http://vinf.net/2008/01/14/vmware-esx-v35-on-cheap-pc-hardware/
http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2008/06/building-a-home.html
http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/01/updated-homebrew-esx-hardware-list.html
Now you never said that, did you :)
As I've never done it then I'm afraid Google is all you'll get out of me!
I am just about finished with my storage and VMware proposal for the company I work for, decided to go for vsphere 4 essential plus instead of a full blown vsphere install (and saved £26k in licenses) The essentials plus does pretty much everything (HA, vmotion etc.) but limits you to three hosts, as I never invisage running more than 15 or 20 servers the saving made sense. Oh and I get a nice shiney new Netapp box to play with for network and VM storage :D
Hopefully I can get it signed off before the end of the year!
If you are still interested you can downlaod a full Vsphere esxi 4.1 server install from the VMWare site.
https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/index.php?p=free-esxi&lp=1
I have just been given a server from work for free (they were going to dump 4 of them! SuperMicro dual 3.4Ghz xeon with 2Gb and 500Gb SATA drive TBH)
My first VM (installing now) is XP SP3 just for testing, I need to get another 2Gb of Ram for it but I expect that will be eater pretty quickly.
Oh and this server is LOUD, I need to get some power in the loft and shove it up there.
Anyone recommend a flavour of the month linux to install and play around with? I was thinking of installing a web server and host my site to help learn new skills.
The basic managment console on the server lets you setup the network, DNS and initial security. Once the server is installed you pretty much leave it alone and control it from the Vsphere client.
One thing I did have a problem with is the disk setup, I missed the advanced setup and ended up using the whole disk instead of just a single partition so be carefull, luckily I had nothing of value on the disk before installing.
The install is about 70Mb and the server it self uses around 300 to 500Mb of RAM, which has left me with only 1.5Gb for the VM's. I have a copy of 2008 small business I want to play around with so I need to get another 2Gb I think.