Intel server system with Intel S5500ur motherboard & Intel Xeon Quad core X5550 2.66Ghz CPU

[qsu]

Deal Intel Support,I'm interested with the Intel server system with Intel S5500ur motherboard & Intel Xeon Quad core X5550 2.66Ghz CPU, advertised in the link http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=678112343 Intel rack mount server, Quad at 2.66Ghz, 12GB | Trade Me1) is it a good high end server system? motherboard supports both VT-X and VTD? 2) it only has one CPU, can both ethernet ports be used simultaneously? 3) support vmware esxi 4/5?Thanks and merry Xmas & Happy New Year !

Thanks & regards,

Q.S.

[Edward_Z_Intel]

VMware is not supported with onboard RAID. You can install VMware on SATA ports in AHCI mode, but if you need RAID you may need an add-on hardware RAID card.

[qsu]

Dear Intel Community,

Thanks for the information.

Does this server board's onboard RAID support Ubuntu and CentOS OS? Only have two SAS drives at the moment. If create RAID 1 for these two SAS drives, have to buy an ad-on hardware RAID card? Can you give some advice (and website URL links) on what brand and model of the add-on hardware RAID card to buy for this server?

Do you think the below add-on RAID card can do the job, otherwise please help to provide me some links?

1) http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-680372497.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-680372497.htm

2) http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-679936820.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-679936820.htm

3) http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-680775199.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-680775199.htm

4) http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/other-pci-cards/auction-680745778.htm eSata SATA IDE PCI Controller Card | Trade Me

Thanks.

[Edward_Z_Intel]

See the http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520ur/sb/CS-030025.htm Tested operating system list. CentOS is not in the list, but since it's a clone of RHEL, most likely you will be able to install CentOS using RHEL drivers.

For tested RAID controller, check the Tested Hardware List: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-034425.htm http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-034425.htm, http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520ur/sb/CS-034419.htm http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520ur/sb/CS-034419.htm.

[qsu]

dear intel community,

in page 19 of "Technical Product Specification", in "Figure 2. Intel Server Board S5520UR, S5520URT Layout", BB is "SATA Connectors". at the moment, the server has 2 SAS drives. if want to add SATA drives, just connect them to the BB with connectors, right? but the seller says need to buy the SATA driver etc in order to add the SATA drives.

can you please help to clarify this?

thanks.

[Edward_Z_Intel]

I don't think I understand your question clearly... The S5520UR board doesn't come with a SAS controller, but a system based on S5520UR board may support SAS drives. This tool may help you to identify your storage option, and locate the correct driver:

• http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-030410.htm Intel® S5500/S5520 and S3420 Series Server Boards storage options