Building a server for VMWare ESXi only

chukwe · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:13

Hi All,

I'm want to build my own server for running ESXi with 4-6 VMs at a time.

I've never built a pc/server before and I don't know how easy or difficult it is. This is something I've been planning to do over 5 years now but never had the chance of doing it.

My first question is, can I do a good job on my first attempt?

Secondly, what are the complete components I need to build the server? My budget is between £600 to £800.

Bear in mind that this server needs 16GB Ram, an Intel or broadcom NIC for ESXi compactibility and AMD Phantom X6. No Raid & and no games.

What else do I need?

I'll be running

1) Windows server 2003 with Active Directory (512MB RAM)
2) Windows server 2003/2008 with SQL Server 2008 (2GB RAM)
3) Windows server 2003 with SharePoint 2007 (3GB RAM)
4) Windows Server 2008 with SharePoint 2008 (4GB RAM)

all running at the same time.

If you think that I won't be able to build one, please recommend me a server or someone who can build one for me.

Thanks All

beast_gts · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:25

As mentioned in other threads, HP ProLiant ML115 G5 servers are popular for ESXi.

Why a AMD Phenom X6?

HarryPainful · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:33

Buy an ML110 G6, Xeon model, and fill it with RAM, 4x 4GB, normal non ECC is fine.

Add some disks and buy a USB flash drive to install ESXi on.

Job done.

chukwe · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:50

beast_gts said:
As mentioned in other threads, HP ProLiant ML115 G5 servers are popular for ESXi.

Why a AMD Phenom X6?

I think ml115 g5 has been dicontinued.

I thought of Phenom X6 because it's cheap and can do a good job

chukwe · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:51

HarryPainful said:
Buy an ML110 G6, Xeon model, and fill it with RAM, 4x 4GB, normal non ECC is fine.

Add some disks and buy a USB flash drive to install ESXi on.

Job done.

ml110 g6 is not on the vmware compactible hcl list

HarryPainful · 1 Apr 2011 at 23:56

It works.

beast_gts · 2 Apr 2011 at 00:20

chukwe said:
I think ml115 g5 has been dicontinued.

eBay

If you do want to build your own server 'whitebox' the things to check the HCL for are NIC and RAID, and since you've said you don't want RAID that's only one thing.

Have a look at the Ultimate VMWare ESX Whitebox site.

chukwe · 2 Apr 2011 at 08:14

Thanks all for your help.

After doing some research, I've decided not to buy or build a server because noise.

I just read 2 blogs of people who manage to run ESXi 4.1 U1 on their desktop pc by changing the NIC Card to intel or broadcom.

So I'm in the hunt for a desktop. Can you help recommend one for me?

Thanks

beast_gts · 2 Apr 2011 at 13:37

Are you looking for something new or second-hand?

There are some systems listed on the Ultimate VMWare ESX Whitebox site.

droyden · 3 Apr 2011 at 16:06

I successfully installed esxi4.0 on a dell optiplex 755 desktop pc without problems

madman045 · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:42

Here is an alternative ESXI setup, with noise and power consumption almost the top priority

http://www.kendrickcoleman.com/inde...re-vsphere-home-lab-qthe-green-machinesq.html