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Building a virtual machine server
Posted on 2/8/21 at 9:47 pm
Posted on 2/8/21 at 9:47 pm
I currently have a server with a 6-core processor and 24GB of RAM that I'm really only using for FreeNAS and Plex. There's obviously wasted horsepower there, so I'm looking to turn it into a VM server and will virtualize FreeNAS.
I know NOTHING about virtualization. How do I do this? Is VMware the way to go? VirtualBox or something else? Should I install the VM software on top on Linux? Can I pass through all of my ZFS pools to FreeNAS in the VM?
Teach me something
I know NOTHING about virtualization. How do I do this? Is VMware the way to go? VirtualBox or something else? Should I install the VM software on top on Linux? Can I pass through all of my ZFS pools to FreeNAS in the VM?
Teach me something
3
Posted on 2/8/21 at 10:04 pm to Vrai
r/proxmox
Posted on 2/8/21 at 10:13 pm to bluebarracuda
Yeah, I'm looking at ProxMox and some subreddits, just thought someone here may have some experience.
Posted on 2/8/21 at 11:04 pm to Vrai
My 2 cents worth....FreeNAS performance will suffer significantly virtualized. Even if you were able to run the disks natively in passthrough in an esxi hypervisor. Depends on what kind of performance you expect to get.
You might consider looking at running eztra things in the premade 'jails' from inside native FreeNAS instead.
You might consider looking at running eztra things in the premade 'jails' from inside native FreeNAS instead.
Posted on 2/9/21 at 7:21 am to Vrai
I have a similar setup at home and have been using VMware workstation to do this. Have Win10 and Server2019 templates/baseline and update them so when I do spin up something to test/play then they're all the same experience. I also have a Kali VM that I haven't played with lately. I've also only tried once and havent messed around further, but i installed prtg-net monitor. Also have Reolink client running on it...so guess it all depends on what you may want to accomplish
Here's a pretty good guide getting started with VMware
https://boerlowie.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/building-the-ultimate-vsphere-lab-part-1-the-story/
Here's a pretty good guide getting started with VMware
https://boerlowie.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/building-the-ultimate-vsphere-lab-part-1-the-story/
This post was edited on 2/9/21 at 7:25 am
Posted on 2/9/21 at 7:40 am to BabySam
Esxi or hyperv core. Both free and widely used and supported so easy to find help.
Posted on 2/9/21 at 8:22 am to dakarx
Yeah, I anticipate some level of performance degradation, but it's primarily being used as a plex server for my house and a few friends, so I dont think it will be too bad.
I've got a bunch of stuff running in jails and even a couple of VMs running in FreeNAS, but the VM experience is horrible.
I've got a bunch of stuff running in jails and even a couple of VMs running in FreeNAS, but the VM experience is horrible.
Posted on 2/9/21 at 8:22 am to BabySam
Awesome, will check out the guide 
Posted on 2/9/21 at 10:43 am to Vrai
The simplest thing to do for a single VM on a low end server would be to install Windows and then install VMware workstation to run your FreeNAS or Plex VM.
LINK
A more complicated server option is to install a Bare Metal Hypervisor like "ESXi" onto your physical server. ESXi is not a software application that is installed on an operating system...instead...it includes and integrates vital OS components, such as a kernel. The old ESX had a Linux kernel but the newer ESXi does not include a Linux kernel.
Not sure if you want a setup this robust(I manage 12 VM servers with site to site replication), but I use VMware vCenter Server Appliance....also known as "VCSA".
To do this you'll first want to setup vSphere ESXi host on your server.
LINK
Next you'll want to install VCSA on the ESXi host. You can also setup a cluster to enable vSphere HA, DRS, and Virtual SAN
LINK
LINK
After that you'll want to setup iSCSI storage and connect a NAS or SAN. If you don't have either and just want to use built in disk....you'll need to setup a vSAN.
LINK
After you have all you have to do is create new VM in vSphere client
LINK
LINK
A more complicated server option is to install a Bare Metal Hypervisor like "ESXi" onto your physical server. ESXi is not a software application that is installed on an operating system...instead...it includes and integrates vital OS components, such as a kernel. The old ESX had a Linux kernel but the newer ESXi does not include a Linux kernel.
Not sure if you want a setup this robust(I manage 12 VM servers with site to site replication), but I use VMware vCenter Server Appliance....also known as "VCSA".
To do this you'll first want to setup vSphere ESXi host on your server.
LINK
Next you'll want to install VCSA on the ESXi host. You can also setup a cluster to enable vSphere HA, DRS, and Virtual SAN
LINK
LINK
After that you'll want to setup iSCSI storage and connect a NAS or SAN. If you don't have either and just want to use built in disk....you'll need to setup a vSAN.
LINK
After you have all you have to do is create new VM in vSphere client
LINK
Posted on 2/9/21 at 11:04 am to lockthevaught
That's what I'm talking about. I certainly don't need a setup that robust, but that's the route I'm going.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Posted on 2/9/21 at 12:03 pm to Vrai
Proxmox is incredibly simple to setup, has some very robust features if you want to dive in, and it's 100% free to use.
I use it on all my home servers
I use it on all my home servers
Posted on 2/9/21 at 12:53 pm to lockthevaught
I used to be a VMWare guy but now I’m all Hyper-V. The basic version is free. Proxmox is also a good option although I’ve only played around with it.
At home I used to use KVM + OpenZFS but now I just have everything I need on a Synology NAS.
At home I used to use KVM + OpenZFS but now I just have everything I need on a Synology NAS.
Posted on 2/9/21 at 1:15 pm to bluebarracuda
In looking at Proxmox I see it's free to download but am seeing stuff about an annual subscription?
Posted on 2/9/21 at 1:37 pm to Vrai
There's no need for any annual subscription. You can do everything with the free download and install
Posted on 2/9/21 at 1:46 pm to BeepNode
So my last company had all Hyper-V deployments. Current company is all VMware.
Posted on 2/9/21 at 1:52 pm to lockthevaught
We use VMware too
Posted on 2/9/21 at 2:33 pm to bluebarracuda
VMware here also.
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