Interesting idea for ESXi UnRAID

[garycase]

In reading about some of the ESXi virtualized versions of UnRAID, I'm wondering if it's possible to boot BOTH ESXi and UnRAID using only one USB flash drive.

 

Perhaps some of you with ESXi setups could test/confirm whether or not this will work.

 

To wit:  I know UnRAID can be booted from a virtualized hard drive as long as you have a USB flash drive attached with the "UNRAID" label and the appropriate key file on the drive.

 

ESXi can also be booted from a USB flash drive.

 

So ... can you label a flash drive "UNRAID", and then put the UnRAID key file, and all of the ESXi boot files on that flash drive?  Then ESXi would boot from the flash drive, and the UnRAID VM would boot from it's virtual hard drive, and "see" the key file on the flash drive.  [Or does ESXi require its own unique label and/or format that would preclude doing this?]

 

 

 

[mrow]

The USB drive that ESXi is installed on is not visible to guests so your unraid VM would have no way to actually see that thumb drive to look for the key.

[garycase]

Thanks -- guess that nixes that idea 

 

Now if SuperMicro would only put TWO internal USB ports on their boards !!

(actually, some of them have two; but not the X9SCM boards)

 

[BetaQuasi]

I used a Startech USB adapter for this purpose:

 

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Motherboard-Header-Adapter-USBMBADAPT2/dp/B002GNU2V6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1339320760&sr=8-4&keywords=startech.com+usb+header

 

Works great.

[garycase]

I used a Startech USB adapter for this purpose:

 

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Motherboard-Header-Adapter-USBMBADAPT2/dp/B002GNU2V6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1339320760&sr=8-4&keywords=startech.com+usb+header

 

Works great.

 

Perfect !!  Thanks