[ale] Looking for recommendations on next low end linux server hardware

[JD]

> I'm thinking of running VMware ESXi 4.1 and Centos on top of that, along with
> whatever other VMs I need to load.   

If you use ESX or ESXi, you don't need a video - it won't use it.  The interface
will be either 80x25 text or ASCII graphics.  You'll need a Windows PC to manage
ESX(i).

CentOS will be a different boot from ESX(i), unless you plan to run it in a VM -
which will work wonderfully. As to which hardware - you'll definitely want to
check the ESX "whitebox" hardware list.
http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php
Out of 4 systems here, only 1 had an appropriate disk controller and NIC for ESXi.

In case I haven't been clear.  The ESX(i) box will not use your graphics
hardware to any extent.  You will not sit behind that machine and access any VMs
with graphics.  If you want VGA or better graphics used, you'll be booting
something other than ESX or ESXi.

> Graphics support needn't be gaming fast; just hi resolution.  (1920x1080 is
> probably fine.)  This is a database development and general office linux machine
> for me and my partner.

A $40 card handles dual monitors here fine.  1900x1280 and 1080p.

> My dollar target is around $300, or the top end of the TigerDirect off-lease
> systems.

I'd reuse everything I could, buy a Core i5 + MB + RAM ... for about $320.

> Any recommendations on stuff that "just works", as opposed to stuff that has
> problems with linux and VMware?

The vmware hcl will mandate components that are pretty well supported by Linux.

> Also, any thoughts on mirroring?   Fedora and Ubuntu handled software drive
> mirroring pretty simply at install time.   Can VMware do that transparently for
> its Virtual machines?

The RAID card HCL for VMware ESX will need to be referenced.