Its complete data center topologies can be designed and implemented when VMware is integrated with external tools - essentially emulating an entire enterprise DC. Its advanced networking features let you set up and administer elaborate virtual networks for VMs. The software allows for virtual machine open standards, providing the ability to create and run VMs from competing vendors within the VMware product. It permits advanced 3D solutions by supporting DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1, eliminating image and video degradation within the VMs even when using graphics-intensive applications. Its robust set of functions covers many virtualization needs. With almost 20 years on the market, VMware Workstation is often considered the industry standard for virtual machine applications. Probably not as good for getting industry cred, but might be better if you intend to run a personal homelab for a long time.The default configuration may require changes. It's a bit less corporate, more open-source and also sports a nice web interface. If/when you're done experimenting with ESXi (and you should definitely try out more than one platform) I'll throw XCP-ng into the ring as well. For your purposes its nifty web interface will probably suffice for starters. Yes, type 1 hypervisors are basically all operating systems solely dedicated to running VMs.ĮSXi can be run via a dedicated management VM, vCenter, but that's only for large clusters. Keep regular backups of your config and configure your swap space to be not on that flash drive and you'll be fine. For fancy routing you'll need VMs though (dedicated multi-interface pfsense VMs for example).ĮSXi can be installed on and run from a USB drive just fine. You can set up as many virtual switches in ESXi as you like. Resource overhead is minimal with basically all hypervisors these days, low single-digit percents if I recall correctly, so that shouldn't be a problem. I would prefer to use an industry standard but if i cant make them work the way i need in an affordable way then this will be my next solution as it at least gets me the tools i need to create the environment I need,
Yes i have hear allot of people speak of proxmox and it sounds like it has great functionality for a free solution. Unless I can partition my existing SSD and run it like a dual boot? Like I said in a different reply in this post, I am thinking of getting a second SSD to load VMWARE ESXi on and spin it up as needed for my practice and tests. I haven't used a type 1 hypervisor before so that would be a great learning experience. I wonder what the free versions restrictions are but as long as I can create basic virtual networks including hubs, switches and routers and spin up a couple of OS's then I am set. Probably missed it due to the confusing website ha ha.
Thank you, I did not realize they had a free version of VMWARE ESXI. r/HomeNetworking - Simpler networking advice. r/pfsense - for all things pfsense ('nix firewall) Might be able to find things useful for a lab. r/hardwareswap - Used hardware, swap hardware.
r/buildapcsales - For sales on building a PC
r/linux - All flavors of Linux discussion & news - not for the faint of heart! Try to be specific with your questions if possible. r/linux4noobs - Newbie friendly place to learn Linux! All experience levels. r/datacenter - Talk of anything to do with the datacenter here We have an official, partnered Discord server which is great for all kinds of discussions and questions, invite link is clickable button at the top of the sidebar or right here.Keep piracy discussion off of this subreddit.Īll sales posts and online offers should be posted in /r/homelabsales.īefore posting please read the wiki, there is always content being added and it could save you a lot of time and hassle.įeel like helping out your fellow labber? Contribute to the wiki! It's a great help for everybody, just remember to keep the formatting please. Report any posts that you feel should be brought to our attention. We love detailed homelab builds, especially network diagrams! Post about your homelab, discussion of your homelab, questions you may have, or general discussion about transition your skill from the homelab to the workplace.
Please see the full rules page for details on the rules, but the jist of it is: Labporn Diagrams Tutorials News Subreddit Rules New to Homelab? Start Here! Homelab Wiki HomelabSales