Since I found the Unlocker last week, I've been trying to figure out how I want to add an Apple ESXi 5.1 host to my lab. I recently purchased a late 2012 Mac Mini that I'm using as an HTPC and I can't decide if I want to use it as an ESXi host, then getting an older Mini to use as an HTPC. I have the i7 Mini (4 cores) and running a few VMs on it would really allow me to use its power instead of it being idle most of the time. Another option is getting another <$150 Dell server (2 x Xeon L5420 quad cores, already have 2) to use with Unlocker as a dedicated OS X ESXi host. I can't use one of those for OS X now because they're used to study for the VCP exam, which means I have to use vCenter Server. Unlocker doesn't work on hosts added to a vCenter Server. Another option is getting a 2008/2009 Apple Xserve.
I've been doing a ton of Googling this weekend and it seems that there really aren't any major issues running ESXi 5.1 on the 2008 or 2009 Xserve. Apple's RAID card doesn't work but that doesn't matter to me since I'll be using shared storage. I've also read that it runs great on the new Mac Mini but I've found less info on it than the Xserve. At the moment the Mini seems like the more solid option, but adding an Xserve to my home server rack is roughly the same cost of buying an older Mini. Plus having an Xserve in my home rack would be sexy. I'm such a geek.
Just wondering if anyone has ESX running on an Xserve and would love to hear details on it and your experience with it. Same goes for those with it on a Mini too. Still weighing the pros/cons of each and I'm torn. Not sure what to do..
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I've been doing a ton of Googling this weekend and it seems that there really aren't any major issues running ESXi 5.1 on the 2008 or 2009 Xserve. Apple's RAID card doesn't work but that doesn't matter to me since I'll be using shared storage. I've also read that it runs great on the new Mac Mini but I've found less info on it than the Xserve. At the moment the Mini seems like the more solid option, but adding an Xserve to my home server rack is roughly the same cost of buying an older Mini. Plus having an Xserve in my home rack would be sexy. I'm such a geek.
Just wondering if anyone has ESX running on an Xserve and would love to hear details on it and your experience with it. Same goes for those with it on a Mini too. Still weighing the pros/cons of each and I'm torn. Not sure what to do..
source
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