ESXi host

[TeeJayHoward]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Headless ESXi 5.1 host running Solaris, Linux, and several Windows Server VMs
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
About a thousand bucks including tax and shipping.
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Case, power supply, motherboard, cpu, ram, and a boot drive.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
6x3TB drives will be passed through to a VM. I already have these drives.
6) Will you be overclocking?
No
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Not applicable, as the machine will be run headless
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the week
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
I require 6xSATA ports on a controller that can be passed through to a VM. I need IPMI or something simillar. Onboard video would be very nice for the initial setup. Most importantly, though, every component must be compatible with ESXi 5.1. Obviously, VT-x, VT-d, and hyperthreading would be useful.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
The host machine will run the free version of ESXi. The guest OS will be free (Solaris 11, Oracle Linux) or acquired via my Technet subscription.


I'm dead set on getting a machine which is powerful enough to run VMs, but also quiet enough to be sitting next to the TV when we're watching movies. I also really, really, want something which will match the rest of my computers, so I'm kinda set on the Define Mini.

I will also be purchasing these through Amazon, not Newegg. The Newegg links are so that I can make sure that the Hard|Forum gets whatever revenue they can from my purchase (via newzon), and because Newegg's site is superior, navigation-wise, to Amazon's. With that in mind, here's what I've put together so far. Advice welcome.

Case: Fractal Design Define Mini - Newegg lists these as discontinued. Are they?
Mobo: Supermicro X9SCM-F - The Intel 82579LM NIC isn't officially supported in ESXi, but works fine with a community driver. Supermicro offers the X9SCM-iiF, which has a pair of 82574Ls instead, for about $45 more. Is this the only difference between the two boards? Is it worth the extra money?
PSU: Seasonic SS-400FL - My first fanless power supply. Will the low speed fans in the Fractal Design case push enough air?
CPU: Intel E3-1230v2 - The stock cooler sucks, but it works and isn't all that loud. If you think a replacement could assist with the "quiet" aspect of the machine, I'm all ears.
RAM: Kingston KVR13E9/8HM ECC Unbuffered 8GB (Four of them) - These are listed as supported for the X9SR_ series of motherboards. Can I assume that they will also work on the X9SCM, which officially supports these RAM chips? (Gotta type in the mobo model)
Boot: SanDisk Cruzer Fit 16GB USB Flash Drive - I've got one of these in an X9SCM right now. Works like a charm.

 

[TeeJayHoward]

The Supermicro X9SCi-LN4F also appeals to me. I could switch to a Fractal Design Define R4 case, and have extra supported ethernet ports for about $60 more. The only issue is that is doesn't have a Type-A port to boot from on the motherboard like the X9SCM. Can you boot ESXi off a rear USB port?

Edit: You know what, if I need the extra two ports, I could just add 2xIntel gigabit NICs for the price difference.

 

[Hagrid]

The Supermicro X9SCi-LN4F also appeals to me. I could switch to a Fractal Design Define R4 case, and have extra supported ethernet ports for about $60 more. The only issue is that is doesn't have a Type-A port to boot from on the motherboard like the X9SCM. Can you boot ESXi off a rear USB port?

Edit: You know what, if I need the extra two ports, I could just add 2xIntel gigabit NICs for the price difference.

Yes, it will boot off a back USB port, thats where mine are located.

 

[TeeJayHoward]

Ordered.

Note that the motherboard is the X9SCL-F, not the X9SCM-F. The NewEgg/Amazon conversion via the site still needs a little bit of work. Whatever, it was $10 cheaper anyway, and since I'm passing through spinning disks, 3Gb/s should be fine.

edit: I stand corrected. Although I wrote X9SCM-F, I put in the URL for the X9SCL-F. The site's converter worked.

I've also got a bid in on 4x 40Gb Infiniband NICs. We'll see how that works out!