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57952
32TB on PowerEdge 2900
Hi Guys,
I have a PowerEdge 2900 that I would like to load Esxi 5.5 on and maybe up my run 8 x 4TB on it but some guy on Dell Pro Support told me that this server can only take up to 2TB. I have read somewhere on this forum that you can run ESXi from a usb and boot from there; so does that mean I can then use as many drives as I possibly want for my storage?
Thanks in advance for your response. Here are my server details for your suggestions and recommendations:
System summary
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Service Tag
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Computer Model
PowerEdge 2900
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Shipping Date
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Country
South Africa
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Service Tag
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Computer Model
PowerEdge 2900
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Shipping Date
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|
Country
South Africa
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Components
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Part Number
Quantity
Description
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23503
2
PE 2900 III DUAL CORE XEON E5205 (1.86GH
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2751P
2
ENGLISH DOCS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN POWER CO
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DG529
2
PE2900 III SERVER TOWER CHASSIS
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FG027
2
4GB 667MHZ FBD 4X1GB -2R
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G048G
2
MODULE, PROCESSOR, XDW, E5205, 1860, 2900III
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G8767
2
3.5 INCH 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE
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GD720
10
250GB SERIAL ATAU 7.2K 3.5" HD HOT PLUG
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H7511
2
PERC 6/I INTERNAL RAID CONTROLLER CARD (
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JD509
2
16X DVD-ROM DRIVE SATA
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KC038
2
REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY (2 HOT PLUG PSU)
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RD437
2
EUROPEAN SPARE POWER CORD 220V(N)
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WH190
2
DISPLAY : NOT INCLUDED
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WP267
2
BROADCOM TCP/IP OFFLOAD ENGINE FUNCTIONA
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78390
2
TCP/IP OFFLOAD ENGINE 2P
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5J564
2
DELL BLACK 2 BUTTON USB SCROLL OPTICAL M
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79413
2
US/EURO (QWERTY) QUIETKEY USB BLACK KEYB
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4D213
2
WINDOWS 2003 R2 SP2 STANDARD SERVER ENGL
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DJ333
2
OPENMANAGE SERVER SOFTWARE, WITH CD & DO
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1213C
2
NO INSTALLATION SERVICE SELECTED (CONTAC
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3556E
2
PE2900 III C4 R5 PERC 5/I / 6/I MIN. 3 M
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DELL-Chris H
Moderator
Moderator
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8.5K Posts
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October 29th, 2014 06:00
Lazo,
The tech is correct. The Perc 5/i controller can't support physical disks larger than 2 TB. It can support Virtual Disks in excess of 2 TB, but not physical disks. So you can use multiple 2TB to make a large array, but you are limited to 2TB drives or smaller.
That is correct. You can configure ESXi to boot from a USB. It is as simple as chosing the USB as the location to install ESXi.
You can find more on the controller here - http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_dell_adapters/poweredge-rc-5i_User%27s%20Guide_en-us.pdf
Let me know if this helps.
Laz0
4 Posts
0
October 29th, 2014 06:00
Thanks for the response; so does that mean I can use more than 1 2TB hard drive on that server?
DELL-Chris H
Moderator
Moderator
•
8.5K Posts
0
October 29th, 2014 06:00
You could use all the slots in the server and put 8 2TB drives in if you like.