimum of 3 PCI-e x16 slots (preferably 8x,8x,4x), and of course support visualization.  If anyone knows of a great board, please let me know.

 

I think that's everything for now, I will edit or post more if I come up with any other questions.

 

Thanks,

 

Jordon.

I've not had much luck disabling graphics for the host entirely.

 

I have managed to passthrough iGPUs before now but when xen-pciback grabbed this device it just transferred the host video to my Radeon card (which was also supposed to be grabbed by pci-back). I think you could probably automate this post boot, but it gets messy.

 

My advice is buy a cheap PCIe card to do the job you were intending for your iGPU and just leave the Intel GPU for unRAID.

I have a ASRock C226 WS that I have been using for a few months and it seems to be a solid broad with the PCIe config that you need (2 at 8x, 1 at 4x, 3 at 1x slots) and also your processor that you have picked out is in the ASRock supported CPU list.  It also has 10 sata ports and supports VT-d.  I would suggest getting ECC memory if the board you pick supports it.  I have had a memory problem that caused data lose on a different unRAID machine hence I got a server board and ECC RAM.  I do not have a VT-d compatible processor but am going to upgrade to one once unRAID 6 gets closer to final.

 

http://www.asrock.com/server/overview.asp?Model=C226%20WS

 

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

 

Here is a forum post of my system with syslog running for 30+ days straight.

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=31050.msg279847#msg279847

I've not had much luck disabling graphics for the host entirely.

 

I have managed to passthrough iGPUs before now but when xen-pciback grabbed this device it just transferred the host video to my Radeon card (which was also supposed to be grabbed by pci-back). I think you could probably automate this post boot, but it gets messy.

 

My advice is buy a cheap PCIe card to do the job you were intending for your iGPU and just leave the Intel GPU for unRAID.

 

Well if I don't pass the integrated GPU then I'll need my GTx770, the HD5450, and a third.  Which takes up all my PCIe slots, leaving no room for the M1015 card.  It would be nice if unRAID could be ran on top of arch that way the integrated GPU wouldn't be wasted.

 

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