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List:       opensolaris-xen-discuss
Subject:    Re: [xen-discuss] Hardware list
From:       Aleksandar Simic <asimic () gmail ! com>
Date:       2009-11-18 8:54:32
Message-ID: 7d1be6610911180054n12e30caakb99782080398a26c () mail ! gmail ! com
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Thanks Erik, this is what I was after.

On 18/11/2009, Erik Trimble <Erik.Trimble@sun.com> wrote:
> Aleksandar Simic wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I'm looking to get some new hardware, preferably x86 type and was
>> wondering if you guys can recommend some good recent motherboards
>> which will allow me to run OpenSolaris + Xen.
>>
>> What kind of setups are you running? Is there something that you would
>> recommend?
>>
>> I know that there is HCL here:
>>
>> http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/drivers/
>>
>> then there is Xen's wiki:
>>
>> http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/VTdHowTo
>>
>> But they don't instill much confidence in what would be compatible
>> with OpenSolaris and Xen at the same time.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Aleksandar
>> _______________________________________________
>> xen-discuss mailing list
>> xen-discuss@opensolaris.org
>>
> Frankly, if it can run OpenSolaris, it can run Xen  (I'm assuming you
> are looking at a x86/x64-based machine).
>
> To support the hardware virtualization features (e.g. to run Windows as
> a guest), you will need a (post-2008) Intel CPU which supports the VT
> extensions, or an AMD one which supports AMD-V.  The good news is that
> pretty much all current AMD CPUs support AMD-V (all the
> Athlon/Phenom/Opterons do, and I think even all the Semprons do too).
> For Intel, they're a little harder.  All Intel Xeons, i5, and i7 chips
> support Intel-VT, all the Extreme versions of the Core2 series do, and
> /most/ Core2 chips do also, except at the low end.  You'll have to check
> Intel's web site to see exactly which Core2 chips support Intel-VT.
>
> I'm from the ZFS side of the house, so I /strongly/ suggest you get a
> motherboard which will support ECC ram. All but the cheapest AMD
> motherboards support ECC (unbuffered/unregistered in the case of
> single-socket MB, registered in the case of dual/quad socket MB), even
> if they don't explicitly state it in the promo material (go look at the
> mfg's web site).  Intel-compatible Motherboards which are intended for
> Xeons should advertise they're ECC-compatible. Pretty much all
> "consumer" (i.e. non-Xeon) Intel motherboards WON'T support ECC.
>
> After that, it's a matter of getting a MB which has sufficient features
> for you (enough SATA ports, NICs, RAM slots, etc.)  Look at the HCL for
> that kind of info. The good news here is that a large majority of modern
> SATA chipsets and NICs are supported by OpenSolaris; I've less
> experience with audio chipsets, as I'm building servers and don't care
> about this.
>
> --
> Erik Trimble
> Java System Support
> Mailstop:  usca22-123
> Phone:  x17195
> Santa Clara, CA
>
>

-- 
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