Minisforum MS-A2 Can it Play XCP-ng 8.3 LTS Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 16 Ultimate #homelab
In this episode of Hancock’s VMware Half Hour, we put the Minisforum MS-A2 through its paces to see if it can run XCP-ng 8.3 LTS – the long-term support release of the popular open-source virtualization platform.
From BIOS tweaks to kernel panic fixes, watch step-by-step as we:
Install XCP-ng 8.3 LTS on the MS-A2
Overcome BIOS issues like PSS and Global C-States causing kernel panics
Configure storage, networking, and system settings during installation
Update and patch XCP-ng with the latest kernel
Deploy Xen Orchestra (XOA) – the XCP-ng equivalent of VMware vCenter Server
Create and run a Windows Server 2025 VM to validate performance
If you’re building a #homelab or exploring alternatives to VMware, this guide will show you how the MS-A2 handles XCP-ng 8.3 LTS as a lightweight and affordable virtualization host.
Minisforum MS-A2 Hyper-V to Proxmox 9.0 Migration Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 15 Ultimate #homelab
In this episode of Hancock’s VMware Half Hour, I walk you through migrating Hyper-V virtual machines to Proxmox 9.0 on the Minisforum MS-A2.
We’ll cover connecting to the Proxmox server via SSH, exploring datastores, working with VHDX files, and running migration demos—including moving a full VM in under 60 seconds! This step-by-step guide shows how easy it is to transition workloads from Hyper-V into Proxmox for your #homelab or production environment.
Whether you’re testing, learning, or planning a migration, this video gives you the tools and knowledge to make it happen smoothly.
Scripts are here on GitHub – https://github.com/einsteinagogo/Hyper-VtoProxmoxMigration.git
Minisforum MS-A2 Can it Play Proxmox 9.0.3 Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 14 Ultimate #homelab
In this episode of the Minisforum MS-A2 Series, I take the brand-new MS-A2 and put it to the test by installing Proxmox VE 9.0.3. From booting off Ventoy, setting up the U.2 Samsung NVMe, configuring root credentials, and finalizing the installation — all the way to creating and running a Windows Server 2025 VM — we’ll see if the MS-A2 can truly handle Proxmox in a homelab environment.
Along the way, I hit some fun quirks (green screens, missing drivers, and Proxmox guest tools), but by the end we’ve got Windows Server installed and running smoothly.
Minisforum MS-A2 Windows Server 2025 Driver Fix Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 13 Ultimate #homelab
In this episode of the Minisforum MS-A2 Ultimate #homelab series, I walk you through fixing missing drivers in Windows Server 2025 on the MINISFORUM MS-A2. From troubleshooting Device Manager issues to installing the AMD chipset drivers, PSP device, SMBus controller, GPU drivers, and Microsoft Pluton driver, this video will help you get your MS-A2 running smoothly on Server 2025.
Along the way, I also highlight some community contributions, share key tips like disabling power saving mode, and test the latest AMD Software: PRO Edition 25.Q2 for GPU support.
What you’ll learn in this video:
How to fix missing drivers in Windows Server 2025 on the Minisforum MS-A2
Which drivers are required: AMD PSP, SMBus, GPU, Microsoft Pluton
Why you must disable power saving mode for stability
How to install AMD Software: PRO Edition 25.Q2 for GPU support
Special thanks to the community:
LoCo (Scott Fell) for the T-shirt
Jason Macialek
Mark Howell
Perfect for homelab enthusiasts, VMware users, and anyone testing Windows Server 2025 on Minisforum MS-A2.
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NFHK M.2(A+E Key) 2230MM to NVME M-Key Extension Card Adapter for Motherboard NVME SSD Hard Drive Port Extension 2230/2242/2260/2280MM https://amzn.to/3Ix7rxz
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Welcome to Hancock’s VMware Half Hour! In this episode of the Minisforum MS-A2 Series – Part 12 Ultimate #homelab, we take the compact but powerful MS-A2 and push it to the limits by installing VMware vCenter Server 9.0 on ESXi 9.
From installation to configuration and performance benchmarks, I’ll walk you through every step — including DNS setup, deployment options, datastore selection, and SSO configuration. We’ll also run boot speed benchmarks to see just how fast vCenter Server 9.0 can run on the MS-A2. Spoiler: it’s blazing fast! ? It’s on FIRE !
If you’re thinking of building a small, efficient, and powerful #homelab capable of enterprise-level virtualization, this is the video for you.
Minisforum MS-A2 Can it Run ESXi 9.0.0? Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 11 Ultimate #homelab
Can the Minisforum MS-A2 handle VMware’s latest ESXi 9.0.0?
