Core i7 920 as a Media Server?

[Deleted User 298457]

Hi,

I currently have a Xeon 1210 (IIRC) with 8GB of RAM as a home server. I am moving into a 2nd home. I have just upgraded my desktop to an i7 4970k, so I have a 'spare' i7 920 D0 Stepping box.

Question -
Does the i7 920 D0 support VT-D? I have an ESXi installation on the Xeon which has hardware pass-through for Open Indiana/ZFS. I would like the same on the i7 920.

Alternatively, what is the best way to run a media server without proper hardware pass-through?

 

[Deleted User 298457]

VT-x is not VT-d though, am I right?

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Bump - I keep getting conflicting information regarding the i7 920.

Please could anyone elaborate?

 

[Deleted User 298457]

No, not the same thing. VT-x is hardware virtualisation support, VT-d is PCI passthrough.

I've just done a quick filter through and it seems like it isn't supported (links like this: https://communities.vmware.com/message/2397789). Some saying it is supported, however when it comes to actually doing it, I've not read about a working setup.

Wikipedia says it is but of course, in this instance worth taking with a pinch of salt (and indeed it says "Unknown" in the ESXi column: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IOMMU-supporting_hardware).

What's frustrating is that Nehalem was the first architecture with VT-d, yet the ARK entry doesn't even have an entry for VT-d!

I thought as much.

I assume I need to be the guinea pig for this particular trial. I have also heard both sides of the story.

Thanks.