Minisforum MS-01 Review: Almost Perfect Home Lab Server @VirtualizationHowto

VirtualizationHowto The new Minisforum MS-01 is a great new mini PC from Minisforum that bridges the gap between typical mini PCs and an actual mini workstation that can be used for home lab environments to run server workloads. We take a look at the Minisforum MS-01, VMware ESXi, running VMs, processor configurations with Performance and Efficient Cores and other thoughts.

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Specs of the MS-01 - 0:53
Looking at the physical characteristics of the MS-01 - 2:18
Looking inside the MS-01 - 4:15
Looking at the BIOS settings - 7:02
Looking at VMware ESXi with both the Performance and Efficient cores enabled - 8:36
After disabling the Efficient Cores on the MS-01 and looking at VMware ESXi - 9:56
Pros and Cons and Nice to haves for a new version - 11:08

Read the written review here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/minisforum-ms-01-review-best-home-server-mini-pc-early-2024

Read the review of another mini PC, the GMKtec M5:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/gmktec-m5-mini-pc-review-as-home-server

updated 8 months ago

Minisforum MS-01 Review: Almost Perfect Home Lab Server

VirtualizationHowto 2024-02-02 | The new Minisforum MS-01 is a great new mini PC from Minisforum that bridges the gap between typical mini PCs and an actual mini workstation that can be used for home lab environments to run server workloads. We take a look at the Minisforum MS-01, VMware ESXi, running VMs, processor configurations with Performance and Efficient Cores and other thoughts.

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

★ Subscribe to the channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrxcWtpd1IGHG9RbD_9380A?sub_confirmation=1
★ My blog: virtualizationhowto.com
★ Twitter: twitter.com/vspinmaster
★ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-lee-vht
★ Github: github.com/brandonleegit
★ Facebook: facebook.com/people/VirtualizationHowto/100092747277326
★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3
★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht

Introduction - 0:00
Specs of the MS-01 - 0:53
Looking at the physical characteristics of the MS-01 - 2:18
Looking inside the MS-01 - 4:15
Looking at the BIOS settings - 7:02
Looking at VMware ESXi with both the Performance and Efficient cores enabled - 8:36
After disabling the Efficient Cores on the MS-01 and looking at VMware ESXi - 9:56
Pros and Cons and Nice to haves for a new version - 11:08

Read the written review here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/minisforum-ms-01-review-best-home-server-mini-pc-early-2024

Read the review of another mini PC, the GMKtec M5:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/gmktec-m5-mini-pc-review-as-home-server

Best Docker Container Server Setup // Docker Swarm, CephFS, and Portainer

VirtualizationHowto 2024-10-17 | I have been in search for the perfect docker setup for home lab and production environments when Kubernetes doesn't really make sense in every situation. Also, especially for a lot of self-hosted services, many of these do not work well with Kubernetes. Home Assistant is one that comes to mind among others. I have found arguably the best docker container environment in most cases is not Kubernetes, but a Docker Swarm cluster with Microceph installed with distributed storage running CephFS, and Portainer is the management tool that brings it all together. I step you guys through how you can build all of this, including Docker Swarm configuration, CephFS configuration, networking, high availability, and the nuggets of management from the Portainer side.

If you want to copy the commands used in this tutorial, check out the following written blogs that encompass the steps:

- virtualizationhowto.com/2024/10/docker-swarm-is-awesome-with-portainer
- virtualizationhowto.com/2024/10/try-microceph-for-an-easy-ceph-install
- virtualizationhowto.com/2024/10/cephfs-for-docker-container-storage

If you want to know how to install Docker in Ubuntu: docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu

Introduction - 0:00
Prerequisites for the config - 0:42
Overview of Docker Swarm - 1:28
Kubernetes vs Docker Swarm - 2:00
Initializing Docker Swarm - 2:48
Promoting multi-manager nodes in Docker Swarm - 3:22
Installing Keepalived - 3:41
Configuring Keepalived - 4:18
Creating the backup Keepalived nodes - 5:00
Starting and enabling Keepalived - 6:10
Pinging the virtual IP - 6:58
Introducing shared storage with Microceph - 7:00
Ceph with Proxmox - 7:52
Listing the disks on each Docker Swarm node - 8:41
Installing Microceph - 8:52
Bootstrapping the microceph cluster - 9:47
Adding the 2nd and 3rd microceph cluster hosts - 10:13
Adding the disks for each node to microceph - 11:18
Checking the status of microceph cluster - 11:55
Creating the microceph storage pools - 12:08
Creating the CephFS data storage for Docker Swarm - 12:27
Creating the mount directory for mounting CephFS storage on each node - 12:49
Getting the Ceph client admin token - 13:05
Adding the mount command in the fstab file - 13:24
Force mounting FSTAB and reloading system then checking storage - 13:48
Introducing Portainer - 15:28
Looking at the free 3-node license for business edition - 16:18
Looking at the Portainer to manage your Docker, Docker Swarm, and Kubernetes environments - 16:40
Looking at container information - 17:23
Looking at outdated images shown in Portainer - 17:47
Quick actions in Portainer - 18:17
Performance stats in Portainer - 18:47
Swarm details and cluster visualizer - 19:02
Draining or pausing nodes - 19:52
Using templates in Portainer - 20:22
Pulling compose files from a Git repository - 20:44
Discussing how it all fits together & wrapping up - 21:14

Mini Gaming PC that Home Labs // GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro Review

VirtualizationHowto 2024-10-10 | We take a powerful little mini PC for a spin, the GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro. This is an interesting little mini PC that packs a punch for both gaming, with an Oculink port, and beefy hardware that can also be used for a powerful little mini home lab configuration. Is this the best little mini PC towards the end of 2024? Let's find out!

Video sponsor NAKIVO: bit.ly/3S65NF3

Written review of the GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/10/gmktec-nucbox-m7-pro-review-great-for-gaming-and-home-lab

If you have a question about home labs, or other challenges, check out the VirtualizationHowto forums. Post your question here for help: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Video sponsor - 0:33
Specs of the GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro - 1:17
Talking specifically about graphics - 1:42
Home lab - dual Intel 2.5 gig ports - 2:21
Can run Proxmox and VMware ESXi both - 2:35
It is offered in a barebones configuration - 2:40
(2) M.2 slots and 96 GB of memory - 3:00
NVMe memory tiering possibilities - 3:13
More details on installing VMware ESXi - 3:30
Gaming potential with integrated graphics - 3:56
Oculink port to use external GPU with the M7 Pro (ETA Prime vid on GMKtec site) - 4:13
Power Efficiency and numbers when idle and under full load - 5:00
Looking at the front I/O on the M7 Pro - 5:33
Looking at the back I/O on the M7 Pro - 6:07
Looking at the top cover, removing, and fingerprints - 6:25
Removing the screws for the inside top cover - 7:05
Looking at the internals (RAM and M.2 slots) - 8:00
Pros of the Nucbox M7 Pro - 8:20
Cons with the Nucbox M7 Pro - 9:14
Wrapping up my thoughts on the Nucbox M7 Pro - 9:45

Best NAS in 2024 for Home Lab? Terramaster F4-424 Max Review // Giveaway Winner

VirtualizationHowto 2024-10-03 | Is this possibly the best home lab NAS towards the end of 2024? I think it has some really great features and capabilities, including (2) 10 gig network ports! I tested it running an iSCSI target for Proxmox and it worked great. I take a look at hardware, software, virtualization capabilities, video encoding, drive installation, cache drives, and even LACP bonding with the 2 network ports. Also, I announce the winner of the Beelink Mini PC giveaway!

Video sponsor Faddom application discovery - bit.ly/3yZ7GgI

Written review of the Terramaster F4-424 Max NAS: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/09/terramaster-f4-424-max-nas-review-for-home-lab

Buy the Terramaster F4-424, $100 off in October 2024: terra-master.com/us/products/f4-424-max.html?page=desc

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Introduction - 0:00
Video Sponsor - Faddom - 0:30
Terramaster F4-424 hardware specs - 1:30
Discussing hybrid drive configurations - 2:17
Performance was good with iSCSI on Proxmox - 2:40
Easy drive installation into the Terramaster F4-424 - 3:00
Showing the process to remove the side panel to expose M.2 and memory - 3:27
Discussing the 4 and 8 TB drives from Western Digital in TOS 6 - 4:09
Talking about the Western Digital WD Red Plus Hard Drives - 4:41
Talking about the (2) 10 gig network ports on the F4-424 - 5:12
You can bond the 10 gig ports with LACP and other aggregation configurations - 5:54
Has great media transcoding features and horsepower - 6:15
TOS 6 software and how it runs, along with apps - 6:37
Some growing pains with TOS 6 - 7:05
Virtualization capabilities and features with the Terramaster F4-424 - 7:17
Can run VirtualBox on TOS 6 - 7:36
Does have a native Docker Manager app in TOS 6 - 7:58
Looking at iSCSI LUN in Proxmox targeting the Terramaster F4-424 - 8:15
Installed Windows Server 2025 Preview - 8:39
The Good about the Terramaster F4-424 - 10:26
The Bad about the Terramaster F4-424 - 11:20
Final verdict on the Terramaster F4-424 NAS - 11:48
Thanking everyone for participating in the giveaway! 12:12
Choosing the winner! 13:02
Wrapping up - 14:04

Share your Home Lab & Win a Mini PC

VirtualizationHowto 2024-09-24 | A quick video about a giveaway this week! I'm giving away the Beelink SEi14 Mini PC that I reviewed on last week's video. It will make a great all-around home lab server since it can run both VMware and Proxmox and has versatile storage and connectivity options. Check out the video for details on how you can win.

Sign up to the VHT forum and upload your pics here for a chance to win: virtualizationhowto.com/community/home-lab-pics/best-home-lab-server-pics-and-gear-in-2024

My written review of the Beelink SEi14:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/09/beelink-sei14-mini-pc-review-as-a-home-lab-server-with-intel-arc

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction to the Mini PC Giveaway! 0:00
Overview of the Beelink SEi14 - 0:53
Intel network and runs VMware and Proxmox - 1:49
The rules for the giveaway - 2:03
When will the winner be announced? 2:16

CPU C States for Massive Home Lab Power Efficieny // VMware ESXi and Proxmox

VirtualizationHowto 2024-09-20 | I have been on a quest to shrink the footprint of power consumption in the home lab as energy prices continue to go up around the world. There is a setting in the BIOS called C States that can lead to massive power savings and allow you to drastically cut the amount of power your home server takes to run. We take a look at this and how you can use this in conjunction with VMware ESXi and Proxmox to have a low power home server.

