Home lab hardware feedback

[Shino1982]

Hi everyone!

I want to build a home lab to get more experience with vSphere. My hardware list looks as follows and I hope you can give me some feedback if everything would work.

Case + Mobo: AsRock Deskmini 110

CPU: i3-6100

RAM: 1x 16GB 2400Mhz

HDD: 500GB

USB: 16GB Stick to run ESXi on

A M.2 SSD would be optional. I want to buy the whole setup twice to create a cluster. Later maybe even add a third host.

What do you think about it? Thanks!

[waqarmustafa]

I prepared my home lab with following configurations: (using 2 laptops)

MacBook Pro

RAM = 16 GB

SSD = 512 GB

Processor = Core i7

Lenovo W550s

RAM = 16GB

SSD = 512 GB

Processor = core i7

Deployed 2 Esxi hosts and 4 VMs running on MacBook Pro

Deployed DNS server, vCenter server running on Lenovo

I hope the configuration you listed will work without any problem if you can upgrade your processor to Core i7

[baszek]

Hi

Did you test that AsRock Deskmini 110 with vmware ? Does installation work out of the box ?

I am also thinking about that new 5x5 mini-Stx mobo - as it cost less then intel NUC.

[kpopov]

Hi!

I bought today AsRock Deskmini 110.

ESXi 6.5.0 work out the box.

My config is:

CPU: i5-6400

RAM: 1x16GB

HDD: 500GB

SSD: 64GB

ESXi was installed on 16GB SanDisk USB stick.

[baszek]

I think that it is better to buy https://www.amazon.com/H110S2-CSM-Mini-STX-Motherboard-Motherboards/dp/B01KODO8ZU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8...

ASUS H110S2/CSM

• DisplayPort, HDMI and LVDS video outputs connect to a variety of displays 
• Dual GB LAN Ports suitable for network appliance projects 
• Supports 1x 2280 M.2 SSDs and 1x 2230 M.2 Wi-Fi 

It has got dual GB LAN what is a big plus.

That AsRock Deskmini 110 has got the same intel chipset so I think it should work out-of the box too.

[iomazic]

Hello,

I am having same asrock minidesk 110. I installed esxi on usb 3.0 on that rig. did not change much in bios (disable audio, disable wifi) when I boot my bootable esxi usb is first on list, and I am able to get to esxi interface, I make some setup (static IP etc) and it ask to reboot, when I do that, it does not do anything but it is stopped on bios/boot menu where it is written A0 or it say there is no bootable device to boot from… any ideas? Or can you share with me somehow your bios setup?

Many thanks in advance,

Ivan

[iomazic]

Ok that problem was solved...

no I have another question again related to BIOS setup i can not enable EVC mode on asrock mini pc, there is a msg to check XD, VT, AES and PCLMULQDQ... can anyone help me?

[Stanley_]

is VT-x function enabled in BIOS?

something like “Intel VT-x,” “Intel Virtualization Technology,” “Virtualization Extensions,” or something similar.

[iomazic]

Hello,

yes it is.

[Stanley_]

and what kind of EVC mode you want to use? "Hashwell" / etc..??

see link

Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support (1003212) | VMware KB