High-performance PC for server virtualization ($2500 - flexible)

[Guest]

OS: VMWare ESXi, CheckPoint SPLAT (Secure Platform), RHEL, Windows 7.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: June 2010.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: PC-Based Server to run 3-4 OS's using VMWare virtualization (ESXi platform) combining also my daily-use workstation (VM-based Win7) for trivial tasks.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: N/A

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Israel

PARTS PREFERENCES: x58A chipset based Mboards. Gigabyte/Asus are the most common in Israel.

OVERCLOCKING: No CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200 / 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: VMs require relatively large amounts of memory - 1-2G, for triple-channel configuration 12G would be the minimum. Raid 5/1+0/0+1 is also required.
High stability and as silent as possible are mostly important.


Thanks in adance!

 

[GhislainG]

Using a standard PC to run ESXi is not ideal. At a minimum you need to buy a system with supported Ethernet controllers or buy supported Intel NICs. You'll also need to buy a supported PCI Express Raid controller because fake Raid won't work. Buying a server that officially supports ESXi might not necessarily be more expensive.

You can check this list, but it's rather limited: http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php