Your home ESX server lab hardware specs?

Hi guys,

Searching the net for an idea of lab server i have found this site...which is GREAT btw :). I am interested to build a server for Lab use like AD / CCM / Checkpoint VM's but unfortunately i have lost contact with latest innovation in server HW. My budget for this server is like ~500$, is not much but i can not afford more right now.
Can you give me some idea of which server [of course SH ] to buy or where from?
I would appreciate any idea.
If you will say that i can not build something reasonable cheap/good ...then i think that i will buy some cisco routers :)

Thanks in advance,
Mema
 
I am not but it should work though. I am using a P5Q-Pro of the same age and chipset with an Intel NIC as my built-in is not recognized.
 
Would a readynas duo play nice w/ ESXi? Should I be looking at just using it for storage only (like for my media server VM)? Just wondering! Not sure what kind of hdd set up i'm going to encounter when I actually start developing this small home setup.
 
New hardware day!

Just came across an IBM x3550 and found 4 146GB drives (hello RAID 10) and 16GB of memory! It's the single proc 1RU but finally I'll have a host capable of x64 emulation! Very excited here, only supports ESX 4.1i but hey, better than nothing!
 
tspinning said:
New hardware day!

Just came across an IBM x3550 and found 4 146GB drives (hello RAID 10) and 16GB of memory! It's the single proc 1RU but finally I'll have a host capable of x64 emulation! Very excited here, only supports ESX 4.1i but hey, better than nothing!
Click to expand...

Congrats :) whats this thing look like ?
 
Hello everyone, first post here. I am about ready to build my own ESXi lab and was wondering what you guys think of the hardware I have chosen? Memory is missing from the list below because Newegg doesn't have the 8GB modules I want. I am planning on using 4 x Kingston KVR1066D3Q8R7S/8G.

1z56v.jpg


Also, I know this will run 4.1 but I am not sure if 5.0 will work, is there anyone here running 5.0 on similar hardware?
 
Skippy101 said:
Hello everyone, first post here. I am about ready to build my own ESXi lab and was wondering what you guys think of the hardware I have chosen? Memory is missing from the list below because Newegg doesn't have the 8GB modules I want. I am planning on using 4 x Kingston KVR1066D3Q8R7S/8G.

1z56v.jpg


Also, I know this will run 4.1 but I am not sure if 5.0 will work, is there anyone here running 5.0 on similar hardware?
Click to expand...

you have to now buy the 16gig kit, i have the same issue. I have to buy 2 16 gig kits to get 32 gigs ram.
 
you have to now buy the 16gig kit, i have the same issue. I have to buy 2 16 gig kits to get 32 gigs ram
Click to expand...

I found the 24GB kit, but not the 16GB. Ill look again.

Skippy you need a different mobo for that cpu. x9* supermicros
Click to expand...

Thanks! That would have been bad. I replaced the CPU with a Intel Xeon X3450.
 
Hello everyone, first post here. I am about ready to build my own ESXi lab and was wondering what you guys think of the hardware I have chosen? Memory is missing from the list below because Newegg doesn't have the 8GB modules I want. I am planning on using 4 x Kingston KVR1066D3Q8R7S/8G.
Click to expand...

No RAID-controller?
 
Skippy101 said:
I found the 24GB kit, but not the 16GB. Ill look again.



Thanks! That would have been bad. I replaced the CPU with a Intel Xeon X3450.
Click to expand...

Don't replace the CPU with an old one, just get a different mobo and keep the E3 :)
 
1. Xenserver 5.6sp2
AMD 1055t , Asus 880 mb ,16gb ddr3 ram and WD 1TB black hdd

2. Openindiana 1.48
Intel 2100T , supermicro x9scm-f-o, 8gb ecc ddr3 ram, 2x2TB Samsung F4. 2x1TB Seagate es2
 
Off the top of my head:
2 x X8SI6-F with x3470 + extra 4nics and 32gb each for vSphere with local raid 1 disks
1 x X8SI6-F with x3440 + extra 1nic and 24gb storage server with (for the moment) 6 2TB disks
 
Just got in my Kingston 2x8GB kit for one of my X8SIL-F hosts. Works great. $150. I might order another now and take one of the three nodes up to 32GB. As it sits now each has 16GB.
 
