Testing machine

[eldingo]

Hello All:

I am trying to build a computer powerful enough to run nested vspherer hosts and quite a few virtual machines for testing/learning purpose. I would appreciate if you can forward your suggestions for building such a computer e.g. what kind of processor, how much memory, motherboard, graphics card, and hard drive.

Best regards.

[Troy_Clavell]

have a look at this list

http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php

[eldingo]

Thanks Troy, that list would definitely of help.

[Datto · Accepted solution]

Here's my setup that I use to run nested ESX 4.0 hosts on physical ESX 4.0 hosts. I can tell you that it is slow and the nested ESX 4.0 hosts need to be rebooted every week (along wtih the VMs that run on those nested ESX 4.0 hosts). I run the nested ESX 4.0 hosts on local hard drives and then run the VMs that run on the nested ESX 4.0 hosts from an iSCSI OpenFiler connection -- I could never get the nested ESX 4.0 hosts to run properly from an iSCSI OpenFiler connection but they do run, albeit slowly, from a local hard drive. You'd need way better disk storage performance than I have in that setup (better local or better iSCSI or better FC) in order to make a nested ESX 4.0 setup useable for anything but very light duty chores. I use the nested ESX 4.0 hosts for quick testing of something -- more of a use as a throwaway ESX 4.0 use than a permanent ESX 4.0 server.

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/218140

You might also look at running your nested ESX 4.0 hosts under VMware Workstation 7.0 release candidate.

Datto

[Datto]

Also note that I don't know of anyone who's been able to get VMware FT to run reliably and continually wtih VMS running in an unsupported nested ESX 4.0 GA setup (VMware FT runs great when run on physical servers, just not for VMs running under a nested ESX 4.0 setup) -- I (and others) can get VMware FT to startup and build the Secondary VM on a nested setup but after a while the latency becomes so great in syncing the Primary and Secondary VMs that VMware FT stops functioning.

So if you're looking to do VMware FT you'd likely need to do that with VMs running on physical ESX hosts.

Datto

[Datto]

Here's a VMware document on the subject that deals with running various nested ESX versions under different types of VMware hosts:

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8970

Here's Mike Laverick's document on nested ESX hosts:

http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?p=1469

Here's some nested ESX info on vinf.net:

http://vinf.net/2009/06/12/vsphere-esxi-as-a-vm-vmkernel-traffic-not-working/

http://vinf.net/2008/06/12/can-you-run-esx-as-a-vm-under-esx/

http://vinf.net/2009/06/07/vsphere-cannot-enable-ft-for-a-nested-vm/

Datto

[eldingo]

Thanks Datto. Very useful information. I am basically trying to setup an environment where I can practice concepts like DRS, VMOTION and HA. You have been great help.

[Datto]

James Pearce's notes on nested ESX hosts:

http://www.techhead.co.uk/vmware-vsphere-esx-install-configure-manage-preparing-your-test-lab

Datto

[eldingo]

Nice article, thanks for all your help Datto!