Sponsor of the video - NAKIVO: bit.ly/3S65NF3

Written version of today's video: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/09/enable-cpu-c-states-for-massive-power-savings-for-your-home-server

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3
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Introduction to low power server hacks - 0:00
Today's sponsor - NAKIVO Backup & Replication - 0:41
Why is power consumption a concer? 1:22
VMware ESXi power optimizations overview - 1:58
Power management policy - 2:20
Overview of low power mode - 2:50
CPU power states in the BIOS - 3:00
Looking at enabling the BIOS C states for CPU power management - 3:33
Using ESXi's advanced CPU power settings - 5:23
Listing esxcli system settings command to change power management policy - 5:50
Changing the setting from the command line - 6:38
Proxmox power optimizations overview - 7:20
Introducing Powertop - 7:25
Overview of the auto tune parameter of Powertop - 8:00
Overview of installing Powertop - 8:24
Running powertop and overview of tabs and columns - 8:40
Tunables tab for purposes of auto tune parameter - 9:46
Running the powertop auto tune command - 10:25
Powertop settings are not persistent after a reboot - 11:14
Creating a system service to run the auto tune paramete after startup - 11:35
Adjusting the CPU scaling governor - 12:35
Running your servers in headless mode - 14:04
Shutdown your servers when they are not used - 15:00
Significant power savings in ESXi - 15:41
Considering low power configuration modifications - 16:01

Beelink SEi14 Mini PC Review with Core Ultra Processor // MS-A1 Giveaway Winner announced!!!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-09-13 | We take a look at a really great mini PC with a lot of options and nice hardware, the Beelink SEi14. I look at it in the context of running it as a home lab server, using VMware ESXi and Proxmox. I find an interesting anomaly in running VMware ESXi vs Proxmox in terms of power draw on this mini PC. Also, exciting stuff! We are picking the winner of the Minisforum MS-A1 on this video, so be sure to tune in if you commented on the last video for the "Perfect Home Lab in 2024".

Winner of the giveaway join the Discord server here and send me a direct message: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3

Written review of the Beelink SEi14: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/09/beelink-sei14-mini-pc-review-as-a-home-lab-server-with-intel-arc

My other written project, Tek2Cloud: tek2cloud.com

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Introduction to the Beelink SEi14 mini PC - 0:00
Reminder about announcing the winner of the MS-A1! 0:45
Specs of the Beelink SEi14 mini PC - 1:00
Build quality and look around the mini PC - 2:00
Port configuration on the back of the device - 2:18
Getting access to the internals on the Beelink SEi14 - 2:32
Mesh screen protects from dust build up - 2:50
Getting access to M.2 slots and RAM and heat sink - 3:09
Loading hypervisors on the Beelink SEi14 -
The value add to being able to run multiple hypervisors - 4:00
Intel Core Ultra 5 125H hybrid processor - 4:44
Need to add boot parameter to install VMware ESXi - 4:51
installing Proxmox on the Beelink SEi14 mini PC - 5:16
A quick note about Veeam Backup & Replication Proxmox backup - 5:34
Looking at Proxmox web UI and the VMs running and CPU summary - 5:50
Looking at the CPU specs in VMware ESXi - 7:49
Power consumption comparison, ESXi is double Proxmox at Idle! 9:22
Full load power around 75 watts on both hypervisors - 10:02
Pros of the Beelink SEi14 - 10:28
Cons of the Beelink SEi14 - 10:50
Wrapping up thoughts on the Beelink SEi14 - 11:17
Picking the winner of the Minisforum MS-A1! - 11:33
Concluding thoughts - 12:23

Perfect Home Lab 2024 and Minisforum Giveaway!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-09-06 | What does my perfect home lab look like in 2024? I want to show you guys what configuration I am running. I have moved back to traditional storage with iSCSI LUNs from HCI. What hardware am I using, storage, and networking? Also, a giveaway of a Minisforum MS-A1 mini workstation! Check out the video to see how you can win!

***Giveaway is only for US residents due to shipping costs***

Official Minisforum channel to subscribe for the giveaway:
youtube.com/@minisforumofficial

Written blog covering the topics found in the video:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/09/perfect-home-lab-2024-ms-01s-nvme-memory-tiering-and-nvme-nas

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Introduction to the perfect home lab in 2024! - 0:00
The GIVEAWAY! and what you need to do to win! - 0:45
The MS-01 mini workstation in the perfect home lab - 1:26
NNVMe memory tiering with the MS-01 for 478 GB of RAM! - 1:50
Brief overview of NVMe memory tiering - 2:07
VMware vSphere for home lab at this point and why - 3:07
Is NVMe memory tiering the same as paging in Proxmox? 3:43
What about enterprise server gear? 4:47
Mini PCs are a good balance of compute and efficiency - 5:12
My choice for storage - Terramaster F8 SSD Plus - 5:28
Why do you need shared storage or might want it? 6:29
Why traditional storage vs HCI? 7:00
The MS-01 only has (3) NVMe slots and NVMe memory tiering and HCI choices - 7:36
Bill of materials with this setup - 8:01
MS-01 workstations and specs - 8:08
Terramaster F8 SSD Plus - 8:44
Networking with Ubiquiti Edgeswitch 16 XG 10 gig switch - 9:06
How is this working out with this configuration? 9:30
Let me know what your perfect home lab looks like - 10:23

NVMe NAS that is Tiny and FAST! // Terramaster F8 SSD Plus

VirtualizationHowto 2024-08-29 | I want to introduce you to a fantastic little NVMe NAS device that provides a high performance storage option for creators or home lab enthusiasts. Take a look at my thoughts on the unit, pros and cons, as well as some performance benchmarking with VMware vSphere and VDBench.

The Terramaster F8 SSD Plus: terra-master.com/us/f8-ssd.html

The written review of the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus NVME NAS:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/08/terramaster-f8-ssd-plus-review-all-flash-nas-with-nvme

Check out my other project: tek2cloud.com

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Introducing the Terramaster F8 SSD PLUS NVMe NAS - 0:00
Disclaimer about the review - 0:43
Overview of the hardware features - 1:00
Comparing the F8 SSD and F8 SSD Plus - 1:38
Design and build quality - 2:07
Overview of the setup experience and TOS 6 - 2:47
Looking at the TOS6 interface and storage settings - 3:26
Looking at storage pool - 4:25
Overview of TRAID with Terramaster - 4:50
Advantages over traditional RAID5 - 5:03
Overview of TRAID PLUS, equivalent of RAID6 - 5:18
Looking at health information in the TOS utility - 6:00
Talking about my setup with TRAID - 6:25
Overview of the iSCSI app - 6:57
Showing how to use the iSCSI app to create an iSCSI LUN - 7:22
Enabling multiple connections to your iSCSI target - 8:41
Performance testing overview - 9:26
Looking at the HCIBench test on the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus - 9:45
Looking at the Grafana interface to show the performance testing results - 10:26
Testing finished and looking at results! - 11:00
Talking about the results of the benchmark - 12:02
Pros of the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus - 12:39
Cons of the Terramaster F8 SSD Plus - 13:23
Wrapping up my thoughts on this NVMe NAS - 14:16
Subscribe, like, and comment! 14:57

Minisforum MS-A1 Mini PC Review Is it a AMD Ryzen MS-01 Home Server?

VirtualizationHowto 2024-08-22 | We look at the new Minisforum MS-A1 Ryzen 7 8700G mini PC workstation. Is this a Minisforum MS-01 with an AMD Ryzen processor? Well, sort of, but not really. We will look at the details of this new Ryzen-based MS-01 and see if it is indeed an AMD MS-01 or something else.

Link to the Minisforum MS-A1: store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-ms-a1?_pos=1&_psq=ms-a1&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=45707673338101

Read the written review of the Minisforum MS-A1 here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/08/minisforum-ms-a1-review-as-home-server

The sponsor of today's video:
nakivo.com/vmware-backup/?utm_source=virtualizationhowto&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=VMware

Read a written comparison I wrote of the MS-A1 vs the MS-01:
tek2cloud.com/minisforum-ms-a1-vs-ms-01-mini-pc

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Introduction to the Minisforum 0:00
Video sponsor - NAKIVO Backup & Replication - 0:45
Looking at the Minisforum MS-A1 hardware specs - 1:29
Brief overview of hybrid CPUs and why uniform is better - 2:09
Comparing the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G vs Intel Core i9-13900H - 3:08
It contains (4) M.2 NVMe slots - 3:55
The design of the MS-A1 vs the MS-01 - 4:12
MS-A1 networking vs the MS-01 - 4:55
NVMe Memory Tiering, I used the MS-A1 - 5:35
Half a terabyte of memory in the MS-A1 - 6:06
It has an OCulink port for external GPUs - 6:23
Power consumption of the MS-A1 - 6:56
Physical walkthrough of the Minisforum MS-A1 - 7:27
A look at the ports on the back of the unit - 7:56
After removing the outer case from the unit - 8:39
Looking at the NVMe and U.2 tray adapter location - 9:13
There is a dip switch for choosing power between U.2 and M.2 - 9:28
Looking at the heat sink where you have system memory and additional M.2 - 9:46
The verdict on the Minisforum MS-A1 - 11:00
The best use for the Minisforum MS-A1 - 11:53
Wrapping up final thoughts on the MS-A1 - 12:27

Quadruple your Mini PC Memory with VMware NVMe Memory Tiering!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-08-15 | 4x your Mini PC Memory // VMware NVMe Memory Tiering

We take a deep dive look at VMware's new NVMe memory tiering feature found in VMware vSphere 8.0 update 3. The new NVMe memory tiering is going to be a game changer for home labs since it will allow us to 4x our Mini PC system memory in systems that normally can't have more than 96 GB of memory in the case of DDR5 SODIMM memory equipped mini PCs. Let's look at upping your memory in your mini PC in just a few commands!

