ESXi

[BMAChaitanya]

Author : ygeorgieff

URL : http:////docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/com.vmware.esxi.install.doc/GUID-E170469F-9C33-4950-8...

Topic Name : ESXi Requirements

Publication Name : VMware ESXi Installation and Setup

Product/Version : VMware vSphere/6.7

Question :

Hi,  I'm a student learning networking and virtualization concepts. I would like to install ESXi on a desktop with i3 3rd or 4th gen processor , 4GB Ram and 500 gb hard disk. Is it possible to install and learn how to do it.

[a_p_]

Welcome to the Community,

ESXi is built for server hardware. Getting it to work on a desktop/laptop may work, but often fails due to missing hardware compatibility/driver support.

However, for study purposes, a common way to do this, is to run a virtual run vSphere environment, based on e.g. VMware Workstation, i.e. run e.g. ESXi VMs on Workstation.

That said, you will need more RAM to setup a study lab/test environment. IMO you should have at least 8GB (the more, the better) for this.

André

[vladandrei1987]

Hi BMAChaitanya​,

If you want to follow a simple process of installing the ESXi host, you can use the following link - https://masteringvmware.com/how-to-install-esxi-6-7-step-by-step/ . However, as the other reply states, ESXi is a server-oriented software, and you might run into compatibility issues - that being said it might, or it might not work, especially around Network Card drivers.

To make sure all the components you have are compatible with the ESXi version you are installing, please use VMware Compatibility Guide - System Search  .

Hope this helps,
Cheers!