What would you recommend?
You may have noticed that I haven't posted any updates on the home network lately. I decided to halt my current plans and take another path. As a result I am looking for a "super server" of sorts. On that will virtualize most of the loads I need to run and also be expandable for many years going forward. I posted a similar request to some internal aliases and received some good advice and suggestions. I would like to open it up a little thogh so I am posting the request here as well.
The goal is to virtualize 6-10 of the PC's that run in the basement to one machine, then use SCVMM and DPM to manage and backup. I should note that some of the workloads are pretty insignificant but I will be moving two DC's, an Exchange server, a SQL Server, and a Web Server into the VM environment. SQL is not heavily used but Exchange and the Web server are (I host about 30 domains).
My thoughts are to get a machine that will be used for a number of years (I have PC's that are 10+ years old that I am going to decommission). My thoughts are to get a machine with the following minimums --
Dual Quad Core CPU's
16+ gigs of RAM
onboard SATA RAID
eSATA port
SCSI is an option but I would prefer to stick with SATA
on board Gigabit Ethernet (required and preferably two ports)
I am quite comfortable building my own systems so I welcome suggestions on specific MoBo's or even complete server systems. Price is a consideration but the system is going to be pricey no matter what so I am keeping an open mind.
What do you suggest?
Cheers!
Comments
Anonymous
September 30, 2008
The comment has been removedAnonymous
September 30, 2008
Oooo! oooo! If price is no object, (I mean it is but) Howzabout 64 8 Core servers with 512 gig ram each linked up in HPC mode with External SAS Raid 50 arrays?! Buah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!Anonymous
September 30, 2008
I think I am going to stick with SATA for my disk solution. I am going to sacrifice the speed for a cheaper price per gig in this case. Alsom for what I require, that sacrifice will be nominal. I am in more need of space that speed in my case. ChrisAnonymous
October 02, 2008
I have spent the better part of today building out a temporary Hyper-V server. It is sort of a proofAnonymous
October 02, 2008
So sniff sniff You're NOT going to run the sniff sniff Server 2008 in HPC mode? But you could ask your nice Uncle Steve for a few servers. And it would look so nice next to the TV set. :)Anonymous
October 02, 2008
No HPC for me just yet. If this proof of concept Hyper-V project keeps going this well though I just might have to modify to a more redundant setup and HPC might come into play then. Chris