So I'm getting ready to move my unRAID server from bare metal to a VM inside of my ESXi host.  I'm going to passthrough my M1015 storage controller obviously so that I get tall the smart features and hardware monitoring capabilities but do I also need to passthrough my unRAID usb flash drive to the VM as well?

Yep.  See "USB 1" below.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

It looks like you're also passing through USB for your UPS is that correct?  Are you also passing through those 4 PCI devices?  If so what are they for?

Thanks for the reply.

 

It looks like you're also passing through USB for your UPS is that correct?  Are you also passing through those 4 PCI devices?  If so what are they for?

 

Ahhh I see.

 

Why do you passthrough 2 ethernet adapters?  I thought unRAID didn't support LACP.  Or is there a workaround when using unRAID in a VM?

Ahhh I see.

 

Why do you passthrough 2 ethernet adapters?  I thought unRAID didn't support LACP.  Or is there a workaround when using unRAID in a VM?

 

It does support LACP.

 

Oh beautiful!  Is that a new feature on version 6 (just installed 6 a few weeks ago).  What kind of throughput do you get over the link and what kind of switch are you using (smart or fully managed?)

Jim, you need to pass USB for unRAID, but notice - Steven's unRAID are booting from VMDK(mine too ) - it's a more faster boot method than from USB, and you cant boot from USB directly, then you need Plop or something like that..   

Jim, you need to pass USB for unRAID, but notice - Steven's unRAID are booting from VMDK(mine too ) - it's a more faster boot method than from USB, and you cant boot from USB directly, then you need Plop or something like that.. 

 

Could you explain this in a little more detail?

Jim, you need to pass USB for unRAID, but notice - Steven's unRAID are booting from VMDK(mine too ) - it's a more faster boot method than from USB, and you cant boot from USB directly, then you need Plop or something like that.. 

 

Could you explain this in a little more detail?

 

are you familiar with Atlas thread? there are lot of information how to work with esxi.. http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=14695.msg138465#msg138465

 

or another thread about, with already prebuild VMDK images http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=26639.0

but you can create your own very easy.

Jim, you need to pass USB for unRAID, but notice - Steven's unRAID are booting from VMDK(mine too ) - it's a more faster boot method than from USB, and you cant boot from USB directly, then you need Plop or something like that.. 

 

Could you explain this in a little more detail?

 

are you familiar with Atlas thread? there are lot of information how to work with esxi.. http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=14695.msg138465#msg138465

 

or another thread about, with already prebuild VMDK images http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=26639.0

but you can create your own very easy.

 

Thanks, I will read through those.

Thanks, I will read through those.

just 2 cents from me too:

- you don't need huge size vmdk - mine is 8GB only

- notice that version upgrade wont work automatically via Plugins page - you will need to do additional step after every upgrade - mount your boot drive( unassigned disks plugin helps there ) and copy over bzroot/bzimage from your flash..

Thanks, I will read through those.

just 2 cents from me too:

- you don't need huge size vmdk - mine is 8GB only

- notice that version upgrade wont work automatically via Plugins page - you will need to do additional step after every upgrade - mount your boot drive( unassigned disks plugin helps there ) and copy over bzroot/bzimage from your flash..

Since my datastores are SSD and space is at a premium, my unRAID vmdk is only 1GB thin provisioned (so maybe 100MB actual size).  Never had an issue.

Thanks, I will read through those.

just 2 cents from me too:

- you don't need huge size vmdk - mine is 8GB only

- notice that version upgrade wont work automatically via Plugins page - you will need to do additional step after every upgrade - mount your boot drive( unassigned disks plugin helps there ) and copy over bzroot/bzimage from your flash..

 

Thanks, I will read through those.

just 2 cents from me too:

- you don't need huge size vmdk - mine is 8GB only

- notice that version upgrade wont work automatically via Plugins page - you will need to do additional step after every upgrade - mount your boot drive( unassigned disks plugin helps there ) and copy over bzroot/bzimage from your flash..

Since my datastores are SSD and space is at a premium, my unRAID vmdk is only 1GB thin provisioned (so maybe 100MB actual size).  Never had an issue.

 

Very good to know.  I'll definitely do that when I'm setting mine up. 

 

One question...Why do you need to even passthrough the boot flash drive if you're using a vmdk to boot?

 

Very good to know.  I'll definitely do that when I'm setting mine up. 

 

One question...Why do you need to even passthrough the boot flash drive if you're using a vmdk to boot?

Because your license is tied to your flash drive. Although initial boot occurs on the vmdk, all configuration, plugins, etc. is loaded via the usb, and that is what is mounted to /boot.

 

Very good to know.  I'll definitely do that when I'm setting mine up. 

 

One question...Why do you need to even passthrough the boot flash drive if you're using a vmdk to boot?

Because your license is tied to your flash drive. Although initial boot occurs on the vmdk, all configuration, plugins, etc. is loaded via the usb, and that is what is mounted to /boot.

 

Ahhh, makes sense.  Thanks.

 

Very good to know.  I'll definitely do that when I'm setting mine up. 

 

One question...Why do you need to even passthrough the boot flash drive if you're using a vmdk to boot?

Because your license is tied to your flash drive. Although initial boot occurs on the vmdk, all configuration, plugins, etc. is loaded via the usb, and that is what is mounted to /boot.

Anyone encountered this issue: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=37687.0 ?