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Channel: VMware Communities: Message List - 2. Installation - ESXi 5 [ARCHIVED]
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Re: ESXi ON a laptop

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I have not come across any successful idea to accomplish that goal exactly, although there are few manufacturers that build Xeon processor based laptops for the same purpose but that is more like a desktop & very short battery life and carrying around is like you are always about to catch a flight with a 5kg+ hand luggage.

But, this is the solution I came up with:

 

* Get a server or build one that also has IPMI management card, eg HP DL380 with IPMI card, I bough mine second hand that has 2 X Xeon 6 core processor with 144Gb ram & installed bare metal ESXI

* Get a VPN Firewall or VPN Router, I am using a Cisco Firewall, but my friend is using a WIFI Router with DDWRT OS installed on it - both do a good job and is not too power hungry. There is no need of static IP as well, DDWRT and some Firewalls has feature that you can setup with service like No-IP and you can find you new ISP IP online.

 

No you can  setup a VPN to your router and with IPMI card it gives you power to switch your server on and off remotely, I can do that with my smart phone as well. As long as you have Internet at both ends (server location & you location) you have connectivity and that gives you an experience as if you are on your server.

 

Pros:

* No need of carrying any heavy laptops, etc. Can you very light weight laptop and even tablet to do your work.

* Save Money - trust me that laptop with xeon processor is very pricey.

* Your laptop and tablet can do much more than just being a ESXI server.

* No need to keep your server on all the time with IPMI card.

* Server gives you much more resources than a laptop and is upgradeable, which laptop can take 144gb ram?

 

Cons:

* You need Internet connectivity at both places and server location Internet has to be on all the time

* There is a constant power consumption**, that is not much, but your firewall / vpn device /  Wifi router will always consume power

* IPMI card normally takes about 26w constant all the time as additional power consumption**.

* IP address not being static, use No-IP service for same & finding your IP address as initial step can be irritating sometimes. Smart Phone apps can help.

* IPMI card needs to have appropriate licensing to have a good access to server than just having to switch on Off. (with the Lic I have, I can even install any OS remotely, or upgrade & much more)

 

** But, the money you save from not buying xeon laptop or purpose built esxi laptop can be spent towards power consumption, like in installments.

My setup cost me about £1000

 

Hope it helps.

 

AJ


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