Server Build Help

[zzglenn]

Hello,

I am looking to build a server for an at home lab/NAS/streaming system. What originally planned on doing was getting a small business class server from HP (HP ProLiant ML110 G7 E3-1220), but have been talked out of that since it seems I could get better hardware if I build my own, and since I don't really need the redundancy being at home.

My plan is to install ESX on the server with some large local drives setup in a RAID 5 or possibly 10. From there I was hoping to create a file server VM that would be my file server\streaming server while having extra resources to create VM's for study and testing purposes.

I was hoping to keep the price between $600 and $800.

I had some questions on the build since this is a server. Parts I found below.

ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA $109
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz $219
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $55
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W $90
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) X4 $35 $140
Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 110 X4 $440
On board video.

I'm at a little over a grand but I could cut out 2 hard disks for now and maybe pick up 2 more later. Hoping you guys can save me some cash as well

Couple of questions:

1) Should I consider a PCIe SATA Raid controller card instead of on board?
2) Should I get a small SSD for ESX?
3) Should I consider a Xeon instead in this build?
4) Since this will be a server and running mostly day and night is there anything I can do to save some energy?
5) Should I consider a better NIC?
6) Please butcher the build and offer any suggestions to save money

 

[Ken g6]

We have [thread=80121]some questions for you too[/thread].

1. Why do you want RAID? RAID is not a backup. Would it make more sense to put VMs on JBOD separately? How many VMs do you plan to run concurrently, anyway?
2. You appear to have one constantly-running VM. I think it makes sense to put at least some of its files here.
3. See our question #7.
4:
- Well, I don't see a video card there, so you should get a much less powerful PSU. Yes, even with all those drives. This 360W Seasonic Gold looks nice.
- Get Ivy Bridge instead of Sandy. That means a 3570k, or a Xeon E3 V2.
- An SSD might let the main drive(s) spin down sometimes.
5. Doubtful, but what's your network look like? Is it faster than gigabit Ethernet?

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks for the reply Ken... sorry the answers to your questions are below.

I considered RAID since the drives will be the same and I didn't want the entire system to fail if one drive goes out. I know it will not replace a backup, but some files I would like to never lose if possible. Obviously if lighting strikes the system I'm SoL.

I was considering running 10 to 15 VM's. One larger VM would be the file server used for streaming and backups for the desktops in the house.

Thanks for the information on the chip and PSU. I will also add a small SSD drive. Any suggestions?

Network is gigabit with a Cisco Small Business SLM2016T-NA Gigabit Smart Switch

ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA $109
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz $229
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $55
SeaSonic SSR-360GP 360W $59
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) X4 $35 $140
Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 110 X2 $220
OCZ Agility 4 AGT4-25SAT3-64G 2.5" $60

Anything that I am missing or not realizing? Anywhere else I could save some money?


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

ESX, Streaming, VM's, lab, file server.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$600-$800

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Just works best.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

No

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

No probably not.

8. What resolution will you be using?

Server

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

ASAP

 

[lambchops511]

Hello,
Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB 5900 RPM 110 X4 $440

2) Should I get a small SSD for ESX?

I don't like 5900 slow drives, consider 7200 rpm for disk space. Space is useless if you don't have the spindle speed to back it up. Also, if you are planning to use ZFS, consider adding a SSD into the mix to speed up IOs that will be hit frequently etc...

 

[Ken g6]

I was considering running 10 to 15 VM's.

OK, but how many will be running at the same time? All 10-15? If so, a Xeon might be a good but expensive option - though still cheaper than an i7. If you're not running more than 4-6 VMs at once, an i5 (non-k to save money) makes much more sense.

A B75 mobo could save you $40 or so if you're not overclocking. (Well, only 15 off a Z75, but the B75 has more SATA ports.)

You don't happen to be near a Micro Center, do you? They have good CPU deals and CPU/mobo combo deals.

I'll let others get into the RAID and ESX details.

 

[zzglenn]

@Ken thanks for the input. Probably like you say 5 or 6 VM’s normally at once. I would still like to get to 10 if needed though. I think you are right on the i5 and I will probably go that route as it’s a bit cheaper. I sadly don't have a Microcenter near me.

@lambchops thanks for the info. I will look for the 7200RPM disks. Unfortunately disks are not as cheap as they once were.

