Cheap Hardware

[zenariga]

Hello I need to create a VMWare lab in my company.

Anybody knows what the cheaper hardware that I buy to install ESX Server? And the most cheap storage system to conect this environment.

Thanks

[Lightbulb]

Go to no prices but you can run the hardware components by or your online vendor of choice.

Cheap storage can be any system running Openfiler or Freenas

[zenariga]

Thanks Lightbulb,

This is helpfull site and post, but anybody knows a more comercial server hardware and storage?

Thanks,

[asatoran]

In that case, you should really stick to the HCL. Systems Compatibility Guide For ESX Server 3.5 and ESX Server. Otherwise, search the HCL for components that are certified for ESX. .

[admin]

For lab equipment consider using pancake boxes (1U) which these days can house 2 quad core proessors an up to 32 gb ram. Coupl that with 2 Quad Port Nics and Ethernt (NFS or iSCSI) based storage and you are good to go. I have experience with IBM and these can be purchased for cheap <6k or on EBay even less. Just make sure the system and storage controller for local disk is on the HCL for VMware.