Server build

[MorbidSteve]

Hi all. I'm working on a build for a VM server, I was going to go with XenServer but was suggested that I go with ESXI instead, so I think I'm going to go with that. I'm wondering if you think this build is good or if there is anything I should change.

I was originally going with the 1246E3, but realized there is on board video with my mobo. I have already purchased the case, power supply, and two of the 500gb SSDs with a good deal on amazon (135.99 ea).

Please give me your comments.

Thanks

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/W9m4bv

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Nice. I'd prefer a case with more HD bays, but that's me.

I sure wish RAM had been that cheap about a year ago... paid close to $200 for 4x4GB DIMMs for my Supermicro rig.

 

[XavierMace]

I sure wish RAM had been that cheap about a year ago... paid close to $200 for 4x4GB DIMMs for my Supermicro rig.

I'm still waiting for 16Gb DIMM's to come down. I'd love to get another pair for each of my hosts but they're still $120 a stick.

 

[mvbighead]

I'd agree on a larger case. Personally, I would use your SSDs for OS drives and have extra storage for other things. You could run a pretty simple NAS solution if you throw in some spinning 2/3/4 TB drives in there.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'd agree on a larger case. Personally, I would use your SSDs for OS drives and have extra storage for other things. You could run a pretty simple NAS solution if you throw in some spinning 2/3/4 TB drives in there.

Um, he already said he's using it as an ESX host. VMs LOOOOOVE SSDs.

 

[MorbidSteve]

Thanks for the input guys. Couple of responses. As dave_the_nerd indicated, I am indeed going to be running ESXI, so the SSDs will fly with this.

I do have 3 3.5" bays and 2 more 2.5" bays that I will probably end up using for more storage. I have 2 2TB 3.5"s on hand and a bunch of 2TB 2.5"s on hand, so they may end up going in there for storage and whatnot after I get this all setup.

I'm going to microcenter today to get the 1231 for 209.99, then I just need the RAM and the mobo, which I will be purchasing hopefully by tomorrow (waiting for my new CC so I can get 10% off on those).

 

[mvbighead]

Um, he already said he's using it as an ESX host. VMs LOOOOOVE SSDs.

Yeah, I suppose what I meant to say was OS VMDKs... Essentially, your VM OS drives would be placed on the SSDs. But larger spinning disks would be ideal to use for storage for a small VM for a simple NAS solution with lots of storage space, and simply at the cost of whatever those spinning disks are. Granted, the OS VMDK for that would likely be ideal to place on SSD, but the storage would be best on the spinning drives.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah, I suppose what I meant to say was OS VMDKs... Essentially, your VM OS drives would be placed on the SSDs. But larger spinning disks would be ideal to use for storage for a small VM for a simple NAS solution with lots of storage space, and simply at the cost of whatever those spinning disks are. Granted, the OS VMDK for that would likely be ideal to place on SSD, but the storage would be best on the spinning drives.

Usually what you want to do there is do a PCI passthrough to a RAID controller and give the VM direct access to the disks.

mfenn thinks that's "too clever" but I'm told it works pretty well.

 

[XavierMace]

Usually what you want to do there is do a PCI passthrough to a RAID controller and give the VM direct access to the disks.

It works, but then you're wasting space and I/O. I'm perfectly happy with just having SSD only datastores. Multiple VM's on one SSD is still way faster than a single VM on a spindle.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It works, but then you're wasting space and I/O. I'm perfectly happy with just having SSD only datastores. Multiple VM's on one SSD is still way faster than a single VM on a spindle.

Yeah, the passthrough thing is to supply disks to a nas vm or something, not to store vmdks.