Server build

[Antonio144]

Hello!

I am in need of a server configuration for my company for around $2000-3000 (with GPU) or more if needed 

It will be used for

• KVM Virtualization - 1 Windows and 1 Ubuntu server
• DIALux software for 3D modeling [Windows] 
• GALA software [Windows]
• Web server [Ubuntu]
• NAS (NextCloud) [Ubuntu]

Minimal requirements as I see would be

• CPU: 4C/8T
• RAM: 16 GB
• GPU: Quadro ili FirePro
• 3 SSD (120GB) one for Host (or usb) and two for Guests (We already have HDD)

What components would you recommend for my needs? 

 

Furthermore, what software would you recommend for virtualization? unRAID Basic (6 devices would be adequate for now)? Crude kvm/qemu?

 

Thank you!

[tt2468]

So you want a server... that also is a workstation?

[BethFoster5841]

ok be back soon

[Antonio144]

Basically yes.

Windows VM would be accessed through Windows Remote Desktop. Only two users would be using the Windows VM (Boss (DIALux) and project manager(GALA))

[BethFoster5841]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/rwfhLD

[BethFoster5841]

wait

forgot ssd

[BethFoster5841]

ok done

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DsF43F

[l0ckd0wn]

7 minutes ago, Antonio144 said:

Basically yes.

Windows VM would be accessed through Windows Remote Desktop. Only two users would be using the Windows VM (Boss (DIALux) and project manager(GALA))

I'm fairly certain you'll be having problems if you are going to try and do any type of 3d modeling over RDP.  You'd want direct output from the video card to make the modeling software work right in that environment.

 

Since you have 2 very different purposes, why don't you make a workstation that has a few VMs, or dedicate a box to just running VMs rather than trying to hodgepodge.

 

 

[BethFoster5841]

On 5/19/2017 at 4:51 PM, l0ckd0wn said:

I'm fairly certain you'll be having problems if you are going to try and do any type of 3d modeling over RDP.  You'd want direct output from the video card to make the modeling software work right in that environment.

 

Since you have 2 very different purposes, why don't you make a workstation that has a few VMs, or dedicate a box to just running VMs rather than trying to hodgepodge.

 

 

yea rdp is know for being bad 

[Electronics Wizardy]

11 minutes ago, Antonio144 said:

Basically yes.

Windows VM would be accessed through Windows Remote Desktop. Only two users would be using the Windows VM (Boss (DIALux) and project manager(GALA))

don't do that.

 

Thats messy and your gonna run into problems in a buiness.

 

Your much better off with a seprate server and workstation.

 

Or if you want virtualized workstations, chose the real solution with VDI using citrix or horizon.

[Electronics Wizardy]

6 minutes ago, ms-DOS said:

ok done

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/DsF43F

dont' use ryzen, doesn't support iommu right.

[BethFoster5841]

On 5/19/2017 at 4:55 PM, Electronics Wizardy said:

dont' use ryzen, doesn't support iommu right.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hmZF9W try now

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, ms-DOS said:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hmZF9W try now

why so many ssds, just get a single pcie one, faster, more reliable.

 

Id get a air cooler, better temps, quieter, more reliable

 

you can get a smaller psu like a 500w and save money and power.

[BethFoster5841]

On 5/19/2017 at 4:59 PM, Electronics Wizardy said:

why so many ssds, just get a single pcie one, faster, more reliable.

 

Id get a air cooler, better temps, quieter, more reliable

 

you can get a smaller psu like a 500w and save money and power.

he wanted 3 ssd's

[BethFoster5841]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/p4VDVY

[l0ckd0wn]

8 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

chose the real solution with VDI using citrix or horizon.

Or VMware.

 

@ms-DOS & @Electronics Wizardy, making any type of suggestion at this point is kind of futile until the OP figures out exactly what he needs to do.  At this point it's not even worth doing a parts list.

 

PS

Don't call people stupid, it's not helpful and rude.

[BethFoster5841]

On 5/19/2017 at 5:02 PM, l0ckd0wn said:

Or VMware.

 

@ms-DOS & @Electronics Wizardy, making any type of suggestion at this point is kind of futile until the OP figures out exactly what he needs to do.  At this point it's not even worth doing a parts list.

k

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, l0ckd0wn said:

Or VMware.

 

@ms-DOS & @Electronics Wizardy, making any type of suggestion at this point is kind of futile until the OP figures out exactly what he needs to do.  At this point it's not even worth doing a parts list.

horizon is vmware

 

 

[l0ckd0wn]

Oh, true, took me a second to put that together.

 

Either way VDI is an enterprise solution... what OP needs is a server and a workstation.

[Electronics Wizardy]

11 minutes ago, l0ckd0wn said:

Oh, true, took me a second to put that together.

 

Either way VDI is an enterprise solution... what OP needs is a server and a workstation.

and don't make them into one box. Thats how you get problems. 

[domandric034]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/xVkj9

[Erkel]

1 x Decent spec windows workstation box

1 x low spec linux server, maybe an old server for $200-300,  Dell R610/R710 etc Add disks are required for your NAS.  or buy a seperate NAS if you want it to be easy to use another $200-300, then add drives.
 

 

[Antonio144]

Thank you all for your recommendations and for the information you've given. 

 

Having a separated server and a workstation for (occasional use) of DIALux software would be too much. My employer would use DIALux a few times a month. So making a separate workstation just for that would not be cost effective.

 

The main purpose of the server is to run Windows server application GALA and Ubuntu server for our NextCloud, GIT, invoice and warehouse applications (They run on apache/php/mysql mostly). When or IF my employer decides to run DIALux on there, I want the system to be powerful enough to plug a GPU in and instantiate another (or current) Windows VM with DIALux running. 

 

3 hours ago, l0ckd0wn said:

Since you have 2 very different purposes, why don't you make a workstation that has a few VMs, or dedicate a box to just running VMs rather than trying to hodgepodge.

 

 

This is what i had planed. I could have a server/workstation hooked up to a monitor from a GPU and she would use it like any other 'normal' PC.

• Server hardware
  • unRAID OS (or other options)
    • Windows VM [GALA]
    • Ubunutu VM [NextCloud, GIT, invoice and warehouse applications]
    • Room for expansion [Development VM, DIALux]

So basically, i need a system for the first two points that can, if needed, include the third point. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

13 hours ago, Antonio144 said:

When or IF my employer decides to run DIALux on there,

thats a really bad idea, make them seprate systems, more seucre, reilable and easiler to use.

 

13 hours ago, Antonio144 said:

unRAID OS (or other options)

Stay away for a company, use proxmox, esxi, xenserver, or rhev.

 

13 hours ago, Antonio144 said:

Ubunutu VM [NextCloud, GIT, invoice and warehouse applications]

Id probably look into containers and split those into seprate containers or vms

 

 

[mjc4wilton]

Buy a Dell Poweredge R730, way more horsepower than you need but should last you a long time. It will need a GPU but that can easily be added. Run VMware ESXi (Now called vSphere Hypervisor) and throw your VM's on with it. Don't forget rack rails if you are rack mounting it.