In Part 11 of the Ultimate #homelab series, we put the MS-A2 to the test with the brand-new VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 9.0. From BIOS boot to creating a demo virtual machine, you’ll see the entire installation process and whether this mini PC can run the latest VMware tech.
Can the powerful Minisforum MS-A2 run VMware vSphere 8.0?
In Part 10 of the Ultimate #homelab series, we put this compact beast to the test by installing VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 8.0.3g and seeing how it performs. From BIOS setup to creating a demo virtual machine, this episode covers the full journey.
What’s Inside This Video:
Installing ESXi 8.0.3g on the Minisforum MS-A2
BIOS configuration & USB boot with Ventoy
Full ESXi setup walkthrough
Creating & running a test VM
Enabling NVMe Memory Tiering with NVMe namespaces
Checking performance and confirming a successful install
If you’ve been wondering whether the MS-A2 can handle serious VMware workloads in a home lab, this is the episode to watch!
Minisforum MS-A2 NVMe namespaces U.2 Samsung PM9A3 Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 9 Ultimate #homelab
In this episode of Hancock’s VMware Half Hour, we walk through configuring NVMe namespaces on a Samsung U.2 PMA9A3 enterprise SSD using the MINISFORUM MS-A2.
You’ll learn what U.2 NVMe SSDs are, their benefits in enterprise and homelab environments, and how to create, format, and attach namespaces for specific use cases like ESXi OS installs, NVMe memory tiering, and vSAN.
We also cover hands-on NVMe CLI commands in Ubuntu, capacity checks, alignment considerations, and how to avoid fake or counterfeit SSDs.
All the commands used in this video are here on GitHub
Minisforum MS-A2 Can it Play Doom The Dark Ages Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 8 Ultimate #homelab
DOOM: The Dark Ages Demo on a Minisforum MS-A2 + RTX 3090 eGPU!? ?
You read that right — I’ve upgraded the tiny Minisforum MS-A2 with a serious punch: an OcuLink-connected eGPU dock and a NVIDIA RTX 3090. Now the question is… can it finally handle DOOM: The Dark Ages?
In this video, I run the DOOM: The Dark Ages demo on this mini PC beast-hybrid and test just how much performance you can squeeze out of a small form-factor PC when paired with high-end external graphics.
?? System Setup:
Minisforum MS-A2 (Ryzen AI Mini PC)
Minisforum eGPU Dock with OcuLink
NVIDIA RTX 3090 GPU
128GB RAM, NVMe SSD
Windows 11
? What You’ll See:
Full DOOM: The Dark Ages demo gameplay
Performance stats, FPS, temps
Commentary on eGPU setup, compatibility, and bottlenecks
Was it worth upgrading the MS-A2 with an RTX 3090?
? Have questions about the eGPU dock, OcuLink, or the MS-A2? Drop them in the comments!
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In today’s video, I ask the age-old question: Can it run DOOM?
Spoiler: Classic DOOM (1993)? Oh yeah — it runs great. Smooth, fast, and just as demon-slaying as ever.
DOOM: The Dark Ages though? ? …Well, that’s a different story.
I test out the Minisforum MS-A2, a compact mini PC powered by AMD’s latest tech, to see how it handles both the original retro shooter and the upcoming next-gen entry in the DOOM franchise. From pixelated corridors to modern hellscapes, how far can this tiny system go?
Specs Overview:
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 9955HX
GPU: AMD 610 Radeon Graphics 2GB
RAM/Storage: 128GB RAM/Samsung 990 PRO 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
What You’ll See:
Running Classic DOOM
Attempting to tackle DOOM: The Dark Ages
Honest performance impressions
A few laughs along the way
Purchase a #homelab here
Barebone Minisforum MS-A2 https://amzn.to/3GEoiOA
Crucial DDR5 RAM 96GB Kit (2x48GB) 5600MHz SODIMM https://amzn.to/3Uatfl4
Crucial DDR5 RAM 128GB Kit (2x64GB) 5600MHz SODIMM,https://amzn.to/3Uhef4U
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink https://amzn.to/4ePjYsr
Crucial P310 NVMe 1TB 2230 M.2 SSD https://amzn.to/44x055Y
NFHK M.2(A+E Key) 2230MM to NVME M-Key Extension Card Adapter for Motherboard NVME SSD Hard Drive Port Extension 2230/2242/2260/2280MM https://amzn.to/3Ix7rxz
Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Hancock’s VMware Half Hour
Enjoying the content? Support me with an espresso coffee! ? Buy Me an Espresso Coffee! – https://buymeacoffee.com/einsteinagogo
Donate – https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/AndrewHancock
Want to support British beekeeping? Get RAW PURE honey here! ?https://meltonbyhoney.com/ Sorry UK only, unless demand increases to international destinations!
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