Comments on: Virtualization Short Take #27 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/ The weblog of an IT pro specializing in virtualization, storage, and servers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Collin C. MacMillan http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44927 Collin C. MacMillan Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:16:18 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44927 While installing VMware ESXi to USB flash is pretty easy and straight-forward in vSphere (thanks Scott for the mention of my blog post) it is NOT without its potential hazards. Consider that the installation process - formal or "dd hack" - can lead to a re-formatted internal drive if ESX recognizes the drive controller. You're cautioned to boot ESXi flash WITHOUT a hard drive the first time to avoid such a consequence. Then, you'll need to deal with the temp file space issues accordingly... While installing VMware ESXi to USB flash is pretty easy and straight-forward in vSphere (thanks Scott for the mention of my blog post) it is NOT without its potential hazards. Consider that the installation process – formal or “dd hack” – can lead to a re-formatted internal drive if ESX recognizes the drive controller.

You’re cautioned to boot ESXi flash WITHOUT a hard drive the first time to avoid such a consequence. Then, you’ll need to deal with the temp file space issues accordingly…

]]> By: Mark Conger http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44925 Mark Conger Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:27:14 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44925 Thanks. After looking into the possibility of doing it via Boot Camp and finding that there's some rather unusual hardware that is probably will keep ESXi from running, I'm going to go with a traditional laptop. Although, I'll never stop using my Mac! Thanks. After looking into the possibility of doing it via Boot Camp and finding that there’s some rather unusual hardware that is probably will keep ESXi from running, I’m going to go with a traditional laptop. Although, I’ll never stop using my Mac!

]]> By: Mark Conger http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44923 Mark Conger Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:29:09 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44923 As a clarification to my post about ESXi, let me add that my goal is NOT to run OS X in a VM, but rather to use the Macbook as an ESXi server for travelling. I already have a Macbook Pro and a Dell PC running VMware Server in Linux. As a clarification to my post about ESXi, let me add that my goal is NOT to run OS X in a VM, but rather to use the Macbook as an ESXi server for travelling. I already have a Macbook Pro and a Dell PC running VMware Server in Linux.

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44922 slowe Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:22:46 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44922 Kyle, Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. I don't doubt that ESXi 4.0 works well on USB drives, but I had heard that the process for doing it with ESXi 4.0 was very different than the process for ESXi 3.5 (I'm hearing it's much, much easier and faster.) Mark, Don't look to me to verify whether ESXi will run natively on MacBook Pro hardware! I don't have the time to rebuild my system from scratch just to test that. :-) Anyone else have any suggestions for Mark? Kyle,

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. I don’t doubt that ESXi 4.0 works well on USB drives, but I had heard that the process for doing it with ESXi 4.0 was very different than the process for ESXi 3.5 (I’m hearing it’s much, much easier and faster.)

Mark,

Don’t look to me to verify whether ESXi will run natively on MacBook Pro hardware! I don’t have the time to rebuild my system from scratch just to test that. :-)

Anyone else have any suggestions for Mark?

]]> By: Mark Conger http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44920 Mark Conger Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:07:30 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44920 As a Mac fan I stand humbly with my hands in the praying position asking for help. Is it possible to run ESXi natively on a Macbook? If so, I'd really like to read a how to article on it (hint, hint.) If it isn't possible, then what is the best non-Apple laptop to run ESXi on? I've looked for something low cost in the usual places (ebay, tiger direct, etc.) but my price goal of under $500 just won't buy a good configuration (VT enabled CPU, 3GB mem, 200GB SATA, Gigabit NIC) Thoughts? Thanks. As a Mac fan I stand humbly with my hands in the praying position asking for help. Is it possible to run ESXi natively on a Macbook? If so, I’d really like to read a how to article on it (hint, hint.) If it isn’t possible, then what is the best non-Apple laptop to run ESXi on? I’ve looked for something low cost in the usual places (ebay, tiger direct, etc.) but my price goal of under $500 just won’t buy a good configuration (VT enabled CPU, 3GB mem, 200GB SATA, Gigabit NIC) Thoughts? Thanks.

]]> By: Kyle Mestery http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44919 Kyle Mestery Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:49:48 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44919 Scott: I'm a Tech Lead who works on the Cisco Nexus 1000V. Regarding running ESXi on USB flash drives: I've been doing this for 4.0 for quite some time now. Works great! In fact, most of my servers run this way. It's way too handy to reinstall by buying a new flash drive and loading ESXi onto it. Scott:

I’m a Tech Lead who works on the Cisco Nexus 1000V. Regarding running ESXi on USB flash drives: I’ve been doing this for 4.0 for quite some time now. Works great! In fact, most of my servers run this way. It’s way too handy to reinstall by buying a new flash drive and loading ESXi onto it.

]]> By: Brent Ozar http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/25/virtualization-short-take-27/comment-page-1/#comment-44914 Brent Ozar Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:18:52 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1423#comment-44914 WHAT?!?! You don't agree with me?!?!? That's it, I'm taking you off my Christmas card list. WHAT?!?!? You haven't received a Christmas card from me yet?!?! That's it, I'm firing my secretary. WHAT?!?!? I have no secretary? Dammit, this blogging thing is harder than it looks. ;-) Thanks for the link anyway, sir. WHAT?!?! You don’t agree with me?!?!? That’s it, I’m taking you off my Christmas card list.

WHAT?!?!? You haven’t received a Christmas card from me yet?!?! That’s it, I’m firing my secretary.

WHAT?!?!? I have no secretary? Dammit, this blogging thing is harder than it looks. ;-) Thanks for the link anyway, sir.

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