Video's sponsor: faddom.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=virtualizationhowto

Written post covering VMware NVMe memory tiering: tek2cloud.com/nvme-memory-tiering-in-vsphere-8-0-u3-quadruple-your-mini-pc-memory

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Introduction - 0:00
A word about the Video sponsor - 0:39
VMware proving they are a leader - 2:22
NVMe memory tiering and what it is - 2:36
Not a dumb paging system - 3:00
A disclaimer about it being tech preview - 3:57
Memory tiering notes - 4:26
What types of workloads are a good fit? 4:45
Unsupported VMs that you can't run with NVMe memory tiering - 6:05
Networking disclaimer with memory tiering - 7:00
Booting VMware ESXi without memory tiering - 8:18
Running the commands for memory tiering - 9:39
Finding your identifier of your NVMe drive - 10:09
Viewing partitions on your NVMe drive you want to use - 11:15
Deleting partitions - 11:42
The command to set the NVMe drive as an NVMe memory tiering device - 12:25
Listing the disks allocated as a tier device - 12:45
Setting the percentage of memory tiering with NVMe - 13:20
Rebooting the VMware ESXi host - 15:00
Booting the mini PC with NVMe memory tiering enabled - 15:13
Memory increases to 468.3 GB of memory - 15:38
The implications of what NVMe memory tiering will do for home lab - 15:54
Wrapping up - 16:43

2200 LXC Containers on a Mini PC!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-08-08 | I am continuing my experiments around what types of workloads and how many we can run on mini PCs in the home lab. In this weeks video we look at running 2200 LXC containers on a mini PC! Pretty cool! I ran into a weird issue though that I want to share with you guys. Check out the video!

Sponsor of today's video: faddom.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=virtualizationhowto

Written blog post covering the topic: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/08/almost-2000-lxc-containers-on-a-mini-pc

See how to use Terraform to spin up LXC containers in Proxmox: tek2cloud.com/proxmox-terraform-automation-cloning-lxc-containers

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Introduction to a new crazy experiment - 0:00
A word about the video sponsor! 0:45
An overview of the mini PC I am using - 2:34
Overview of LXC containers - what are they? 3:00
Using Terraform and automating container deployment - 3:33
Overview of an interesting bottleneck or limit - 3:55
Error message when starting the additional containers - 4:36
Theories on the errors I saw - 5:36
Using nested Proxmox instances to push forward - 6:24
Talking through nesting Proxmox instances - 6:59
Viewing Terraform rolling out containers on the 4th Proxmox instance - 7:34
Looking at the hardware resources on the physical Proxmox host - 8:28
Grand total of LXC containers on the mini PC on 4 nested hosts - 9:04
Looking at the resource consumption on the physical mini PC - 10:10
Concluding thoughts on the latest experiment - 12:08
Reach out to me if you have a solution for the Linux Bridge issue - 12:37

250 Virtual Machines on a Proxmox Mini PC

VirtualizationHowto 2024-08-01 | This was such a fun experiment to see how many virtual machines you can realistically get on a modern mini PC with 96 GB of memory. I tested using the Geekom AE7 with the Ryzen 7840HS processor with 16 threads and 96 GB of DDR5 memory. See just how far I was able to get running VMs on a mini PC! Did I reach 250?

Written blog post on the quest to run 250 VMs! virtualizationhowto.com/2024/07/proxmox-mini-pc-monster-running-150-virtual-machines

Proxmox Kernel Samepage Merging (KSM) - pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Dynamic_Memory_Management

Check out Tek2Cloud, another project I am working on: tek2cloud.com

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Introduction - 0:00
Overview of how Mini PCs are great for home lab - 0:32
Mini PC I am using for the test - 1:00
Overview of the VM template in Proxmox - 1:47
Starting with 50 virtual machines - 2:46
80, 100, 115, 125 virtual machines - 3:06
Talking about RAM usage - 3:21
How Proxmox handles memory overcommit - 3:43
Kernel Samepage Merging deduplicates memory pages - 4:05
140, 150, 180 virtual machines - 5:13
Going for broke - 200 VMs and then 250! - 5:29
Looking at 200 VMs in Proxmox - 5:50
Talking more about memory management in Proxmox 6:00
Upping the number of VMs and IO delay - 6:10
210 VMs running - 8:00
The VMs are responsive and able to do work, running stress utility - 8:27
Cloning more! 9:11
Reaching 250 VMs! 10:15
99% memory 99% CPU - 10:29
Launching stress utilities in VMs - 10:48
Discussing random VMs powered off - 11:39
Looking at VMs that are powered off - 12:16
Discussing idle virtual machines - 13:03
Concluding comments - 14:06

Best Kubernetes Distro for Home Lab in 2024 // Microk8s, Minikube, k3s and more!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-07-25 | We look at the best Kubernetes Distros for Home Lab. If you want to get started learning Kubernetes, take a look at the top 5 distros for running single-node Kubernetes in the home lab. Check out the list and learn how to quickly install each one!

Take a look at the written post covering the Kubernetes distros here: tek2cloud.com/ultimate-guide-to-setting-up-a-kubernetes-home-lab

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Introduction to the best Kubernetes distros for Home Lab - 0:00
Why use Kubernetes? - 0:32
Microk8s - 1:59
Installing Microk8s - 2:49
Minikube - 4:40
Installing Minikube - 5:35
K3s from Rancher - 7:29
Installing K3s - 8:30
Docker Desktop Kubernetes - 9:49
Installing Kubernetes in Docker Desktop - 10:34
Rancher Desktop - 11:49
Installing Kubernetes in Rancher Desktop - 13:31
Wrapping up the best Kubernetes distros for home lab - 15:26

AMD Ryzen 9 Home Server with AI // Geekom AE7 Mini PC Review

VirtualizationHowto 2024-07-18 | A look at the Geekom AE7 Mini PC as a home server. This is a fantastic little mini PC with a lot of processing horsepower for home server workloads, AI, and just about anything else you want to do with it. In the video we deep dive into the performance, power efficiency, use cases, and other thoughts about this Ryzen 9 7940HS mini PC.

Written review of the Geekom AE7: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/06/geekom-ae7-mini-pc-review-as-home-server

Discount code links for the Geekom AE7:

US official:geekompc.com/geekom-mini-ae7-mini-pc (code:VirtuaAE7)
US Amazon:amazon.com/dp/B0D25WCP6J?maas=maas_adg_76116C3E2CE2115615067A66E44CE801_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas (code:VirtAE7GK)
UK official:geekom.co.uk/geekom-ae7-mini-pc (code:VirtuaAE7)
UK Amazon:amazon.co.uk/GEEKOM-AE7-Windows-Threads-Computer/dp/B0D22QP94Y (code:VirtuaAE79)

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Tek2Cloud! Another project spun up recently: tek2cloud.com

Introduction - 0:00
Specs of the Geekom AE7 - 0:37
Speaking of running virtual machines on this mini PC - 1:22
Footprint of the Geekom AE7 - 1:38
Performance of the AE7 - 1:56
Linux Stress utility fan noise, etc - 2:29
connectivity options with the AE7 - 2:50
One downside on the connectivity with the Realtek 2.5G adapter - 3:30
Power efficiency - 4:12
Physical walkthrough of the Geekom AE7 - 5:00
A look at the use cases of the Geekom AE7 - 6:22
Pros of the Geekom AE7 - 7:32
Cons of the Geekom AE7 - 8:29
Wrapping up the Geekom AE7 review - 9:14

Top 10 Home Lab Tools I Use in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-07-12 | A look at my top 10 home lab tools in 2024 that I use in the lab every day. These tools have made my home lab experience smoother and more efficient. These span everything from hypervisors, software, hardware, and utilities. No tool roundup is the same for everyone, but hopefully you will find something on the list that is helpful!

Video sponsor (NAKIVO): http://bit.ly/3S65NF3

Written post on today's video subject: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/07/top-10-home-lab-tools-i-use-in-2024

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Introduction - 0:00
Sponsor of today's video - 0:51
1. Proxmox VE - 1:34
2. VMware ESXi - 2:33
3. Ventoy - 3:32
4. Docker - 4:21
5. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) - 5:33
6. Ansible - 6:18
7. Unifi Network Solution - 7:21
8. TinyPilot KVM - 8:16
9. Synology NAS - 8:58
10. GitLab - 9:48
Wrapping up my top 10 home lab tools - 10:14

pfSense Alternatives: Firewall Solutions for your Network

VirtualizationHowto 2024-07-03 | pfSense is a great open source firewall solution that many use in the home lab, SMB, and even enterprise environments. However, you may be looking for something different. What are good pfSense alternatives that you should try? We look at 5 pfSense alternatives that are worth looking at.

Check out the written post covering the 5 solutions we talk about: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/06/pfsense-alternative-top-5-firewall-solutions

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Introduction - 0:00
Overview of pfSense - 0:42
Reasons to consider an alternative - 0:58
1. OPNsense - 1:17
OPNsense pros - 2:07
OPNsense cons - 2:26
2. Untangle - 2:48
Untangle Pros - 3:54
Untangle Cons - 4:15
3. Unifi Security Devices - 4:28
Unifi Security Devices Pros - 5:47
Unifi Security Devices Cons - 6:10
4. Sophos UTM Home Edition - 6:40
Sophos UTM Pros - 7:22
Sophos UTM Cons - 7:55
5. MikroTik RouterOS - 8:17
MikroTik RouterOS Pros - 9:19
MicroTik RouterOS Cons - 9:43
Be aware of enterprise firewall lab units - 10:24
Next-generation features are subject to argument - 11:00
Wrapping up 5 alternatives to pfSense open-source firewall - 11:36

Best operating system for Servers in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-06-26 | When it comes to certain features or capabilities running in home labs or production environments, it directly relates to the operating system. In this video, we take a look at the best operating system for servers in 2024. We will look at several categories of server operating systems, such as those that do virtualization, containers, file servers, and security.

Check out my written review of best server OS in 2024: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/best-server-os-in-2024-in-five-categories

See how to setup a Nutanix home lab here: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/nutanix-community-edition-for-home-lab

New Proxmox migration wizard: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/proxmox-new-import-wizard-for-migrating-vmware-esxi-vms

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Introduction - 0:00
Operating systems overview - 0:35
Introducing Best operating system for Virtualization - 0:54
VMware ESXi - 1:27
Nutanix AHV - 2:30
Proxmox VE - 3:30
XCP-ng - 3:55
Best operating system for running containers - 4:54
Talos Linux - 5:33
Flatcar Container Linux - 6:14
Fedora CoreOS - 6:30
Best operating system for running file servers - 6:42
Windows Server - 7:00
TrueNAS Scale - 7:56
Vanilla Ubuntu or Debian - 8:30
Best operating system for security - 9:03
Qubes OS - 9:28
Tails OS - 9:50
Kali Linux - 10:03
Wrapping up the Best operating system in 2024 - 10:13

Local LLM with Ollama, LLAMA3 and LM Studio // Private AI Server

VirtualizationHowto 2024-06-19 | Forget using public generative AI resources like ChatGPT. Use local large language models (LLMs) instead which allows you to create a private AI server. In the video, we step through setting up a private AI server in Windows Subsystem for Linux and a few hacks that need to happen so that your API can be accessible to the open source frontend called Open WebUI.