I ordered these Kingston modules for my X8SI6-F: KVR1066D3Q8R7S/8G, wish I could add more :) ... I guess I'll have to test the vsphere host cache function with a decent SSD ;)
 
NetJunkie said:
Just got in my Kingston 2x8GB kit for one of my X8SIL-F hosts. Works great. $150. I might order another now and take one of the three nodes up to 32GB. As it sits now each has 16GB.
Click to expand...

where you get your kingston from? cheapest i could find is crucial but at usd299 for a pair or 2x8gb
 
Specs for build I'm putting together currently (just waiting on some of the last parts to arrive):

Case: Fractal Define Mini
PSU: Enermax 450W Tomahawk
Motherboard: Asus P8B-M mATX server board
CPU: Xeon E3-1230
RAM: 16GB (4 x 4GB) Kingston DDR3-1333 ECC
NIC: 2 x onboard intel gigabit + dual port intel gigabit nic
Storage 1: IBM M1015 with Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB x 2 in RAID 1 for Datastore
Storage 2: IBM M1015 in IT Mode with Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB x 2 passed through to Solaris VM for file server - will be adding a 3rd F4 once disk pricing starts to come back down :(
Graphics: Asus HD 5450 Silent, wanting to have a go at trying to pass this through to run as an HTPC with USB Sound

Running through Linksys WRT54GL Router and a Netgear GS-108T 8 Port Managed Gigabit Switch.
 
Thanks for sharing information...

Are you able to do vMOTION / HA-DRS / FT /DRS with this setup???
I am planning to build new lab too :)

Thanks,
atarione said:
upgraded my pc to an i5-2500K

so i used my old pc to make a ESXi server


i5-750
H55M-UD2H
8GB corsair DDR3 1333 (think i'm getting another 8GB today actually)
500GB hd


and then for storage I have a little shuttle K45 (which has to live in a closet cause the power supply is too loud. with a couple 1.5TB samsung F4 drives in raid 1 (running win2k8 w/ starwinds iSCSI SAN free edition)


Click to expand...
 
ESXi Cluster (x2)
CPU: Intel i7-2600k 3.4Ghz LGA1155
Motherboard: Biostar TH67B LGA1155, Intel G67, HDMI, SATA 6Gb/s, MicroATX
Memory: 16Gb, 4x 8Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333 240-Pin
Case: Apevia X-Pack (Black), MicroATX Desktop, 420W
Hard Drive: None
NIC: 2x Intel EXPI9402PT Dual Port Server Adapter 10/100/1000Mbps PCI-Express
Boot device: HP V165w 4GB

vCenter Server/iSCSI NAS (Starwind)
CPU: Intel G620 2.6Ghz LGA1155
Motherboard: Biostar TH67B LGA1155, Intel G67, HDMI, SATA 6Gb/s, MicroATX
Memory: 16Gb, 4x 8Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333 240-Pin
Case: Apevia X-Pack (Black), MicroATX Desktop, 420W
Hard Drive: 2x WD Black 750Gb 6Gbs, 1x WD Black 1To 6Gbs, 1x Intel SSD 510 250Gb
NIC: 2x Intel EXPI9402PT Dual Port Server Adapter 10/100/1000Mbps PCI-Express, 1x Realtek 8111e 10/100/1000Mbps (build-in)
Optical: Samsung 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AL/BSBE LightScribe

Others:
KVM: ioGear GCS634 MiniView USB 4 Port, cables included
Keyboard: i-rocks KR-6401-BK Black Slim Keyboard
Mouse: Logitech M500
WAN Switch: Netgear FS105, 5 ports 10/100
LAN Switch: Netgar GS108, 8 ports 10/100/1000
iSCSI Switch: Netgear GS108T, 8 ports 10/100/1000, L2 Switch
Monitor: Dell ST2420 24" LED

Pictures:
esxicluster_part01.jpg

DSC_0294.jpg

DSC_0297.jpg

DSC_0299.jpg




I will switch the iSCSI SAN from Starwind to Freenas in the next weeks. I just have place a order for other hardware component:
CPU: Intel G620 2.6Ghz LGA1155
Case: Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Motherboard: Biostar TH67B LGA1155, Intel G67, HDMI, SATA 6Gb/s, MicroATX
Power Supply: Rosewill RV2-500 500 W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready Power Supply
Boot Device: HP V165w 4GB
UPS: CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD 1350 VA 810 Watts UPS

I already have those parts home at home for the NAS:
Memory: 16Gb, 4x 8Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333 240-Pin
Hard drive: 2x Seagate 750Gb SATA 3Gbs (will also add the 2 WD Black 750Gb from other machine)
NIC: 2x Intel EXPI9402PT Dual Port Server Adapter 10/100/1000Mbps PCI-Express, 1x Intel EXPI9301CT Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter 10/100/1000Mbps PCI-Express


PRAVIN1CA said:
Thanks for sharing information...

