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ESXi/Hyper-V Server Build

D

DoritosMan

n00b
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
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I'm looking to get started working with virtualization. I'm thinking about trying to build a server that would be a good starting point for me.

I was thinking about either buying a used dell/hp server with dual L5639s and 32+GB RAM or building my own with either similar specs or maybe getting an E3-12** processor and 32GB of RAM.

I'm trying to stay around $500-$600
I think I should be able to get a decent starting server around this price.

So if anyone could give me some tips or a possible good build, I'd appreciate it! Thanks.
 
for starting out with virtualization, scaling to 12 cores/24 threads is a bit excessive. perhaps you should save the $100 and use it for drives. 8 cores/16 threads should be plenty. remember, cpu usage is probably not as important as compared to RAM and disk IO for virtualization.

personally speaking i prefer Dells over HPs, i'm more comfortable with them and the HPs I worked with would have random issues every now and then.
 
I personally i started with a spare PC, An Athlon64x2. It doesn't take much of anything to run ESXi. As i turned my lab into a home production need, I ended up graduating to a Phenom II 6core.
 
Given the price point you gave and the hardware you get shipped to you in the Dell link I provided; it's hard to beat it.
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the DL160 G6 with a 5600 series Xeon in it. I have three of them (unfortunately they are Xeon 5500 series.)

They are fantastic servers for virtualization, and the only caveat with them are the expansion slots. Go DL380 G6 if you're looking at adding a bunch of cards (10GBE, RAID, etc.)

I seriously can't recommend the 5600 series enough, they are faster, use less power, and have the highly desirable AES-ni feature (h/w accelerated encryption).

In my opinion, the Xeon 5500 series is getting a bit long in the tooth.
 
I'm glad I saw this thread. I was about to build one e5-2620 supermicro 1u system with 64GB ram that would have come out to ~$1600. With these my budget will be able to pick up 2 DL160 G6/L5639/72GB servers and have some money left over.

Now i'll be able to replace our ailing Poweredge 1950 (2x 5160, 16GB ram) and build out our DR site.
 
I just bought one of the C1100 systems, the guy that has them @ 405, I was reasonable about it, offered him $395 shipped and he took it for a system with 72GB.

Get it in and flash the BIOS and BMC to the latest versions off the Dell site and now the fans hardly spin up. At first before the flash they were constantly cycling, but the bios flash fixed that problem. Now, its no louder than my desktop gaming system I have in my sig when I'm playing that.

When it does spin up the fans to 100% it does it for about 3-5 seconds maybe 5 times a day now, compared to every 15-20 minutes previous.
So good, I might buy another one
 
stiltner said:
I just bought one of the C1100 systems, the guy that has them @ 405, I was reasonable about it, offered him $395 shipped and he took it for a system with 72GB.

Get it in and flash the BIOS and BMC to the latest versions off the Dell site and now the fans hardly spin up. At first before the flash they were constantly cycling, but the bios flash fixed that problem. Now, its no louder than my desktop gaming system I have in my sig when I'm playing that.

When it does spin up the fans to 100% it does it for about 3-5 seconds maybe 5 times a day now, compared to every 15-20 minutes previous.
So good, I might buy another one
Click to expand...


How much power does the system use?
 
Biznatch said:
How much power does the system use?
Click to expand...

I wish I could tell you for certain, I don't have any reliable way of measuring power output.

Its not a huge deal to me on that level, my electric bill is inexpensive compared to most, and I got that system + 5 others that run full time in my home.
 
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