Intel Communities: Message List - Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:39:50 GMT

I ordered a S3420GPLC and just hat to realize why one of my NICs is missing. One of the onboard NICs is unsupported....

This is typical for VMware; they promote ESXi for free with the intention to get SMBs into it. But the truth is they don't really care about SMBs or simple don't have enough resources for entry level server hardware support. The web is full with people struggling with entry level server hardware realizing their hardware is not fully, unsupported or unbearable slow. And this is also the reason why more and more SMB people are looking into 2008 R2 Hyper-V, just like me!

Remember, when it comes to VMware: supported doesn't mean "fully" supported. I got an 800$ Adaptec raid card which is "supported" according to VMware HCL, but this controller doesn't show up in vSphere health status, because there is no monitoring support! Why would someone have a raid array without knowing its health status?

I'm so tired of this, after almost two years of ESXi hardware trouble, limitations and horrible performance: I'm going to give Hyper-V a shot!

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:59:00 GMT

Thanks for the update Dan,

Happy new year to you and family too. Lets hope it is a good one for everyone.

Thanks for sorting this at least others might benefit from this extra info.

Perhaps Intel should also mention "needs a RAID card". This is because the onboard RAID doesn't work with VMWare.

So that is two cards! and the board has a single slot.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:21:11 GMT

They said they're going to update

http://serverconfigurator.intel.com/Details.aspx?ID=3401

to read:

- VMWare* 4.0 Update1 (Requires additional add-in NIC card)

- Certification: INT-17NOV09

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:11:25 GMT

Happy new year!

Sure, let me see what I can find.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:54:35 GMT

Hi Dan,

Can you please provide an evideence to show that Intel has done this?

Thanks.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:34:26 GMT

Hi Dan,

Can you please provide a reference or evidence for this as this is a very serious issue?

Many thanks.

At least in UK this would be mis-representation of the product as without the NIC card, ie the standard product Intel is selling , the server can't be considered to be VMWare certified.

On this bases all of Intel's claim for VMWare certifications come under microscope. Specially those of in Q4 of 2009.

Many companies look for VMWare certifications before they make their purchasing decision. This is a clear violation of people's trust.

At least we wont be trusting Intel's claim for VMWare certification and think twice before purchasing from them again.

Had i seen your posting before i would haven't purchased another Intel server.

i have just came back from our supplier after spending 5 hours testing all aspects of another Intel server(SR1630BC) for VMWare ESxi.

Thats how much we trust them that on new years eve we have spent so much time testing the motherboard.

For those who are interested SR1630BC finally worked with both NIC ports but needed an Adptec RAID card as the onboard RAID controller didn't work, which is yet another example of a claim for an incomplete feature.

Also installing Adaptec RAID card meant we had to remove the second CPU as there was no room which must hurt Intel.

I have been a loyal customer of Intel since the early 80's. i have never known Intel to lower its standard to this level.

Looking forward to seeing the evidence Dan.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:25:10 GMT

The VMware certification was done with an add-in Intel EXPI9402PT PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:07:11 GMT

Hi Michael,

Tyan motherboard was Toledo i965R S5180. We got this for testing purposes but with the new firmware (with 4GB RAM) it became a nice little low cost server in its own right. It actually has 4 Win 2003s running on it.

It has been working 24/7 for a long time.

Just to save time.

Tomorrow i will be returning our SR1630GP and try to install ESXi 4 on Intels SR1630BC. This one was certified pre-Q4. So hopefully would have ironed out any problems by now. Will let you know if it works.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:34:26 GMT

Hi Dan,

i am not sure if Intel would insert a dual NIC card to obtain the certificate only then to remove it afterwards.

It would be mis-representing their product.

My guess is that becuse Intel has invested in VMWare someone somewhere has allowed this certificate to pass through

without testing it proproly.

My humble suggestion to both Intel and VMWare is that certification procedures should be done by an independent department

autonomous from any marketing or investment issues. Serious mistakes like this could potentially damage their brand name.

Re: Enabling Second NIC on SR1630GP

webadmin@intel.com — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:52:23 GMT

VMware certification requires *three* NICs. So it must have been certified with an add-in dual port NIC.