Are you able to do vMOTION / HA-DRS / FT /DRS with this setup???
I am planning to build new lab too :)

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Yes it will work. I run Starwind on my vCenter server currently and run HA/FT/V-Motion without a problem.

I have PFsense/Trixbox/DNS/AD running in FT without a problem.
I can disconnect one of the cluster and i won't even loose a ping, have a drop call and stop download.

Have a look at my home lab specs.
 
^ Love this setup..nice and clean..and small footprint. Very nice for a home environment.
 
Vader said:
^ Love this setup..nice and clean..and small footprint. Very nice for a home environment.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I can't wait to have the FreeNas server up and running now.
I'll probably buy some metal shelf to have everything in place, now it's pain in the a** every time i need to access one of the computer. I'll probably get something like that:

Metal-Shelving.jpg


I also have a nice access point for the wireless network:
HP v-M200 + 2x 8dbi antenna

152346_b.gif

Q59188.jpg


I catch signal up to couple hundred meters outside of the house lol!



agrikk said:
What's with the water on the left side? Spring a leak somewhere? :)
Click to expand...

lol! Seriously... no idea!
 
I had the plastic version of that before i went with a skeltek rack. It definately does the job.

I'm also experimenting with FreeNAS on my main ESXi host passthrough an IBM Br10i card and a couple of Intel NIC's for Management and NFS. Works very well, actually. Outside of that I have an EMC PX4-300d NAS for main VM duties. Running one main ESXi 5.0 Host for production home duty such as AD/DNS-pFense-vCenter-View..etc, and also includes 2 Nested ESXi Host w/VM's for testing. Works very well for a single beefy server dual Nehalems w/48GB ECC, 8 Intel Gig NIC's..IPMI...etc.

 
^^
Nice rack, would love to have that home but i don't have the budget for that.

What is your FreeNas setup ? How many spindles and what is the performance ?
How do you like your PX4-300d ? I almost bought a ix4-200d but pulled back cause of all the bad review regarding the performance. For the same price of a PX4 i could get a XeonE3 with 16Gb of RAM and a RAID controler with BBU.....
 
For now, I have one Mirrored ZFS Volume setup with 4 x 500GB drives Mirror, 1 x 500GB Hotspare, 2 x 80GB Logs, and 1 x 100GB SSD cache.

Just set this up the other day, haven't had a chance to put it to test, however. I may not be keeping this, may only use this storage as a backup store on an Avamar Virtual Appliance...not quite sure yet. The PX4 is really nice. I only have 4 x 1TB drives in there and performance seems to be decent. I'm waiting for prices to drop and i'm going to replace those with 4 x 3TB Segate Barracudas 7200RPM/64MB Cache. It's pulling double duty right now...file/media storage and a couple of NFS volumes for vSphere. I originally went with the smaller NAS and sold my stand alone FileServer to save on noise and electricity as I thought I was going to be moving my office in the basement along with the equipment because my office turned into the baby's room, but I was able to set up a nice little spot in the dining room that we never use.
 
altivec,


You got any pics of when you were building all that stuff ?? it looks awesome congrats.

Dash..
 
dashpuppy said:
altivec,

You got any pics of when you were building all that stuff ?? it looks awesome congrats.

Dash..
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliment.

Here a couple more pics, at first i was running with with a 750Gb HD in each cluster.
I had a MagicStor SvSAN setup with HA but decided to switch to StarWind instead. Now i will switch to FreeNAS or OpenFiler, i should receive the additional hardware for the fourth computer during the holidays.

The build:
DSC_0178.jpg

DSC_0179.jpg

DSC_0182.jpg

DSC_0185.jpg

DSC_0190.jpg

DSC_0196.jpg



Temporary installation at the office:
DSC_0197.jpg

DSC_0201.jpg

DSC_0199.jpg
 
You don't need an iscsi router, just IP and subnet.. I don't know why he has an ISCSI network with no SAN or NAS though, storage vmotion?

EDIT: (oops, his vCenter server is also acting as a SAN, on the same server or virtualized separate from vCenter?)

Im surprised he has a separate switch for WAN, I guess he has a lot of VM's that he doesn't want to get out to the internet.
 
Last edited:
0V3RC10CK3D said:
You don't need an iscsi router, just IP and subnet.. I don't know why he has an ISCSI network with no SAN or NAS though, storage vmotion?

EDIT: (oops, his vCenter server is also acting as a SAN, on the same server or virtualized separate from vCenter?)

Im surprised he has a separate switch for WAN, I guess he has a lot of VM's that he doesn't want to get out to the internet.
Click to expand...

Maybe he didn't want to mix the 2 together...
 
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