proxmox/multiple hypervisors and associated storage configuration on home server

[vjeko]

I'm totally new to virtualization (and to linux )
and some of my questions may be stupid but would
appreciate if someone could take a look at my ideas
below and give a pointer ahead of time
so to speak in order for me to do a sensible installation.

The server will be used for learning about virtualization,
various OSs (Win/Linux) and for programming/graphics.

I've got the following hardware:
-Lenovo TS140 server , XEON e3-1246-v3 , 2*1TB HDD, 1*256GB SSD, 20GB memory,
1 single Intel nic, 1 quad Intel nic.
-1TB WD NAS
-A few old pcs eg pentium 3, 4, with HDDs
-core 2 duo laptop
-beaglebone

I don't need/want RAID, so I shut it off on the server disks.
I initially thought of using one of the two HDD in the server + the NAS for backup
and the other HDD + SSD for the VMs etc. (the not so near future plan is to have a separate
very low power file server for back up together with the NAS - don't want
to destroy the backup/data while learning )

Few questions
(a)As far as I understand proxmox can't be run off a USB stick like
ESXI / must be installed on disk - is this correct ?.
(b)Does proxmox really need to take over the entire disk / how would
the 1 TB HDD & 256 GB SSD best be used with proxmox (usage/partitioning etc.)?
(c)I understand ESXI can be tried inside of proxmox - is it possible to
install both separately to somehow "multi boot" ?

 

[t.lamprecht]

(a) AFAIK it can be installed on an USB stick, they aren't reliable and a SSD would be an much better option

(b) No, it doesn't use every disk, only the disk where you install it will be used completely, the others then can be partitioned/mounted with your favorite tools like you want.
Also there is a possibility to install a stock Debian and then on top Proxmox VE, this let's you also customize the partitions where PVE is installed.
In your scenario you could use a stick or the fast SSD for PVE and install it there with our ISO, then partition the remaining disks like you want and add them as storage’s in the PVE Interface.

(c) PVE could handle it for sure, as it's basically a "normal" (but powerful) linux distro. How it looks with ESXI is another question, I never tried it.

btw.: http://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Main_Page covers quite some topics, maybe it's also helpful for you.

 

[vjeko]

OK, thanks, will definitely read that and a lot of other material but want
to start on the right foot so to speak
OK, so the SSD will be for proxmox and the other two HDDs for various storage.
Is there any "typical" (wise) partitioning strategy to use for the HDD ?
(or should I just read more ) - at the moment I got no feeling for this.

 

[pirateghost]

OK, thanks, will definitely read that and a lot of other material but want
to start on the right foot so to speak
OK, so the SSD will be for proxmox and the other two HDDs for various storage.
Is there any "typical" (wise) partitioning strategy to use for the HDD ?
(or should I just read more ) - at the moment I got no feeling for this.

just let the installer partition it for you. you dont have to do anything

 

[t.lamprecht]

Yes for the SSD I would let the Proxmox installer do it's thing.

For the HDD, if you plan to use it only for your VMs/CTs then one partition and a mount in some directory should be good. In the webinterface of Proxmox you can then add a new 'directory' storage, use there the mountpoint ferom your big HDD and everything should work.

You can then make as many virtual disks for your VMs on it as you want (as long there is space). Also move them later onto another disk or NFS storage.

Later you could use also the local (SSD) storage to run some VMs on them (or at least the system disk of the VM, PVE lets you add more than one disk to the VM), you know for the speed benefit.

Try and maybe also fail a little sometimes, that's the best way to get a feeling and to learn.