HPE MServer Gen10+ ESXi passthrough

[JamieC1]

I am using ESXI 7.0 U1 - using the HP image 'New*ESXi 7.0 U1 Jan 2021'. Bios is U48

I am not using the software RAID (found out doesn't work with ESXi) and did not buy the external Smart Array card. I am trying to passthrough 2 HDDs to a TrueNas VM but it won't have it!

Am I doing something wrong or will I have to buy this card - 'HPE Smart Array E208i-p SR Gen10' ?

I have seen the link below but it seems fiddly to get a raw mapping working and not sure if the best way for TrueNas

https://gist.github.com/Hengjie/1520114890bebe8f805d337af4b3a064

Could I use another, cheaper pci-e SATA controller card in this server, any ideas?

[Sebasbin]

Hi JamieC1

Recommending to go through the server quickspecs and the spare part document to buy the supported smart array controller for the HPE Microserver Gen10 plus 

QuickSpecs
https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=a00073554enw#

HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 - Options Parts
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=a00028528en_us

[JamieC1]

Hi

I now have the supported Smart array controller.  As all 4 drives on this server are connected on the same SAS cable, how do I just send (passthrough) the 2 drives I want for TrueNas. I don't want to pass the 2 other disks with the ssd vms.

I had to unplug the sas cable to the MB and put to the HBA. Do I need some sort of cable to 'split / connect' 2 of the drives to the SAS port on the MB, then I can passthrough just the 2 spinning disks on the extrernal HBA

Can I do this ?