- MB - MSI X58 Platinum
- NIC - onboard 2 RealTek 8111c (8168)
- chipset - ICH10R
- CPU socket - Intel I7 920
- BIOS - default, haven't upgraded
- are the onboard NIC / storage controller working - YES and YES!
- any changes required to enable ESX/ESXi to recognize hardware components - You need to go into the Bios and switch the SATA controller to ACHI the default IDE will not recognize any of the drives.
- does the storage controller support RAID / battery backup for write cache - haven't tried
- does the MB support Intel VT (vt-x) / AMD-V - Yes
- does it support vt-d (directed I/O) / AMD IOMMU - Yes
- links to other forums if you have the details already posted there - Please see my install experience here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=66 Please note that I did have to use the OEM.tgz file that supported the RealTek 8111c drivers (link in the post)

Currently having an issue with slow host network response (bad web requests, can't join domain, can't share files, can't browse, can't rdp, etc) on my first win 2008 host. I'll post back when I figure it out.

The connection to and from the host is fine using the console.

How are you making out with the NIC issue? Have you tried another NIC with the MB (would you have a broadcom 57xx, Intel Pro 100/1000 around)?

I have two Intel compatible Nics coming tomorrow. When I install them I will post back with the results.

Yep, it is the realtek nics. Same VM and all with the new nics configured and it works like a charm. You should take the link for compatibility down for the RealTek 8168/8111c because they do not work in the vm's (work fine for loading a vm and console access) but do not work in server 2008 64 bit vm's (and maybe others but I have not tried any other OS's)

Hi dmlavigne1

It is not an unlikely scenario that one of the revisions of the 8111C chip has some problems with the driver (There are 5 revisions total of C and CP versions).

It is also not unlikely that there may be a combination of Client OS, configuration and hardware that is having problems (for example with jumbo frames), after all this is very much use at your own risk, or it may just be faulty hardware.

However I can say that using Ubuntu Hardy server - amd64 as a client OS and after sending 100s of GB through the network with it shows no degradation on the r8168 NIC. On the other hand the realtek drivers all are CPU bound and may have some problems if the CPU is maxing out, but I have not seen any problems like this although performance do drop off while the CPU is loaded hard (but recovers again).

PS! I do not have one of those MSI X58 Platinum I7 920 and a Windows server 2008 but if you (or someone else) will send me one I will be happy to test it and make the ESXi driver work (if possible)

Regards
Jens

Does anyone see any reason why this would have any problems? Or a suggestion on a motherboard that might have video and more SATA ports (apparently this one only has 2.)

(posted this on http://timfotherby.squarespace.com)

msi x58 platinum
239, 219amir: http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0304804
219: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130220

i7 920 cpu (heatsink/fan)
199.99: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=1354531
288.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115202

ocz memory 12GB ddr3 1600
199.99, 179.99amir: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820227422
229.99: http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0308440

2x1TB Seagates
2x99.99: http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0281709
2x99.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148433

2xIntel Network Cards (necessary for compatibility.)
2x27.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833106121

EVGA Video card
19.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130097

Garbage pick cdrom/dvdrom

case
24.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811147073

450W Rosewill
39.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182075


--
Total: 939.93+/- tax & shipping

Does the MSI X58 have a hardware raid chipset?

ESXi doesn't support software raid.

You didn't say if the 2 1TB drives were going to be in a Raid 0 or 1 array or just 2 drives.

If 2 drives then you should be OK with the onboard Sata ports but you will have 2 LUNS.

If you want to use them in a Raid config then you're looking at about $300-400 more for a good HW raid card with a battery backup.

Also, any reason why you are buying a board without a VGA onboard chipset. Remember, ESXi won't use it except for the most basic text mode so there are a lot of boards out there that have them onboard and will save you a slot.

What sort of VM load are you planning to run on this?

Looking to put the following:
mail server (linux)
file server (vista, probably will convert to linux with freenas later.)
4 workstations
dns server

I want room to grow as well.

At the end of the day, the motherboard really doesn't matter to me as long as it's deemed 'compatible' and 'working'.

I'm sure a q6600 box would be a much cheaper setup.
Also the hard drives won't be in raid. But I might have a perc raid controller sitting around.