Hyper-V on SuperMicro H11SSL-i Motherboard: Legacy PCI Endpoints with 2ASMedia USB 3.0 xHCI Controllers

Hyper-V and Supermicro H11SSL-i Motherboard: Understanding Legacy PCI Endpoints for ASMedia USB 3.0 xHCI Controllers

In this article, we'll explore the topic of integrating the Supermicro H11SSL-i motherboard with Hyper-V, focusing on the legacy PCI endpoints for ASMedia USB 3.0 xHCI controllers. This discussion will provide valuable insights for those working with Hyper-V and looking to optimize their hardware setup.

Hyper-V: An Overview

Hyper-V is a native hypervisor from Microsoft that creates virtual machines (VMs) on x86-64 systems. By using Hyper-V, you can create isolated VMs that can run different operating systems and applications, providing flexibility, and resource optimization.¹

Supermicro H11SSL-i Motherboard

The Supermicro H11SSL-i motherboard is a popular choice for server setups, offering various features, including support for multiple GPUs, numerous PCIe slots, and M.2 slots. Additionally, this motherboard is compatible with the Intel C621 chipset, which makes it a solid option for a high-performance server.²

ASMedia USB 3.0 xHCI Controllers

ASMedia Technology Inc. is a well-known supplier of high-speed connectivity solutions. Their USB 3.0 xHCI controllers provide fast and reliable USB connections for devices like external hard drives and flash drives.³

Legacy PCI Endpoints in Hyper-V

Hyper-V supports legacy PCI devices to enable older operating systems or specific hardware to function correctly within a VM. Legacy PCI endpoints emulate the standard PCI bus and provide a way for VMs to communicate with these devices.⁴

Device Manager Screen and Host Expected

When working with Hyper-V and the Supermicro H11SSL-i motherboard, you may encounter legacies PCI devices listed in the Device Manager under the "Host" category. This situation arises because these devices are directly connected to the host, bypassing the virtual switch.⁵

Survey-DDA.ps1: A Helpful Script

To facilitate better management of your Hyper-V setup, you can use a PowerShell script called Survey-DDA.ps1. This script displays a list of all direct-connected devices (legacy PCI) in your Hyper-V host. To use the script, simply install the Hyper-V module, download the script, and then execute it in PowerShell.⁶

Code Block: Survey-DDA.ps1 Script

This article has provided an in-depth discussion of the Supermicro H11SSL-i motherboard and its compatibility with Hyper-V, focusing on legacy PCI endpoints for ASMedia USB 3.0 xHCI controllers. Understanding these key concepts enables you to optimize your hardware configurations and manage legacy devices effectively in a Hyper-V environment.

References

• Microsoft Learn: Hyper-V on Windows
• Supermicro H11SSL-i Motherboard
• ASMedia Technology Inc.
• Microsoft Learn: Plan for Legacy Devices in Hyper-V
• Understanding Hyper-V Virtual Switch and PCI Direct Connection
• Survey-DDA.ps1 - Direct Connect Devices Audit