VMware Cloud Community
Deeshey
Contributor
Contributor

ESX on to desktop PC?

It's possible ? install ESX 3 in a desktop PC?. What configuration will be?

2 CPU, 1gb of ram, disks IDE? SCSI? one ethernet card.

This is for tests.

Thanks

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16 Replies
wobbly1
Expert
Expert

there are very strict hardware requirements for ESX so check the hcl at

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_systems_guide.pdf

For a cheap(ish) configuration check out:

http://www.vmweekly.com/articles/hardware_recommendations_to_build_cheap_esx_server/1

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ANSA
Expert
Expert

I was successfull in installing ESX 3.0.1 on a HP workstation XW8000. This PC has two processors and SCSI drives.

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Deeshey
Contributor
Contributor

but you need two CPU's....and you have only 1CPU. this works anyway?

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jcayer
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Just go buy something off the HCL off Ebay for a couple hundred bucks. Save yourself a lot of headache.

Josh

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cheeko
Expert
Expert

Many people (including me) here are running ESX lab/test systems on not-certified hardware with no problems. Search for "white box" in the forums - you'll find some working configurations.

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djmasters
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

there are very strict hardware requirements for ESX

so check the hcl at

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_systems_guide.pdf

For a cheap(ish) configuration check out:

http://www.vmweekly.com/articles/hardware_recommendati

ons_to_build_cheap_esx_server/1

Sorry, I'm not HP knowledgeable, been stuck with Dell's my entire career... Many models are specifically mentioned in the HCL as the G3-G5 models, would older G2 or G1(??) models work for testing/learning purposes, or would VI3 just refuse to install?

Thanks!

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ANSA
Expert
Expert

I've installed ESX 3.0.1 on an HP proliant dl 580 G2 in a lab environment and it worked.

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

ESX does work with 1CPU, but just get a dual core, then you have two...sort of.

I got it working on an AMD nForce4 motherboard, with an AMD64 dual core proc and an old PCI Adaptec SCSI card I had in a drawer. Haven't got the exact specs to hand but I can get them tomorrow.

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doubleH
Expert
Expert

as a proof of concept i had 2 desktops (HP EVO D500's) running ESX 3.1.0. these were P4 1.7ghz with 768mb ram. i also had another desktop with openfiler running to test iSCSI connectivity. this was enough to get me going and show the boss what it could do. ram was a little tight, but it served its purpose.

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djmasters
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

ESX does work with 1CPU, but just get a dual core,

then you have two...sort of.

I got it working on an AMD nForce4 motherboard, with

an AMD64 dual core proc and an old PCI Adaptec SCSI

card I had in a drawer. Haven't got the exact specs

to hand but I can get them tomorrow.

Yes, please elaborate. I have a AMD64 3400+ in a nForce4 board sitting at my house doing nothing, it would be nice to use it. I'm sure I can get my hands on a SCSI card too....

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PSJ-V2S
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

It work's with a dual core CPU, but you will have some warnings.

But i have one working fine like that.

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

OK here's the spec, it's actually an nForce500 not an nForce4.

AMD64 X2 4200+ proc

ASUS M2N-E nForce500 chipset mobo

4GB DDR 667 RAM

ST3160827AS SATA drive for ESX install

Adaptec 19160 PCI SCSI card

(Tiny) Quantum Atlas10k3_18_wls drive for VMFS

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djmasters
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Yes, please elaborate. I have a AMD64 3400+ in a

nForce4 board sitting at my house doing nothing, it

would be nice to use it. I'm sure I can get my

hands on a SCSI card too....

Replying to my own post here... Just got it built and haven't started running any VMs on it yet but it installed and seems to be working, and that's most of the battle! Except for the RAID card, extra HD, and video card, it was pulling rare duty as a HTPC, so I didn't invest much $$ into it. Heck, the CPU/mobo combo was only $99!!

ECS KN1 Lite nForce4-Ultra

Athlon64 3400+

2Gb A-data DDR RAM

Adaptec 2610A/Dell CERC SATA RAID

2x WD Caviar RE16 160Gb (RAID-0)

3com/Broadcom 5701 10/100/1000 NIC

Super cheap MSI PCI-X video card

Snagged a case from work that was in the trash.

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jeffparadis
Contributor
Contributor

Hi, are you able to run any VM's on vmfs using sata raid? Also is ESX 3 see you raid during your installation, or you need to install a driver?

Thanks!

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djmasters
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi, are you able to run any VM's on vmfs using sata

raid? Also is ESX 3 see you raid during your

installation, or you need to install a driver?

Thanks!

I'll assume you're talking to me. Jeff. No problems running VM's so far, and ESX has a driver for the Adaptec 2610A.

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HBBC
Contributor
Contributor

Just for completeness (and the real hard-of-cash such as myself!) I've got Eval ESX working very well indeed on a HP DL580 R01 !! Quad Xeon 700's with 3Gb ram plus a bunch of disks in a compaq 14-disk external enclosure.

Server was about £250 (about $450?) from ebay but they are MUCH MUCH cheaper in the states, and more plentiful! It even came with two dual port NICs!

Works like a dream!

Paul

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