My current fileserver is running on a Supermicro X7SBE which works on Windows, FreeBSD, Nexenta Core/Solaris and Linux, but now that I'm planing to build a 2nd file server this board is no longer for sale from my retailer. Are there any good server grade motherboards out there that can works well on all of these platforms?
Are there any server grade motherboards that works on all OSs?
- Thread starter zicoz
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Thanks for that notice, do you have any suggestions for CPU and memory for that card?
Will the stuff from the Mid-range DIY Storage Server work?
http://www.servethehome.com/midrange-diy-storage-server-buyers-guide-december-2010/
Or could I just use a standard i3 540 CPU?
Will the stuff from the Mid-range DIY Storage Server work?
http://www.servethehome.com/midrange-diy-storage-server-buyers-guide-december-2010/
Or could I just use a standard i3 540 CPU?
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From experience, I would recommend against the X8SIA-F unless you have a specific need for that many PCIe slots, as it uses a PCIe bridge. Bridge chips can occasionally cause compatibility and stability issues. I personally had an issue with an X8SIA-F where an SAS controller behaved erratically in a bridged slot but the problems went away when moved to a direct-connected slot. Plus, just in general, you have one more chip on the board, so one more thing drawing power, and one more point of failure. The X8SIL-F has two x8 and one x4 slot, which should be enough to support a ton of drives, and the X8SI6 has a really nice controller on it already plus a few extra PCIe slots and more memory slots than the X8SIL (not that it matters with unbuffered DIMMs).
As for hardware, I highly recommend the Xeon X34x0 chips (I have an X3440). If you use a Core i3/5/7, you lose ECC capability, so you might as well just get a good non-ECC board if you go that route, unless you really really need the IPMI controller.
The Kingston KVR1333D3E9SK2/4G RAM mentioned in the DIY Server article is a very popular choice and is known to work well with the Supermicro boards (as well as Intel boards). I'd recommend going with the 8G version of that kit though, which I think is part #KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G. Because these are unbuffered DIMMs, you can only use a maximum of 4 of them on any of these boards, so the 8G kits will allow you to expand to 16GB.
As for hardware, I highly recommend the Xeon X34x0 chips (I have an X3440). If you use a Core i3/5/7, you lose ECC capability, so you might as well just get a good non-ECC board if you go that route, unless you really really need the IPMI controller.
The Kingston KVR1333D3E9SK2/4G RAM mentioned in the DIY Server article is a very popular choice and is known to work well with the Supermicro boards (as well as Intel boards). I'd recommend going with the 8G version of that kit though, which I think is part #KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G. Because these are unbuffered DIMMs, you can only use a maximum of 4 of them on any of these boards, so the 8G kits will allow you to expand to 16GB.
When you dont need vti-d and ECC you can use the Intel Core i3 CPU.
By the way, Iam from Germany, and I have a brand-new (12/16/2010) and unused Core i3-560 - 20% off for selling, because I need vti-d now.
VT-d is controlled by the Northbridge and is independent of the CPU used.
Only reason for Xeon is if you need/want ECC or dual socket.
Only reason for Xeon is if you need/want ECC or dual socket.
Iam bewildered because I want to do config a home server with ESXi and have to passtrough the HBA. Configure Passthrough-VMDirectPath in VMWare ESXi for RAID Cards, HBAs, and USB Drives
My hardware seller tells me that I need VTi-d for passthrough and in Intel Core i3 is this feature disabled and I have to use a Intel Xeon.
I am fairly sure that every few months I think about the X8DTH-6F. 7x PCIe x8 in x16 physical slots SAS 2008 onboard. Yikes. The LGA 1366 platform has so much room to expand especially with the 55xx chipsets and dual IOH-36D's
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/xeon5k/sb/CS-031637.htm
Not that your reseller is dishonest but it is his job to sell you stuff. Just sayin...
Wow, this thread just exploded. Thank you all for the feedback.
Guess I can clear some things up.
IPMI: not really needed at the moment, but since the server most likely will be placed in the new garage when that's done it would be a nice feature to have.