Written post on the steps: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/06/local-llm-model-in-private-ai-server-in-wsl

Ollama download: ollama.com/download
LM Studio: lmstudio.ai

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Introduction - 0:00
What are Large Language Models (LLMs) - 0:45
Advantages of hosting LLMs locally - 1:30
Hardware to run LLMs on your own hardware - 2:30
Setting up Ollama - 3:18
Looking at the Linux script for Ollama - 3:40
Downloading and running popular LLM models - 4:18
Command to download LLAMA3 language model - 4:31
Initiating a chat session from the WSL terminal - 5:16
Looking at Hugging Face open source models - 5:46
Open WebUI web frontend for private AI servers - 6:20
Looking at the Docker run command for Open WebUI - 6:50
Accessing, signing up, and tweaking settings in Open WebUI - 7:22
Reviewing the architecture of the private AI solution - 7:38
Talking about a hack for WSL to allow traffic from outside WSL to connect - 7:54
Looking at the netsh command for the port proxy - 8:24
Chatting with the LLM using Open WebUI - 9:00
Writing an Ansible Playbook - 9:20
PowerCLI scripts - 9:29
Overview of LM Studio - 9:42
Business use cases for local LLMs - 10:16
Wrapping up and final thoughts - 10:51

Nutanix vs VMware in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-06-12 | It is the battle of the titans in the virtualization world - Nutanix vs VMware. Up until recently, most were fine with running VMware vSphere in their home lab and production environments. However, with the Broadcom buyout, many organizations are seeing a 10-15x increase in their VMware pricing. Nutanix has emerged as a very desirable platform with the enterprise polish many companies are looking for to pivot from VMware. In this Nutanix vs VMware comparison, we compare both hypervisors and some of the things you should think about as we move through 2024 and beyond, including the nightmare of the Broadcom website for VMware support currently.

Check out my written thoughts here: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/nutanix-vs-vmware-in-2024

Video sponsor: nakivo.com (a great backup solution that also offers free 10 VMs for home lab and even enterprise environments)

News story about Computershare dumping VMware: theregister.com/2024/05/22/computershare_vm_migration_project

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Introduction to Nutanix vs VMware - 0:00
A word about the video sponsor - 0:33
Overview of Nutanix and VMware - 1:17
New developments for Nutanix in 2024 - 2:56
New developments for VMware in 2024 - 3:30
Performance between the two - 4:19
Performance and Scalability of Nutanix - 4:47
Performance and Scalability of VMware - 5:14
Management of Nutanix - 5:57
Management of VMware - 6:31
Cost and licensing - 7:09
Cost and licensing of Nutanix - 7:27
Unseen cost of retraining for Nutanix - 8:00
Cost and licensing of VMware - 8:22
Customer support and community - 9:43
Customer support and commmunity for Nutanix - 10:12
Customer support and community for VMware - 10:42
Disaster of current Broadcom website for VMware support - 11:13
Nutanix vs VMware for home lab in 2024 - 12:32
Mixed bag to run Nutanix in the home lab - 13:02
Why you should do it - run Nutanix in home lab - 13:45
Computershare moved 24,000 VMs to Nutanix from VMware - 14:51
Which to choose? 15:15
Wrapping up the comparison of Nutanix vs VMware - 16:01

Minisforum NAB6 Lite Mini PC Review // Home Lab Server

VirtualizationHowto 2024-06-05 | A detailed look at the Minisforum NAB6 Lite mini PC specifically as a home lab server, running virtual machines and containers. The NAB6 Lite has a nice set of features and hardware, including dual Intel 2.5G network adapters, making it compatible with both VMware and Proxmox. We also discuss the possibilities of using this with something like VMware Workstation Pro, now that VMware by Broadcom has released Workstation Pro as free for personal use.

Written review: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/05/minisforum-nab6-mini-pc-as-a-home-lab-server

Discount code information:
Discount price:$ 329.99
Discount code: KPOEYQJY
Code Start Day: 2024-5-29 18:00CEST
Code End Day:2024-6-30 23:59CEST
Link:amazon.com/dp/B0D1VMGMNJ?ref=myi_title_dp

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Introduction - 0:00
Covering the bases 0:30
The specs of the Minisforum NAB6 Lite - 0:59
Noting the hybrid CPU of the NAB6 Lite - 1:21
RAM specifications - 1:58
Storage options - 2:10
Active M.2 drive cooling - 2:30
I/O options with the NAB6 Lite - 2:40
Quad 4k display outputs - 2:48
Talking about the compatibility due to the i226V network adapter - 3:10
Physical walkthrough of the NAB6 Lite - 3:29
Tool less design of the top lid - 4:50
Testing with multiple hypervisors - 5:11
Specifics with Proxmox - 5:28
VMware Workstation option - 5:48
Power consumption of the NAB6 Lite - 6:16
Power consumption with the efficiency cores enabled - 7:00
Design, build quality, cooling, and performance - 7:18
The good about the NAB6 Lite - 7:50
The bad about the NAB6 Lite - 8:42
Summary of the Minisforum NAB6 Lite - 9:41
Minisforum discount code for the NAB6 Lite - 10:28
Wrapping up - 10:46

BEST Server Monitoring with TICK stack setup for FREE!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-05-29 | The TICK stack is an app stack that contains containers that can collect, monitor, and visualize monitoring data in a time series database. We are going to look at server monitoring with a TICK stack and Grafana and see how you can install, configure, and start monitoring your environment.

Write up of TICK Stack with Docker compose example here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/05/tick-stack-with-docker-compose-example

VMware monitoring with TICK stack:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/05/vmware-monitoring-for-free-with-telegraf-influxdb-and-grafana

Github page for telegraf config for VMware monitoring:
influxdata.com/integration/vmware-vsphere

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht

Introduction to a TICK stack - 0:00
What is a TICK stack? 0:32
What each component of the TICK stack does - 1:06
Overview of setting up via Docker Compose - 2:06
What you will need - 2:29
Looking at the Docker host - 3:00
How I organize folders - 3:40
Looking at the Docker Compose code - 4:09
Looking at Telegraf and Kapacitor config files - 4:36
Creating the Docker Compose YAML code - 5:15
Telegraf config - 6:10
Looking at the Kapacitor config file - 6:44
Bringing up the TICK stack with docker-compose up - 7:47
Status of containers, Kapacitor in exit state - 8:06
Setting up InfluxDB with setup wizard - 9:14
Copying the API token for InfluxDB connectivity - 10:08
Editing the telegraf configuration file for InfluxDB connectivity - 10:28
Editing the Kapacitor configuration file - 11:42
Stopping and starting Kapacitor and Telegraf container - 12:09
Running another Docker Compose up - 2:20
Looking at container status - 12:35
Overview of adding Grafana to the stack - 13:00
Looking at the directory structure again - 13:33
Adding the grafana configuration in Docker Compose - 14:05
Running another Docker Compose up after adding grafana - 14:40
Overview of adding an example of monitoring VMware using TICK stack - 15:08
Looking at the additional telegraf configuration for adding input for VMware - 15:42
Pasting the additional configuration in telegraf to monitor VMware - 16:50
Stopping, removing, and starting the telegraf container - 17:45
Verifying you are getting data from telegraf into InfluxDB - 18:03
Setting up connection to InfluxDB in Grafana - 18:40
Looking at connection properties for InfluxDB in Grafana - 18:56
Loading dasbhoards in Grafana - 19:36
Getting to the community dashboards for Grafana - 20:08
Getting the ID for a Grafana dashboard - 20:42
Talking about monitoring other solutions - 21:13
Monitoring a personal weather station with TICK stack - 21:39
Wrapping up open source monitoring solutions - 21:54

Proxmox vs ESXi in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-05-22 | With all of the changes on the virtualization front, many are evaluating their options in 2024. Two of the major players are Proxmox and VMware ESXi. However, with the Broadcom shakeup and price increases, many are looking seriously at Proxmox. We compare Proxmox vs ESXi across many different fronts, including installation, interface, network, storage, clustering, migration, backup solutions, and more.

Read the written blog post of Proxmox vs ESXi in 2024 here: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/04/proxmox-vs-esxi-in-2024-pros-and-cons

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction to Proxmox vs ESXi in 2024 - 0:00
Overview of Proxmox - 0:45
Overview of VMwwre ESXi - 1:49
Proxmox Pros - 2:34
Proxmox Cons - 3:01
VMware ESXi Pros - 3:26
VMware ESXi Cons - 4:06
Comparing installation of Proxmox and ESXi - 4:36
Comparing the interface of both - 5:12
Network and Storage with Proxmox and ESXi - 5:52
Storage comparison - 6:23
Clustering with Proxmox vs ESXi - 6:58
Migration to Proxmox vs ESXi - 7:22
Checkout the video of Proxmox migration wizard - 7:56
Backup solutions with Proxmox vs ESXi - 8:02
Comparison table beteen Proxmox vs ESXi - 9:25
Mentioning about the free release of VMware Workstation Pro - 10:00
Back to the comparison table - 10:48
Wrapping up the comparison of Poroxmox vs ESXi - 11:34

Top 5 Mini PCs for Home Server in early 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-05-17 | Mini PCs are a great platform for running a home lab environment. We take a look at the top 5 mini PCs that I have tested for home lab in early to mid 2024 and see which options I would pick.

I have a write up on top mini PCs here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/top-5-mini-pcs-for-home-server-in-early-2024

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introducing the Top 5 Mini PCs for home server - 0:00
Quick reasons you may want to use a mini PC for home server - 0:40
Compact size - 0:48
Energy efficiency - 1:14
They are quiet - 1:39
Cost effective - 2:15
Good performance - 2:38
1. Minisforum MS-01 - 3:15
2. Trigkey S7 Pro - 4:48
3. GMKtec Nucbox M5 - 6:06
4. GMKtec Nucbox K10 - 7:54
5. Beelink SEi 12 - 8:56
Wrapping up thoughts on top mini PCs - 10:05

VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Now Free for Personal Use!

