white box configuration to setup vSphere lab

[ajaymedidi]

I am planning to buy two desktops/servers(same configuration) for affordable price. Using these systems I want to setup a vSphere home lab( no nested virtualisation) which I can configure advanced features like FT, VMA, vClound, VT-d,DPM .etc. I already hava laptop to laun my vSphere client.

Please suggest me the configuration of a white box which is fully compatible for testing the above all features.

Please note:- 1. My budget is around 3000$ or 4000S$.

                    2. My neighbors will kick me off if my system generates much noise.

Thanks in advance.

AJ

[Troy_Clavell]

see below for some good suggestions

http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php

[DSTAVERT]

Please don't start multiple threads for the same topic.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1675950#1675950 and http://communities.vmware.com/message/1675835#1675835

[LarryBlanco2 · Accepted solution]

Below is something I put together from NewEgg.  This should get you started.  Everything here works with vSphere 4.1

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811129042

Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
Item #: N82E16822136697
QTY: 4

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W
Item #: N82E16817139012

ASUS Z8NA-D6 (ASMB4-IKVM) Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5500 ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and 5600 Series Server Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131389

Adaptec 2258100-R PCI-Express x8 SATA / SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) 5405 Kit Controller Card
Item #: N82E16816103096

Kingston DataTraveler 102 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Red) Model DT102/2GBZ
Item #: N82E16820139249

Kingston ValueRAM 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) ECC Registered Server Memory Model KVR1066D3D4R7S/4G
Item #: N82E16820139100
QTY: 3

Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
Item #: N82E16835185006
QTY:3

Intel Xeon E5620 Westmere 2.4GHz LGA 1366 80W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80614E5620
Item #: N82E16819117234

I have everything above and works.  I did have to purchase the BIOS from ASUS to have the 5600 CPU compatability for $20.

Total is about $1920.  so within your budget.  You can put in dual CPU if you like.  I didn't get a DVD drvie as I used an EXT one.  I also boot the ESXi off the USB stick i put in the motherboard.  Motherboard also has IKVM.  Big Plus.

It's a sick setup.

Larry B.

[DSTAVERT]

Larry

You might want to post this at the VM-Help Website as a complete working system. You could also post in the Community Hardware forum. http://communities.vmware.com/cshwsw.jspa

[LarryBlanco2]

Will do thanks.

Larry