I currently have an esxi server (I hve virtualized unraid in the past but I like the idea of an actual unraid machine).  So on to my question.  I am formulating a plan to move my unraid to my current esxi hardware.  I want to do this because I am unvirtualizing my plex server and want a more powerful server for transcoding.  So I am figuring out what I can do with a couple other vitual machines.  The other virtual machines I have are:

 

2 X Win 7.  One of the win 7 vm is sagetv.  I currently RDM a harddrive for recording.  I am not positive his is mandatory.  The only thing I use on this VM is an hdhomerun.

 

So on to the change

 

I want to:

 

Move my unraid server to a more powerful machine.

Install Plex on it for trancodiing purposes (xeon processor)

Install Xen on it to move/recreate my current vm's.

 

I currently run unraid 5.05

 

I take it I will have to upgrade to unraid 6.

 

Then figure out how to install Xen.  Can a person pass a physical drive through to aa vm in Xen?

 

Is unraid 6 stable enough for this plan?

 

Thoughts/Suggestions?

 

Thanks

Bill

I currently have an esxi server (I hve virtualized unraid in the past but I like the idea of an actual unraid machine).  So on to my question.  I am formulating a plan to move my unraid to my current esxi hardware.  I want to do this because I am unvirtualizing my plex server and want a more powerful server for transcoding.  So I am figuring out what I can do with a couple other vitual machines.  The other virtual machines I have are:

 

2 X Win 7.  One of the win 7 vm is sagetv.  I currently RDM a harddrive for recording.  I am not positive his is mandatory.  The only thing I use on this VM is an hdhomerun.

 

So on to the change

 

I want to:

 

Move my unraid server to a more powerful machine.

Install Plex on it for trancodiing purposes (xeon processor)

Install Xen on it to move/recreate my current vm's.

 

I currently run unraid 5.05

 

I take it I will have to upgrade to unraid 6.

 

Then figure out how to install Xen.  Can a person pass a physical drive through to aa vm in Xen?

 

Is unraid 6 stable enough for this plan?

 

Thoughts/Suggestions?

 

Thanks

Bill

 

If you want to run virtualization on UnRAID, yes you will need to move to version 6, however... while we are currently using Xen (which is built in so you don't need to install it), this is going to be moving over to KVM in the near future, so I would hold off moving until we get a KVM build (there is no sense building/learning Xen only to have it switch to KVM thereafter).

 

From a stability standpoint there is no issues. UnRAID 6 is stable and I have had no issues with it, and I've been running the betas since beta1.

 

For pass-through, yes you can do that with Xen, and presumably with KVM, but I don't have any first hand KVM experience yet.

 

Lastly, for Plex, I would still personally run it in a VM ( have a Xeon and 16GB of ram - I dedicate 6 cores and 12GB to the VM and leave 2 cores and 4GB for UnRAID). Any plugins you install on UnRAID are only community supported and introduce risk. Isolating process inside a VM is a prudent means of avoiding this (assuming you are looking at virtualization). Some will still run standard plug-ins, but the recommendation for those able to support it is to move them to VMs.

thought I will chime in here :-)

 

#1. you do not have to 

"Install Xen on it to move/recreate my current vm's."

current v6 unraid comes with Xen built in. when you boot into it you have an option to boot into regular setup or with Xen.  all you would need to do is change the config to make the Xen boot default.

 

#2

Is unraid 6 stable enough for this plan?

as unraid probobly it's stable, as unRaid with Xen

it's still a question.  even though there are many people here that have been running the new distro for months now and all looks ok.

 

#3.  your bigger issue would be converting your current ESXi VMs to run under Xen. it is not a straight forward process, so do your research, ask questions specifically try to talk to ironcibadger and grumpybutfun, they are pros.

 

and finally do very thorough research on your hardware to make sure it supports VT-d/IOMMU

as you mention  (xeon processor) I assume all is Intel based. make sure all MB and CPU supports VT-d.

if you plan to pass-through anything except video. I think in Xen you can pass-through video even with no VT-d support, but that is all.

 

If you want to run virtualization on UnRAID, yes you will need to move to version 6, however... while we are currently using Xen (which is built in so you don't need to install it), this is going to be moving over to KVM in the near future, so I would hold off moving until we get a KVM build (there is no sense building/learning Xen only to have it switch to KVM thereafter).

 

You missed the 'big' announcement?  The plan is for both XEN and KVM to be supported from the next beta onwards.  Also, there has been talk of supporting Docker too - three different environments available to run our add-ons.

If you want to run virtualization on UnRAID, yes you will need to move to version 6, however... while we are currently using Xen (which is built in so you don't need to install it), this is going to be moving over to KVM in the near future, so I would hold off moving until we get a KVM build (there is no sense building/learning Xen only to have it switch to KVM thereafter).

 

You missed the 'big' announcement?  The plan is for both XEN and KVM to be supported from the next beta onwards.  Also, there has been talk of supporting Docker too - three different environments available to run our add-ons.

 

The 'big' announcement came after this post.

 

So, I should revise my comments. Now that Xen will continue to be supported you can safely jump into UnRAID 6.0 and start testing.

You missed the 'big' announcement?  The plan is for both XEN and KVM to be supported from the next beta onwards.  Also, there has been talk of supporting Docker too - three different environments available to run our add-ons.

 

Not sure about the "onwards" part.  But at least Xen will be in the next beta to facilitate an easier migration to KVM.

You missed the 'big' announcement?  The plan is for both XEN and KVM to be supported from the next beta onwards.  Also, there has been talk of supporting Docker too - three different environments available to run our add-ons.

 

Not sure about the "onwards" part.  But at least Xen will be in the next beta to facilitate an easier migration to KVM.

 

Did you read things differently than I did, or are you aware of other plans? I had assumed that both Xen & KVM were now making it into 6.0 through final. If it's only for one more beta then that isn't nearly as good. I hope some clarity is provided here on the exact plans.

 

 

One More Update:  The future of Xen vs. KVM

I forgot to mention this before I posted.  At this point, we are not announcing ANY plans to eliminate Xen or KVM from unRAID.  We MAY investigate the possibility of removing support for one of these two at some point in the future, but if we do, we will ensure we provide notice in advance.

 

 

Here is the part where it is mentioned.

 

I'm actually glad about this as it gives us time to play with both of these virtualization options when they become available. My C2-SEA motherboard doesn't have working support of IOMMU and therefore can't do HVM Windows based VM's so KVM won't work on it (at least from what I've read about it so far). XEN is my only choice on that server. My new one does support IOMMU though.

 

Gary

 

One More Update:  The future of Xen vs. KVM

I forgot to mention this before I posted.  At this point, we are not announcing ANY plans to eliminate Xen or KVM from unRAID.  We MAY investigate the possibility of removing support for one of these two at some point in the future, but if we do, we will ensure we provide notice in advance.

 

 

Here is the part where it is mentioned.

 

I'm actually glad about this as it gives us time to play with both of these virtualization options when they become available. My C2-SEA motherboard doesn't have working support of IOMMU and therefore can't do HVM Windows based VM's so KVM won't work on it (at least from what I've read about it so far). XEN is my only choice on that server. My new one does support IOMMU though.

 

Gary

 

I read that as well, but didn't take from it that we only have Xen for one more beta. However, things change so much, who knows? I guess we will know when we know, though it would be nice if we were asked which we prefer once we have had a chance to play with both.

 

If the two can peacefully coexist, maybe its fine to have both. Or maybe through boot options you'll be able to disable the one you don't use.

 

We'll just have to see.