ESXi 7 or 8 OS Installation drive

[talewis]

I am planning to add a new ESXi server.  Trying to keep it as a 1U server so this means 8 drives.  Most likely 1.92TB drives. If I create a RAID 6 array with all drives, can I load the ESXi OS on the same RAID as the virtuals?  I have done this on a non-production system, but not sure if it is recommended.  Recommendations from VMware say it needs to be a 'persistent device'.  

Any disadvantages to this?

[Kinnison]

Hello,

In my opinion if the system foresees it for ESXi installation I would use what DELL calls "BOSS" card, or the equivalent (functionally speaking) marketed by other vendors with different names, I mean, I prefer to keep the operating system installation separate because I think it helps to avoid hassles in case of problems and give more freedom of action. USB "boot" devices (or whatever we want to call them)? After some unpleasant experiences, I haven't taken them into consideration for a long time.

Surely other users will be able to bring you their equally valid considerations or suggestions.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[abdulazizmustho]

Hi Kinnison,

Agree with your opinion....usuallay drive on BOSS already configure with RAID 1.

[Brisk]

Having your operating system on the same drives/array as your data is generally not a good idea.

As others have commented before, a configuration that offers a RAID1  on smaller, inexpensive disks is your best bet. There's servers out there that offer drive slots on the rear of the chassis, so you don't lose any slots.