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The following are details on SmartOS's requirements.  For examples of verified hardware configurations please see the Works for Me page.

In this topic:

General Requirements

If you want to run production-grade SmartOS on hardware that we know works, READ THIS.

CPU

SmartOS requires a 64-bit capable x86 Intel or AMD CPU. If you would like to use KVM, please see the section on KVM Requirements.

DRAM

At a minimum, SmartOS require 512 MB of DRAM. We suggest putting as much DRAM into the box as possible.

Networking Cards, Disk controllers, and other Peripherals

SmartOS requires at least one networking interface and a supported disk controller. For a full list of supported onboard and PCI devices, check out the illumos HCL.

KVM Requirements

KVM is currently supported on Intel processors that have both Virtualization Technology eXtensions (VT-x) and Extended Page Tables (EPT a.k.a. Intel VT-X with Extended Page Tables). EPT was first introduced with the Nehalem line of processors. As a rule of thumb this translates out to the following brand names:

  • Xeon E3, E5, E7
  • Xeon 54XX, 55XX, 56XX, 74XX, 75XX, 76XX
  • Some models of the Xeon 34XX, 35XX, and 36XX
  • Some Core i3, i5, and i7
  • Most newer Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge Desktop Pentium and Celeron processors.

For a full list of microprocessors that support EPT, please consult the Intel list.

AMD and non-EPT processors

Support for AMD processors and Intel processors without EPT support is in development for the broader community. Josh Clulow is working on it here.

This version of the kvm driver is not currently supported.

There are "community" eait-Images built by arekinath that include that code and do have AMD support.
You can help test these images so that AMD support can eventually be merged upstream.

Known Issues

There are a few known hardware related issues with illumos.

  • There have been several issues with Intel CPUs regarding their C-States. SmartOS has worked around them, but you should consider disabling them in your BIOS.
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7 Comments

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  1. Apr 18, 2012

    Magnus Hedemark

    There was a question that was redacted from my line item about the HP N40L. I did see the question (zones only vs. zones + kvm). To answer that:

    The processor in the HP Proliant N40L is AMD architecture. As KVM only supports Intel at this time, the guests are native (smartos) zones only. I'll be happy to test KVM zones on it if/when someone gets a good patch accepted into Illumos & SmartOS.

  2. Apr 18, 2012

    Heinz N. Gies

    Hi Magnus,

    thanks for the clarification - I guessed that was the case but wanted to be sure since all other setups are Zones&KVM - might be misleading so I hope you don't mind if I add a remark to that so people don't go buying the N40L to run KVM VM's ^^.

    Regards,

    Heinz

    1. Apr 18, 2012

      Magnus Hedemark

      I did try running a Linux distro on it and hosted KVM guests. Hardware-wise, the machine is up for it (with the caveat that this is a very low end processor). I had a few Debian guests spun up & it worked great. Whenever Illumos is ready for KVM on AMD, the N40L will be ready.

  3. Feb 28, 2013

    zhangyihong

    I installed in HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 Server, can not find the hard drive, and who knows what?Who successfully installed?

    -------------------------------------

    HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 Server

    Processor :

    Intel® Xeon® E5-2620 (2.0GHz/6-core/95W

    Memory :

    HP 16GB PC3L-10600R 4x4GB 1Rank Memory - Low Voltage

    Storage controller :

    HP Embedded Smart Array P420i/1GB FBWC Controller with Battery

    Flexible LOM/Network Card :

    HP FlexibleLOM 1Gb 4-port 331FLR Ethernet Adapter

    1. Mar 22, 2013

      srinivas j

      try the HP Smart Array P420i driver

      CPQary3-2.5.2-solaris10-i386.tar.gz

      or

      use HP H220 Host Bus Adapter - based on LSI SAS2008 - supported by the OS

      1. Jun 23, 2013

        Ahmad Saif

        I have the same hardware, how can I use the P420i driver ?

        when the system boot for install, it cannot see the drivers, and when I choose the live OS without install and do modload cpqary3; I was unable to see the the hardidks , even after loading the module.

  4. Jun 21, 2013

    Markus Kreis

    Under "KVM Requirements" the 54XX Series is listed. According to the Intel list the 54XX Series does not support EPT. If i understood right and the Intel list is reliable the 54XX Series should be deleted?!

    Markus