VTi-D: Not sure if I want/need virtualization on this server. I have two other servers, one is a TV-server, but since the TV-cards are using Firewire (Digital Everywhere FloppyDTV) there is no way to get them working on a virtual server anyway. The other is a download/ripserver, but I'd prefer to have that one inside the house and not in the garage. Will be kind of annoying to leave the house every time I want to rip a Bluray. But now that it turns out that you don't need the Xeon to use VTi-D I guess this isn't an issue anyway.
Xeon/i3: The thing is that I already have an i3-540 CPU laying around somewhere so I won't have to buy a new CPU for the testing, so if I can use that for testing of the various operating systems I could save $3-400 this month and then buy the Xeon when I've decided on what operating system to run and I'm ready to deploy the server some time next month
X8D-series looks like some very nice boards, but is a bit out of my price range.
So to sum it up I think both X8SIL-F and X8SIA-F will meet my needs. So I guess it all comes down to what expansion slots I want. X8SIA-F has the extra PCI-E slot, but is that a PCI-X slot I see on the X8SIL-F? They're both listed with a PCI slot, but the short "pin-bundle" is not in the same place on both of them.
By the way are there any good AMD-boards out there?
Guess I can clear some things up.
IPMI: not really needed at the moment, but since the server most likely will be placed in the new garage when that's done it would be a nice feature to have.
VTi-D: Not sure if I want/need virtualization on this server. I have two other servers, one is a TV-server, but since the TV-cards are using Firewire (Digital Everywhere FloppyDTV) there is no way to get them working on a virtual server anyway. The other is a download/ripserver, but I'd prefer to have that one inside the house and not in the garage. Will be kind of annoying to leave the house every time I want to rip a Bluray. But now that it turns out that you don't need the Xeon to use VTi-D I guess this isn't an issue anyway.
Xeon/i3: The thing is that I already have an i3-540 CPU laying around somewhere so I won't have to buy a new CPU for the testing, so if I can use that for testing of the various operating systems I could save $3-400 this month and then buy the Xeon when I've decided on what operating system to run and I'm ready to deploy the server some time next month
X8D-series looks like some very nice boards, but is a bit out of my price range.
So to sum it up I think both X8SIL-F and X8SIA-F will meet my needs. So I guess it all comes down to what expansion slots I want. X8SIA-F has the extra PCI-E slot, but is that a PCI-X slot I see on the X8SIL-F? They're both listed with a PCI slot, but the short "pin-bundle" is not in the same place on both of them.
By the way are there any good AMD-boards out there?
It's not a PCI-X slot. It's still a regular 32 bit PCI slot but keyed to accept only 5V or 3.3V cards.
This is what the manual says about the slot, so it differs depending on what rev board you get. 5V is the key towards the rear of the slot, while 3.3V is the key towards the front/bracket.
One (1) 32-bit PCI 33MHz slot (5.0V on board revision 1.01
and below, 3.3V on board revision 1.02 and above)
This is what the manual says about the slot, so it differs depending on what rev board you get. 5V is the key towards the rear of the slot, while 3.3V is the key towards the front/bracket.
One (1) 32-bit PCI 33MHz slot (5.0V on board revision 1.01
and below, 3.3V on board revision 1.02 and above)
if there is no need for impi and stuff you can get lots of boards. very few am3 server boards are available. and all will need a new CPU.
you can make a storage server for garage, then rip to network drives. works real good.
I was a little bit worried and want to know it now.
I have found the answer direct from Intel what CPU is capable to handle VT-d - Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O. For more information: Intel(r)_VT_for_Direct_IO.pdf
Here you can see all the Intel Processor, who can VT-d handle. http://ark.intel.com/MySearch.aspx?VTD=true
My processors are not in that list and i have VT-d working just fine. VT-d is not always listed in the features because its not really a feature of the CPU as previously mentioned.
BTW none of the Nehalem Xeons are on that list and that is what is used in modern servers that do support VT-d.
Does VT-d work with all of those CPUs in your list...sure if the mobo supports its.
BTW none of the Nehalem Xeons are on that list and that is what is used in modern servers that do support VT-d.
Does VT-d work with all of those CPUs in your list...sure if the mobo supports its.