Compatible configuration for VMware ESXi 5.5.0 lab

S

swlkt

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Hello,

I read your forum for several weeks especially many topics in this section and I already want to thank you all for your contributions, which already gave me a lot of knowledge for my project. Thank you to you for wanting to help others, that’s a great community support.

I apologize in advance if my English is not perfect, don’t hesitate to tell me if you don’t understand something, I would rephrase it with pleasure.

I would implement a lab for deploying and testing an infrastructure with VMware vSphere Hypervisor last version in date : 5.5.0-1331820. I would to virtualize a complete infrastructure, eventually I intend to use several VM in my ESXi : 1 AD 2012 R2, 1 Exchange 2013, 1 SQL Server 2012, 1 SC 2012 CM, each VM on Windows Server 2012 R2, 1 client Windows 8.1.

You have the context, it may evolve in the future (new VM) but basically that's it, it's just to build my server PC at first to install VMware ESXi and deploy VMs.

I want to help you me choose my component and make sure it is compatible with this version of VMware ESXi and the following if possible and even with VMware ESXi 5.1 and 5.0 if possible.
For my part, I am more used consumer hardware who I don’t have trouble for climbing a configuration but in the world of server, I’m a little lost. That is why I’m asking your help.

I have a budget of € 1000 ($ 1400 approx) and I can go up to 1500 € ($ 2000) if it is really necessary .
I don’t really know what is best and most suitable, I think you are more expert than me in this domain.

How to identify hardware actually supports : particularly the motherboard/processor and disk/network controllers on the motherboard ?

Here is what I would ideally it contains, I leave you the choice to advise me the most appropriate components for a good ratio performance/price :

• 1 CPU Core i7 Haswell ideally or Ivy Bridge (otherwise i5 is also OK), or Xeon otherwise, I see also a lot of AMD in your configs ;
• 32 GB of DDR3 RAM ;
• 3 hard drives 1 TB Western Digital ;
• 256GB SSD ;
• 1 NIC even enough that the motherboard it recognized, if not a NIC extension card ;
• I wish do RAID 1 and RAID 5 if possible, so a RAID card that allows this if the hardware on the motherboard is not recognized ;
• 1 basic graphic controller is suitable, no special requirement, just to connect a monitor ;
• 1 compatible motherboard for host this hardware, I like Asus as a brand but I leave you to choose the best for my config ;
• 1 quality PC power is essential in a server configuration ;
• The housing in a smaller format if possible and ideally quiet but if the ATX is necessary, it will be also good.

Well, I think I was pretty accurate and if you need additional information, don’t hesitate to ask me.

Thank you very much ahead for the time that you spend to answer me so I can build my server. I intend to buy the components this weekend.

See you soon and Happy New Year to all.
 
Will be a quick reply since it is in the middle of the night here and I can't sleep.

First off vmware have a database where you can search for 5.5 compatible hardware just Google it :)

Then for what kind of hardware I would recommend to go large just for the expandability (atx or larger). Intel processors with K in the end does not have vt-d which could be of big deal (eg 4770k 4670k. ..) i would prefer xeon but might be tight on the budget. For motherboard supermicron have many nice cards with lots of threads here on HF. To fit the budget maybe an all-in-one might fit your needs, find posts from user _gea that person is an expert in that area.

Now I am going back to sleep, gl hf and hope you get things working :)
 
Get a Dell C1100 w/ 72GB RAM and a couple of SSDs (size it up to you) and call it good.
 
kufra said:
Will be a quick reply since it is in the middle of the night here and I can't sleep.

First off vmware have a database where you can search for 5.5 compatible hardware just Google it :)

Then for what kind of hardware I would recommend to go large just for the expandability (atx or larger). Intel processors with K in the end does not have vt-d which could be of big deal (eg 4770k 4670k. ..) i would prefer xeon but might be tight on the budget. For motherboard supermicron have many nice cards with lots of threads here on HF. To fit the budget maybe an all-in-one might fit your needs, find posts from user _gea that person is an expert in that area.

