ESXi

 View Only

  • 1.  Help with VMware Server Setup

    Posted Jul 16, 2022 07:12 AM

    Hardware I Have (ready to dedicated as ESXi Server):

    AMD EPYC 7542 (32 cores/ 64 threads)
    Supermicro H12SSL-I Motherboard
    128GB ECC 3200MT/S RDIMM (4x 32GB)
    1000W ATX PSU

    2x PNY 120GB SATA SSDs             (On-Board SATA)
    2x SAMSUNG 250GB SATA SSDs  (On-Board SATA)
    2x SAMSUNG 1TB M.2 NVMe         (On-Board M.2)

    4x SAMSUNG 2TB M.2 NVMe        (Asus Hyper x16 M.2 Card)
    8x SEAGATE 14TB HDD                 (DELL HBA330)

    3x 4GB Graphics Card                    (Nvidia Quadro T600)

    My Goal:

    VMware ESXi Setup.png

     

    A few questions that I have regarding the Setup process:

    1) I want VMware ESXi v7 U3 to be installed on PNY 120GB SSDs in RAID-1 or MIRROR, How can I achieve this?
    2) Can I pass through any kind of USB HID device like Keyboard / Mouse? (Wired or Wireless)
    3) Can SATA Drives connected to the Motherboard be pass through to VMs?
    4) Can I create Data storage inside ESXi for VMs in RAID-1 or MIRROR? If yes, How can I do that with 2x M.2 NVMe Drives?

     

    Background:

    I've had used Proxmox and UNRAID for around 2 years, but finally trying to switch to VMware for good. This Server will be deployed as a Core Server to my Organization where 3 employees will use the Windows VM as their only Desktop and remaining 10-15 will simply access the Network shares (SMB & iSCSI) via the TrueNAS Core VM.



  • 2.  RE: Help with VMware Server Setup

    Posted Jul 16, 2022 03:54 PM

    Thread reported to moderators asking them to move it to the ESXi area so it gets the right audience.

    I also have no idea why you sent me a PM.

     



  • 3.  RE: Help with VMware Server Setup

    Posted Jul 16, 2022 08:58 PM

    1. ESXi 703 wants to have about 140 gb for a complete install.
    4. To create Raid-arrays that can be used for datastores you need real hardware raid-controllers. ESXi does not detect "fake raids" like Windows hosts do it.

     



  • 4.  RE: Help with VMware Server Setup

    Posted Jul 17, 2022 06:11 PM

    For 2.

    I came accross this blogpost, how feasible this is?

    https://williamlam.com/2020/05/how-to-passthrough-usb-keyboard-mouse-hid-and-ccid-devices-to-vm-in-esxi.html

     

    For Hardware raid, what are my options for NVMe, also I think my Supermicro Motherboard does support raid with some licence purchase ( I need to confirm that with the support team there)

    I any case, which one would be better the onboard raid controller on the motherboard or a dedicated raid card?