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Dr_No2
Contributor
Contributor

Install ESX 3.x on local drive?

As a test, will ESX allow you to install on the local drive (SATA or SCSI)? Or only a NAS or SAN?

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esiebert7625
Immortal
Immortal

Sure thing, local storage is supported for ESX and VMFS volumes. You should check the HCL to make sure your system and it's storage type are supported.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_systems_guide.pdf

Eric Siebert

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rossb2b
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

local yes, scsi yes, sata - I think it depends what verion of ESX you are running

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Dr_No2
Contributor
Contributor

Where is it support to be installed if you had servers connected to a SAN? (If you wanted to use VMOTION etc)

On local machine or SAN\NAS?

Will VMOTION work if you install ESX on local disk?

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Troy_Clavell
Immortal
Immortal

VMotion will not work on local storage. Vmotion is based on shared storage.

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esiebert7625
Immortal
Immortal

Shared storage like iSCSI, NAS or a SAN is required for vMotion and other features like DRS and HA to work. Here is a good feature chart...

Eric Siebert

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rossb2b
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Your ESX install can be local but for Vmotion to work your Virtual

Machine data stores need to be on SAN/NAS. You need central storage for

vmotion because the virtual machines disks do not move during a vmotion

so it needs be accessible from the source and destination ESX server.

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