New server build

[Bruggefan]

Dear all

 

I'm trying to assemble a new server, but could use some help from experts here.

Currently, I have a server running as an ESXI host. there are several virtual machines on running: W10 as plex server, W10 as webserver, W2012R2 as DNS server, freenas, pfsense.

there are a few more testing VM's on it as well, but those are less important now.

As for storage, 4x3TB is present, configured as raid 5.

This server is actually a pc turned into a server, so there are loads of boundries (RAM(32GB), single CPU, RAID controller on mobo, storage, ...).

 

As you all expect, this server is used at it's max capacity of memory, so there is no room left to roll out some new virtual machines.

Why do I need more VM's?

Well recently I started my own business and therfor I want to install some new servers. For example I'd like to run my own exchange environment, which needs a domain (so AD is required as well).

I'd like to experiment with RDS (or VDI) or even sell some services as well.

 

 

So basically I need a server with high availability and enough resources to do all this.

 

I tried to put some things together and came to the assambly in the attachment.

I'm not very experienced on serverhardware so this is why I'd like to get some help of you.

 

The attached assembly costs about 8000€.

Maybe you guys think of a better set-up?

My friend popped up with the idea of a single CPU (eg: AMD Epyc 7502P Tray).

 

Can you help me?

 

Thanks for your time and opinion!

[Electronics Wizardy]

Id probalby get a used server, like a dell r730, just makes it easier to work with, you get things like a drac, and normally cheaper.

 

Are you going to stick with esxi?

 

Id go epyc over dual xeons, better in almost every way for htis use.

 

Get more dimms, the performance of those chips suffers a good amount with single channe ram.

 

 

[Bruggefan]

12 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Id probalby get a used server, like a dell r730, just makes it easier to work with, you get things like a drac, and normally cheaper.

 

Are you going to stick with esxi?

 

Id go epyc over dual xeons, better in almost every way for htis use.

 

Get more dimms, the performance of those chips suffers a good amount with single channe ram.

 

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

The R730 is a nice server, but I'm affraid that it has to few spaces for HDD's. in my set-up there are only 6 drives included but I want enough spaces for more storage in the future.

Do you think 2 CPU's with 8 cores would do the trick and leave me some spair resources for the future?

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Bruggefan said:

Thanks for your reply!

 

The R730 is a nice server, but I'm affraid that it has to few spaces for HDD's. in my set-up there are only 6 drives included but I want enough spaces for more storage in the future.

Do you think 2 CPU's with 8 cores would do the trick and leave me some spair resources for the future?

 

From what you have listed, you won't need much cpu power, so dual 8 cores should be fine.

 

The r730 has a few versions, including a 12x3.5 and a 24x2.5 model

 

You can also cheaply add sas enclosures to add more drives. If you want lots of storage, id go bigger drives though, go with 16tb, as its cheaper total cost.

 

Do you plan to keep using esxi? With all the windows servers you have listed id be tempted to go with windows server with hypter-v. Then its easily to activate with one datacenter licence. And then you can use storage spaces for storage.