HP microserver gen 11 and vmware esxi 8.x

[kev2021]

Hi all.

So my hp microserver gen 10 runing esxi 7 is basically max out, i’m using approx 29-31gb ram and the max is 32gb so its basically preventing me being able to do much with it and I also cannot setup win11 VMs as it doesn’t have tpm 2.0.  now meant to be a virtual option to get it enabled and I’ve setup virtual center also but alas no option appears for me to be able to do it and upgrading to esxi 8 then gen10 isn’t on hardware compatibility list.

So i’ve noticed HP have now got a Gen 11 microserver with a max of 128GB ram capacity so i’m considering potentially buying the gen 11 and then sell the gen 10.  However, I need a raid card as i tend to mirror the 2 esxi drives and mirror the data drives where vms are stored.  I cannot use my NAS as it doesn’t have capacity and I’ve format them in raid 5 and not the correct format required.

However, I cannot find out if the raid card I bought for my gen 10 will work in the gen 11.. anyone have any ideas? The raid card I bought was HPE smartarray E208i-p raid card and it doesn’t show in the manual as being compatible, but it seems the equivalent one with the ports at the back of the card to plug in external drives is so I would of thought this one would be as its a internal version to my knowledge? User guide advises “HPE Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 controller” is compatible which I think is a external version of the one I have? but maybe I’m wrong?

If it is, that would be perfect as would minimise my cost to change as I’d only need to buy the unit and then the ram and I believe a intel nic card as the onboard is Broadcom I believe and vmware dropped Broadcom from support.

Potentially may see if can update storage drives as i’m using 3.5″ SATA drives but ideally like to move to SSD or nvme if can find a caddy to support as box only has 1 nvme slot onboard.

Thanks

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

Take a look as this firmware seems to suggest support for HPE smartarray E208i-p raid card with gen11 ?

https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/product?language=en_US&kmpmoid=1010026788&tab=driversAndSoftware

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[kev2021]

I didn’t see anything referring to the card being supported in HPE microserver gen 11?

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

I’ll have a chat with a couple of bods I know as they might be able to advise.

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[kev2021]

ah thanks, much appreciated!

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

So have feedback and alas no definitive answer but …

HP Microserver Gen11 Server supports (officially) E208e-p, or the MR216i-p.

• E208e-p,    External RAID Controller
• or the MR216i-p, Internal RAID Controller.

He did say, “I don’t see any reason why the E208i-p wouldn’t work, however with it not being on the official quickspecs for the server I can’t confirm it”.

He did say also, unless you are purchasing a used Gen11 server, if you use the E208i-p then this may cause issues with warranty if a claim is made ?

 

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[kev2021]

Thanks, yeah I cards mention, the e is external and I have 2 internal drives so that wouldn’t work and I think the other card is loke £400+ if I recall correctly?

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

If you ever get the Gen11 and try your E208i-p, let us know how it goes as I am sure many others would be interested in this 

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[kev2021]

Hi, Sure, I’m just cautious of running a system which isn’t “compatible” as this then means any issues, it’s not supported and therefore hard to find solutions for etc and when there are updates, you never know if the one driver maybe it was using is now removed and not replaced meaning suddenly it wont work any longer.  I was hoping they just hadn’t included the card I have but appears maybe there is more too it hence not on support list…

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

Absolutely, if you are purchasing a new GEN11 and the system is live, then the risk is high likewise, if you are planning to purchase a used GEN11 and the system is not live, then the use of  the E208i-p is a risk worth considering especially if the budget is tight.

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