ESXi on HP Servers

[mattx]

I'm wondering what the lowest spec HP servers some of you have ESXi running on ?

I'm looking at possibly a very simple solution of 2 servers, one being the primary running a VM DC and VM file and print server and the other having snap shot backups or replication of the primary for DR - I was also thinking of setting up a VM FreeNAS for basic file backups. DR being my primary goal, the DC and file and print server will only be used by around 10 to 15 users.

[Rick2134]

Mattx,

 

This all depends on what version of ESXi you are going to be running, needs to have a 64bit processor with 8gb ram for full ESXi features. Do you have spare servers onsite or are you buying new?

 

RAM is cheap enough these days for you to fill it full, a limit of 32gb on ESXi free which I hope your not going to use.... as you can't manage clusters and no vMotion etc.

[Arthur]

a limit of 32GB on ESXi free

Not any more.

 

Limitation of 32GB RAM limit per server/host has been removed from the free Hypervisor.

 

Source: www.vmware.com/uk/products/vsphere-hypervisor/gettingstarted

 

if restricted then I don't mind going down a few versions.

See above.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Arthur

[computer_expert]

I have esxi 5.1 running on a HP N40L Microserver (I have also had it running on a N36L too). It runs server 2008R2/2012 VMs, 2 debian VMs and sophos utm for various services on my home network.

[3s-gtech]

Yup, Microserver is perfect for this. USB on the motherboard for the Hypervisor install, four drives can be fitted (five or six if you get inventive) and enough RAM capacity for the role. The little CPUs in them cope surprisingly well - I have an N36L with Server 2012R2 on it that doesn't break a sweat.

[mattx]

Mattx,

 

This all depends on what version of ESXi you are going to be running, needs to have a 64bit processor with 8gb ram for full ESXi features. Do you have spare servers onsite or are you buying new?

 

RAM is cheap enough these days for you to fill it full, a limit of 32gb on ESXi free which I hope your not going to use.... as you can't manage clusters and no vMotion etc.

 

Well hopefully the latest version but if restricted then I don't mind going down a few versions. HP have their own installs for it which I've used in the past. The 32 GB will be fine as its only going to be running 2 servers, perhaps one more if required. It's a small office so grunt ( especially for the DC ) won't really be that required. I basically want to know what I can get away with without causing too much stress on the server :-) The bells and whistles will not be required - they will be just sitting there doing their thang...... :-)

[mattx]

I have esxi 5.1 running on a HP N40L Microserver (I have also had it running on a N36L too). It runs server 2008R2/2012 VMs, 2 debian VMs and sophos utm for various services on my home network.

 

That would be nice but I don't think they do those as rack mounts do they ? Sorry, I should have said they will need to be rack mounted but in all honestly what you have stated is certainly food for thought.....

[TomCollins]

+1 for the MicroServer. Quite a few places are doing good cash back deals on the Gen7 (until recently, Ebuyer had £100 cash back on it) so if you shop around you'll find a very good deal :-)

 

EDIT: Having read your last post, maybe HP ProLiant DL320e Gen8 v2 E3-1220v3 1P 4GB-U B120i.. | Ebuyer.com is worth looking into?

Edited March 21, 2014 by TomCollins

[mattx]

+1 for the MicroServer. Quite a few places are doing good cash back deals on the Gen7 (until recently, Ebuyer had £100 cash back on it) so if you shop around you'll find a very good deal :-)

 

EDIT: Having read your last post, maybe HP ProLiant DL320e Gen8 v2 E3-1220v3 1P 4GB-U B120i.. | Ebuyer.com is worth looking into?

 

That would run two servers sitting on ESXi quite nicely I think.

[Steve21]

Aye running esxi (free one) on the older microserver at home for test network etc, hit 16GB on it, and it's not too bad. Running it for a few 2008r2/win7 clients

 

Not as fast at starting up etc as other servers, but once it's booted it runs nicely

 

-Edit - Doh didn't read the rack part ignore me

 

Steve

Edited March 21, 2014 by Steve21

[Davit2005]

A HP Microserver with 8GB of ram, got two for home, one on permanently, one for development and labs.

 

The on board disk storage is probably the biggest limitation.

 

Added: Also didn't read the Rack note.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Davit2005

[Oaktech]

we have a test domain (2 DCs and an FS) running ESXI 5.0.1 on a very secondhand HP ML310G5p, it's got 8Gb of ram in it and just under a Tb of 10k sata storage. I see no reason why it couldn't work in a medium sized production environment.

[Rick2134]

You could also use openfiler for your storage solution is budget it tight

 

Openfiler | Open Source Storage Managment Appliance

[nicholab]

Have you looked at Dell vrtx system for a small vm solution they look like an option.

[mattx]

You could also use openfiler for your storage solution is budget it tight

 

Openfiler | Open Source Storage Managment Appliance

 

Could do but I've been using FreeNas since the early days and know it pretty well - for a simple file backup I think that will be ok.

[mattx]

Have you looked at Dell vrtx system for a small vm solution they look like an option.

 

We are HP all the way I'm afraid.