DELL PowerEdge SC440

[Pyroclazm]

Hmm says the mobo has a 8x pci slot, no video card utilizes 16x of the pci anyways.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: timswim78
Anyone have any experience running this with VMWARE ESXI? Would it worth it to spend $100 to get the XEON?

ESX wont install on a SATA drive as far as I know, other than that add more ram and I would think you could.

If you get the 3.5 media, they've got a lot more drivers and some SATA controllers work now. If you're going low-end, you might do is go ahead and bite on the cheap hardware up front. Otherwise, invest in SAS. Running on SATA without a RAID 1/0 config (more spindles), you'll find you won't be able to run high I/O VMs anyway.

In any case, ESX is based on RHEL4, there's bound to be a way to make it work. Worst-case scenario, you might have to put up for a compatible SATA controller.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: timswim78
Anyone have any experience running this with VMWARE ESXI? Would it worth it to spend $100 to get the XEON?

ESX wont install on a SATA drive as far as I know, other than that add more ram and I would think you could.

If you get the 3.5 media, they've got a lot more drivers and some SATA controllers work now. If you're going low-end, you might do is go ahead and bite on the cheap hardware up front. Otherwise, invest in SAS. Running on SATA without a RAID 1/0 config (more spindles), you'll find you won't be able to run high I/O VMs anyway.

In any case, ESX is based on RHEL4, there's bound to be a way to make it work. Worst-case scenario, you might have to put up for a compatible SATA controller.

Hmm, this is getting tempting. I hope that the deal expires soon, or else I may buy this and get in a little trouble on the homefront.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Hmm, this is getting tempting. I hope that the deal expires soon, or else I may buy this and get in a little trouble on the homefront.

I ordered one late today (Thursday Oct 16), well after the deal was supposed to expire. I pondered it for a day and decided I shouldn't do it, but when the deal went on, I got tempted again and gave in. :disgust:

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
ESX wont install on a SATA drive as far as I know, other than that add more ram and I would think you could.

I don't own a SC440 at this time, so I don't know how the BIOS works, but if there's SATA IDE emulation then I'd think you could enable it and use the IDE drivers for ESX.

Originally posted by: Ferzerp
Unless you upgraded the specs quite a bit, you wouldn't want to run VMs on it. It only comes with 512Mb of ram for instance...

It'd be kinda' crazy to buy this with only 512MB of RAM when for $20 more you get 2 GB. Note that this server uses ECC memory, which, unfortunately, isn't subject to hot sales and rebates like non-ECC memory.

Based on various sources, it appears that the SC440 can use up to four 2 GB ECC modules, but those will cost you about $50 apiece.

 

[Lanyap]

Everything I've read says this uses ECC only RAM. Can someone who has one confirm. I am so tempted to get this. The deal is still up and it's driving me crazy. Maybe I'll get one of those Studio Hybrids from the outlet instead.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Lanyap
Everything I've read says this uses ECC only RAM. Can someone who has one confirm. I am so tempted to get this. The deal is still up and it's driving me crazy. Maybe I'll get one of those Studio Hybrids from the outlet instead.

ECC only.

Ewiz has some 2GB modules that should work fine...
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T800EB2G_M

 

[JmsAndrsn]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Anyone have any experience running this with VMWARE ESXI? Would it worth it to spend $100 to get the XEON?

I think it would be more economic al to take the standard processor and then upgrade it once you receive the system.

On a side not, has anyone received their system or have it ship yet?

 

[Samus]

i use one for my mediacenter. modified the PCIE slot to take full-length videocard (only runs at 4x but that doesn't stop anything, 8x and 16x is already too much bandwidth for most cards.) i just have a Radeon 3400HD anyway and use it for sound as well.

 

[kumanchu]

so... tempted....

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: kumanchu
so... tempted....

Dont be, its dead.

 

[SandEagle]

DEAL is BACK. Link updated in OP

 

[blckgrffn]

If you are going to run 64-bit VM's on this, know you'll need to upgrade the CPU to any one that has VT. Also, figure on going for at least four gigs of ram to actually get many (more than a couple w/512) running very well on there, especially if they are going to be different operating systems or non-windows systems.

I would also suggest that you get a second drive at some point to dedicate to vmfs unless you are going to run some network storage.

 

[Staples]

I have never used VM Ware but have recently been interested since I need to sharpen my linux skills. Does anyone know if they free version of VMWare will run both Windows and Linux or will I have to fork out $150 or whatever their real version costs?

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: Staples
I have never used VM Ware but have recently been interested since I need to sharpen my linux skills. Does anyone know if they free version of VMWare will run both Windows and Linux or will I have to fork out $150 or whatever their real version costs?

VmWare server is free. They also have a 'lite' version - Player, I think they called it. With the latter, you're stuck with using pre-configured images/appliances.

Linux has some other VM offerings - I've heard that Suse has some nice Xen management utilities.

 

[TankGuys]

Originally posted by: Staples
I have never used VM Ware but have recently been interested since I need to sharpen my linux skills. Does anyone know if they free version of VMWare will run both Windows and Linux or will I have to fork out $150 or whatever their real version costs?

http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/

That's what I use on that server. Works like a charm.

 

[BAMAVOO]

The Grand Nagus is the leader of the Ferengi Alliance. He is both the political leader of the species as well as the economic leader.

 

[superHARD]

man, this is sooo tempting