Need suggestions for fibre/copper network card.

RimBlock · 10 Apr 2012 at 05:33

Hi,

I have finally put together my tiny ESXi server but need to find a decent network card to give it connectivity. I have 1x PCIe slot available and will connecting to a HP 1810-24G web managed switch with 2x GBIC slots (both empty).

I believe the mini-GBIC slots will give me the option of connecting via GbE, 10GbE or even fibre (with the matching mini-GBIC module) but please correct me if wrong.

I am therefore on the lookout for a good ESXi compatible network card of either multi port GbE, single port 10 GbE or multi GbE fibre, probably from the second user server market. As it is for home, cost is a big factor.

I have used an Intel ET dual port nic and that will be my fall back option if I cannot find anything better. I have seen info on the Silicom PEG6I six port network adapter and it also looks good. Any other cards worth taking a look at ?.

Thanks
RB

[Darkend]Viper · 10 Apr 2012 at 09:33

From what I know of this switch it will do 10/100/1000mbp/s. The gbic are there for the same speeds but over different mediums. I don't think it does 10gbe at all. I wouldn't bother using the gbics at all, just connect it with cat 5e or 6 and maybe team the ports together.

What are you wanting to use it for? If your just wanting to get maxium throughput to it, or are wanting a dedicated nic for eachh virtual machine?

I'd have to recommend an intel quad port card, but they don't seem cheap.

RimBlock · 10 Apr 2012 at 09:59

[Darkend]Viper;21650527 said:
From what I know of this switch it will do 10/100/1000mbp/s. The gbic are there for the same speeds but over different mediums. I don't think it does 10gbe at all. I wouldn't bother using the gbics at all, just connect it with cat 5e or 6 and maybe team the ports together.

What are you wanting to use it for? If your just wanting to get maxium throughput to it, or are wanting a dedicated nic for eachh virtual machine?

I'd have to recommend an intel quad port card, but they don't seem cheap.

I see. I presumed the GBICs could be used for backbone ports allowing greater bandwidth for switch to switch interconnectivity. Looking at the specs for my switch you are spot on and it is just for media compatibility (copper or fibre).

I am using the box for various VMs including separate ones for Torrent / Newsgroup / Minecraft / web server but also need some bandwidth left for so customer environment stack configuration and documentation before applying the stack to their actual servers (easier to roll back etc and try different software versions than to scrap and start from scratch again).

I can get the ET dual port for around 200 USD and the 6 port Silicom for around 150 USD and just wondered if any other card existed that were worth a look on the usual second user places around that price range. I came upon the Silicom by luck and there may be other hidden 'treasures' around that people are not aware of.

RB

PistolPete · 10 Apr 2012 at 10:05

Is the Silicom supported in ESXi and have you seen any performance stats?

I'd stick to Intel personally, but YMMV

RimBlock · 10 Apr 2012 at 10:19

PistolPete said:
Is the Silicom supported in ESXi and have you seen any performance stats?

I'd stick to Intel personally, but YMMV

The Silicom uses 3 Intel 82571EB chipsets allowing 6 ports or 3 sets of 2 ports for VT-d passthrough. Info on Servethehome here. Patrick has also confirmed ESXi connectivity and passthrough compatibility which is why it looks pretty interesting.

RB

[Darkend]Viper · 10 Apr 2012 at 10:23

I'd stick to intel or broadcom for server nics. They just seem to work and be better supported.

I would have through that 2 ports would have been plenty, as your internet connection I doubt is 1gb/s, so they'll end up running at the speed of the slowest link. It's only internally that they'll end up running at 1gbp/s

RimBlock · 10 Apr 2012 at 10:43

[Darkend]Viper;21650843 said:
I'd stick to intel or broadcom for server nics. They just seem to work and be better supported.

I would have through that 2 ports would have been plenty, as your internet connection I doubt is 1gb/s, so they'll end up running at the speed of the slowest link. It's only internally that they'll end up running at 1gbp/s

Cool, just found an ET quad port for 215 USD so have bought that.

Thanks guys.

RB