Lately, it feels like every VMware vExpert has been posting photos of their compact lab servers — and I’ll be honest, I was starting to feel left out.
So, I joined the club.
I picked up the new Minisforum MS-A2, and I’ve not looked back. This isn’t just another NUC alternative — it’s a serious powerhouse in a tiny chassis, perfect for VMware enthusiasts building or upgrading their vSphere, VVF, or VCF test environments.
Let’s dig into what makes this little beast a perfect addition to any #homelab setup in 2025.
Hardware Highlights – Not Your Average Mini PC
The MS-A2 isn’t just punching above its weight — it’s redefining what’s possible in a compact lab node.
Key Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 9955HX – 16 cores / 32 threads of Zen 5 power
Memory: Dual DDR5-5600MHz SODIMM slots – up to 96GB officially, but…
Storage:
3× M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots (22110 supported)
Supports U.2 NVMe – great for enterprise-grade flash
Networking:
Dual 10Gbps SFP+ LAN
Dual 2.5GbE RJ45 ports
Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3 (going to replace this with more NVMe storage!)
Expansion:
Built-in PCIe x16 slot (supports split mode – ideal for GPUs, HBAs, or NICs)
This is homelab gold. It gives you the raw compute of a full rack server, the storage flexibility of a SAN box, and the network fabric of a modern datacenter — all under 2L in size.
How I Configured Mine – still sealed in box as I write – video incoming!
I purchased mine barebones from Amazon, and — as of writing — it’s still sealed in the box. Why? I’m waiting for all the parts to arrive.
Most importantly, I’ll be upgrading it with:
128GB of Crucial DDR5-5600 SODIMMs (2×64GB) — pushing beyond the official spec to see just how much performance this little box can handle.
Once everything’s here, I’ll be unboxing and assembling it live on a future episode of Hancock’s VMware Half Hour. Stay tuned if you want a front-row seat to the full setup, testing, and VMware lab deployment.
Perfect for VMware Labs: vSphere 8/9, VVF, and VCF
Whether you’re testing ESXi on bare metal or running full nested labs, this spec ticks every box.
ESXi Bare Metal Capable
The Ryzen 9 9955HX and AMD chipset boot vSphere 8.0U2 and 9.0 Tech Preview cleanly with minimal tweaks. Use community networking drivers or USB NIC injectors if needed.
VVF / VCF in a Box
If you’re exploring VMware Validated Foundation (VVF) or want a self-contained VCF lab for learning:
16C/32T lets you run nested 3-node ESXi clusters + vCenter + NSX-T comfortably
128GB RAM gives breathing room for resource-heavy components like SDDC Manager
PCIe 4.0 + U.2 = blazing fast vSAN storage
Dual 10Gb SFP+ = NSX-T overlay performance lab-ready
Community Validation – I Was Late to the Party
Fellow vExpert Daniel Krieger was ahead of the curve — writing about the MS-A2 months ago in his excellent blog post here:
sdn-warrior.org/posts/ms-a2
Then vExpert William Lam added his voice to the conversation with a guide to running VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) on the MS-A2:
williamlam.com/2025/06/vmware-cloud-foundation-vcf-on-minisforum-ms-a2.html
Seeing both of them validate the MS-A2 pushed me over the edge — and I’m glad I jumped in.
Setup Tips (Soon!)
Once the unboxing is done, I’ll share:
BIOS tweaks: SVM, IOMMU, PCIe bifurcation
NIC setup for ESXi USB fling and 10GbE DAC
Storage layout for vSAN and U.2/NVMe configs
Full nested VCF/VVF deployment guide
Considerations
Still not officially VMware HCL — but community-tested
Ryzen platform lacks ECC memory — standard for most mini-PC builds
PCI passthrough needs thoughtful planning for IOMMU groupings
Ideal Use Cases
Nested ESXi, vSAN, vCenter, NSX labs
VVF deployment simulations
VCF lifecycle manager testing
Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
NSX-T Edge simulations on 10GbE
GPU or high-speed NIC via PCIe slot for advanced lab scenarios
Final Thoughts
The Minisforum MS-A2 with Ryzen 9 9955HX is a serious contender for the best compact homelab system of 2025. Whether you’re diving into vSphere 9, experimenting with VVF, or simulating a full VCF environment, this mini server brings serious firepower.
It may still be in the box for now —
—but soon, it’ll be front and center on Hancock’s VMware Half Hour, ready to power the next chapter of my lab.
Join the Conversation
Got an MS-A2 or similar mini-monster? Share your specs, test results, or VMware experience — and tag it:
#VMware #vSphere #VCF #VVF #homelab #MinisforumMSA2 #10GbE #vExpert