Intel nuc - Hyper V and HTPC

[annilation]

Looking at the Intel nuc for a hyper v lab but also looking to use it as an htpc system. What I was thinking is:
Intel NUC Kit D34010WYK (i3-4010U)
16GB ram
128GB SSD for os
external 128gb ssd usb drive for vm’s
WD nas drive with tv shows and movies

Run Windows 8 connected to my tv enabling hyper v. Run 4-6 vm’s then when I want to watch movies shut down all vm’s and use xmbc in Windows 8.
Has anyone tried this and any thoughts on how it would work? I was thinking as long as I used it as one or the other I should be fine right?

 

[MysticRyuujin]

I have one of those guys as my TV box. It'll work no problem. The only issue you might have is with the RAM 16GB isn't a lot if you're going to be running Windows Servers or doing anything really heavy. But if you can cram all the machines you want into that much RAM go for it. They're really nice. Very low power. They even have options to automatically power on after a power outage.

You don't really need to shutdown the VMs when you go to use it, unless you need to reclaim some RAM or something. Hyper-V is special in that the host OS (Windows 8(.1) in this case) will take priority over the guest VMs so if you tax the host OS your VMs will suffer BUT that might be exactly what you want...

 

[MysticRyuujin]

Also, the NUCs allow you to use MSATA internally PLUS an internal SSD (if you buy the bigger one with SSD slot). So you could put the OS on the MSATA and put the VMs on the internal SSD. Then you'd only need the NAS externally.

 

[annilation]

Thanks for the answers the only have 16gb ram and a i3 was my only concern. I woud like to be able to run 4-5 vm's and I am wondering if that would be too much on the box while labbing.

 

[WoodiE]

I've not tried to dual purpose my NUC's but I do use the i5 NUC in my home lab running ESXi 5.5 without any issues.

CPU usage is about 10% running vcenter, SQL, Plex media server, AD, and a windows 7 and damn small linux desktops.

 

[faugusztin]

Get D34010WYKH if anything, it has a spot for 2.5" hard drive in adition to the mSATA drive.

 

[Durpity]

I've got several i3 NUC's all running ESXi and they seem to do just fine. I wouldn't want to try and pass through XBMC on them though. However, for most people's home use as a virtualization lab, they work exceedingly well. I'm typically running 5 VMs on each of mine at any given time and it rarely runs into any problems.

At work we have two of the i5 NUC's running ESXi as well. These are kept around for contingency purposes should we need to relocate the office we can still run our apps and email with minimal downtime.

 

[MysticRyuujin]

Thanks for the answers the only have 16gb ram and a i3 was my only concern. I woud like to be able to run 4-5 vm's and I am wondering if that would be too much on the box while labbing.

You need to be more specific about the VMs you want to run...

I have domain controllers with dynamic memory using like 512MB of RAM. Exchange and SQL servers will eat ram for breakfast lunch and dinner....There are Linux installs that can run on even less than 512MB.

However, the i3 will be plenty fast enough for most use. CPU cycles are rarely the limiting factor for most every day work loads. Especially in a lab... If it's good enough to encode your videos fast enough when you really need it crunching then it'll be fine. You could research that CPU to make sure it'll meet that demand. It probably will...

 

[annilation]

Sorry it would be a lab for studying for my mcsa 2012. Thinking 3-4 server 2012 boxes in various setup (no exchange or sql) and probably 1-2 clients (win 7 or 8) just for the labs.

 

[MysticRyuujin]

Sounds about right. Should be plenty of power for that as long as you leave dynamic memory on.