VirtualizationHowto 2024-05-15 | There is major news coming from VMware by Broadcom today. They have decided to release VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro for free. This is evidently to allow more to use the Workstation hypervisor apps for personal use. We explore this announcement and how you can download and install the new free for personal use VMware Workstation Pro.

My written write up of the announcement:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/05/vmware-workstation-pro-free-for-personal-use-download

The official VMware blog post:
blogs.vmware.com/workstation/2024/05/vmware-workstation-pro-now-available-free-for-personal-use.html

Access downloads from Broadcom:
support.broadcom.com

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
What is VMware Workstation Pro? 0:40
What is the catch? 1:15
Business use cases will still need a license - 1:44
Why Broadcom said they are doing this (from official blog post) - 1:52
My cynical take on the reason for the announcement - 2:31
Still a great benefit for home users and home labbers - 3:04
Head over to Broadcom support website and sign up - 3:21
Register for an account if needed - 3:36
How to easily get the download from their blog post - 4:04
Versions for Windows and Linux - 4:20
Running the Personal Use installer - 4:27
You will be prompted to enter license but skip this - 4:45
On the first launch you will select the personal use radio button - 4:57
Comparing this with Windows client Hyper-V limitations - 5:37
What can you do with VMware Workstation Pro? - 5:57
Great networking capabilities in VMware Workstation Pro - 6:25
Wrapping up - 7:00

MiniPC vs Servers in the Home Lab in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-05-01 | Mini PCs have exploded in popularity over the past few years used as home lab servers. Explore the differences between mini PCs and enterprise servers. We look at processing power, hybrid CPUs, power consumption, server racks, noise, and generally what to expect with both.

Check out the written blog post covering the topic here: virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/mini-pc-vs-server-best-home-lab-server-in-2024

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Mini PCs are very popular for home labs - 0:33
Power consumption driving mini PC adoption - 1:00
Talking about power consumption of MS-01 - 2:13
Limitations of mini PCs in expandibility - 2:44
System memory is a major limitation with mini PCs - 3:22
Memory is generally the limitation in virtualized environments - 4:24
Mini PCs use hybrid (P and E Core) CPUs - 4:49
Hypervisor issues with hybrid processors - 5:19
Dell PowerEdge and HPE servers - 6:11
Enterprise servers can run large memory configurations and multiple CPUs - 6:50
Out of band management on enterprise servers is superior - 7:04
Second-hand enterprise servers are super cheap - 7:25
Double-edged sword with enterprise servers - 8:02
Server racks may be needed for enterprise servers - 8:41
Comparison of mini PCs vs servers - 9:09
Pros and cons of both minis PCs vs Servers - 9:31
Wrapping up the comparison and choosing the right tech for home labs - 9:50

Trigkey S7 Pro Review runs VMware and Proxmox perfectly // Home Lab Server

VirtualizationHowto 2024-04-24 | If you are looking for a great mini PC for a home lab server that is capable of running both VMware ESXi and Proxmox, the Trigkey S7 Pro is a great little mini PC. It sports the Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, DDR5 memory, (2) M.2 slots, and an Intel 2.5G network adapter. Check out my review of the unit, including specs, unboxing, installation, pros, cons, and comparisons with other mini PCs like the Minisforum MS-01.

Read the written review of the Trigkey S7 Pro here with further details:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/04/trigkey-s7-pro-mini-pc-review-perfect-for-vmware-esxi-and-proxmox-home-lab

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction 0:00
Specs of the Trigkey S7 Pro - 0:30
Ryzen 7 7840HS - 0:34
Graphics - 1:23
DDR5 RAM - 1:50
Storage - 2:12
Connectivity and I/O - 2:34
Wake on LAN and Power - 3:13
Wireless and Bluetooth - 3:27
Unboxing pictures - 3:48
Installation and setup of VMware and Proxmox - 5:54
Power consumption - 6:34
Pros of the S7 Pro - 8:20
Cons of the S7 Pro - 9:51
Comparing to Minisforum MS-01 - 10:42
Wrapping up the Trigkey S7 Pro Review - 11:52

Check out all things Mini PC and Server on VirtualizationHowto:
virtualizationhowto.com/category/mini-pc-server

Best Docker Containers in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-04-17 | Docker containers provide an easy way to run your self-hosted applications in a home lab environment. With Docker and Docker Compose, you can easily spin up multiple applications and stacks of apps to service your self-hosted needed. We look at the top Docker containers in 2024!

You can find code examples for all Docker Containers covered here: virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/best-docker-containers-for-home-server-in-2024

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
1. Kasm Workspaces - 0:52
2. Plex - 1:55
3. Jellyfin - 2:41
4. Emby - 3:16
5. Nextcloud - 3:49
6. Pi-Hole - 4:31
7. Home Assistant - 5:37
8. Bitwarden - 6:17
9. Ghost - 6:57
10. Gitea - 7:28
11. Dashy - 8:04
12. Uptime Kuma - 8:34
13. Mailrise - 9:09
14. Adguard Home - 9:54
15. FreshRSS - 10:33
Wrapping up - 11:15

VMware Host Client Beta // Bringing back the desktop app

VirtualizationHowto 2024-04-09 | In a recent VMware community blog post a new VMware Host Client Beta was announced. However one of the standout pieces of information in the blog was the new beta client is a "desktop application"! Are we going back to the days of the old vSphere Client written in C#? We take a quick look at this news and what it may mean.

Official VMware community blog: blogs.vmware.com/code/2024/04/05/the-beta-release-of-the-new-vmware-host-client-is-available

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Covering the community post on the new beta client - 1:00
Downsides of the current host client - 1:53
Talking about the current features of the beta version - 2:22
Is this a step forward? 3:20
This is the future direction - 3:56
The new client is an Electron-based application - 4:30
Convenience of the web client currently in VMware ESXi - 4:56
A pain when you need tools for management - 5:30
Let me know your thoughts on the new VMware Host client beta - 5:52

Check out my review of the Trigkey S7 Pro Mini PC Review:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/04/trigkey-s7-pro-mini-pc-review-perfect-for-vmware-esxi-and-proxmox-home-lab

Interested in running Proxmox in your Home Lab? Check out my free e-book:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/proxmox-ebook-free-download-for-home-labs

Proxmox 10 tweaks you need to know

VirtualizationHowto 2024-04-03 | Many are experimenting with Proxmox in their home lab and even in production environments. We take a look at the top 10 Proxmox tweaks in 2024 that you may want to implement.

Latest video covering the new VMware ESXi Import utility: youtu.be/H1t6hxCoiZw
Video showing Ceph configuration - youtu.be/-qk_P9SKYK4
Blog post covering Proxmox SDN - virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/proxmox-sdn-configuration-step-by-step

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction to setup - 0:00
Implementing no subscription updates - 0:48
VLAN-enabling the default bridge - 1:34
Clustering - 2:15
Ceph storage - 3:10
Configuring HA for VMs - 4:11
LetsEncrypt certificates - 4:50
Configuring two-factor authentication - 5:40
Setup Proxmox server monitoring with InfluxDB - 6:26
Configuring Proxmox Software Defined Networking (SDN) - 7:05
Setup the new VMware ESXi Import tool - 7:57
Wrapping up the 10 tweaks for Proxmox - 8:42

New Proxmox Import Wizard for Migrating VMware ESXi VMs

VirtualizationHowto 2024-03-28 | Proxmox has recently released a new Proxmox VMware ESXi virtual machine migration wizard. In this video, we will look at the installation of the import VMware ESXi wizard and see how this new tool works and actually migrate a virtual machine from a test VMware ESXi environment. This is a game changer for those who want to pivot their lab environment from running on VMware to running on top of Proxmox VE Server.

Take a look at the written write up of the Proxmox New Import Wizard for VMware here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/proxmox-new-import-wizard-for-migrating-vmware-esxi-vms

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3
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Introduction - 0:00
Introducing the import wizard - 0:55
Beginning to verify no-subscription-repo and updates - 1:55
Kicking off the updates - 4:25
Refreshing to check for more updates - 4:42
Rebooting the Proxmox host - 4:55
After rebooting checking the new package for import wizard is installed - 5:12
Introducing adding ESXi storage to Proxmox host - 5:48
Beginning to add the VMware ESXi storage to Proxmox - 6:06
Looking at the VMware ESXi storage in Proxmox - 7:12
You need to make sure your VMware ESXi VM is powered off - 7:54
Options to configure during the VMware ESXi VM import - 8:46

Nutanix Community Edition Home Lab - Is it good?

VirtualizationHowto 2024-03-27 | Nutanix Community Edition is a free solution that you can download and run in your home lab on your own hardware. Is it a good fit for home lab environments? Are there any limitations to note with the solution?

View my written writeup covering Nutanix Community Edition for Home Lab:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/nutanix-community-edition-for-home-lab

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Disclaimer - 0:45
Nutanix Community Edition - 1:01
Limitations and recommendations - 2:00
Installing Nutanix Community Edition - 4:24
Next steps after installing Nutanix CE - 8:40
Describing an issue with the web interface - 12:00
Resolving the web interface cert issue - 12:34
Limitation in Nutanix for shared storage - 13:30
My hunch on what Nutanix may offer in the future - 14:11
Wrapping up Nutanix Community Edition - 14:56

Nutanix Move Utility to migrate from VMware:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/nutanix-move-migrate-from-vmware-esxi-free-download

Best Free Hypervisors in 2024

VirtualizationHowto 2024-03-20 | As we deal with the death of the VMware ESXi free edition, in this video we look at the best free hypervisor solutions now that VMware ESXi free edition is dead.

Check out the written write up of this video here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/best-free-hypervisors-now-that-vmware-esxi-free-edition-is-dead

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht

Introduction - 0:00
Nutanix Community Edition - 1:27
Nutanix Move Utility - 2:03
Why have an enterprise solution on the list? 3:14
Proxmox VE - 3:51
Proxmox Backup Server - 5:42
XCP-ng - 6:00
Xen Orchestra - 6:38
Xen Orchestra built-in migration from VMware - 7:26
Xen Orchstra built-in backups - 8:00
KubeVirt - 8:15
Rancher Harvester - 8:25
Possible challenges with KubeVirt - 8:58
Vanilla KVM - 9:47
Wrapping up thoughts - 11:16

Configuring Proxmox SDN step-by-step:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/proxmox-sdn-configuration-step-by-step

Setting up GitLab, Runner, and Container Registry in the Home Lab:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/03/installing-gitlab-runner-and-container-registry-on-your-home-server

Proxmox Update No Subscription Repository Configuration for Home Lab

VirtualizationHowto 2024-03-18 | If you are new to Proxmox, one of the first things you will want to do in the home lab is switch from the paid subscription repos for updates over to Proxmox Update no subscription repository configuration. The no subscription repos are free and totally fine to use for updates in the home lab.

