[DSM 3617-6, ESX, Microserver Gen8 - Post install woes]

Update: I may experiment with passing the P420 in passthrough to see what performance is like, averaging 90 MB/s on Pool to Pool file copy and about the same with PC > NAS file transfer (The NIC's are bonded)

[DSM 3617-6, ESX, Microserver Gen8 - Post install woes]

5 hours ago, phguk said:

Slightly OT but can I ask how did you arrive at running VMware ESXi-6.7.0-20191204001-standard-customized (VMware, Inc.)  [ fresh install/upgrade etc] ?

 

I'm aware there are HP Microserver specific builds for Gen9 & later which appear to work on Gen 8 too. 

 

Thanks Paul

 

 

Hi Paul,

 

I downloaded "ESXi-6.7.0-20191204001-standard.iso" from VMware, Then used the powershell script "ESXi-Customizer-PS-v2.6.0.ps1" to slipstream all of these patches into the ISO:

 

I use this ISO at work too, for testing, so having an HP universal has proved handy. I did the same for 6.5 so I have all models covered.

 

The VIB's were aquired from HP: http://vibsdepot.hpe.com/mapping/SPP-HPE_Custom-Image-vibsdepot-mapping-Gen9-later.pdf

 

Visiting today, I see the is a new U3 March 2020 version available, time to get busy hehe.

 

EDIT: The post Gen9 works great with Gen8 hardware (Microserver, DL380, DL360)

 

 

[DSM 3617-6, ESX, Microserver Gen8 - Post install woes]

Edit, Ok I got this figured.

 

DiskIdxMap=0C0005 SataPortMap=152

 

This result's in all disks visible, numbered in correct order.

 

SYNOBOOT

SATA 0:0 - Hidden

 

SYSTEM

SATA 1:0 - 16GB System   (Disk 1)

 

RAID 5

SATA 1:1 - 1TB HDD RDM (Disk 2)

SATA 1:2 - 1TB HDD RDM (Disk 3)

SATA 1:3 - 1TB HDD RDM (Disk 4)

SATA 1:4 - 1TB HDD RDM (Disk 5)

 

RAID 0 Cache

AHCI:0 Passthrough  - 250GB SSD (Disk 6)

AHCI:1 Passthrough  - 250GB SSD (Disk 7)

 

Im going to make some modifications to the case internals to allow me to connect two more SSD's for fast storage

Might need a PSU upgrade, well see.

 

I forgot too, I managed to tweak ESXi to the internal SD card as a datastore, this holds the VM and SYSTEM/RDM vmdk's nicely.

 

 

[How to configure sata_args in grub.cfg?!]

On 11/17/2018 at 7:24 PM, haydibe said:

Some more datiled infos from https://github.com/evolver56k/xpenology/blob/master/synoconfigs/Kconfig.devices

 

SataPortMap:

 

DiskIdxMap:

 

sata_remap:

 

 

 

I dont suppose you have made a copy of the data in the the link?

 

The github user appears to have removed it, can't find anything on the net

 

[DSM 3617-6, ESX, Microserver Gen8 - Post install woes]

Hi all,

 

Hope you are all well at this very strage moment in history.

 

So, the topic...

 

I am running:

VMware ESXi-6.7.0-20191204001-standard-customized (VMware, Inc.)

DSM 6.2.2-24922 Update 6, 3617xs

HP Microserver Gen8/E3-1220 V2, Latest firmware and iLO

HP P420 PCIe RAID w/ 4x HDD, RDM - ready to attach to VM (tested an working)

HP Cougar Point AHCI w/ 2x SSD - passthrough, connected to VM

 

Install and update was flawless, I set the following in grub.cfg:

set sn=xxxxxxxxxxxxx
set mac1=xxxxxxxxxxx

DiskIdxMap=0C00 SataPortMap=1

 

Post install, the boot drive is hidden and my disk numbering starts at my second disk (SATA 1:0)

I have my data disks set to RDM and have tested them with this config, the connect as disks 2,3,4,5 (SATA 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4)

I have disconeccted them while i figure out this issue (they ar not in the screenshots)

 

The issue:

My passthrough for the AHCI starts at disk number 33 and only one SSD is present, both are connected (see attached pic), both SSD work fine and were attached and visible in ESX prior to enabling passthrough.

I would like the 2x SSD in passthrough visible in DSM so I can setup SSD caches, however I need some pointers on what I am doing wrong.

 

I am guessing it is something to do with SataPortMap?

 

Can anybody help this dude under quaratine, opr likewise, if you have any questions about this etup, fire away