Too Many Choices - Help me Pick!

[minni14]

Hello everyone,

I am a noobie to the forum and I have been looking for a few days here. I am trying to build a home lab, but I am running into some indecisiveness. There are way to many directions to go!

Here is what I want to do:

2 low use server 2008 instances, low processer and can sit at 2gb each in ram.
2 windows 7 workstatons, also low use.
1 ubuntu LAMP server, low use mostly for dev
1 Windows 8 desktop for learning

The servers will likely run all the time, the workstations will be for testing and not always on

For hardware I am looking to make it an all in one with the storage integrated. I think I need 16GB of ram to cover the overhead of everything. No idea what direction to go with processor. I do not need anything other than the basic free esx 5. I do not need to pass hardware VT-d. I do need 64 bit support and don't need a remote KVM or DRAC.

The Lab is really all just for dev and testing, all the data is throw away, so hard disk integrity is not super important.

I am looking to do this as inexpensive as possible, while still being able to use ESX 5.

I was thinking:
SuperMicro - MBD-X9SCM-F-O
Kingston - KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G (2)
Intel - Xeon E3-1230
Seagate - Momentus XT ST95005620AS (2) (are this RAID-able with the onboard controller? RAID 0)
Intel - EXPI9301CTBLK nic

I am a software guy, I have been away from hardware for so long looking at this undertaking is seriously discouraging me, I would love some Input.

Again, I am just looking for a cheep setup that I can toss a few VMs on to make a small lab environment for study and dev. The cheeper the better, I don't want it falling apart or bursting into flames, but I am fine with desktop class hardware if it makes sense.

Give me some input, what would you guys do?

Thanks for helping a noob. Its good Karma.

 

[Nate7311]

How cheap is cheap?

From fleabay: SuperMicro 2x Intel L5320 (quad 1.86Ghz), 16GB RAM, 160GB $215 BIN, or if you want Hot-Swap trays Rackable 2U. Ready to install ESX and go. They're older, hotter and use a bit more juice, but it's complete and available now.

Otherwise, build. The board you've selected may have some ESXi 5.0 compatibility issues with the NICs. There's a board member that custom compiled a driver, but you'll have to manually install it.

 

[minni14]

cheep to me is 400-600. Just looking for the best bang for the buck. that supermicro one looks like it might work. Where are you finding the compatibility for the board? I googled it like crazy and cant find anything that is a thumbs up or down on it.

I appreciate the help

 

[aaearon]

Pretty much have the same set up right now as what you are looking to buy in the first post (I bought different ram (~60 bucks per 8 gig stick, E3-1230v2, no drives and just using onboard NICs). Pretty happy with it and it should do what you need. ~750 including shipping although I could have reduced costs by buying a not as nice case as well as powersupply.

Nate7311 is correct about the NIC issue and it is really pretty easy to manually install it.

 

[Nate7311]

Link to NIC compatibility

 

[bbouzos]

If cheap is what you're after, I'm pretty sure this Intel S5000PSL 2U Server would do everything you mentioned, and for cheaper than what you expected.

I realize it's listed with only 8 GB of RAM, but I'm pretty sure you can customize that should you choose to order from that particular website.

 

[dashpuppy]

How cheap is cheap?

From fleabay: SuperMicro 2x Intel L5320 (quad 1.86Ghz), 16GB RAM, 160GB $215 BIN, or if you want Hot-Swap trays Rackable 2U. Ready to install ESX and go. They're older, hotter and use a bit more juice, but it's complete and available now.

Otherwise, build. The board you've selected may have some ESXi 5.0 compatibility issues with the NICs. There's a board member that custom compiled a driver, but you'll have to manually install it.

id nuild with new stuff, save $$ on power and heat lol. plus that 1 u would be LOUD