You will find the code examples that you can copy and paste here: virtualizationhowto.com/2022/08/proxmox-update-no-subscription-repository-configuration

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Describing a quick tip for Proxmox - 0:35
Looking at the web interface - 1:05
Looking at the behavior when you don't have a valid subscription - 1:44
Errors during updates - 2:00
Overview of the process to point to a different repository - 2:23
Looking at the default update sources list file - 3:00
Pasting in the updated repo source target - 3:36
Saving and exiting the file - 4:10
Updating the Ceph repo update list file - 4:29
Pasting in the udpated source list for Ceph - 5:12
Saving and exiting the Ceph source list file - 5:37
Testing the changes for updates - 6:05
Proxmox VE server is successfully updated - 6:35
Wrapping up and thoughts - 6:40

Check out all my Proxmox writeups here:
virtualizationhowto.com/category/proxmox

Firewalla Gold SE Review: Is it a Good Firewall for home lab?

VirtualizationHowto 2024-03-14 | Are you looking for a good firewall for your home network or home lab in general? In this video I take a look at the Firewalla Gold SE firewall that has a good mix of features and functionality. However, is it powerful enough and have enough capabilities for a home lab?

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Firewalla Gold SE - 0:30
Introduction to Firewalla - What is it? 0:47
No subscription fees - 1:21
Quick overview of features - 1:39
Mobile app and functionality - 2:00
Web interface is watered down - 2:39
Overview of the hardware configuration - 2:55
Minimal footprint, heat, power requirements, etc - 3:15
Setting up the Firewalla firewall device - 3:26
Three different setup modes - 3:39
What about VLANs? 3:57
Performance and security - 4:28
Thinking about the features and ease of use, locked into mobile app - 5:00
Good for home lab? 5:51

See the written review of the unit here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/firewalla-gold-se-review-for-home-lab

Check out the Virtualization Howto Forums if you have home lab questions you need answered:
virtualizationhowto.com/community

Best Virtualization Projects in 2024 for the Home Lab

VirtualizationHowto 2024-02-23 | In 2024, it is a great time to start new virtualization projects in your home lab. In this video, we look at a few virtualization projects you can start in 2024 that can help learn new skills and technologies moving forward and, if you are a nerd like me, they are fun!

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction - 0:00
Nested Virtualization - 0:32
Setting up a virtualization cluster - 2:30
HCI storage - 3:46
Setting up a Docker container host - 4:38
Network virtualization - 5:37
Learning a different hypervisor - 6:41
Learning public cloud technologies - 7:48
Wrapping up and final thoughts - 8:30

Take a look at the written version of this video here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/best-home-server-virtualization-projects-in-2024

VMware by Broadcom Lesson: Don’t base your career on a product:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/vmware-by-broadcom-lesson-dont-base-your-career-on-a-product

Best Server OS in 2024 in Five Categories
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/best-server-os-in-2024-in-five-categories

GMKtek Nucbox M5: Perfect Mid-tier Home Server in 2024?

VirtualizationHowto 2024-02-09 | Check out my video review of the GMKtec M5. It is a great little mini PC with highly compatible and efficient hardware. You can install VMware ESXi, Proxmox, XCP-ng, and other Linux hypervisors on top of the uniform Ryzen 7 5700U processor and Intel 2.5 GbE network adapters.

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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★ Pinterest: pinterest.com/brandonleevht

Introduction - 0:00
Specs of the GMKtec Nucbox M5 - 0:32
Comes with Windows 11 Pro - 1:22
Physical walkthrough of the M5 - 2:21
Showing how you can remove the top plate and inner plate - 2:45
Detailing the Ryzen 7 5700U processor in more detail - 3:38
Discussing uniform processors compared to hybrid "big little" processors - 4:48
Talking about the (2) Intel 2.5 GbE network adapters - 5:45
Lgged into the ESXi host client looking at hardware in VMware - 7:00
Talking about the power efficiency of the GMKtec M5 - 8:29
Talking about capturing some of the power consumption readings - 8:58
Final analysis - Pros and Cons - 10:00

Read the written review of the GMKtec Nucbox M5:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/02/gmktec-m5-mini-pc-review-as-home-server

Read the review of the Minisforum MS-01:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/minisforum-ms-01-review-best-home-server-mini-pc-early-2024

Read the review of the Beelink SEi12:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/beelink-sei12-review-as-mini-pc-home-server-with-core-i7-12650h

Beelink SEi12 Core i7 Review as a Home Server

VirtualizationHowto 2024-01-12 | A full review of the Beelink SEi12 mini PC as a home server running enterprise hypervisors. Can this little mini PC with the P cores and E cores be used for a home server in your home lab? We take a look at this and see which hypervisor is best to run with this unit.

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

★ Subscribe to the channel: youtube.com/channel/UCrxcWtpd1IGHG9RbD_9380A?sub_confirmation=1
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Introduction to the Beelink SEi12 - 0:00
Overview of the Beelink SEi12 - 0:55
Performance vs Efficient cores - 1:20
Loading type 1 hypervisors like VMware ESXi, Proxmox, etc - 2:25
Looking closer at some of the hardware specs - 2:55
Realtek 1 gig network adapter - 4:28
Logged into the Proxmox dashboard looking at VMs, bulk start - 5:20
Powering on 30 virtual machines at once - 6:40
Enabling or disabling the Efficient cores in the BIOS of the SEi12 - 8:09
SSH'ed into the Proxmox host, looking at the cores from the command line - 9:09
Looking at pinning virtual machines to specific CPU cores - 10:50
Power consumption - 12:24
Physical overview of the Beelink SEi12 - 13:37
Concluding thoughts on the Beelink SEi12 mini PC as a home server - 15:45

Read the written review of the Beelink SEi12 here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/beelink-sei12-review-as-mini-pc-home-server-with-core-i7-12650h

Things to know before you buy a Mini PC Server:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/mini-pc-server-things-to-know-before-you-buy

E cores vs P cores:
virtualizationhowto.com/2024/01/e-cores-vs-p-cores-in-home-servers

Proxmox VLAN Configuration: Linux Bridge Tagging, Management IP, and Virtual Machines

VirtualizationHowto 2023-12-15 | Proxmox VLAN configuration can be challenging if you haven't seen how this is done. However, we walk through this process step-by-step and show how to make Proxmox VLAN aware, move the management IP, and add VLANs to Proxmox virtual machines.

You can find the code examples and written walkthrough here: virtualizationhowto.com/2023/12/proxmox-vlan-configuration-management-ip-bridge-and-virtual-machines

Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: virtualizationhowto.com/community

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Introduction to Proxmox VLANs - 0:00
Introducing the Linux Bridge - 0:47
Logged into the Proxmox VE UI and looking at default bridge - 1:14
Looking at physical network adapters installed - 1:35
IP addressing configuration on default bridge - 1:48
Editing the default bridge to look at settings - 1:58
The default bridge is not VLAN aware - 2:20
Enabling VLAN aware on the default bridge - 2:33
Applying the config and looking at the underlying network configuration file - 3:24
Apply the VLAN aware changes - 4:25
Talking about filtering VLANs - 4:57
Editing the /etc/network/interfaces file - 5:25
Talking about changing the management IP - 6:09
Looking at another physical Proxmox host - 6:38
Looking at the network interfaces file - 7:40
New configuration to move the management IP - 8:10
Host now pings from the management IP change - 9:34
Looking at the network config in the GUI - 10:00
Linux VLAN settings - 10:10
Changes that we need to make after IP change - 10:35
The /etc/hosts file needs to be updated - 10:58
DNS considerations - 11:23
How do we enable VLANs for Virtual Machines? 11:39
Looking at an existing virtual machine and how to enable VLANs - 12:06
Enabling VLANs while we create a virtual machine - 13:00
Wrapping up Proxmox VLAN configuration - 13:52

Proxmox Backup Server Guide:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/12/proxmox-backup-server-ultimate-install-backup-and-restore-guide

Upgrade Proxmox Host to 8.1:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/11/upgrade-proxmox-host-to-8-1-tutorial-steps

AcePC Picobox N100 MiniPC: Can it run VMware ESXi?

VirtualizationHowto 2023-11-21 | A look at the AcePC Picobox MiniPC powered by the Intel N100. Can it run VMware ESXi? Check out the video as I go through my findings with the AcePC Picobox. Also, check out the special link below. Using the link, you can receive a discount on the AcePC Picobox.

Discount link: https://sourl.cn/2LdYkp

Check out the written writeup on the Picobox here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/10/acepc-picobox-mini-pc-review-tiny-esxi-home-server

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Introduction to a Black Friday deal - AcePC Picobox - 0:00
Thinking about Black Friday deals - 0:45
Talking about the Picobox specs - 1:10
Onboard network is Realtek based adapters - 1:40
Talking about using USB 3.0 ports for USB network adapters - 1:57
Looking at the physical overview of the Picobox - 2:40
Looking at the port configuration - 3:00
Small footprint - 3:24
Showing the Realtek USB network adapter - 3:55
Good as a starter home lab server - 4:18
Super quiet noise profile - 4:44
For a quiet, low-power mini PC used as a server, it is good - 5:00
The housing of the mini PC has a nice finish - 5:23
Looking at the VMware ESXi host client running virtual machines - 5:28
Intel N100 in VMware ESXi - 6:00
Running 8 virtual machines, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS - 6:23
Looking at the CPU graph in the VMware ESXi host client - 6:30
2 CPUs and 1 GB of memory configured on each Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS virtual machine - 7:00
Connecting to the console and working with the VM, it is responsive - 7:08
Thoughts on having 16 GB of memory as opposed to 8 GB - 7:56
Wrapping up thoughts on the AcePC Picobox N100 - 8:14

Check out all of my home lab related posts here:
virtualizationhowto.com/category/home-lab

Connect Kubernetes to your Synology NAS NFS share

VirtualizationHowto 2023-11-17 | Introduction to Kubernetes and persistent storage - 0:00
A deep dive into NFS storage using a Synology NAS as a target for your Kubernetes workloads. Using an open-source NFS provisioner, we can attach to an NFS share on our NAS and then use this as a storage class in our K8s cluster that automatically provisions storage when we spin up pods.

