Suggestions for ultra-powerful portable VMWare box?

[hanst]

I am giving classes and doing network audits using various power-hungry applications, typically running with Oracle or Sybase backends. No laptop I know is powerful enough to do well, and depending on customer servers is a major hassle and huge time waste.

So I am thinking of building a portable very powerful machine that will be dedicated to Linux VMWare, with a library of images on the 1TB drive. Video performance is irrelevant here, all I need is muscle and tons of RAM. The machine must be portable, as it will have to travel with me on planes etc.

Price is not really an issue (up to $5k). I am thinking of:

ThermalTake Lan Box
ASUS MB-M2A-VM
Athlon 64 6000 AM2
8 GB RAM (2 x Kingston 4096MB 667MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 KitX2)
1x WD 150GB 10000RPM SATA (U150) 16M - RAPTORS (#WD150ADFD)
1 x SEAGATE 1TB 7200rpm 16M SATA U300 (#ST31000340AS)
1 x DVD burner

Can you guys think of anything more powerful yet as portable?

Thanks!

HT

 

[zetsway]

NOPE that should be good. I have similar specs on my portable machine.

 

[TheStu]

What is the speed of the 6000AM2? Because you may be better off with a Core 2 Duo Quad Core... might give that little bit of extra oomph.

 

[hanst]

The AMD X2 6000+ AM2 is 3Ghz. Your comment about quad cores got me to do further research... I am now leaning towrads a

Shuttle SP35P2 PRO
Intel CORE 2 QUAD Q6700
and the rest of the components as above.

Thanks for the suggestion!

HT

 

[tylerdustin2008]

This might help if you have any problems with that shuttle.

http://www.sudhian.com/index.p...ums/viewthread/100075/

Also I would not recommend a Shuttle for what you are going to be doing. Those Hard drives will produce ALLOT of heat, same thing with the quad. Even less if you get a Q6600 with a G0 stepping.

If I were you I would get this case!!! I love it, and It will hold a large hsf, 4 hdds, 8800's and etc......

http://www.pcdesignlab.com/

Since budget is not a problem, I would highly suggest this case.

EDIT:

Here is a really fast system.


Q6600
ASUS P5B-VM LGA 775
GeIL 8GB(4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX

Thats not including the hdds you already want.

I've got $931.29 shipped, might be a bit more or less for you.

Here is the hsf I would recommend. Ultima 90 And
this fan. Panaflo 92mm L1B - FBA09A12L1BX

And the case is about $300.

Total there is about $1300. Plus the hard drives $1700... Then the video card is up to you.

Tyler

 

[sciencewhiz]

What about making a normal desktop/server that you leave at the office, and use VNC to access it? You could then use a cheap laptop out in the field, and not have to worry about fitting everything you need into a SFF PC.

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
What about making a normal desktop/server that you leave at the office, and use VNC to access it? You could then use a cheap laptop out in the field, and not have to worry about fitting everything you need into a SFF PC.

various power-hungry applications

Thats why He/She can not do that. Because He/She needs the power right there. Allot easier to have the strong system with you. Then at home/work, and it have a problem. Its hard to fix something that is a 30min drive from you.

 

[hanst]

Thats why He/She can not do that. Because He/She needs the power right there. Allot easier to have the strong system with you. Then at home/work, and it have a problem. Its hard to fix something that is a 30min drive from you.

Yup. The server needs to physically interact with the customer networks. And remote access is simply not viable re. distances involved and security requirements. BTW Sciencewhiz if you are using VNC across the internet I suggest you research SSH tunnels or VPNs. The various VNC flavours have pretty bad security track records.

Tylerdustin, thanks for the suggestions! The heatsink you recommend scares me a bit re. height -- might be more vulnerable to transit bumps (shearing force). The PCDlab case however might be exactly what I need.

I'll keep you guys posted, and thanks again!

HT

 

[tylerdustin2008]

No problem, I will help when I can.

If that hsf scares you just go for this one.

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED

It has a backplate for it, which will allow for a nice solid hold. The Ultima 90 has a backplate as well, but it does use a scissor like retaining mechanism.. most people don't like it.

Tyler