Need help in configuring home server

[pradeepya]

Hello All,

I am trying to setup a home lab server for learning VMware esx4.1 forimplementing LInux and microsoft exchange.

As I see from the documentation in Vmware, the supported processors for Vmotion is Xeon procesor or Nehalam based 64bit processors.

Could you please guide me in selecting the system for VMware

The current configuration I have choosen is:

Intel Xeon processor E5620
Intel mother board S5520HC
8GB DDR 3 RAM

Could I implement these on Intel I5 or I7 processor?

Requesting for your feedback

 

[huron]

If you haven't checked, there are excellent VMware whitebox configs out there:

http://ultimatewhitebox.com/

There are tested components, etc.

You may not even need to get a server board, etc, but that's not bad.

The biggest on that would concern me are the NICs - Intel NICs seem to get the best performance and are easiest to implement.

 

[pradeepya]

If you haven't checked, there are excellent VMware whitebox configs out there:

http://ultimatewhitebox.com/

There are tested components, etc.

You may not even need to get a server board, etc, but that's not bad.

The biggest on that would concern me are the NICs - Intel NICs seem to get the best performance and are easiest to implement.

Hello Huron,

Thanks for the link.
Could you let me know if I can buy a lapto supporting I7 processor for me to implement this setup.
Would HP ProBook 4720s Notebook PC support ESXi4.1 and run multiple VM's on it

 

[huron]

I don't see why you couldn't buy a laptop that would do this, but keep in mind that ESXi is meant to be managed through a GUI from another machine. The actual interface for the ESXi host is very simple and does not allow you to do much, except configure the basics (IP, password, etc). You still have to manage from another machine.

 

[pradeepya]

I don't see why you couldn't buy a laptop that would do this, but keep in mind that ESXi is meant to be managed through a GUI from another machine. The actual interface for the ESXi host is very simple and does not allow you to do much, except configure the basics (IP, password, etc). You still have to manage from another machine.

Hello Huron,

Thanks for your reply.

I was planning to install VMware workstation 7.0 on which I would install ESX 4.1 on a VM.
Would connect to this console to manage ESXi4.1 and manage VM's on it.

Would this setup require more Hardware requirements on the laptop

Please advice.

Regards,
Pradeep

 

[huron]

You can run ESX and ESXi in a virtual machine...you would then connect to it via the GUI.

Honestly, the hypervisor itself is so lightweight, it'll hardly take any resources at all.

I think you're good to go. Enjoy!

 

[pradeepya]

Hello,

I bought a new system with the following config for my home lab.

Intel S5520SC Workstation Motherboard
Intel E5620 Xeon processor
Transcend 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
WD 500GB HDD
MSI R5770 Hawk Graphic Card.

I would be implementing my lab on this setup.

I had a issue after assembling my system.
Not sure if this mother board requires paired memory modules. (4GB+4GB).
I dont get a display as I currently have 4GB memory.

 

[GhislainG]

Is the Transcend memory module ECC Registered RDIMM or ECC Unbuffered UDIMM? Is it installed in slot A1?

Transcend is not on the list at http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/CS-030229.htm, but that doesn't mean that it won't work.

Have you read section 3.2.2 in this document? http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/e39530010_s5520sc_tps_r1_7.pdf

 

[pradeepya]

Hi,

Vendor was not able to provide me the RAM I had requested earlier.
he mentioned that they verified that Transcend was compatible and provided me the memory.

I have requested him for the below memory as mentioned in the intel site.
Kingston KVR1333D3D4R9S/8GI H5TQ2G43AFR-H9C rev A Registered ECC DDR3 1333MHz Dual N/A N/A Yes 1 8GB

Do I need to fill in two modules of DIMM for compatibility?

 

[GhislainG]

Do I need to fill in two modules of DIMM for compatibility?

Not according to Intel's documentation, but it has to be installed in Channel A Slot 0, identified as DIMM A1 (blue slot closest to the processor installed in the CPU 1 socket).