Question

ESXi hardware requirements

Asked by: kamsuj

Hi,

I'm looking at hardware requirements od ESXi and I'm wondering about running the software on a "plain PC" not a server from HP or IBM. Did anyone try to run it on a "self made" PC with for example Intel Quad, 8GB of ram and 2 x 1TB disks with Raid 1? What I want to achive is a low cost test machine. Is it possible?

Thanks.

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Asked On
2008-08-13 at 04:06:22ID23644151
Tags

ESXi

Topic

VMware

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Answers

 

by: larstrPosted on 2008-08-13 at 04:08:17ID: 22220620

 

by: HeinoSkovPosted on 2008-08-13 at 14:08:27ID: 22225662

Besides the above great site - heres the VMware Compatibility Guides.

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vi_pages/vi_pubs_35u2_3i_i.html

Also take a look at this:

Community-Supported Hardware/Software for VMware Infrastructure
http://www.vmware.com/resources/communitysupport/cat/133/rating+desc

 

by: rabbieazPosted on 2008-08-13 at 22:41:44ID: 22227966

Here is a list of all servers that are supported by ESXi:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_systems_guide.pdf

It will not install on a desktop pc.

 

by: larstrPosted on 2008-08-14 at 00:57:00ID: 22228366

> It will not install on a desktop pc.

Even though  it's not officially supported on a desktop pc it's surely possible if you have  the right hw.

One such example is the HP  Compaq D530 that will run ESX just fine. Not that you will get  too much IO performance, but it will work.

Lars

 

by: VerbaetimPosted on 2008-08-16 at 01:28:49ID: 22243510

This site tells you what motherboard's and systems support ESXi or ESX latest build.
http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm

 

by: S00007359Posted on 2008-08-28 at 03:10:13ID: 22333177

I have just installed ESXi on my desktop pc, Intel P4, 3GHZ, 2GB Ram, 80gb sata drive on an Intel ICH7R sata controlller. Installed all ok. Except i had to use an Intel Gigabit PCI-X network card, works like a charm, with 3x VMS running.

 

by: VerbaetimPosted on 2008-08-29 at 21:51:43ID: 22350686

What Motherboard did you install your ESxi Server on S00007359?

 

by: S00007359Posted on 2008-08-30 at 00:30:47ID: 22350994

It's an Intel motherboard, i'll have to to get the exact motherboard model number later.

Today i installed my second ESXi box.

SPECS:
Motherbaord is an Intel SE7230NH1LX motherboard. Has 2x Intel Gigabit Embedded ethernet and Intel ICHR 7 SATA Controllers. With 2x SATA 80GB Hard Disks, running in non raid mode. 8GB 667mhz NON ECC RAM, and Intel Pentium D 925, 3.2GHZ CPU, running 4 VM's and only using 519 CPU and 1.44GB RAM, in a no load situation.

I beleive ESXi can be installed on most desktop motherbaords with local SATA controllers, as long as you disable AHCI and RAID mode in BIOS, unless you have the storage controllers as per the I/O Guide for ESX/ESXi.

 

by: VerbaetimPosted on 2008-09-01 at 11:02:28ID: 22361904

The SE7230NH1LX  is a Server class motherboard that only takes ECC memory, how did you get NON ECC RAM to work with it? * What type of Memory, did purchase for it?

Slots:   4 (2 banks of 2)
USB Support:   2.x Compliant
DDR2 SDRAM Frequencies:   PC2-3200, PC2-4200, and PC2-5300
Error Detection Support:   ECC only
Chipset:   Intel E7230
Max Registered DDR2 SDRAM:   8192MB
Module Types Supported:   Unbuffered only
Supported DRAM Types:   DDR2 SDRAM only

 

by: S00007359Posted on 2008-09-02 at 04:38:45ID: 22366233

Verbaetim;

You are right, SE7230NH1LX is an entry level server class motherbaord. The SE7230NH1LX support both ECC/Non ECC RAM.

When using ECC RAM, it can only take ECC Unbuffered RAM. Error Detection Support is only enabled, when using the ECC Ram.

When using NON ECC RAM - ECC support is disabled in BIOS (This is not something you can configure)

I am using 4x 2GB Kingston RAM. Part number for this RAM is: KVR667D2N5/2G

Thanks

 

by: S00007359Posted on 2008-09-13 at 17:53:20ID: 22470664

Hi Guys,

here's the motherbaord details of the 3 whiteboxe desktop/server that i have installed ESXi sucessfully and using it.

1) Intel D915GAV , Intel P4, 3GHZ, 2GB Ram, 80gb sata drive on an Intel ICH7R sata controlller. Installed all ok. Except i had to use an Intel Gigabit PCI-X network card, works like a charm, with 3x VMS running.

2) Intel SE7230NH1LX , Has 2x Intel Gigabit Embedded ethernet and Intel ICHR 7 SATA Controllers. With 2x SATA 80GB Hard Disks, running in non raid mode. 8GB 667mhz NON ECC RAM, and Intel Pentium D 925, 3.2GHZ CPU, running 4 VM's and only using 519 CPU and 1.44GB RAM, in a no load situation.

3) Gigabyte: P35-DS3L, CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 9300 @ 2.5ghz, 8GB Ram, 1x 320GB SATA hard disk, BIOS setup to use Hard Disk as native SATA (RAID disbaled on this motherbaord, as it's not supported). Onboard realtek network card not used,a s not supported, so an Intel PCI-X giagbit network card is used. Running 2 VM's at the moment, and in Production.

I hope it helps.

Thanks
S00007359

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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