CPU For Virtual server machine

[RallosZek]

Looking at building a server for my cisco lab, I want to run a few OSes to try out etc. most like server 2012, red hat or something else, Mac OS possibly,
Or may run ESXi,

Im tossing up ideas currently. Do i buy an Older rackmount server. the things i can afford seem pretty damn old. Or i can use my current i7 2600k, and buy an i5 to take over my main PC (i dont use it much anyway its just on 24/7 for a fileserver)

Otherwise i keep the i7 in my main PC and i grab an intel xeon E3 1230 or something else.
obviously i want to keep it as low as possible. i have an antec 4RU case i will be using most likely.

Are AMDs even competitive for virtualization? Some people (very few) have recommended them as you get more cores.

cheers

Thanks guys.

 

[RallosZek]

I forgot to mention also, this is for at home for learning/playing purposes. The rack servers ive played with ( i have a few old old sun ones and an old HP one here) are extremely loud!! crazy loud! as they are 1RU . If i build a server in my antec it can run 24/7 eiwithout the wife going nuts ahaha. i have a sun v20z i use sometimes which is louder than the vacuum cleaner.

 

[MisterMac]

Actually since your not workload dependant much - some mATX bulldozer boards(do they exist?) with lots of ram - might be a good cheap option.

OC it a tad, decent thread count - probably cheaper than a i7.


Of course if you wanna sacrifice the i7 - and get a 3570k\2500k for "file\gaming" that'd work too.


Point being more threads better - since your playing around is not cache nor integer or floating point heavy.

 

[RallosZek]

Actually since your not workload dependant much - some mATX bulldozer boards(do they exist?) with lots of ram - might be a good cheap option.

OC it a tad, decent thread count - probably cheaper than a i7.


Of course if you wanna sacrifice the i7 - and get a 3570k\2500k for "file\gaming" that'd work too.


Point being more threads better - since your playing around is not cache nor integer or floating point heavy.

Which bulldozer chips would be better?
If they will not perform as well as one of the intels i was thinking i probably wont bother, unsure though.

Im trying to research a lot on different options. its a lot to take in haha

 

[Zstream]

Do not overclock a virtual server, ever. You need it stable while testing. In addition, I would recommend Windows 2008 or 2012 hyper-v but ESXi is nice as well.

The real difference is going to be your storage. Waiting on machines to launch can be a pain in the arse. Purchase two cheap hard drives for the hypervisor installation (raid-1) and purchase a 128GB SSD for the Operating Systems. That should allow you to install 3 systems with 40GB each. I would get a cheap 8120 bulldozer and 16GB of ram with an intel PCIe ESXi or Hyper-v compatible NIC.

 

[RallosZek]

Do not overclock a virtual server, ever. You need it stable while testing. In addition, I would recommend Windows 2008 or 2012 hyper-v but ESXi is nice as well.

The real difference is going to be your storage. Waiting on machines to launch can be a pain in the arse. Purchase two cheap hard drives for the hypervisor installation (raid-1) and purchase a 128GB SSD for the Operating Systems. That should allow you to install 3 systems with 40GB each. I would get a cheap 8120 bulldozer and 16GB of ram with an intel PCIe ESXi or Hyper-v compatible NIC.

Hmm ok hehe, Im torn up, 2 people suggesting bulldozers.
Im guessing ill go a bulldozer build then.

Any specific cpu? and can anyone recommend me a board? I need a lot of SATA ports, currently im running software raid (flexraid) which i realize is a no no in a virtual environment, But if i can run them for a bit on server 2012 while i set everything up it should be ok ?

 

[Zstream]

It's just a cheaper alternative and you get the benefits of more cores. I would never run software raid in a virtual environment.

Something like this would work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519&name=AMD-Motherboards

 

[pauldun170]

Looking at building a server for my cisco lab, I want to run a few OSes to try out etc. most like server 2012, red hat or something else, Mac OS possibly,
Or may run ESXi,

Im tossing up ideas currently. Do i buy an Older rackmount server. the things i can afford seem pretty damn old. Or i can use my current i7 2600k, and buy an i5 to take over my main PC (i dont use it much anyway its just on 24/7 for a fileserver)

Otherwise i keep the i7 in my main PC and i grab an intel xeon E3 1230 or something else.
obviously i want to keep it as low as possible. i have an antec 4RU case i will be using most likely.

