ESXi

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  • 1.  Dell PowerEdge 2550 and ESXi

    Posted Oct 28, 2009 01:15 PM

    I am looking to move some spare servers, Dell PowerEdge 2550 to ESXi to test out ESXi and the ability to migrate other servers to ESXi.

    What I am looking for are REAL WORLD USERS and EXPERIENCES with Dell PowerEdge 2550 server running ESXi

    2550 with

    4GB RAM

    Dual 1.25GHZ 133MHz FSB Pentiums

    Python 06408 Tape

    CD-ROM/Floppy

    Adapetc AIC7899 SCSI Controller

    Drives are being replaced for this change over, probably some 143GB 10K SCSI drives that I've found in the parts bin.

    All VM's will be Linux, we do not use or authorize any other OS.

    Probably looking to use some Ubuntu Server VM's, possibly a CentOS one, all running a LAMP setup with WebMin.

    Comments on any install issues, VM's accessing the tape drive. access of the Dell Remote Assistance Card, networking setup tips....

    Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences with these!



  • 2.  RE: Dell PowerEdge 2550 and ESXi

    Posted Oct 28, 2009 03:07 PM

    You may get ESXi 3.5 to install but the server would not support version 4. It might be possible to see the tape drive from a single Virtual Machine but it will depend???? You might try the Dell version of ESXi 3.5. I wouldn't count on this being a very satisfactory platform for anything other than very light VM use.



  • 3.  RE: Dell PowerEdge 2550 and ESXi

    Posted Oct 28, 2009 07:18 PM

    This setup would likely be a waste of your time trying to get it to work. Even if you could get ESXi to load, the first VM would likely swamp this box.

    However, this box might make a useable and inexpensive OpenFiler iSCSI shared storage server where you could located VMs in a shared storage environment. You might consider getting two other physical servers of a more modern vintage that work with ESXi and instead, use this dual 1.25GHz server for your shared storage via OpenFiler. This would then allow you to VMotion, uise DRS/HA and the like with your test environment.

    http://www.openfiler.com

    Here's my low-cost personal lab if you're willing to buy something to use for your ESX hosts:

    http://communities.vmware.com/thread/218140

    Also, if you can't afford to buy a server from the VMware HCL, search the VMware Forums for "white box" suggestions.

    Datto