Recomendations for new motherboard fot ESXi

[robmurphy]

I want to build an ESXi test server.

Priority list:

full virtualization support for both VT X and VT D.

good NICs supported by ESXi.

At least 1 PCIE x4 slot for additional quad port card from intel
that again is intended for virtualisation using VT D.

At least 4 SATA connections possibly 6. Again these must be
supported by ESXi for VT D and VT X.

Pref 64 MB memory.

Up to date intel CPU xeon socket1155 or 2011. Sandy or Ivy bridge. Haswell too far away.

AMD absolute NO.

Size can be uATX ATX or server EATX.

Make can be Intel or others.

Graphics lowest priority.

The machine is to replicate a production machine

Thanks in advance.
Rob.

 

[SolMiester]

This board reviewed has the server chipset for x79, which comes with 8 SAS port so full duplex on the I/O....
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6231/...review-ultra-durable-5-meets-the-c606-chipset

 

[robmurphy]

I did read the article on this. It looks good but there is no indication about VT D or ESXi support
and they are the most important features.

The new machine will be used to simulate a production machine running ESXi.

Thanks Rob.

 

[AE-Ruffy]

just look at supermicro or tyan boards at newegg. $159-300 for socket 1155, non xeon cpu with VT-D is I5 2400, Most Xeon's support it(Look at intels ark site for your cpu choices)

VT-D is dependent more on the CPU. Stay off 1155 if you REALLY want 64GB of ram.


As for ESXI support, they all support it just fine, if you're not going to use the onboard nic then you're golden.

 

[Owls]

Asus Z8NA series

don't skimp if you are going to do something in production with it. I use this board for our office server and it is simply superb.

 

[dclive]

Asus Z8NA series

don't skimp if you are going to do something in production with it. I use this board for our office server and it is simply superb.

Obsolete at this point. OP needs the (Asus) Z9Px series (there are several).

If you can live with only 32GB, Supermicro's X9 series is nice, C202 chipset and IPMI (without IPMI, what's the point?) for $180-ish...

I want BMC interfaces within ESXi and from what I've heard the Supermicro boards offer it. That's a big deal.

 

[Viper GTS]

Keep in mind you will need to purchase esxi to use more than 32gb.

You can't even power on vms if you have more than 32 gb installed on the free version.

I second the need for IPMI - once you've had a server with it you will never go back.

Viper GTS