Confused. Clarification on USB Drive install and ESXi free pls?

[markhsa]

I have the ESXi free installed and on the 60 day eval. 

I have to say, its working very very well.

This leads me to some questions for ongoing use.  As this is just for a home learning server......

Cost:

1) This is where I am confused.  I have installed ESXi V5.  I have Vspere SLES Vcentre running on that ESXi server. I also have an XP instance on the ESXi install.

So, as I want this to be free ( I want to use the free part of this ), where will I run into issues and how do I manage the ESXi install?

As I understand, I have a 60 day eval ( no key installed, just 60 days as I did not enter a key ), the SUSE Vcentre will stop working correct?  So from that point, can I just use the Vcentre client on XP to connect to ESXi and manage it?  Avoiding the VCentre server and direct to the ESXi install?

USB drive install:

I have this installed right now on a single hard drive.  However, it would seem that installing on a USB ( 1 or 2 gig ) pen drive and booting from that pluged into the back of the computer would be a good idea.  No moving parts to fail on the drive etc... 

Then have the data for the OS's on hard drives in the computer.

Are there any performance issues with a USB pen drive install?  They are likely slower than a 7200 RPM drive I would suspect?

Thoughts around this?

Thanks all.  I am looking forward to better understanding the licensing especially.

[a_p_]

Once the evaluation period ends you cannot use vCenter Server anymore nor can you create and/or start VMs on the ESXi host. However, you can register for a free Hypervisor license and enter this license key in the ESXi host ("Configuration" -> "Licensed Features") after the eval period to be able to use continue using the host.

Installing ESXi on an USB device does not impact the performance at all. It may just boot a little bit slower. The Hypervisor itself runs in the RAM/memory and writes its configuration to the USB device only once every hour.

André

[markhsa]

Thanks, makes sense.

So after I enter the free license, am I to configure it from the Windows Vcentre client then?  So the missing component will be the Vcentre server correct?

And with only one ESXi host, that likely wont make that much difference anyway.

I just tried to enter the serial number while in eval mode, it accepts it, shows it to be a 1 cpu license that does not expire, then when I log back into the ventre client and have a look, it is back on EVAL.  I wonder if the eval has to expire before it will take the free license key?

[a_p_]

So the missing component will be the Vcentre server correct?

Correct. There's only a free license available for the Hypervisor/ESXi, not for vCenter Server.

it accepts it, shows it to be a 1 cpu license that does not expire

The number of CPUs that's shown depends on the hardware and eventually what you entered when you requested the license key.

when I log back into the ventre client and have a look, it is back on EVAL. I wonder if the eval has to expire before it will take the free license key?

This is most likely related to vCenter Server running in evaluation mode. With "real" licenses you would not be able to add a free Hypervisor the vCenter Server because of the missing virtual agent license for the host.

André