VM Server
Case: Thermaltake Element V
MB: Intel DX58SO2
CPU: Intel i7 950 with Hyper Threading - 8 logical processors available
Memory: 24GB Corsair PC-12800 1600MHz
LAN: 2x On board - works out of the box 2nd NIC set as redundant
Controller: Adaptec 2405
Storage Drives: 4x Western Digital RE4 500GB in Raid 10 array
Boot drive: 4GB Lacie mini USB stick
Onboard SATA: Used for DVD drive only as RAID arrays are not available to ESXi 4.1
DVD: Liteon DVD-RW Sata Black
VT-d: tested and working
ESX versions tested: 4.1, 4.1 U1

note: Neither USB3 ports or eSata ports work in VT-d passthrough mode. I challenge someone to get these working

Virtual File Server Setup
Virtual File Server: Server 2008 R2 Standard
VTd Storage controller: Adaptec 6805 with AFM600 BBU
Passthrough Storage Drives: 8x Western digital RE4 2TB in Raid 6

Works brilliantly but required 2 host restarts to install, once to install the card, and a second time to configure the host to make the controller available to guest. The purpose of this was to get around the 2TB maximum size limitation with ESX as I wanted a virtual file server wth a single 12TB drive.
The controller can be fully managed using the Adaptec Storage Manager software that I installed on the virtual file server. Note: must use the latest version of ASM to manage the Adaptec 68xx series controllers... 20 minutes of wasted time.

Potential issues with this setup:
Obviously this would not work if I was using 2 or more ESXi hosts and tried to vMotion the VM.
All guests and the host have to be restarted if adding more disks to the controller or changing any RAID settings.

Thanks so much for this post Tom, i will buy the same exacts configuration...instead on 950 i am planning to get a 960 ( i hope it should have no problem)

can you also please tell me what SMPS you used and how many watts ?
does the PC generates fan noise when it runs ?

I used an Antec 650 Watt PSU as I plan to add a second RAID array in the future. 960 works just fine, I have tried this processor on a ASUS board but could not get VT-d working.

I used a Thermaltake Element V case with 2x Noctua 140mm fans on the top blowing out and 3x Noctua fans on the front blowing in, and 1x 120 Noctua fan blowing out the back.
Case was well constructed and easy to work on, decent cable management keeps everything neat. Plenty of space for drives.
Noise is quite mild, noticable but not annoying.

Thanks for your post tom333. I have just successfully installed ESXi 5 on the same board.

Here are my specs:

• Motherboard: Intel DX58SO2 [DX58SO2]
• CPU: Intel Core i7 960 3.20 GHz [BX80601960]
• RAM: Corsair XMS3 DDR3 kit, 6GB (3 x 2GB) [CMX6GX3M3A1600C9]
• Video: GeForce 9300GS, 512MB, PCI-E, DVI, VGA, HDMI [VGA-PIXEL-9300GS-512]
• HDD: WD Caviar Green, 1TB, 7200RPM, SATA III, 64MB Cache [WD10EARX]
• Case: Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus [RC-431P]
• PSU: Cooler Master GX-650W [RS-650-ACAA-D3]

So far no issues. Here's a step by step write up: Installing ESXi 5 on Intel DX58SO2 whitebox

Hello, its my first reply in this forum.



i want a lab server with a configuration like the one you are getting, but the processor instead of a 960 wanted to put a 970 or 980 are hexacore. You know if there is any problem to put these processors, I see people with 1366 running boards but all processors 920, 950 or 960, I have seen anyone with a 970 or 980.

There is a problem with these and put up in 1366 is 960, or I can put a 970 980 with no problems?

thanks

Hello, its my first reply in this forum.

i want a lab server with a configuration like the one you are getting, but the processor instead of a 960 wanted to put a 970 or 980 are hexacore. You know if there is any problem to put these processors, I see people with 1366 running boards but all processors 920, 950 or 960, I have seen anyone with a 970 or 980. Processors are really incompatible "Gulftown" with ESX 4.1? or I can put a 970/980 without problems?

thanks

Hi,

Any i7 9 series will work just fine. I have tested on my friends 980 and it was not a problem.
Generally incompatibilities arise from network controllers or disk controllers.

Regards,

Tom

Thanks tom333

Ok, so if I put the same setup as you, they will not put removing RAID controller, but I'll stick with s-ata and put the 980 I should work without problems right? with this board as you say ethernet ports work ok. Also be tested if the parent s-ata II but without RAID function work?