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Home Lab Server Build Using an Intel NUC and Free VMware ESXi 7

If you're like me, despite having cheap or even free access to cloud compute, you still want to have a bit of compute in a home lab. I can create and destroy to my hearts content. Things can get weir...
Updated Jun 21, 2022
Version 3.0
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buulam's avatar
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Expert at iRule copy/pasting. Sometimes modify a line here and there.
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StephanManthey
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Jul 04, 2022

Hi buulam, thanks for the summary.

Regarding the availability of .ova files, it is not really necessary to install from an .ova.

Installing a BIG-IP VE from an .iso worked since it was made available. But it was broken for a while.

It seems to be working again, at least I just gave it a try based on the TMOS v15.1.6 ISO image as available from the F5 support server.

Install as a CentOS 8 64bit system, provide 2 cores, 6 Gbyte of RAM, a SCSI emulating harddisk and up to 10 network interfaces (vmxnet3). Remove the printer, USB and sound card from the list of default devices and start the virtual machine. From the prompt now type "start" and watch it installing, use "config" to assign the management IP. Done.

AlexBCT I heard about PROXMOX a couple of times, but never used it. It looks like I should give it a try now. 😊