My nerdiness has officially reached a new level…not that it had far to go. 😂
Today marks a new day, though it’s the second post of the day technically (these late nights will be the death of me 😅). How do you feel about emojis? Do you like them? I probably overuse them. 🤷🏻♂️ Get used to it. haha
Upgrades
So I pulled the plug on a purchase today, well, more like purchase(s). Not that I really needed it, after all, how many psychical hosts does one need? The answer, four…for now. 😆
Today, after I launched my blog and began my upload of a new platform to try out, Eve-NG, I realized that my current server was at capacity…after a month. Not in storage (thankfully), but in computing resources available. Back in December, I figured it was time that I move to the big leagues. I did what any normal (albeit for a systems admin) would do and purchased a used, Dell PowerEdge R620. I thought I was set…until I actually started using the thing.
So today, after launching my blog, (finally) installing vCenter Server, and uploading Eve-NG, I realized that my current server just didn’t have the resources need to fully run my homelab (just wait for me to upload my diagrams and services offered). With the notification of “Host Memory Usage,” I realized that my measly 128GB wasn’t going to cut it (it took a year to max out 64GB on my other server, so I thought I was good). So mark purchase no. 1: 256GB ram for a (seemingly) deal of $167 off eBay. I was set…cue 3:47PM CST.
Then it hit me, even with all of that additional RAM available, I would still need want another server, because now that I have vCenter, what good is just one client. Enter purchase no. 2: Dell PowerEdge T620 (see the trend, haha). Another deal was to be had, 32 threads, 96GB RAM, no HDDs (luckily have some left over from the R620’s upgrade earlier this month) for $350. Not too bad…$87 for shipping, which was annoying, but overall, very glad to add a tower (I don’t actually have a rack) since the fan noise will be…somewhat minor compared to the 1U R620.
A quick Amazon purchase later, I have drive caddies and an SSD for the OS…$125. Oh and the official Security Onion handbook, latest edition. 🥹
Next Problem
After I got vCenter running late last night (read 2 AM 😪), I kind of like the interface more, and the upgradability is definitely welcomed, I realized that my prized (new) environment had an issue…licensing.
The cost of entry to actually being an enterprise admin needs a break…because there is no way you are getting into the industry without these technologies. Luckily for me, I’m a quick learner, so even with the (limited) interactions with the technologies from my job, the answer was quite clear that I needed to get my hands on these products to truly break, tinker, upgrade, etc., so that I could gain a real understanding of them. Enter VMUG.
So earlier this year, I had ran across this awesome solution for VMware: VMUG. A great solution, comes with the licenses that I would need (and more). So I purchased…$200. Newly deployed environment, secured. 😎
Now the kicker…
Realization
So after getting my VMUG subscription, new server, additional RAM, SSD, documentation, etc., I came across a very interesting piece of information in the (not so fine) fine print:
VMware only gives their VMUG Advantage members v7. 🙃
I just upgraded to v8 two weeks ago. 🤔
Those versions don’t line up. 🥴
I do believe my new virtualization environment is doomed. 😫
And now I look like this: 🤡
Conclusion
Well folks, after spending about, oh let’s see, $350, $200, $170, another $120, carry the 1…ah yes, almost $1K today on my homelab, I might not even have the licenses I need to make it work.
That’s right. Might not even work since the licenses don’t line up…and this is why I like open-source better. Don’t have these problems on my Proxmox servers.
And now, I’m a clown. Bask in my foolishness, and have a great rest of the day. I’m gonna go spend some more money and get some clown makeup and costume. 🤡