HDDs for VMWare ESXi 3.5
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TheITChick
20 pts.
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Q:
HDDs for VMWare ESXi 3.5
VMware ESXi 3.5, VMware, SATA, Storage management
I'm about to purchase a new server to run VMWare ESXi 3.5
The specs are:
Intel SR2500 Server with RAID SR2500ALLXR
2x Intel Xeon Quad 5420 CPU
12GB DDR2 667 ECC REG RAM
2 extra Intel SR2500 Server with RAID SR2500ALLXR @$ 3,850 +GST
1x Intel Xeon Quad 5420 CPU
12GB DDR2 667 ECC REG RAM
2 extra Intel PCIx Dual Port Gigabit NIC

I don't think I'll have more than 6 VM's on this box, so I guess my questions are:
1. Are the specs good enough to run this Many VM's?
2. Is SATA HDD's OK - or should I definitely go with SAS?
3.For 6 VM's - how big should the HDD's be?
4. Will users notice a lag with the systems running on the VM's?

Thank you in advance :)
ASKED: Jun 2 2009  6:34 AM GMT
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Aguacer0
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Sorry I doubled up on my specs. I'll start again...


I'm about to purchase a new server to run VMWare ESXi 3.5

The specs are:

Intel SR2500 Server with RAID SR2500ALLXR
2 x Intel Xeon Quad 5420 CPU
12GB DDR2 667 ECC REG RAM
2 extra Intel PCIx Dual Port Gigabit NIC

I don't think I'll have more than 6 VM's on this box, so I guess my questions are:

1. Are the specs above good enough to run this Many VM's?
2. Are the SATA HDD's OK - or should I definitely go with SAS?
3.If I plan to run 6 VM's - how big should the HDD's be?
4. Will users notice a lag with the systems running on the VM's?

Here are the options I got for the drives - for RAID 10 setup.

SAS
292GB RAID 10) 4 x Seagate SAS 15Krpm 146GB Hard disks
(600GB RAID 10) 4 x Seagate SAS 15Krpm 300GB Hard disks
(900GB RAID 10) 4 x Seagate SAS 15Krpm 450GB Hard disks

SATA
(2TB RAID 10) 4 x Seagate SATA 7200rpm 1TB Enterprise Hard disks
(3TB RAID 10) 4 x Seagate SATA 7200rpm 1.5TB Hard disks


Thank you in advance :)
The I.T. Chick ;)


=============================================

I would recommend you review your components against VMware's compatability list http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=base&deviceCategory=server before you make such a purchase. Definitely SAS drives are recommended since SATA has limited support if any at this time.
Last Answered: Jun 8 2009  5:20 PM GMT by Aguacer0   2815 pts.
Latest Contributors: TheITChick   20 pts.
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Jessew   35 pts.  |   Jun 2 2009  10:38PM GMT

You can always check component compatibity with the VMware Compatibility Guides at
 <a href="http://www.vmware.com/resources/guides.html" title="http://www.vmware.com/resources/guides.html" target="_blank">http://www.vmware.com/resources/guides.h…</a>

Jess

 

Spatel101   25 pts.  |   Jun 3 2009  10:31PM GMT

You could also use VirtualIQ Pro FREE which is a solution which will help you with density planning as well as being able to test the configs of the different application workloads as well as providing a lot more, check them out at <a href="http://www.toutvirtual.com" title="http://www.toutvirtual. " target="_blank">www.toutvirtual.com</a>

 

JimmyIT   1260 pts.  |   Jun 4 2009  2:03PM GMT

VMware Compatibility Guides

VirtualIQ Pro

 

Graybeard52   2435 pts.  |   Jun 10 2009  5:00PM GMT

Aside from that, it looks like you have planty of power. Whether that is enough disk or not is entirly dependent on what you use it for. The same is true of the processor power. My guide for minimum VM machines is at least one core per VM, at least 2GB memory per VM, and least a little for the ESX engine. But’s that is very conditional. File servers use less memory and little pprocessor, but lots of disk. Most application servers are the reverse.

SAS vs SATA. SAS drives are faster, more reliable (so I’m told), and more expensive. SAS, if you can afford it, is about twice as fast as SATA.

BTW, since you are starting new, look into disk virtualization by companies like EchoStor. This can dramatically reduce the need for disk.

 
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