You can see the code examples here: virtualizationhowto.com/nfs-subdir-external-provisioner-connect-your-nas-with-kubernetes

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First steps when spinning up Kubernetes - 0:49
Hurdle of needing persistent storage - 1:09
Why persistent storage is important - 1:38
Introducing the NFS subdir external provider - 1:51
Introducing the first step, creating an NFS folder - 2:52
Walking through creating a shared NFS folder in Synology DSM - 3:29
NFS configuration - 4:38
Talking about testing connectivity to the new NFS share - 5:40
Installing NFS client tools to test connectivity - 6:00
Creating a directory for mounting the test NFS connection - 6:38
Running the command to mount the NFS share - 6:52
Overview of the steps to install the NFS provisioner - 7:34
Adding the helm repo - 7:50
Installing the NFS provisioner - 8:05
Looking at storage classes in the Kubernetes cluster after installation - 8:45
Changing the default storage class configuration - 9:13
Setting the other storage class as not the default - 9:55
Overview of testing the NFS provisioner - 10:36
Creating the YAML file for the new pod - 10:54
Running the kubectl command to use the YAML file - 11:39
Checking the persistent volume claims - 12:05
Wrapping up NFS targets with Kubernetes - 12:25

Check out other posts you may like:
virtualizationhowto.com/top-home-server-ideas-for-2024-projects-to-start

Docker Host disk space cleanup:
virtualizationhowto.com/docker-overlay2-cleanup-5-ways-to-reclaim-disk-space

Acemagic AD15 Mini PC Review as Proxmox Home Lab Server

VirtualizationHowto 2023-10-18 | We take a look at the Acemagician AD15 Core i7-11800H processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. I will show you guys how well it runs Proxmox and home lab workloads, including 32 Ubuntu VMs with 16 GB of memory!

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Introduction to Core i7 mini PC - 0:00
Introduction to Acemagic and mini PCs - 0:45
Looking at the Core i7-11800H processor and TDP, etc - 1:09
Talking about the Realtek network adapter - 1:40
Other hardware features of the AD15 - 2:05
Comparing the Ryzen 7 5800U and the Core i7-11800H - 2:40
Going over the PC Mark values for each processor - 2:54
Talking about idle time and running VMs, etc - 4:14
Looking at the physical overview of the Acemagic AD15 - 4:48
Front of the AD15 - 5:15
Overview of the back I/O configuration - 5:25
Realtek is 1 gig connection and not 2.5 Gbps - 5:34
Not a fan of the flaring of the case on the bottom - 6:00
Looking at how you get access for hardware upgrades - 6:39
Logged into Proxmox and viewing virtual machines running - 7:19
Looking at CPU usage - 8:00
Generating some CPU load with updates - 8:15
Running a couple of Docker containers as well - 8:35
Was actually running on 16 GB of memory instead of 64 GB - 9:00
Looking at the configuration of the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS VMs - 9:35
It runs all the normal processes that most will be interested in for the home lab - 10:00
Summing up my thoughts on the Acemagician AD15 Core i7-11800H mini PC - 10:15
Concluding thoughts - 11:51

Written review of the Acemagician Mini PC - AD15 Core i7-11800H home server:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/10/acemagician-mini-pc-ad15-core-i7-11800h-home-server

Intel NUC Alternative: GMK Nucbox K10 Ryzen 7 Home Server:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/intel-nuc-alternative-gmk-nucbox-k10-ryzen-7-home-server

Things to know before you buy a mini PC:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/mini-pc-server-things-to-know-before-you-buy

Beelink SER5 Mini PC with the Ryzen 7 5700U processor:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/beelink-ser5-mini-pc-amd-ryzen-7-home-server

ESXi Mini PC Server with the GMKtek Nucbox K10

VirtualizationHowto 2023-10-06 | I had a lot of comments about mini pcs that are compatible with VMware ESXi. The GMKtek Nucbox K10 sports the Ryzen 7 5800U process with 16 threads and also has the Intel i225 2.5 Gbps network adapter, making it fully compatible with ESXi, at least from a consumer hardware/home lab perspective. This video takes a look at the GMKtek Nucbox K10 and running workloads that I had ran on an old Supermicro Xeon-D 1541-based host.

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Introduction - 0:00
Discussing the mini PC market and VMware options - 0:32
Utilizing onboard networking with VMware - 0:56
i225 or i226 option s- 1:11
Introducing the GMKtek Nucbox K10 - 1:19
It runs the i225 network adapter - 1:49
How viable is this to replace my old Xeon-D 1541? 2:10
Advanced look at the hardware in the GMKtek Nucbox K10 - 3:05
K10 comes with other features you can use for desktop replacement - 3:52
Looking at the GMKtec Nucbox K10 in my vCenter Server inventory - 4:33
Talking about the workloads thrown at the Nucbox K10 - 5:30
Looking at the 2.5 Gbps LAN adapter on the K10 - 6:40
CPU utilization - 7:00
Discussing some of the downsides of the K10 when thinking of it as a server - 7:19
What types of ESXi hosts I think the K10 is good for - 8:40
Concluding thoughts about the GMKtek Nucbox K10 - 8:55

Read the written writeup of the GMKtek Nucbox K10 here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/intel-nuc-alternative-gmk-nucbox-k10-ryzen-7-home-server

Things to know before you buy a mini PC as a server:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/mini-pc-server-things-to-know-before-you-buy

Beelink SER5 - Ryzen 7 Mini PC Home Server

VirtualizationHowto 2023-09-22 | I try out the Beelink SER5 with the Ryzen 7 5700U processor. This is an 8 core, 16 thread, low-power processor that is a great value. Check out my thoughts on making this little mini PC a home server in the home server lab.

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Introduction to a Ryzen 7 mini PC to run a home lab - 0:00
Overview of trying out different mini PCs 0:29
Introducing the Beelink SER5 with 5700U processor - 0:42
Max memory is 64GB of DDR4 memory - 1:08
2280 NVMe slot and a 2.5 inch SSD - 1:29
The problem with many mini PCs and network adapters - 2:05
VMware will not detect the Realtek network adapter - 2:30
Less than desirable to have a LAN port you can't use - 2:42
I wanted to run all hypervisors, the Beelink falls short in this area - 3:00
Beginning the physical overview of the Beelink SER5 5700U - 3:27
Front of the unit - 4:00
Back of the unit - 4:10
Beelink makes their mini PCs to take apart and upgrade - 4:55
Looking at Proxmox 8 console - 5:33
Proxmox overview of CPU details and memory - 5:40
Looking at workloads - 6:12
Talking about cloning Ubuntu Server template - 6:49
Even with a number of VMs, just a bit of CPU usage - 7:00
Talking about the hardware configuration of the virtual machines - 7:28
Opening the console to a virtual machine - 7:47
Thinking about real world home lab workloads - 8:15
No issues interacting with VMs - 9:00
Concluding thoughts on the Beeink SER5 with the Ryzen 7 5700U, is it worth it? 9:37

The written write up of the Beelink SER5 5700U mini pc:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/beelink-ser5-mini-pc-amd-ryzen-7-home-server

XCP-ng home server build with the Citrix Hypervisor:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/xcp-ng-home-server-build-with-citrix-hypervisor

Mini PC - things to know before you buy one for a home server:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/mini-pc-server-things-to-know-before-you-buy

Beelink EQ12 Pro: Low Power High Core Home Server!

VirtualizationHowto 2023-09-14 | If you are looking for a power efficient server with a low TDP value, high core count, and 2.5 Gbps networking, the Beelink EQ12 Pro may just be the little mini PC for you. With the i226 network adapters it can run either VMware vSphere or Proxmox, XCP-ng, etc. In this video we take a look at the unit, the processing power, RAM capacities, and running virtual machines using VMware vSphere 8!

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Introduction to power efficient mini pc for Home Server - 0:00
Introduction to the Beelink EQ12 Pro - 0:30
Intel N305 processor with 8 cores and 8 threads - 00:45
Comparing to the N100 - 0:56
DDR5 memory - 1:13
Talking about the documented 16 GB Max memory - 1:20
Talking about installing 32 GB of memory - 1:30
Talking about the NVMe 2280 slot - 2:33
Intel i226 controller with dual 2.5 Gbps network - 3:30
Physical look at the Beelink EQ12 - 4:00
Looking at the EQ12 Pro in VMware vSphere - 5:15
Talking about TPM errors and warnings with the EQ12 in vSphere - 5:43
Looking at the variety of servers running on the EQ12 Pro - 6:15
Looking at the performance monitor in the vSphere Client - 6:57
Talking about the responsiveness of the unit - 7:15
Talking about the N305 running virtual machines - 7:44
Concluding thoughts on the Beelink EQ12 Pro with the i3 N305 processor - 8:06

Written write up of the Beelink EQ12 Pro:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/beelink-eq12-pro-cheap-home-server-with-8-cores-and-32-gb-ram

5 Tips to install ESXi on a Mini PC:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/5-tips-to-install-esxi-on-a-mini-pc

Looking for a Ryzen 7-based mini PC? Check out my write up of the Beelink SER5 here:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/beelink-ser5-mini-pc-amd-ryzen-7-home-server

Proxmox Mini Server: Beelink Mini PC S12 Pro

VirtualizationHowto 2023-09-06 | In testing and playing around with a lot of Mini PCs in the lab envirnoment lately, this video showcases the Beelink Mini S12 Pro which I think will make a great little Proxmox micro server for running a few workloads, containers, virtual machines, and other tasks as a home server. Check out my thoughts and review of the hardware for this type of use case.

