New host requirement - no local datastore required

[aspinfo]

I am running a 10 year old esxi 4.0.0 host that I want to replace with a new system.

I have a Synology NAS on my network and have all of my vm's running within a single iscsi datastore on the Synology host, so replacing the esxi host has ZERO to do with any storage within that server, all of my vm's are on the Synology NAS.  The only thing the host is doing is running esxi itself, and connecting to the iscsi datastore.

So my questions are twofold.  Since I don't need any raid5 storage on a new host, can I buy a typical Dell XPS 8900 workstation with an i7 processor, lots of ram, and only a basic 1tb sata drive, just to install esxi itself, so the big issues of storage compatibility in the HCL wouldn't apply because all of my vm's are on the network and not local?

Then, if I can go buy a new, cheap system with minimal storage, do I have to upgrade my vm's in multiple steps from 4.0 to the latest version of esxi, or can I upgrade them in a single step?

1 current host, running esxi 4.0.  No local host datastore.

1 Synology NAS drive on the same network segment.

1 iSCSI datastore on the Synology NAS - allocated space 1tb, 50% available.

6 VM's within the 1 datastore.

No plan to upgrade existing host, too old.  Big old 3 fan server and not very green at all.

I want to purchase a new Dell XPS8900, Skylake i7-6700 processor, 8mg cache, 4.0 ghz, 32gb ddr4 memory, 2133mhz, 1tb sata standard drive.

Install latest esxi edition on new host with zero local datastore, just esxi host on new Dell box.

Need recommended procedure to upgrade datastore and vm's from 4.0 to latest.

[RAJ_RAJ]

Hi ,

You have check server h/w compatibility with vsphere version  , installing Esxi no need of  2 tb .  you can create separate Raid on device if it supports .

use 50 Gb for esxi and other create another raid with local data store . or use single Data store .

shutdown vms and remove from inventory

disconnected NAS

New server install esxi - >  connect NAS -> Register one  VM ->take snapshot -> upgrade vm h/w ->  power on and test .

If working fine proceed same others .

[aspinfo]

thank you for the very fast reply.

I see you mentioned creating separate raid on the new device.  I have no need for raid storage on new host.  all vm's are on iscsi datastore.  Trying to make new host, nothing more than esxi with the 1 datastore still on nas. 

If the new workstation to be used as host has no raid5 card at all, just single 1tb sata drive, just need esxi to install itself and "point" to the iSCSI datastore on network.

I am hoping to be able to purchase less expensive host since zero requirement for local datastore, local storage, local vm's, on host itself.  Host strictly runs esxi.

I'm looking for a confident response like "since you aren't going to create a datastore locally on the new host, you shouldn't have any trouble installing esxi onto the 1tb sata drive.

[continuum]

I dont see a problem unless the networkcard is anything obscure.
By the way - I highly recommend NOT to use ESXi 6 or 6.5 but use latest 5.5 build or even better latest 5.1 build.
Those versions still have a consistent GUI using the vsphere client. For later builds you have to use webclients which is no fun at all.

[aspinfo]

So its strictly a browser gui and its not good, huh?

Can I still download 5.5?

To upgrade the VM's from 4.0 to 5.5, can I go straight away and how are they upgraded?

[aspinfo]

and I guess my concern is even though all of my vm's are external storage, that during install, if I don't have a raid5 card, will it fail on me?

[continuum]

ESXi does not need to see any storage during setup

[RAJ_RAJ]

Hi ,

in that case there is no problem . Only your host should be compatible with esxi version you choose .

And proceed the steps i have mentioned .

[RAJ_RAJ]

HI ,

if your vms are on external storage no issue , even esxi gone , you can re install and esxi and register the vms from external storage

[markdean]

Are you seriously recommending someone install a version of ESXi that is no longer supported on new hardware? Clock is ticking on 5.5 support as well. I'll take a web client over having to install a Win32 app, with all those C++ run time files (that gets added to with every incremental version of the VI client) and then of course, having to run Windows any day of the week.

[markdean]

You can ditch the 1TB local drive and install ESXi on an SD card (if it has one) or USB thumb drive--no hard drive needed. None of my ESXi hosts in my 25 server VM farm has any local storage (although I am planning on installing an SSD for read cache at some point--but that's not for booting ESXi).

[continuum]

> Are you seriously recommending someone install a version of ESXi that is no longer supported on new hardware?
> Clock is ticking on 5.5 support as well. I'll take a web client over having to install a Win32 app, with all those C++ run time files
> (that gets added to with every incremental version of the VI client) and then of course, having to run Windows any day of the week.
Yes I recommend to use 5.1 or 5.5 with out any doubts.
Especially for small environments or one host setups that will probably never call VMware support I value ease of administration and better chances to recover data after VMFS corruption much higher than official support.
By the way - your opinion regarding the webclient does not match the experience of many many other users - see
vSphere Web Client SUCKs so bad that my experience managing and supporting VMware has turn to SH**!