VMware vSphere

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  • 1.  ESX server disk spec

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:04 PM

    I'm configuring a new ESX server.  The internal disks will only be used for ESX - no datastores.  Are 7.2K RPM SATA drives (RAID-1) sufficient or would there be a benefit to stepping up to the 15K RPM SAS drives?



  • 2.  RE: ESX server disk spec
    Best Answer

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:13 PM

    ESXi does not require fast disks (or any disk at all). You can even install ESXi on an USB drive or SD card. Once loaded, ESXi will run in memory and only write configuration changes back to the disk.

    André



  • 3.  RE: ESX server disk spec

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:15 PM

    Ups, just saw you are asking for ESX, not ESXi. Anyway the disks you have are sufficient. No need for fast disks to run ESX.

    André



  • 4.  RE: ESX server disk spec

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:17 PM

    I actually meant ESXi.  Thanks.



  • 5.  RE: ESX server disk spec

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:27 PM

    You are welcome.

    Btw are you going to install ESXi 4.x or 5.0?

    André

    Discussion moved from VMware ESX™ 4 to VMware ESXi™ 4



  • 6.  RE: ESX server disk spec

    Posted Dec 22, 2011 05:29 PM

    I'm replacing an older server running ESXi 4.1 so think I will stick with that version for now.  I have two ESXi servers in an HA cluster.