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Introduction - 0:00
Introduction to the Beelink Mini S12 Pro - 0:37
Hardware specs of the Beelink Mini S12 Pro - 0:51
Overview of the Intel N100 CPU - 1:04
Describing the efficiency of the CPU - 1:22
DDR5 memory and configuration of the S12 Pro - 1:41
NVMe 2280 slot for storage - 2:09
Describing the networking of the Beelink S12 Pro - 2:34
Realtek incompatibility with VMware - 2:51
Talking about the experiment to see what this class fo hardware can run - 3:26
Overview of the Proxmox installation, LXC containers, and virtual machines - 3:48
System resource overview - 4:16
Responsiveness of the unit and running updates in containers for workloads - 4:23
No torture tests but real-world tasks being ran - 4:55
Idle time is desirable for home labs for power efficiency - 5:13
Very good fit for home lab workloads - 5:33
Talking about perhaps spinning up even more workloads - 5:57
RAM is most likely the bottleneck with 16 GB of memory and the N100 - 6:12
What is the sweet spot for this class of hardware in the home lab? 6:43
Why run a hypervisor instead of bare metal on this type of hardware? 7:04
Concluding thoughts on the Beelink Mini S12 Pro - 7:33

Write up of the home server review of the Beelink Mini PC S12 Pro:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/09/beelink-mini-pc-s12-pro-proxmox-home-server

5 Tips to install ESXi on a Mini PC:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/5-tips-to-install-esxi-on-a-mini-pc

Mini Server for the Home lab: GMKtec Nukbox G2:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/mini-server-for-home-lab-gmktec-nucbox-g2

Mini PC vs Server for running virtual machines

VirtualizationHowto 2023-08-31 | Are you thinking about a home lab refresh this year? The Mini PC market has exploded with many options. In this episode, we take a look at a mini PC I picked up from Amazon, how well it can run VMs, and the possibilities of using mini PCs for home lab hardware moving forward.

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★ Github: github.com/brandonleegit
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★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3

Introduction to mini pc home labs - 0:00
A new mini PC that I picked up from Amazon - 0:57
Describing the GMKtek G2 Nucbox - 1:30
Describing the TDP values at idle and turbo - 1:45
Overview of the networking and gotchas with VMware ESXi - 2:25
Using a USB NIC with VMware ESXi and supported Realtek adapter - 2:52
Looking at the storage on the Nucbox - 3:39
Overview of the Nucbox connected using the ESXi host client - 4:09
Looking at vCenter Server monitoring after powering on VMs - 4:40
Looking at the specs in VMware ESXi - 5:13
Powering up additional VMs on the Nucbox - 5:33
Looking at performance metrics after powering on additional VMs - 5:55
Opening virtual machine consoles and looking at performance - 6:12
Pulling down a Docker container and running it in a VM on the Nucbox - 6:49
Thinking about the mini pc as a Docker container host - 7:20
Overview of the cost of the Nucbox - 7:36
Mini pc vs server thoughts on price, value, and power consumption - 8:14
Discussing power efficiency and electric costs - 9:16
Rethinking a home lab refresh with mini pcs? 9:30
Concluding thoughts on mini PC market that is growing and becoming more powerful - 10:03

Check out the following writeups:

Mini PC vs Server: Best Home Lab Server in 2024?
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/mini-pc-vs-server-best-home-lab-server-in-2024

Mini Server for Home Lab: GMKtek Nucbox G2
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/mini-server-for-home-lab-gmktec-nucbox-g2

5 Tips to install ESXi on a Mini PC:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/5-tips-to-install-esxi-on-a-mini-pc

Kubernetes Home Lab Storage with Microk8s Rook and Ceph

VirtualizationHowto 2023-08-25 | Easy Kubernetes Storage with Microk8s Rook and Ceph. Who would have thought we could say that Kubernetes storage was easy? In this video we explore Microk8s and shared storage using rook and microceph. We then create a pod to test creating a persistent volume claim for persistent storage.

You can check out the written write up of this process here: virtualizationhowto.com/2023/08/kubernetes-persistent-volume-setup-with-microk8s-rook-and-ceph

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★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3

Introduction - 0:00
Learning Kubernetes and persistent storage - 0:42
Microk8s - 0:57
Microceph - 1:08
Installing Microk8s - 1:32
Checking the status of Microk8s - 2:03
Repeating the process of installing Microk8s on additional nodes - 2:14
Adding the additional nodes to the cluster - 2:35
Pasting the command on 2nd node - 3:00
Generating a new token - 3:10
All nodes are joined to the cluster - 3:28
Getting the nodes in the cluster - 3:35
Beginning to install Microceph - 3:52
Installing it on additional nodes - 4:14
Bootstrapping the microceph cluster configuration - 4:34
Creating the join token for the additional microceph cluster nodes - 4:55
Copying the join token and joining them to the ceph cluster - 5:19
Looking at the status of the ceph cluster - 5:52
Overview of allocating disks to the ceph cluster - 6:20
After adding the disks we check the disks are added to the nodes - 7:15
Wiping the disk and adding to storage pool - 7:40
Checking the status of ceph once again - 8:05
Summarizing where we are currently - 8:29
Overview of enabling rook-ceph plugin - 8:42
Steps to enable rook-ceph in Microk8s - 8:56
Connecting to the external ceph - 9:30
Viewing the default storage provider - 9:40
Overview of creating a pod to take advantage of the persistent storage - 9:53
Creating a pod with a pvc - 10:08
Running the kubectl create command to create the pod with a PVC - 10:55
Looking at persistent volume claims - 11:18
Concluding thoughts on Microk8s and persistent storage with rook and ceph - 11:35

Other posts you may like, including Microk8s with Portainer:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/05/mikrok8s-automated-kubernetes-install-with-new-portainer-feature

Proxmox and Ceph storage:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/06/mastering-ceph-storage-configuration-in-proxmox-8-cluster

k0s vs k3s - Which is best for home lab?

VirtualizationHowto 2023-07-28 | If you are wanting to get started with Kubernetes in the home lab, which Kubernetes distribution is the best for home lab? I take a look at k0s and k3s, two very lightweight distributions you can use to easily get started with Kubernetes. We look at installing both in a home lab cluster!

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★ Github: github.com/brandonleegit
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★ Discord: discord.gg/Zb46NV6mB3

Kubernetes in the home lab - 0:00
k0s vs k3s - 0:45
k0s introduction - 1:25
Looking at features of k0s - 1:50
Versions, container runtime, etc - 2:20
k0s architectures - 2:35
k0s demo and documentation - 2:50
k3s Kubernetes - 3:00
Open source k3sup, kubevip, kubespray, and others with k3s - 3:15
Looking at the k3s site - 3:48
k3s optimized for ARM like Raspberry Pi devices - 4:20
k3s getting started documentation - 4:48
Introduction to installing Kubernetes using k0s vs k3s - 5:17
Getting started installing k0s - 5:50
Pulling down and installing k0s on the control node - 6:12
Designating the k0s control node - 6:45
Starting k0s and status - 7:00
Creating the join token in k0s - 7:35
Copying the join token - 7:55
Creating a token file on the worker nodes to join them - 8:10
Enabling k0s on the worker nodes as worker nodes using the token file - 8:26
Starting k0s on the worker nodes - 8:53
Viewing the nodes in the k0s cluster - 9:00
Beginning the installation of k3s on our nodes - 9:31
Pulling down the k3s installation - 9:49
Getting the status of the k3s service on the master control node - 10:18
Getting the worker node join token - 10:31
Copying the token file - 10:55
Replace the IP for the k3s control node in your environment - 11:30
On worker nodes, we are issuing the command to join the k3s cluster - 11:46
Looking at the status of the worker node service - 12:25
Running the kubectl get nodes command in k3s to see the nodes in the cluster - 12:56
Concluding thoughts about k0s vs k3s - 13:11

Written blog post covering k0s vs k3s:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/07/k0s-vs-k3s-battle-of-the-tiny-kubernetes-distros

What about k3s vs k8s?
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/07/k3s-vs-k8s-the-best-kubernetes-home-lab-distribution

Virtual machine vs container:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/07/virtual-machine-vs-container-which-is-best-for-home-lab

Proxmox 8 Cluster with Ceph Storage configuration

VirtualizationHowto 2023-06-30 | Are you looking to setup a server cluster in your home lab? Proxmox is a great option along with Ceph storage. In this video we take a deep dive into Proxmox clustering and how to configure a 3-node Proxmox server cluster with Ceph shared storage, along with Ceph OSDs, Monitors, and Ceph storage Pool. In the end I test a migration of a Windows Server 2022 virtual machine between Proxmox nodes using the shared Ceph storage. Cool stuff.

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Introduction to running a Proxmox server cluster - 0:00
Talking about Promox, open-source hypervisors, etc - 0:48
Thinking about high-availability requires thinking about storage - 1:20
Overview of creating a Proxmox 8 cluster and Ceph - 2:10
Beginning the process to configure a Proxmox 8 cluster - 2:24
Looking at the create cluster operation - 3:03
Kicking off the cluster creation process - 3:25
Join information to use with the member nodes to join the cluster - 3:55
Joining the cluster on another node and entering the root password - 4:15
Joining the 3rd node to the Proxmox 8 cluster - 5:13
Refreshing the browser and checking that we can see all the Proxmox nodes - 5:40
Overview of Ceph - 6:11
Distributed file system and sharing storage between the logical storage volume - 6:30
Beginning the installation of Ceph on the Proxmox nodes - 6:52
Changing the repository to the no subscription model - 7:30
Verify the installation of Ceph - 7:51
Selecting the IP subnet available under Public network and Cluster network - 8:06
Looking at the replicas configuration - 8:35
Installation is successful and looking at the checklist to install Ceph on other nodes - 8:50
The Ceph Object Storage Daemon (OSD) - 9:27
Creating the OSD and designating the disk in our Proxmox hosts for Ceph - 9:50
Selecting the disk for the OSD - 10:15
Creating OSD on node 2 - 10:40
Creating OSD on node 3 - 11:00
Looking at the Ceph dashboard and health status - 11:25
Creating the Ceph pool - 11:35
All Proxmox nodes display the Ceph pool - 12:00
Ceph Monitor overview - 12:22
Beginning the process to create additional monitors - 13:00
Setting up the test for live migration using Ceph storage - 13:30
Beginning a continuous ping - 14:00
The VM is on the Ceph storage pool - 14:25
Kicking off the migration - 14:35
Only the memory map is copied between the two Proxmox hosts - 14:45
Distributed shared storage is working between the nodes - 15:08
Nested configuration in my lab but still works great - 15:35
Concluding thoughts on Proxmox clustering in Proxmox 8 and Ceph for shared storage - 15:49

Proxmox 8: New Features and Home Lab Upgrade Instructions:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/06/proxmox-8-new-features-and-home-lab-upgrade-instructions

Proxmox 8 and Ceph:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/06/mastering-ceph-storage-configuration-in-proxmox-8-cluster

Top VMware vSphere Configurations in 2023:
virtualizationhowto.com/2023/06/top-vmware-home-lab-configurations-in-2023