ESXi + VMware lab guide

[LynK]

Guys,

I need some help, I am wanting to start to learn more on the VMware side especially for SDN, as well as a few other goodies. What equipment should I look into for a home lab. I am looking for efficent, cheap, and compact. Networking gear is not an issue whatsoever. Just server stuff is what I am lacking.

[hizzo3]

Not sure what you need in terms of sdn, but the boxes largely depend on what servers you want to run in esxi. If you're just labbing you can get away with a bunch of Linux boxes running scripts. I use mine for my home network so I have an older i5 processor with 8 gig ram running just fine

[that1guy15]

The two thing to focus on are RAM and storage. You will run out of those before anything else.

Not sure what your budget is but I purchased a Dell 7500 off ebay for $800 and it had 2xhex core CPU and 64G ram. I already had a 2TB RAID 5 w/  controller I was able to move over. This will do anything I want!

ESXi is free so go to town! Grab a book on virtualization and start labbing. Its pretty bad-ass stuff!

[wintermute000]

Google 'nested esxi'. If you're cool with that then as that1guy15 says all you need is one megabox with lots of RAM and storage.
Storage can be added remotely (iSCSI, NFS) in a pinch, I know plenty of guys with SMB class NASes serving them up.

If you are wanting to lab the vmware side specifically as opposed to playing around with virtual servers in general, there is some value in setting up disparate physical hosts. I used to run 3x16Gb mini hosts, but then went back to a megabox of doom. Similar to above - 2x hex core, 64Gb RAM, 1k AUD (though it is pretty old - mine is a 4-5 year old DL380G6 with Westmere X5650 CPUs).
For such builds, shuttle barebones chassis are popular. Plenty of examples, google ESXi whitebox or home lab or similar words. Other people love using NUCs but they have a massive achilles heel of not having multiple NICs. Again you can VLAN stuff off if you use the right driver so its not a complete show stopper.

The cheapest way to do it is
- get a spare PC
- make a esxi boot USB and check you can run it. If you can't, odds are its a NIC driver, check the chipset and odds are theres a community or hacked driver you can slipstream. Or just buy an Intel NIC, 30 bucks off fleabay.
- Max out its ram.
- Run ESXi.

Play around with this first ghetto box and then you'll have a much better idea. Be warned though this will lead you down a dark road of hardware lust (think gaming PC hardware lust, except this time its enterprise server components not graphics cards).

Vmware User Group Advantage (VMUG advantage) is around 200USD p/a and gives you technet style 365 day eval licenses for everything (except NSX, goddammit)


Vmware have really really good free online labs @ HOL, have a look, everything's available.

Finally, you have until Feb next year or so to do a VCP-NV by merely having a CCNP R&S. You really want to do this, as then you're qualified to take the standard VCP exams.
Otherwise, Vmware have a hilarious obstacle to entry in the form of having to do an official training course (5k USD) before you're even allowed to take an exam.

[routerdork]

Finally, you have until Feb next year or so to do a VCP-NV by merely having a CCNP R&S. You really want to do this, as then you're qualified to take the standard VCP exams.
Otherwise, Vmware have a hilarious obstacle to entry in the form of having to do an official training course (5k USD) before you're even allowed to take an exam.

CCNA will do too.

Path 3: Valid CCNA Data Center or CCNA Routing & Switching or CCNP Data Center or CCNP Routing & Switching certification or CCIE Data Center or CCIE Routing & Switching. Note: This path is only available until January 31, 2016

[wintermute000]

Fair enough

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[LynK]

update:

My server team allowed me to take home two decommissioned dell 2950 servers. One has about ~1TB of storage, and the other has about 500GB 

[routerdork]

update:

My server team allowed me to take home two decommissioned dell 2950 servers. One has about ~1TB of storage, and the other has about 500GB 

You can't beat free 

[LynK]

update:

My server team allowed me to take home two decommissioned dell 2950 servers. One has about ~1TB of storage, and the other has about 500GB 

You can't beat free 

Heck yeah. Does anyone know of a ultimate beginners guide for installing ESXi and vsphere? Anything would be appreciated.