Are AMDs even competitive for virtualization? Some people (very few) have recommended them as you get more cores.

cheers

Thanks guys.

I forgot to mention also, this is for at home for learning/playing purposes. The rack servers ive played with ( i have a few old old sun ones and an old HP one here) are extremely loud!! crazy loud! as they are 1RU . If i build a server in my antec it can run 24/7 eiwithout the wife going nuts ahaha. i have a sun v20z i use sometimes which is louder than the vacuum cleaner.

Which bulldozer chips would be better?
If they will not perform as well as one of the intels i was thinking i probably wont bother, unsure though.

Im trying to research a lot on different options. its a lot to take in haha

Your answer is in your post.

This is for play\educational purposes
You have a processor sitting around thats ideal (8 logical cores, lots of shiny technical bit built in, good power consumption characteristics)

What do you use your current "Main PC" for?
Why is it your main PC?
How much ram do you currently have in it?

 

[nehalem256]

If you live near a microcenter

The Thuban based bundle would seem to be a good bet

$120 for a 970 based board that supports 32GB of ram and a 6 core processor.

The wife will like that.

 

[RallosZek]

Your answer is in your post.

This is for play\educational purposes
You have a processor sitting around thats ideal (8 logical cores, lots of shiny technical bit built in, good power consumption characteristics)

What do you use your current "Main PC" for?
Why is it your main PC?
How much ram do you currently have in it?

i have my main pc, my htpc and my laptop
my main pc is my go to system, its at my desk, its a jack of all, for gaming (7970, 8gb, i7 2600k@ 4.5ghz) i currently run flexraid on it and it currently services all of my household needs, Runs the software raid array for my media (htpc) and AirVideo server for our ipads and SABnzb. i also game on it...very...very...rarely. i also game on my laptop a bit.

i realise if i threw more ram into my main pc it would be good for learning. my only concerns are if i want to play around and my wife or kids are watching something etc.


Maybe i would be better off just building a cheapo fileserver instead and throwing more ram into my PC to use for Virtualization?

 

[_Rick_]

Maybe i would be better off just building a cheapo fileserver instead and throwing more ram into my PC to use for Virtualization?

Yes. Except cheapo. You can go low-end performance-wise, but I would stick away from obvious cheapness. Socket FM2 on Mini-ITX should be your go-to solution.

 

[RallosZek]

i have a core 2 duo combo around, i think its an e6300 or something. 2.4ghz dual core, 4gb ram. enough for 2012 fileserver?

 

[Mir96TA]

I have found Intel Chipset and CPU perform better in Emulator.
I have not played ESXi but played GNS3. GNS3 can't do a idle PC on a
AMD. But works wonder on Intel Platform

 

[pauldun170]

i have my main pc, my htpc and my laptop
my main pc is my go to system, its at my desk, its a jack of all, for gaming (7970, 8gb, i7 2600k@ 4.5ghz) i currently run flexraid on it and it currently services all of my household needs, Runs the software raid array for my media (htpc) and AirVideo server for our ipads and SABnzb. i also game on it...very...very...rarely. i also game on my laptop a bit.

i realise if i threw more ram into my main pc it would be good for learning. my only concerns are if i want to play around and my wife or kids are watching something etc.


Maybe i would be better off just building a cheapo fileserver instead and throwing more ram into my PC to use for Virtualization?

Here is my setup
2700K+16gb ram (Main rig)
2100+4gb ram (HTPC+general file server)
Q9550+8gb ram (VM Test box)
others

The 2700K is my main rig. I use if for gaming and VM's (Currently Win2012, Win 2008, couple of others.) Having a VM running in the background hasn't impacted anything else I do on the PC. I was gaming last night while my Win2008 + Oracle 11g VM was running in the background.



Look at the current load on your 2600K rig. If its low, take advantage of the horsepower you have already.