Now I am going back to sleep, gl hf and hope you get things working :)
Click to expand...

In any case, thank you very much for your reply at night.

Indeed, by the forum I've already found compatible hardware but I saw that there is a compatibility guide on their website but I can not find just the general public white box hardware in this guide : Intel Core i7 and AMD FX for example, I see mostly Xeon etc. this is why I come to you to help me.

There are fairly affordable Xeon but they quickly become expensive for my project.
Especially with SuperMicro motherboards.

OK, I hope to have a response from him and I'll go already see its messages.

For my budget and my need, I see two possibilities which looked correct from the forum : a good processor AMD FX 8350 (model in sale today) with the Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3, this pair of products seems to me fully functional and approved by members no ?

Otherwise, I would prefer if Intel falls within my budget and only if it is more efficient compared AMD, if AMD is perfect it suits me. For Intel config, I think Core i7 4770 (Haswell) with the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ? Is also fully fonctional or not ?

One of these configs is 100% compatible ? You confirm or not ? :)

And especially the question I had : the network controller and the RAID will be usable without additional card ? Is these hardware detected by ESXi for these motherboard ?
If not, what good very basic NIC choose ? RAID card not too expensive within my budget to do RAID 0/1 and 5 if possible ?

Thank you again and see you soon. :)
 
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peanuthead said:
Get a Dell C1100 w/ 72GB RAM and a couple of SSDs (size it up to you) and call it good.
Click to expand...

Great idea also really affordable for my budget and not too expensive for a very good basic config.
Surely even more performance than a large public config.
ESXi can see and use the 72GB directly ?

For cons, I just wish for the moment a tower and not something rackable as it takes the equipment around, at first I was thinking of doing a home lab but after more necessary, I could get something more pro.
In addition, I have no more experience in the management of rackmount servers.
 
Rackmount and tower management is the same. Yes, ESXI 5.5 can see all 72GB.
 
The C1100 and HP DL160 G6's are amazing VM servers for the price. I have my DL160's on esxi 5.5.
 
Hi and Happy New Year !

Thank you for your advice.
In fact, I just saw this, they are real servers and it's not so expensive, it just remains to add disks, one on the above given model also has an excellent price/performance ratio !

I'm disappointed ! Come on, we will not cry, it will be for the next lab test that will be even more advanced and pro, will enjoy it in a few months at least. But when I see these types of real servers in almost the same budget once the store income, we're not happy.

Now unfortunately I can not change and I needed it quickly, I have already purchased a good ATX Advance case, a power supply Corsair CX430, 4 x 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz Corsair Vengeance memory, 3 x 1TB Western Digital SATA III Caviar Red.
It's also good for my reasonable budget.
I found all this in a good computer store because I need my whitebox this weekend, quite happy but something is missing.
The motherboard and processor. :(
The store has no AMD platform directly just by order, no problem for Intel for the i7 4770 is OK but against it is more difficult for the motherboard .
One that would suit most is the Asus Z87-Pro, I have not taken this evening by security to wait your reviews, if ESXi will not install it would be very annoying as I have a limited budget, so I have to be sure.

But I need it absolutely tomorrow.
As I have not found, I would go see another shop tomorrow for GA-Z87X-UD3H but maybe they will not have. :(
Could you just please confirm me that this motherboard works well with VMware ESXi if ever GA-Z87X-UD3H is not available in the last store ?

Thanks ahead.
 
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Thank you very much again for your help, it's very nice of your part and it allows me to begin my super lab that I plan to do and thank you for all information, I learned things, many thanks that's reassuring to see that I can enjoy. :)

Yet it is not the research that was missing, I had trouble do not yet accustomed to the language, I looked in the store and I preferred not to do something stupid and not buy until your review of experts, tomorrow I take it, it's a shame I could already have started now.

So I try to find the right motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H otherwise I would take this Asus Z87 with Intel I217-V controller in the worst case.
I would have bought on the internet but it was too late to be delivered on time.

I'll let you know if I have still questions and how to go the rest of my project.
 
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