 

[tynopik]

you'll probably want a tad more ram

 

[Insert_Nickname]

OK, but how many will be running at the same time? All 10-15? If so, a Xeon might be a good but expensive option - though still cheaper than an i7. If you're not running more than 4-6 VMs at once, an i5 (non-k to save money) makes much more sense.

A B75 mobo could save you $40 or so if you're not overclocking. (Well, only 15 off a Z75, but the B75 has more SATA ports.)

I would just like to point out that -some- B75 boards actually support a Xeon...

The Xeon E3-1230v2 would be an excellent choice here. You get a quad-core with HT that's only 100MHz slower then the i7-3770, and at 3570K prices...

 

[yinan]

If you want to actually RAID the drives you will need a real RAID controller. ESXi does not support Intel fake RAID.

 

[zzglenn]

What type of controller card should I be looking for for the RAID setup?

The B75 board would save me me some cash. Do the Xeon processors have any more advantage over the 3570k?

 

[Ken g6]

The Xeon E3-1230v2 would be an excellent choice here.

It would be, except that it doesn't have onboard graphics, and he's not buying a video card. Which leads to the E3-1245 V2 or an i5.

The advantage of the Xeon processors is hyper-threading, which provides up to 20% more performance in highly-threaded applications. The disadvantage is price.

you'll probably want a tad more ram

I hope you're kidding. LGA1155 doesn't support more than 8x4 = 32GB RAM.

 

[tynopik]

I hope you're kidding. LGA1155 doesn't support more than 8x4 = 32GB RAM.

sorry, misread the OP as wanting 8GB

 

[Insert_Nickname]

It would be, except that it doesn't have onboard graphics, and he's not buying a video card. Which leads to the E3-1245 V2 or an i5.

The advantage of the Xeon processors is hyper-threading, which provides up to 20% more performance in highly-threaded applications. The disadvantage is price.
I hope you're kidding. LGA1155 doesn't support more than 8x4 = 32GB RAM.

Meant the E3-1235(without the v2), sorry... That model does have an integrated GPU, the P3000... but is 200MHz slower then a i5-3570K

Intel apparently does not make a version of the 1235 with an Ivy core... damn...

Anyway if the OP needs 64 or more GB RAM, he would be better served by a LGA-2011 system...

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks for the response guys. I don't think I need more than 32GB of RAM. I saw the combo deal for the ASRock Z77 Pro3 and 3570k CPU so I will probably go that route.

ASRock Z77 Pro3 and 3570k CPU combo $312
XFX Core Edition PRO550W $69
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 (PC3 10666) $35 X4 $140
On board video 0$
LITE-ON DVD Burner $19


Any suggestions for a case to maximize drive slots?

Any type of disk better than another for storage? I was thinking 2TB drives probably 4 of them.

Should I consider an SSD for ESXi?

Any type of SATA controller card that would help?

 

[mfenn]

7200 RPM 2TB drives are only $110 a piece, same price as what you have for your 5900 RPM drives. Definitely get those. I don't think an SSD will help you as I believe you need vSphere Enterprise to use ESXi's SSD caching feature (don't quote me on that though).

You will probably want some sort of RAID since you will be aggregating all your capacity into one VMFS volume. VMFS really doesn't appreciate having holes poked it it when a drive fails. Yinan is absolutely correct that you need a real RAID controller for ESXi. What I would normally recommend is an LSI Megaraid like this 9240-8i (plus some breakout cables), but that's $300 of your budget right there. There are cheaper cards out there, but many of them don't do RAID 5, leaving you stuck with mirroring (and thus losing 1/2 your capacity). You may quite honestly find that it is a lot easier to go with another virtualization platform like CentOS + oVirt so that you can use the (free and excellent) md software RAID that is built into Linux.

I know that isn't a really clear-cut answer, but doing an ESXi setup with redundant storage is really tough at this price point.

EDIT: As for case, the NZXT Source 210 is a good inexpensive case with lot of drive slots.

 

[zzglenn]

Thanks mfenn. I did catch those drives so I will get 3 of those. Also the case is an awesome choice. Thanks for that.

Yeah I may just do a Hyper-V setup with Server 2012 and go that route. Then use Vmware workstation on my desktop and simulate ESX that way to study. Unless I can find a decent controller card for cheap.

Thanks for the input.