USB stick for VM host?

coolamasta · 18 Sep 2015 at 16:42

Afternoon

Going to build myself a new VMware home lab and was thinking of installing VMware ESXi on a USB memory stick so I can use my SSD's & Raid Arrays purely for Datastores.

Just a bit worried about the reliability of using a USB so wondering whos done it like that, has it been reliable and any preferred manufacturer to use?

Cheers for any help :cool:

On Holiday · 18 Sep 2015 at 16:49

Wouldn't be an issue, worst case scenario is having to reinstall ESXI on the USB drive and then rescanning the datastore.

I stick to Kingston for USB/Flash memory and never from ebay/amazon!

coolamasta · 18 Sep 2015 at 21:51

Great thanks for the reply bud, I think I have a spare 16GB Kingston one so will install on that and give it a go

Quartz · 18 Sep 2015 at 22:07

coolamasta said:
Just a bit worried about the reliability of using a USB so wondering whos done it like that, has it been reliable and any preferred manufacturer to use?

Working fine here. Just leave the server on to minimise use of the USB stick

coolamasta · 18 Sep 2015 at 23:33

Cheers bud, going to go for it I think

pepp77 · 18 Sep 2015 at 23:46

Most Servers purchased for use with ESXi come with an SD card slot to run the ESXi software from, so I cannot see a USB causing any issues.

dessimpson · 18 Sep 2015 at 23:55

I run mine from an SD card.
Runs fine with no discernible difference to when it was running on the SAS drives.

coolamasta · 21 Sep 2015 at 09:35

Sweet, will get on it this week and give it a go, thanks again guys

TheBiznes · 21 Sep 2015 at 10:11

If I were you buy or use 2 sticks and use this program as it will back up ESXI for you.

http://www.alexpage.de/usb-image-tool/download/

coolamasta · 21 Sep 2015 at 23:41

TheBiznes said:
If I were you buy or use 2 sticks and use this program as it will back up ESXI for you.

http://www.alexpage.de/usb-image-tool/download/

Ah yeah, sounds good will have a read cheers :cool: