Hi everyone!
I ask your help about Supermicro X10SRI-F and AOC-SLG3-2E (-4, -4R, -4T)
I have some servers based on Supermicro X10SRI-F motherboard. Server cases are CSE-825TQ-R720LPB, which have two non-hot plug disk cages.
I want to run VmWare vSAN on this servers, and i want to place VmWare cache on two NVMe SSDs, placed in non-hot plug cages.
So I started to explore, which AOC card is better for my case, and found that there are three suitable cards (see full table here):
I do not need any hot plug connections to cache SSDs. It's OK, if they will have cabled connection.
I asked local distributor (I am in Russia) to help me choose proper AOC card.
Distributor said:
AOC-SLG3-2E4R - STRICTLY NO, because AOC-SLG3-2E4R is a redriver, and there will be problems with bifurcation.
AOC-SLG3-2E4 (without "R") - much better, but I do not see it ad compatible device with VmWare.
AOC-SLG3-2E4T - good as AOC-SLG3-2E4, have compatible with VmWare, but I need to buy OcuLink cables. In Russia it is a problem to buy OcuLink cables.
Now about AOC-SLG3-2E4R - I have read some documentation, like Supermicro site, and found that X10SRI-F support bifurcation options.
To turn on bifurcation you shoud go to Advanced >>Chipset Configuration>>North Bridge>>IIO Configuration>>II01 Configuration in BIOS and turn it on (see here).
About AOC-SLG3-2E4 (without "R") Supermico site says that "X10SRI-F does not support this add on NVME card because it does not have the JNVI2C1 header needed to connect the CBL-CDAT-0674 cable to recognize the card." (see here)
Also, Supermicro site says that "The VPP (JNV12C) cable is required for NVMe hot-plug features." (see here). I don't need any hot plug features, I just need fast storages for cache.
About AOC-SLG3-2E4T installed in X10SRI-F there is no information in Internet, but local distributor said that AOC-SLG3-2E4T is the best choise.
Help me, please, to choose proper card!
I ask your help about Supermicro X10SRI-F and AOC-SLG3-2E (-4, -4R, -4T)
I have some servers based on Supermicro X10SRI-F motherboard. Server cases are CSE-825TQ-R720LPB, which have two non-hot plug disk cages.
I want to run VmWare vSAN on this servers, and i want to place VmWare cache on two NVMe SSDs, placed in non-hot plug cages.
So I started to explore, which AOC card is better for my case, and found that there are three suitable cards (see full table here):
| Add-on Card Part Number | # of ports | PCIe Gen | PCIe Length | Type | Supported OS | Port type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC-SLG3-2E4 | 2 | 3.0 | x8 | Switch | Win, Linux | mini-SAS HD |
| AOC-SLG3-2E4R | 2 | 3.0 | x8 | Redriver | Win, Linux, VmWare | mini-SAS HD |
| AOC-SLG3-2E4T | 2 | 3.0 | x8 | Retimer | Win, Linux, VmWare | OcuLink |
I do not need any hot plug connections to cache SSDs. It's OK, if they will have cabled connection.
I asked local distributor (I am in Russia) to help me choose proper AOC card.
Distributor said:
AOC-SLG3-2E4R - STRICTLY NO, because AOC-SLG3-2E4R is a redriver, and there will be problems with bifurcation.
AOC-SLG3-2E4 (without "R") - much better, but I do not see it ad compatible device with VmWare.
AOC-SLG3-2E4T - good as AOC-SLG3-2E4, have compatible with VmWare, but I need to buy OcuLink cables. In Russia it is a problem to buy OcuLink cables.
Now about AOC-SLG3-2E4R - I have read some documentation, like Supermicro site, and found that X10SRI-F support bifurcation options.
To turn on bifurcation you shoud go to Advanced >>Chipset Configuration>>North Bridge>>IIO Configuration>>II01 Configuration in BIOS and turn it on (see here).
About AOC-SLG3-2E4 (without "R") Supermico site says that "X10SRI-F does not support this add on NVME card because it does not have the JNVI2C1 header needed to connect the CBL-CDAT-0674 cable to recognize the card." (see here)
Also, Supermicro site says that "The VPP (JNV12C) cable is required for NVMe hot-plug features." (see here). I don't need any hot plug features, I just need fast storages for cache.
About AOC-SLG3-2E4T installed in X10SRI-F there is no information in Internet, but local distributor said that AOC-SLG3-2E4T is the best choise.
Help me, please, to choose proper card!