Home Virtualization Storage / Trying out different hypervisors

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.

vjeko

Member
Sep 3, 2015
73
2
8
63
Coming from a background of using Windows only ( with imaging/multiboot) ,
not knowing much in Linux and knowing just as little about virtualization,
I'm kind of finding it hard to know which way to turn regarding choice of hypervisor
and how to use the storage I have available.

The server will be used for learning about virtualization,
various OSs (Win/Linux) and for programming/graphics.

I have the following hardware available:
- TS140 server , XEON e3-1246-v3 , 2*1TB HDD, 1*256GB SSD, 20GB memory,
1 single Intel nic, 1 quad Intel nic.
- 1TB WD NAS
- A few old pcs eg pentium 3, 4, core 2 duo laptop
-beaglebone


I would appreciate if I could get some pointer on how best to use the server storage
so that I could maybe try out a few of the bare metal hypervisors (if possible)
or a recommendation on what to start with - to avoid learning the hard way.

My initial "general" idea was not to use raid, to use the SSD for running VMs and
one 1TB HDD for storage and the other 1 TB for backup but have no clue
whether it is a good idea nor in which form this could be done.

For Esxi, I was going to use a USB stick but regarding the rest of the storage,
I'm a bit lost.

I did go to the trouble of getting a server with ECC memory, so I would prefer
a dependable solution for the storage also.
 

Deslok

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2015
1,122
125
63
34
deslok.dyndns.org
Is there an os installed on your TS140 currently? if you're already familiar with windows simply turning on hyper-v might be a better choice ESXI can be picky about drivers during install and there's no good(that i'm aware of) free backup solution.
 

vjeko

Member
Sep 3, 2015
73
2
8
63
No, the server is new, all I have done till now is update BIOS to newest version
and turn off raid on the HDDs. The SSD has not been connected yet.
Esxi is supported for the hw. From a google search, I found
the following free backup solutions for Esxi : XSI backup, GhettoVCB script,
Thinware vBackup and Trilead VM Explorer.

That is of course relevant, but what I'd like a suggestion/pointer on is
how do I use the available storage especially in a general way so that
I can try out a few hypervisors without needing to wipe the disks in between.
I see virtualization (other than it's I guess main purpose of simultaneously running
multiple VMs on one hardware) as my next step from imaging. With imaging
though, you couldn't just restart an image/ try things quickly - virtualization
makes this possible but how do I setup the storage / which configuration / should
I buy a raid card etc. ? Can I set it up to be completely flexible eg use the
SSD and USB sticks for running the VMs and the HDDs for storage/backup
and try a few hypervisors ?

For example, I saw an Esxi video about installation where the USB stick is
used for Esxi - but what do I do with the SSD and HDD to have a flexible system ?
 

vjeko

Member
Sep 3, 2015
73
2
8
63
bumpity bump - maybe I was too verbose and this being so basic, my question
was not understood - so let me reforumlate:

Server disks:
1* 256GB SSD
2* 1TB HDD

As a beginner I'd like to keep files/backup separate from the VM host (at the moment
I just have the small 1TB NAS) - can this NAS be used and how should I use the
server disks / what should each be used for (no raid / buy raid controller , what is stored
on each, backup, local storage / shared storage)? - some ideas please
 

vjeko

Member
Sep 3, 2015
73
2
8
63
I've been doing more digging and although I'm afraid it that it's diving in the bottomless
deep end for me, I would like to try using an Omnios VM and Esxi.
My feeling is that it would be safer to separate the storage on a NAS due to my present
level of expperience but that would mean more hardware - so what the heck, I'll try it.


Now that I've gotten more specific, could someone indicate:
(a)Is it smart to do it all in one (have no idea what could possibly happen to the storage
if VM/Esxi crash etc.) ?
(b)Should I get a raid controller or use software raid (RDM)?
(c)How to use the disks SSD, 2 HDDs
(d)I have the WD NAS -can I use it to help me ;) save things because there could be a lot
of stuff ups;) ?
 

Deslok

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2015
1,122
125
63
34
deslok.dyndns.org
lenovo may have a specific installer iso you should use, I know dell and hp do as for the usb as long as it's attached it should be detected as valid installer media.
both server disks will be presented to esxi from your systems internal ports, your nas would need to support SCSI to be mounted directly in esxi although a vm would see it on the network if it's just a CIFS/SMB appliance
As for backups I mentioned them as an issue since there's limitations on how they can be done using ESXI free, all of those work for paid ESXI just fine, the VCB script might work on ESXI free I know thinware did not in my own enviroment
 

vjeko

Member
Sep 3, 2015
73
2
8
63
Thanks for all the info !
Few things still not clear
- should I use software raid, buy a raid controller , is 1*256GB SSD and 2*1TB HDDs enough / how can I judge
(I only have a high level idea about all this/ no knowledge of what type of data
can be stored or storage needs)
Hopefully with time I will have fewer stupid questions ,)