Cheap computer to run ESXi

[brosenfield]

I simply want to learn ESXi - not wanting to invest in some expensive hardware. What I have available now is a Dell Dimension 3000 with 2gb RAM and a 160GB SATA drive. I ran into the issue about not finding "compatible hardare to install", apparantly becuase I do not have a SCSI drive. Is there any way to get around this, i.e. to use the SATA drive? Or, could I get away with buying a cheap SCSI controller and drive and how woud that work. Will ESXi see the two drives and automatically install and run OK on the SCSI drive?

[Kasraeian]

Hi,

check these links, they have some HW list and you can use them to build your own white box.

link 1

link 2

I hope you can use them

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MCTS, VCP

[AntonVZhbankov]

The only really limiting hardware are disk controller and network card. ESXi doesn't really care about chipset, video or CPU.

So you have to find disk controller, preferably from HCL - it would be most expensive part, but AFAIK 200$ is enough.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Kasraeian]

Check this link

It will tell you how to install VMware ESXi on IDE/SATA controller, may it work for you too.

If you want you can buy any cheap SCSI controller which is available on HCL, but you can use the link above for save some money.

I have to white box at home and both of them using SATA Disks and I didn't use the link for ESXi 4.0 but I have to use it for ESXi 3.5.

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[brosenfield]

Perfect! Thanks! that simple script change worked like a charm, I have ESX up and running on the SATA drive (and it seems to work just fine, I wonder why the restriction is there at all).

[Kasraeian]

Theres Always reason for restriction, and here, because they want you to see and get better performance by using devices from HCL.

Its true that you can run ESXi on SATA and SCSI but which one has a better performance? SCSI for sure and thats one answer for it.

I wonder why the restriction is there at all.

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-= If there's any mistake in my notes, please correct me! =-

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MCTS, VCP

[paulkbeyer]

Hey.

HP ML110's run ESXi brilliantly and are quiet and workstation sized rather than big blowy noisy efforts. Cheap as chips on eBay too. Failing that if you've enough power in your workstation and a recent enough processor and chipset, try running ESX in a VM. See here http://xtravirt.com/xd10089

Don't be shy with the points chap

Paul