Virtualization Server advice
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:11 am
Work needs a virtualization server. Needs to happen in the next month or so. I have several questions, and probably more to come.
First, here are the requirements:
* Budget: Let's say $5000, with some wiggle room if it's absolutely worth it.
* Run up to 10 low intensity Windows Server 2012 VMs, but realistically, the typical load will be more like 5 VMs. VMs will provide low intensity services: domain authentication and software license services for 15-20 people.
* I figure most VMs will run on 4 GB of memory allocation. One or two may need 8 GB. I figure 64 GB will be enough to supply all guests.
* Disk performance is probably not important. Disk allocation of 30 GB per VM sounds reasonable, for a start. I think I'll be able to run all VMs on the same array. My initial guess is that RAID 5 of four 3 TB disks will do the trick for the guest storage array. A separate RAID 1 array of two 3 TB disks for the host seems like a good conversation starter.
* Graphics power is not important
* This is a very small business oriented virtualization solution that will provide very basic network services.
Questions:
1) Host OS. Honestly, my first instinct is to run VMware Workstation on Debian. This will let non-technical people interact with the virtualization platform, which is going to be necessary. It would be great to be able to use remote desktop to access the host. Can one get remote desktop like access to a Debian OS from Windows and Mac machines?
2) AMD or Intel. On the desktop, the answer is clear to me, but I'm in murky territory on this one.
3) Build, barebones, or buy? Supermicro makes some nice barebones solutions that aren't too pricey. The machine needs to fit in a rack.
4) Which motherboard and CPU? If a full build, which rack-compatible case that is also compatible with the motherboard? I know things can get stupidly nonstandard in this area.
5) Which RAID card or just use software RAID? Any decent on-motherboard hardware RAID out there? If using an add-in card, any motherboard incompatibilities to worry about? How painful is it to set up software RAID on Debian and replace a faulty disk?
Alternatively, I could run VMware Workstation on regular desktop hardware, I guess. I'm in relatively unfamiliar territory.
Edit:
Here's an interesting Supermicro barebones: http://www.serversdirect.com/Solutions/ ... D-6027TR-D
First, here are the requirements:
* Budget: Let's say $5000, with some wiggle room if it's absolutely worth it.
* Run up to 10 low intensity Windows Server 2012 VMs, but realistically, the typical load will be more like 5 VMs. VMs will provide low intensity services: domain authentication and software license services for 15-20 people.
* I figure most VMs will run on 4 GB of memory allocation. One or two may need 8 GB. I figure 64 GB will be enough to supply all guests.
* Disk performance is probably not important. Disk allocation of 30 GB per VM sounds reasonable, for a start. I think I'll be able to run all VMs on the same array. My initial guess is that RAID 5 of four 3 TB disks will do the trick for the guest storage array. A separate RAID 1 array of two 3 TB disks for the host seems like a good conversation starter.
* Graphics power is not important
* This is a very small business oriented virtualization solution that will provide very basic network services.
Questions:
1) Host OS. Honestly, my first instinct is to run VMware Workstation on Debian. This will let non-technical people interact with the virtualization platform, which is going to be necessary. It would be great to be able to use remote desktop to access the host. Can one get remote desktop like access to a Debian OS from Windows and Mac machines?
2) AMD or Intel. On the desktop, the answer is clear to me, but I'm in murky territory on this one.
3) Build, barebones, or buy? Supermicro makes some nice barebones solutions that aren't too pricey. The machine needs to fit in a rack.
4) Which motherboard and CPU? If a full build, which rack-compatible case that is also compatible with the motherboard? I know things can get stupidly nonstandard in this area.
5) Which RAID card or just use software RAID? Any decent on-motherboard hardware RAID out there? If using an add-in card, any motherboard incompatibilities to worry about? How painful is it to set up software RAID on Debian and replace a faulty disk?
Alternatively, I could run VMware Workstation on regular desktop hardware, I guess. I'm in relatively unfamiliar territory.
Edit:
Here's an interesting Supermicro barebones: http://www.serversdirect.com/Solutions/ ... D-6027TR-D