I found out that my employer at this point in time (HP) has licenses for VMware. I also found out that it is possible to build what is known as a “white-box” (a.k.a., unsupported hardware platform). So with a few bucks left over from my year-end bonus, it was off to Newegg.com for parts.
Well, not exactly. First I spent several hours, days, weeks researching hardware. Turns out that ESXi 4.0 (the version I have a license key for) is quite persnickety about what hardware it will run on. Buy the wrong CPU or motherboard and you have just wasted several hundred dollars. I didn’t have several hundred dollars to waste so I had to be certain what I was getting into.
After a LOOOONNNNNGGGG search, I decided on the following hardware:
- Antec Case – Already had
- 430W power-supply — already had that too
- ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO motherboard. Ordered from Newegg.com (Part # N82E16813131406)(Sadly or gladly, depending on your point of view, this has been discontinued.)
- Althon IIx4 635 quad-core CPU. Ordered from Newegg.com (Part # N82E16819103702) (Discontinued)
- 16gb RAM – G.Skill Ripjaws series. Newegg.com (Part # N82E16820231309)
- ASUS SATA DVD-RW. Newegg.com. (Part # N82E16827135204)
- 2 – 1tb Seagate SATA-3 disks. On sale at the local CompUSA
- 1 – 320gb WD EIDE disk – already had
- 1- 160gb WD EIDE disk – already had
- Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter – PCI card. ESXi doesn’t recognize the onboard RealTek NIC. Newegg.com (Part # N82E16833106121)
![16gb RAM – G.Skill Ripjaws series. Newegg.com (Part # N82E16820231309)](<form method="get" action="http://www.kqzyfj.com/interactive" target="_top"> <table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"><img src="http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll200/20-231-309-02.jpg" border="0" alt="G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory"/></td> <td valign="top" > <p><b><font size="4">G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory</font></b></p> <p><font size="2">Cas Latency: 7 Voltage: 1.5V Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit Timing: 7-7-7-18 ECC: No Buffered/Registered: Unbuffered Heat Spreader: Yes Features: Compatible with Intel LGA1155/LGA1156 and AMD AM3/Llano/AM3+ platforms</font></p> <hr> <input type="hidden" name="pid" value="7070002"/> <input type="hidden" name="aid" value="10440897"/> <input type="hidden" name="cjsku" value="N82E16820231309"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231309&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Memory (Desktop Memory)-_-G.SKILL-_-20231309"/> <input type="submit" value="Buy"/> </td> </tr> </table> </form> <img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-7070002-10440897" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>){kind=link}
![ASUS SATA DVD-RW. Newegg.com. (Part # N82E16827135204)](<form method="get" action="http://www.dpbolvw.net/interactive" target="_top"> <table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"><img src="http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll200/27-135-204-03.jpg" border="0" alt="ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS"/></td> <td valign="top" > <p><b><font size="4">ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS</font></b></p> <p><font size="2">The ASUS DRW-24B1ST is capable of reading and writing data on DVD±R/±RW, DVD-RAM formats. It is a power saving drive and allows you to permanently delete the data on rewritable discs. This provides you with flexibility and efficiency in terms of multimedia data storage and sharing. Type: DVD Burner DVD+R: 24X DVD-R: 24X CD-R: 48X DVD-ROM: 16X CD-ROM: 48X DVD+RW: 8X DVD-RW: 6X</font></p> <hr> <input type="hidden" name="pid" value="7070002"/> <input type="hidden" name="aid" value="10440897"/> <input type="hidden" name="cjsku" value="N82E16827135204"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-CD/DVD Burners (RW Drives)-_-ASUS-_-27135204"/> <input type="submit" value="Buy"/> </td> </tr> </table> </form> <img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-7070002-10440897" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>){kind=link}
![Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter – PCI card. ESXi doesn’t recognize the onboard RealTek NIC. Newegg.com (Part # N82E16833106121)](<form method="get" action="http://www.kqzyfj.com/interactive" target="_top"> <table border="0" width="600" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="10%"><img src="http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll200/33-106-121-17.jpg" border="0" alt="Intel PWLA8391GT PCI Desktop Adapter PRO/1000 GT"/></td> <td valign="top" > <p><b><font size="4">Intel PWLA8391GT PCI Desktop Adapter PRO/1000 GT</font></b></p> <p><font size="2">Time proves that Intel makes great CPUs and chipsets. What you may not know is that Intel is also one of the best network device manufacturers. The Intel PWLA8391GT immediately turns your computer into a dual gigabyte system. For your convenience, drivers for nearly all operating systems can be found on Intel's website. Standards: IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.2, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, WfM 2.0 Connectors: 1 x RJ45 BUS: 32-bit PCI 2.3; 5.0 V Drivers: No Software included System Requirement (No software included): Linux 2.2.5 or later, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows 2000 / NT4.0, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition / Windows ME, Microsoft Windows XP, Novell NetWare 4.2, Novell NetWare 5.1, Novell NetWare 6 On-board Memory: 64KB Wake On LAN: Yes Temperature: 0-55°C Humidity: 85% at +55°C</font></p> <hr> <input type="hidden" name="pid" value="7070002"/> <input type="hidden" name="aid" value="10440897"/> <input type="hidden" name="cjsku" value="N82E16833106121"/> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106121&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Network - Interface Cards-_-Intel-_-33106121"/> <input type="submit" value="Buy"/> </td> </tr> </table> </form> <img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-7070002-10440897" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>){kind=link}
Only problem so far is that I haven’t been able to get the mobo to boot from the USB 4gb memory stick I’ve loaded with ESXi. Looks like I will have to load it onto one of the disks.
Stay Tuned. More to come. (Oh, and your eyes are fine. The @#$%! digital camera kept blurring the picture. This is the best of the lot.)