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Hi, I am about to build a VMWare ESXi 5.5 (for VM's) / NAS running XPENology (DSM5.2) and need some advice on the best / standard setup for perfomance and safe storage. I want DSM volumes to be separate from ESXi diskstore so that I can map a network drive from a laptop on the same network and store files on DSM. I was thinking that I would use 2 x 4TB WD Red HDD for DSM volume and have a backup process to sync with the last 1 x 4TB WD Red HDD. Hardware: Asrock AM1H-ITX mini-itx board AMD 5350 CPU 16GB RAM 3 x 4TB WD Red HDD 1 x SDD? (See below) What is the best setup to achieve what I need? Is it possible to have a SDD that has two partitions the first paritition for ESXi only and the second for a datastore to contain a VM for running XPENology / DSM? The other HDD used as DSM volumes. Does ESXi and EXPnology / DSM operate efficiently this way or is there another configruation? that is boot ESXi from USB and use small SDD as the intial datastore to contain VM for running XPEnology / DSM? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Excellent time of year here In Brisbane not too hot and not cold either. Thanks I tried virtual box and got further but not all the way. Turning my attention to a diy NAS Arock Mini-itx with Amd cpu and 16gb ram with 3 storage 3.5" hdd and one SSD for OS that is for ESXi Is it possible to have ESXi with one VM for XPEnology / DSM on the SSD and have the 3 hdd storage in DSM for both regular file storage for the laptop and to store ESXi VM,s. I want to run a virtual win desktop and virtual server from the NAS and to rdp into them on the NAS from a separate laptop but also map a network drive to the DSM 3.5" 3hdds for general file storage accessed by the laptop. Every now and again I want to back the files stored in DSM to an external hard drive assume this can be done via DSM or software on the laptop? If this is possible what order would I progress? 1. Install ESXi first with a Linux VM for XPEnology / DSM on the SDD 2. Create volume for the 3 hdd in DSM 3. Return to ESXi create other VMs on new DSM volume? Does ESXI needs to be configured with NFS or ISCSi to perform step 3? Not sure as I am a newbie with all this. Thanks

Wow what a coincidence NZ is nice we are in Brisbane it is nice here too. Thanks for helping out will get the right software I will try tonight. I have given up on VMware and trying VirtualBox using Kernel 2.6 / 3 / 4 at 64bit host for XPEnoboot. Hopefully this works with nested Virtualbox. Fingers crossed.

Hi, Thanks very much for the quick reply. Yes you have it right I am just testing out running VMware with XPEnoboot, DSM 5.2 and VirtualBox with a Win7 VM to see how it all works before I purchase a Synology NAS. I thought it might have something to do with nesting Virtualbox inside VMware. I tried the processor changes and error message "Virtualized Intel Vt-x/EPT is not supported on this platform" does this mean my Laptop does not support this or the Linux OS I have installed on VMware that hosts XPEnology needs something changed? Just to get the basic compatibility right what versions of XPEnoboot, DSM and PhpVirtualbox are known to work together inside VMware? I am confused on the downloads page (http://xpenology.me/downloads/) there is the top section for DSM 5.2-5644 DS3615xs .pats then there is a section below that called Synology DSM (based on GNU Open Source) and DSM 5.2-5644 (Only vs XPEnoboot 5644) Which of these ,pats do I use? the top section DSM .pat or the GNU open source DSM .pat? or a Synology 5.2 DSM .pat? I just want to make sure I am using the right software versions that work together. If you could provide links to the right versions that would be an amazing start for me. Do you have to install the DSM .pat updates incrementally one by one that is from 5644 to 5644.1 then 5644.2 then 5644.3 and so on to 5644.5 or can I apply 5644.5 to 5644 directly? Thanks again

Hi, Has anyone got VMware + XPEnoboot + DSM 5.2 + PhpVirtualbox to work successsfully with a Win7 VM installed? Mine keep crashing (PhpVirtualbox) just after booting for the first time from a Win7 .ISO I have tried reinstalling etc but same everytime. If you have got these to work exactly what versions are you running for each of the components? Thanks