esx build

[trick0502]

i am looking to build a esx box. i was looking at the micorcenter 8120 combos. i have some concerns with the mb. what would you guys go with? i know that esx is picky when it comes to nics, so i dont plan on using the onboard nic. i have a pcie intel nic (i dont have the exact model in front of me right now).

asrock 990fx
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382895

asus sabertooth
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365898

gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0366425

asrock 970
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382952

also, what about a gpu? i have a hd 2400 that i could use, any concerns with using that?

i only plan to use the box for whs2011, 2008r2 game server, linux test system and random other systems.

 

[Eulogy]

Do you need/want IOMMU/Vt-D? What price range does this need to be in? How many actual VMs do you plan on initially having, and with what kind of load on them? What do you plan on doing with the VMs?

 

[Chimay]

I know others in these forums have mentioned they build ESXi servers using that gigabyte board and it worked fine.

gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0366425

I put a box together two days ago using an AMD 965 black edition & an MSI 970A-G45 that i picked up for 80 bucks. I've only gotten ESXi running off a USB flash drive and local SATA drives setup as VMFS datastores. Haven't had anymore time to bring up some VMs and try using IOMMU but plan to play with it this weekend when time allows.

As for the video card I believe that's should be okay. I tossed an older AMD PCIE card in my box and didn't have any problems with installation.

 

[trick0502]

Do you need/want IOMMU/Vt-D? What price range does this need to be in? How many actual VMs do you plan on initially having, and with what kind of load on them? What do you plan on doing with the VMs?

do i need iommu/vt-d, no, but i would like to have it. i was hoping to spend $400 or less on the cpu/mb/ram. with microcenter combos, it is easily do able. here is the list of combos, what would you go with?

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

as for the number of vms, i really have no idea. i know i will move my whs2011 server to a vm, a 2008r2 game server and a linux box to start. the load wont be that high to start, but it could increase if i decide i want to play with more things.

I know others in these forums have mentioned they build ESXi servers using that gigabyte board and it worked fine.

gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0366425

I put a box together two days ago using an AMD 965 black edition & an MSI 970A-G45 that i picked up for 80 bucks. I've only gotten ESXi running off a USB flash drive and local SATA drives setup as VMFS datastores. Haven't had anymore time to bring up some VMs and try using IOMMU but plan to play with it this weekend when time allows.

As for the video card I believe that's should be okay. I tossed an older AMD PCIE card in my box and didn't have any problems with installation.

the gpu is pcie, i figured it would be fine.