VIDEO TUTORIAL: ESXi 4.1 US 11.04 - BT878a DVR + C310

[LWFVoo]

I'm thinking of buying a High Performance 8 Channel 240 FPS Zoneminder compatible BT878a DVR card.
I already have security cameras installed at home.

I'm thinking of installing the card inside a machine which is currently running VMware ESXi 4.1 U1.

I'm also thinking of buying a Logitech HD Webcam C310 (USB).

I have installed a 64-bit version of Ubuntu Server 11.04 as a Virtual Machine.
GNU/Linux 2.6.38-8-virtual x86_64

I would like to use this Virtual Machine solely for ZoneMinder.

My problem is that my Linux knowledge is fairly basic.

If someone from ZoneMinder is willing to help me get them going, I am offering to return the favour by producing a 'slow and thorough' high quality video tutorial for YouTube, and perhaps - if necessary - also writing a step by step guide.

To see an example video tutorial, see YouTube user J2897Tutorials.

Before I purchase the two main items, I want to be sure that I will have the support.

Thanks,

J.

[bb99]

I believe your issues will be with the DVR card. Here's a link to Viktor Petersson's site: http://viktorpetersson.com/open-source/ ... appliance/. He's turned out at least two ZM VA's with thousands of downloads. Good information, should help you make a decision.

[zoneminder]

Yes, I have set up quite a few ZM Vms on VMware (various flavours including ESXi), XenServer and LVM/QEMU. To my knowledge video capture cards on the host are never exposed to the guests so these set ups are also IP only. You _may_ have better luck with USB cameras but they can be a bit hit and miss generally and adding an extra layer of complexity might not help, though I don't know about the one you have specified.

[LWFVoo]

Maybe the Logitech HD Webcam C310 (USB) was a bad idea. I just want a low-cost HD camera capable of picking up car registration numbers from cars that come to my house.

I was hoping to use VMware's VMDirectPath.

As far as I'm aware, my hardware supports both USB and PCI Passthrough (VT-d) which can be enabled in the BIOS when required.

The motherboard has a 5V PCI Slot as required by the BT878a DVR card.

• CPU: Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB).
• Motherboard: DQ45CB.

The USB Passthrough may be a problem as ESXi is installed/running on a USB Flash; only one way to find out I suppose.

If PCI Passthrough isn't possible, then I guess I'm screwed.

EDIT: The BT878a DVR card is the one featured in the ZoneMinder Shop.

EDIT 2: ESXi is running 4.1.0 Build 348481 (latest version).

[bb99]

The reason I wasn't definitive in my first post is that changes happen so fast and some are more prone to figuring breakthroughs then others that it does nothing to discourage anyone; you could be the one to figure this out, only you know that...

[LWFVoo]

Here's a link to Viktor Petersson's site: http://viktorpetersson.com/open-source/ ... appliance/.

Thanks for that bb99. I spoke to Viktor and he told me to just "go for it". So if anything bad happens, I now have someone to blame!

I've attached the e-mail if anyone's interested. It can be viewed via an e-mail client or a text editor. Of course; I've removed his IP address.

[bb99]

Good luck! and please share.

[LWFVoo]

This thread is going to get very long as I plan to document everything so that I don't have to remember anything.

Helpful guide at vm-help.com on PCI Passthrough.

Here's what I plan to do...

Note: If Phase One is successful, I will then order the 240 FPS BT878a DVR card.

Phase One
Test PCI Passthrough

Backup ESXi Host:

1. Shut-down ESXi Host.
2. Remove USB Flash Drive containing the ESXi installation.
3. Create a backup image of the Flash Drive.

Enable VT-d and screen-shot the current available Passthrough devices:
This screen-shot can later be used to quickly find the newly installed PCI device.

1. Reconnect Flash Drive and power-on ESXi Host.
2. Enter BIOS and enable VT-d. Save, reboot.
3. Log-in to vSphere client.
4. Navigate to: 'Configuration' tab > 'Hardware' block > 'Advanced Settings'.
5. Click 'Configure Passthrough'.
6. Take a screen-shot of the visable devices.

Install a physical PCI device and mark it for Passthrough:

1. Shut-down the ESXi Host.
2. Physically install a PCI device.
3. Power-on ESXi Host.
4. Log-in to vSphere client.
5. Navigate to: 'Configuration' tab > 'Hardware' block > 'Advanced Settings'.
6. Click 'Configure Passthrough'.
7. Find the newly installed PCI device and mark it for Passthrough.

Test the PCI device on a Windows XP VM:

1. Log-in to vSphere client.
2. Navigate to: 'Virtual Machines' tab.
3. Right-click on the Windows XP VM and select 'Edit Settings'.
4. Under the 'Hardware' tab, click 'Add' and then select 'PCI Device'.
5. Specify the physical PCI device.
6. Power-on Windows XP VM and test the PCI card.

Phase One may not be included in the video tutorial.

I'm not sure what PCI card I'll use for the test; probably a PCI Graphics Card if I can find one lying around (that should be interesting).

[LWFVoo]

Viktor pointed out some limitations with the hardware Passthrough which I was already aware of - that is...

... you would not be able to use this in a cluster or move it to another machine, as it is tied to physical hardware.

There are also at least two others worth noting...

• "Passthrough will prevent the use of many commands": Not exactly sure what that means, yet.
• You will not be able to create/restore snap-shots for the VM.

None of these limitations bother me.

[bb99]

I'm going to say that there's no limitations only hurdles. I like what I'm reading. Did someone say "breakthrough"? This will be; no pressure...

[LWFVoo]

Found some more info' on page 66 of the ESXi Configuration Guide; listed here under the 'Guides and Papers' tab.

[znelbok]

Getting close to a year since an update, but how did this go.

I am familiar with passthrough as I use it with my unraid Vm appliance and i now want to add a card for Zoneminder if possible.

I am using ESXi 5.0

Did you find a card that you could get to work with pass through.

Mick