Build

[mcol]

Looking for some input on a system I am thinking about setting up.  I have access to at least 4 Dell T3600 workstations possibly a couple of more.  I am thinking about using them to setup a virtualization network and storage system.  My thoughts are to upgrade the CPU's in these systems (possibly the 2687W) and put them to max RAM which is 64GB.  Use one for Freenas which I would connect to a disk shelf using an HBA adapter.  The other systems I would install VMWare ESXI on to host VMS.  What thoughts would you have on this?  Granted I could buy used server hardware which would probably be better but also more expensive.  If it's really that much better to buy used servers than go with this I would seriously consider it.  The freenas setup would be used for network file storage and for VM storage.  Probably a mix of standard HDD's and SSD's.  The VM servers would be used to host servers for training for VMWare, Windows server. linux ect.  I would also like to dedicate one box for hosting things like game servers, PLEX if I ever get motivated to set it up!  Any input on this lose design?

[Electronics Wizardy]

If you want to have fun and have the power, id make one big hyperconverged cluster woth proxmox. Then there is shared redundant storage, and vms on all the nodes.

[mcol]

I like the idea of a hyper converged setup.  One issue with the T3600's is a lack of HDD space.  Two each.  Just today at work we were looking at a Dell VRTX hyper converged system for our VMWare environment.  Pretty slick in my opinion but way outta reach for a home lab environment.