Check non-certified hardware compatibility

[starless72]

Hi,

is there a way I can check if a machine is compatible with ESXi, without actually starting an ESXi installation?

It is a small custom-built server, its hardware is not listed in the VMware compatibility guide: Supermicro PDSME+ motherboard, Areca ARC-1110 SATA controller, LSI 20320-RB SCSI controller...

It is currently running Linux Debian in a production environment.

I would like to install ESXi on it and move the OS into a VM, to be ready for future HW upgrades or exchanges. But I'm afraid the system is not fully supported, and I cannot afford to stop the machine and maybe even trash one of its HDs just for testing if ESXi works on it.

Thanks for any help.

Marco

[JarryG]

If hardware you use is not on compatibility list, then you can only ask if someone else is using these components or look for it on the web. But if you already have that HW, than try to install ESXI on usb-stick. No need to wipe-out one HD...

BTW, even if HW *is* on the list, it still does not guarantee it is *completely* supported. I have experienced it twice:

1. motherboard: out of 2 on-board NICs only one is recognized by ESXi, for the 2nd one there is no esxi-driver

2. raid-controller: arrays detected, but without any way of monitoring controller health (faulty disks, degraded arrays, etc.)