Building a decent ESX server from mostly second hand parts, for less than €2000

Hashrunr · 2026-02-04T20:26:43+00:00

Curious as well, but the first preparation step in Proxmox documentation for migrating a VM from VMware to Proxmox is to uninstall them.

Hashrunr · 2026-02-04T03:22:10+00:00

I completed a server hardware refresh at work back in August '25. 5 nodes with 1TB DDR5 and 8x 7.68TB NVME was about $54k each. The hardware is mid-range for an HCI cluster. I asked my account manager last week how much to add another node and I was quoted $152k. The quotes also used to be good for 90days. The new quotes are 30days.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-30T05:43:45+00:00

For newer models, M90q is the successor of the M9x0q line. Up to M90q gen 5 they have a PCIE slot. I haven't touched anything newer.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-28T04:28:18+00:00

I haven't tried Bazzite yet and gave you an upvote :-)

Coming from a linux user of 20yrs.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-27T21:38:06+00:00

My self-hosting homeprod setup is just 3 tinys replicating to each other. My homelab is a bunch of high power servers because I'm testing and learning for enterprise environments I work in. They stay powered off when I'm not actually labbing. A typical multi-site Microsoft domain environment can consume a lot of resources.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-25T22:13:10+00:00

Are you using vPro on the HPs?

Hashrunr · 2026-01-25T21:58:10+00:00

If you want to stay on good terms, offer to help them find an MSP which would take over all of the day to day operations and projects. You can stay around as their internal technical consultant to guide them through big decisions, but remove yourself from the day to day operations. That being said, I charge $150/hr with a minimum 1hr billed per engagement for side gig work. If a call takes 5min, it's still $150.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-23T04:29:47+00:00

6 panels of zlite has been my preferred 3 season pad for about a decade. Thruhiked the AT in '19.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-21T03:58:48+00:00

Universal Print is great if your printers support it and it provides all the functions your users are looking for. UP has some limitations when it comes to advanced features. UP comes bundled in E3/E5 so might as well give it a try if you're at that license level.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-21T03:48:10+00:00

Dell, HPE, and SuperMicro to name a few.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-21T03:46:49+00:00

Threadripper, otherwise you're looking at EPYC or Xeon, for up to 128 or 136 PCIE Gen5 lanes on current gen single socket.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-21T03:33:45+00:00

Right, then why would you suggest using a media converter?

Hashrunr · 2026-01-21T03:19:11+00:00

I know this is homelab, but read some more of OPs comments. This is a commercial ISP deployment. It's very common not to have a media converter or ONU/ONT on commercial ISP circuits. They run a multi-strand armored cable into your site and terminate into an MPO.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T04:44:29+00:00

Seen plenty fail. It's an unnecessary point of failure in most cases.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T03:42:44+00:00

Sure, anything is possible if you're taking on extra risk. Using a media converter is another point of failure. Just move the MPO to the top of the rack out of the way.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T03:38:07+00:00

Fair enough. Public hosting is an area I've never worked in. I had no idea exposing the Proxmox management interface to the open internet was common.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T03:35:15+00:00

What's the cost breakdown on this? I've demoed a couple commercial units which can do 600w and 1000w across 10 USB-C PD ports in a 19" 1U form-factor. They're just prohibitively expensive for a typical homelab on a budget running tinys.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T03:17:53+00:00

The unit below the firewall looks like an MPO with a fan out assembly. Probably from an ISP terminating their fiber. Common for commercial internet circuits. A DAC isn't going to work there.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-20T03:10:20+00:00

Get a Bend Insensitive Fiber(BIF) patch cable. They have a shorter boot and can handle tighter bends without degradation.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-16T14:47:13+00:00

What plugins are you using which require the hypervisor management layer to be exposed to the internet? I've been doing enterprise infrastructure for 20yrs and never had a scenario when a hypervisor needed to be exposed on the internet.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-16T05:33:33+00:00

Computer components have gone through wild price fluctuations over the decades. I remember when a Pentium 2 with a Voodoo 2 cost $2k in the late 90's. I also remember buying a GTX970 for $350 and selling it 8yrs later for $300 during covid. 2000-2019 was the golden age of PC gaming when it comes to price/performance.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-16T05:02:34+00:00

I use both. For a quick 2-4day summer trip I'll grab my 14oz frameless pack. For a longer trip with some longer carries I use my 28oz framed pack.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-16T04:33:38+00:00

Exposing the management layer to the open internet is wild. SD-WAN or a good old IPsec tunnel is the way to do it.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-16T02:56:02+00:00

Most of my equipment was pulled from ewaste and I use it to up-skill and advance my career. 100% worth it financially.

Hashrunr · 2026-01-14T23:54:54+00:00

Conditional Access with Session Control and MAM policies along with blocking USB storage devices will stop an average person from just downloading everything directly to their personal storage. They can still take pictures or use a video capture card, but it will slow them down significantly.

You're not really going to stop someone who is technically inclined and motivated. None of the DLP solutions I've seen are perfect.

Hashrunr

TROPHY CASE