Intel Communities: Message List - Will this work?

Re: Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:54:39 GMT

rctaubert wrote:

I guess I wasn't clear with my question. I have had WindowsHomeServer v1. running on this board for over a year. I don't really forsee any problems running the updated 2011 version.

I see although just because the old version works, doesn't mean the new one will as well (and there are plenty of cases of people posting in this community wanting server drivers for their desktop boards because the server OS won't load or work properly with the provided 'desktop OS' drivers). Sorry I've not tried such a setup but perhaps someone else here has and can comment on whether things went smoothly. If you've not been able to find the info you need about OS support for your SASMF8I card in the document I linked to earlier (or elsewhere on Intels website), then perhaps the supplier will install it for a cheap price or free so you can be sure it works together OK.

It seems like you're entering 'uncharted territory' so nothing beats the experience of having tried it out. Short of someone posting in with such experience (a long shot), this may be your best way to go.

Re: Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:31:35 GMT

I guess I wasn't clear with my question. I have had WindowsHomeServer v1. running on this board for over a year. I don't really forsee any problems running the updated 2011 version. Most installations are done on non-server motherboards.

What I am asking about is the SAS/SATA controller card. Presently I am running two separate third-party cards in order to run the 10 Sata drives. I would like to replace both of them with a single card. Hence, the question will the Intel RAID Controller Card SATA/SAS PCI-E x4 8internal ports (SASMF8I) work on WHS 2011 in a non-raid mode. I just want to control 8 sata drives with this controller. No raid, nothing fancy.

Re: Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:53:21 GMT

It seems to catch more and more people out these days who are expecting their desktop board to run a server type OS. Many other motherboard manufacturers do provide for this however but if you really want to use Intel branded hardware throughout then have you considered Linux as your server OS?

According to this page: Linux* installation on DG41TY you can install most flavours of that OS using that motherboard and also from: Tested hardware and operating system list again, many linux versions are supported by the RAID card you're interested in.

What is the intended usage of the server and why does it have to have so many HDDs connected?

Re: Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:08:24 GMT

Thank you for your reply. That certainly wasn't what I was hoping to hear but such is life.

Can you recommend anything That Intel produces that would allow me to control 8 drives on that MB in a NON-RAID format?

Re: Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:48:25 GMT

Yes Intel Desktop Boards such as yours do not have Windows server OS support so any functionality that you may happen to get from it will not be supported by Intel - in short, you'll be on your own with such an arrangement. It'd also be worth reading up on any documentation about the RAID/SATA Controller card as well to make sure your boards hardware matches its needs.

Will this work?

webadmin@intel.com — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:40:49 GMT

I have an Intel motherboard, DG41TY, with an E7500 processor running WHS2011. I want to intall an Intel RAID Controller Card SATA/SAS PCI-E x4 8internal ports (SASMF8I) to be used in a NON-RAID mode to replace the two other SATA controllers I am now using to host 10 sata drives.

Can anyone forsee any problems I might have?