ESXi Stand alone server critique (Dell R710) Help out!

D

Database

Detroit Redbirds!!!
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
2,536
OK,

Basically I am planning on rolling out a ESXi free server for a client that will have 4 VMs and I want to make sure everything will be fine performance wise. Most of my VMWare experience is in a shared storage environment so I haven't done a ton with stand alone local storage servers. Please give me your thoughts...

Server will run 4 VMs all low use.

1x 2008 Terminal Server 2-3 users at a time max.
1x 2008 Domain Controller / DNS (backup just for redundancy domain only contains ~30 computers)
1x Windows XP workstation just to run an application for the phone system, needs a windows xp machine not part of the domain.
1x Windows 2003 server for a Microsoft CRM test environment (sql database is on a physical server)

Here is what I'm thinking

Dell R710
1x Intel Xeon E5540 2.53 ghz 8M Cache (Quad Core)
16 GB of Ram (4x4GB 1066mhz)
PERC H700 RAID Controller
6x 146GB 15K SAS drives (Haven't decided on RAID type yet, looking for feedback)

Help me out! This machine should have no problems with these machines, correct? What RAID type would you recommend and why? I've read varying reports on performance of different RAID arrays.
 
Do you have a second server to run vCenter/vSphere on?

Other wise that looks okay.
 
Proxy said:
Do you have a second server to run vCenter/vSphere on?

Other wise that looks okay.
Click to expand...

I think this is going to be a single server solution with no Vcenter or anything to that effect.

Looks good to me.

The only thing I might consider is adding the second CPU if for nothing else room to expand.
 
this will work fine, like lopoetve said run the disks in raid5, btw do u already have the server or will you be purchasing one?
 
I haven't purchased the server yet... we will be ordering soon. Will probably do RAID 5.

And yes there will be no vCenter in this install, just a standalone server, I'll have the vSphere client loaded on one of their physical servers for management.

I can always add another processor / ram later if needed.

I just wanted to make sure it looked OK! Thanks guys!
 
I would change the cpu to e5620, newer tech, cheaper then your choice and for the $$ difference you can almost afford to add 2nd e5620.
 
axan said:
I would change the cpu to e5620, newer tech, cheaper then your choice and for the $$ difference you can almost afford to add 2nd e5620.
Click to expand...

Hm, good idea, but it's not an option at least where I am looking....


Intel® Xeon® X5570, 2.93Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $1,470.00]


Intel® Xeon® X5560, 2.8Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $1,190.00]


Intel® Xeon® X5550, 2.66Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $970.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5540, 2.53Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $720.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5530, 2.4Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $450.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5520, 2.26Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $250.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5506, 2.13Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $120.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5504, 2.0Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $20.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5502, 1.86Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [Included in Price]


Intel® Xeon® L5530, 2.40Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066Mhz Max Mem [add $820.00]


Intel® Xeon® L5520, 2.26Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $450.00]


Intel® Xeon® L5506, 2.13Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $340.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5503, 2.0Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $20.00]
 
I'd subtly suggest that given the $ludicrous cost for a dell (unless you're getting a massive discount), along with nickel and diming for stuff like graphical oob management, you should consider going with one of the following supermicro barebones instead:

6026T-NTR+
6026T-URF4+
6026T-3RF

LSI 9261-8i, xeon(s) 56xx, some fujitsu or seagate (ergh) 3.5" sas 15k drives, and you should come out well below the dell.
 
Unless they offer 4 hour onsite warranty for hardware issues no chance.
 
I agree looks fine extra CPU wont hurt and setup resource pools on your ESXi server to constrain the various systems a bit and you should do fine.

I run pretty much the same on lower specced systems and I wished I had the extra CPU at times.
 
Database said:
Hm, good idea, but it's not an option at least where I am looking....


Intel® Xeon® X5570, 2.93Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $1,470.00]


Intel® Xeon® X5560, 2.8Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $1,190.00]


Intel® Xeon® X5550, 2.66Ghz, 8M Cache,Turbo, HT, 1333MHz Max Mem [add $970.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5540, 2.53Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $720.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5530, 2.4Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $450.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5520, 2.26Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $250.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5506, 2.13Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $120.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5504, 2.0Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $20.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5502, 1.86Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [Included in Price]


Intel® Xeon® L5530, 2.40Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066Mhz Max Mem [add $820.00]


Intel® Xeon® L5520, 2.26Ghz, 8M Cache, Turbo, HT, 1066MHz Max Mem [add $450.00]


Intel® Xeon® L5506, 2.13Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $340.00]


Intel® Xeon® E5503, 2.0Ghz, 4M Cache, 800MHz Max Mem [add $20.00]
Click to expand...

oh you buying through reseller or something?
if you go straight from dell you can get the 5600 series cpus
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&oc=MLB1481&s=biz
 
took another look and figured it out, you need to change the chassis type to get access to 56xx processors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top