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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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!
How to Install Windows Server 2025 on the Minisforum MS-A2
In this video, I walk you through the complete step-by-step process of installing Windows Server 2025 on the compact yet powerful MINISFORUM MS-A2 mini PC.
What You’ll Learn:
How to prepare your bootable USB with Windows Server 2025
BIOS/UEFI configuration on the MS-A2
Installing Windows Server 2025 from scratch
Initial setup and configuration
Performance and compatibility overview
Not sure Windows Server 2025 is designed to run on the MS-A2 because lack of drivers, still in discussions with Minisforum! Checkout the forced driver install!
In Part 6 of the Minisforum MS-A2 Series, we show you how to migrate VMware ESXi Virtual Machines (VMs) to Microsoft Hyper-V on Windows Server 2025 — using the powerful and compact Minisforum MS-A2 as the ultimate homelab platform.
This video features Veeam Backup & Replication v12.3 to safely back up your ESXi VMs and restore them directly to Hyper-V. It’s a clean and efficient migration method for anyone exploring life after VMware.
Whether you’re planning a full platform switch or testing a hybrid setup, you’ll find practical, step-by-step guidance from backup to restore — with key gotchas and tips throughout.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Preparing VMware ESXi VMs for migration
Creating backups using Veeam v12.3
Restoring backups to Microsoft Hyper-V
Configuring networking, storage, and integration services
Post-migration testing and optimization
Real-world advice for homelabbers and IT professionals
Perfect for #homelab enthusiasts, sysadmins, and IT pros evaluating alternatives to VMware.
Got questions or want to share your experience? Drop a comment below!
Like this video if it helped you
Subscribe and hit the bell to follow the full MS-A2 homelab journey
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
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
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:
After much anticipation, The ComputeBlade has finally arrived! This innovative piece of hardware has been making waves in the compact computing and homelab community since its inception as a Kickstarter project, which closed in February 2023. While the Kickstarter campaign was highly successful, the journey to delivery has been anything but smooth.
The ComputeBlade Journey
For those unfamiliar, the ComputeBlade is an ambitious project by Uptime Lab designed to bring powerful, modular computing to a compact blade-style chassis. It offers support for Raspberry Pi Compute Modules (CM4) and similar SBCs, providing a platform for homelab enthusiasts, developers, and small-scale edge computing setups.
However, the project has faced several setbacks that delayed delivery for many backers:
Russian Screws: Supply chain disruptions included sourcing specific screws, which became problematic due to geopolitical tensions.
PoE (Power over Ethernet) Issues: The team encountered complications ensuring consistent and safe PoE functionality.
Certification Challenges: Meeting various regulatory standards across regions added another layer of complexity.
Despite these hurdles, I opted to purchase my ComputeBlades retail, as Kickstarter backers have yet to fully receive their units.
For those interested in the Kickstarter campaign details, you can check it out here.
First Impressions
The retail packaging was sleek, compact, and felt premium. The ComputeBlade itself is a marvel of design, seamlessly blending form and function. Its modularity and expandability immediately stand out, with features such as:
Support for Raspberry Pi CM4: Making it a natural fit for virtualization, containerization, and other development projects.
Hot-Swappable Design: Simplifies maintenance and upgrades.
Integrated Networking: Includes options for advanced network setups, perfect for a homelab.
What’s Next?
Now that the ComputeBlade has arrived, I’m eager to put it through its paces. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be:
Testing Homelab Applications: From running lightweight virtual machines to hosting containers using Docker or Kubernetes.
Evaluating Networking Features: Especially the PoE capabilities and how it handles edge computing scenarios.
Sharing Configurations: I’ll document how I integrate it into my existing homelab setup.
Closing Thoughts
While the journey of the ComputeBlade from Kickstarter to retail has been rocky, the product itself seems poised to live up to its promise. If you’ve been waiting for a scalable and compact compute platform, the ComputeBlade might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Stay tuned for my follow-up posts where I dive deeper into its performance and practical applications. If you’re also experimenting with the ComputeBlade, feel free to share your experiences in the comments or reach out via social media.
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