Select Hardware


You need :
-VT I-d capable Mainboard, supported by Esxi
I suggest Mainboards with new Intel Server Chipset 3420 and 5520
See also http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/VTdHowTo

I successfully use:
Supermicro X8SIL-F (3 x pci-e x8 slots, vga, microatx, max 32 GB RAM), about 170 euro
Supermicro X8DTH-6F, with needed Biosupdate 1.1
(7 x pci-e x8 slots, vga, SAS-II, max 192GB Ram), about 500 euro

Both have a sata controller and a nic supported by esxi
so you can install Esxi (and my base Nexenta vm) on a (suggested hardware mirrored) sata drive
ex Raidsonic SR 2760 -2,5" Raid


Additional SAS controller for Storage (Assigned to Nexenta via vti-d pass-through)
- I use and suggest SAS Controller with LSI 1068e or SAS-II with LSI 2008 chipset (it/ jbod-mode)


### Problems ###
Avoid pci-adapter, use pci-e ones
Graphic Adapter will not work yet.

Setup Bios and Esxi

Read also Mike's blog about Encapsulating VT-d Accelerated ZFS Storage within ESXi

Installation steps in short:

-Activate vti-d and virtualisation support in bios
-Install free Vmware esxi 4.01+ onto a (hardware mirrored) sata drive
-Connect Vmware-Server via your browser http://vmwareserver
and download Windows Management Software Vsphere
-Start Management Software Vsphere and
-Set sas controller (ex LSI 1068e) to pci-passthrough
-Copy my Nexenta vm image to local Esxi-Storage via Vsphere File Browser
-Register and start local Nexenta vm

-Now you can connect to your Nexenta Storage Server
via http://192.168.88.100/cgi-bin/napp-it/admin.pl

-Now you can create ZFS storage (with disks connected to sas controller)
Share this storage via NFS and SMB

-Now you can use this NFS Storage like any other SAN/NFS storage within Esxi
Create/ import other vm on this storage
Easy copy/ backup of this vms is also possible via SMB (so share the storage also via SMB)

I suggest: add an UPS power supply for your all-in-one server

step by step


step 1
needed bios settings:
-activate vti-d and set sata to ahci

step 2
install esxi 4.01 server to sata drive, connected to sata

step 3
boot Esxi and load Windows management software vsphere on your pc
http://serverip of esxi

step 4
start Windows management software and connect to esxi

step 5
configure sas controller in Esxi to pass-through, reboot

see http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2009/02/24/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-enable-vt-d-and-perform-direct-device-assignment/
http://blog.laspina.ca/ubiquitous/encapsulating-vt-d-accelerated-zfs-storage-within-esxi

step 6
create new virtual server (Nexenta) and store it to sata drive (local datastore)
settings: acc pci adapter (sas controller)

step 7
setup and boot Nexenta and set Nexenta to boot automatically with esxi

step step 8
within Nexenta/ napp-it, you should see your drives attached to sas controller.create a pool/zfs and share it via nfs for Esxi and other vm. share it also via cifs and napp-it smb settings to move and save date easyly from Windows.
set folder permission from Windows to rw for everyone. (Nexenta/ Opensolaris defaults is a secure but unusable mix of allow/ deny settings)
,
stage 9
within Esxi management software, add your nfs storage (=your Nexenta nfs share ex /tank/vol =absolute path)

step 10
create more vms and store them on nfs storage

step 11:
install vmware-tools on all virtualized Nexentas
at console: apt-get install vmware-tools