Question about some hardware.

[Budman17r]

Since I'm getting in to this virtualization, and I am loving the idea of it, I've gotten the go ahead to build a server to run ESXI, and Honestly, I think I will just use my current setup and just buld myself a new PC. Here's why.

I currently have a Core i7 860, with a P7P55D Mobo, Both Support VT-D/Vtx, and honestly its a pretty quick setup. (One of my Virtual Machines I do want to support Real Time Video Transcoding which I know the I7 Can do easily.

In general I'm an intel fanboy, I don't want my server to out muscle my Desktop (at least not yet).

I was thinking 8+ GB of Ram to start. First machine would be an SBS 2011 Essentials or a WHS 2011, not sure yet. 2nd machines would prolly be Linux based, with a Free Nas once I get the disks.

I want to use the box to play/learn ESXI, and potentially use it as a home lab later to go for VCP Cert. Does this seem like a sturdy box for it or?

 

[Netwerkz101]

Personal opinion:

If you want to learn about virtualization, build a lab with at least two hosts and some form of shared storage.
It doesn't have to be top notch (read most expensive) just identical hardware capable of VT-x ...
The storage box can be standalone purpose built solution (QNap, Synology, etc), or a open source (FreenNAS, OpenFiler, etc.)
on a cheap PC with 1 or more hard drives in it.

If you want to run multiple VMs (apps servers), a single beefy box might be more ideal.
16GB to start + capacity to upgrade to a minimum of 32GB (at a reasonable cost),
a decent RAID controller and some RAID edition drives (minimum 4 but more is better).

You can always run a nested lab environment on a single beefy box, but I find nested labs cumbersome for learning.
I like to keep learning simple as possible.

NOTE: you can always break up your lab and just keep using the storage piece for whatever you re purpouse your lab hosts for.

 

[Budman17r]

Right now I have a Mediasmart server, and I'm working towards the cable to enable Keyboard and Video so I can put Freenas or openfiler on it.

Good point about additional hosts, I can certainly work towards that but immediate funds don't allow it (especially with storage prices at the moment.)

However, great point.