X3 or X5 Xeon for VM Server Build

[soholingo]

Ok,

I am going to build a home VM server. I am going to use proxmox and I want 12 - 20 vms.

Here are the choices:

e3-1200 Xeon 3.0 ghz (3.4ghz turbo) (fan included) 4c/8t
32G of ECC memory (limit)
Server motherboard
Case/PS
$1000

or

E5-2600 6c/12t 2.0ghz (2.3ghz)
32G of ECC memory (expandble to 64)
Server MOBO
Case/PS
Fan
$1350

I have been real happy with the performance of the e3 xeon. But I am going to give up speed with the e5 for the capability of more cores/memory. This is just the latest itteration of my lab, so performance isn't THAT important. But I would prefer to not wait.

Thanks,

Jay

 

[Ken g6]

That's a heck of a lot of VMs! Are they all (or at least six) going to be actively processing at the same time, most of the time?

If so, the E5 is a possibility, as is the AMD equivalent CPU and mobo. But I would be surprised if that's the case.

Otherwise, the E3 makes more sense to me. But do you really even need a server mobo and ECC RAM? I've heard these E3s run just as well in a consumer mobo with standard RAM; though I don't know what server features you're looking for might go missing.

 

[soholingo]

I am going to have 3-4 vms that run constantly. At anytime I may need to do a lab, or build a test scenario and I would like for those scenarios to not interfere with my base vms. I know a tall order, but its why I started thinking I needed more memory/cores and just suck up the costs.

Good stuff about the AMD equivalents, I had completely dismissed those as options.

I do like the i3 its been rock solid, and even the older xeons have been great. But there is a hard memory limit to the i3s and the 8GB memory chips are expensive.

Thanks for the input Ken.

 

[tynopik]

E5 boards can support far more than 64GB with registered memory, which is actually cheaper at the higher capacities

and if you get a dual board you can add a second processor and up to 512GB of memory

 

[soholingo]

Yes that's the struggle. After the initial investment the POWAH is relatively cheap....

 

[tynopik]

if you're feeling lucky and think clockspeed is more helpful than moar cores:
www.neobits.com/_p2892998.html
http://www.provantage.com/intel-cm8062101038606~7ITEP3MR.htm

 

[mfenn]

The benefit to an E5-2600 series part is that you can run two CPUs and have double the DIMM slots if you're using both CPUs. Otherwise, you're just paying extra for some sockets and slots that you'll never use.

In my experience, CPU power is usually the LAST thing that you'll run out of on a virtualization machine. You'll hit disk, network, and memory limits long before you run out of CPU cycles. Thus, I would recommend getting the E3 and spending the balance on a decent RAID array.

Also, why not ESXi or RHEV or XenServer?

 

[soholingo]

mfenn,

I am going to assume you haven't used proxmox. Once you have you may reverse your question. Couple of reasons why I use proxmox.

1. Easy/quick to install.
2. WEB INTERFACE with all the trimmings! This is huge to me as it means i can administer the environment from anywhere on just about anything.
3. Its based on kvm/qemu.
4. It allows direct access to hardware, So I can build a server and give it direct access to a block device.
5. Its clusterable.
6. Its free...
7. The proxmox guys are very good with their support.
8. The ssh gives me a backdoor and secure way to get to my environment.

Proxmox is so good that I am building every new server that I am responsible for on a base of proxmox. Then I will add Windows or some other OS on top of it.

With all this heavy duty iron available for a reasonable price I don't know why you would build a single stand alone server. Once Proxmox is up you won't even know its running.

Jay

 

[mfenn]

Everything you've described is available in the software that I listed, but to each his own. Nobody is saying not to virtualize here. It's just that if the goal for this machine is to be a lab, you'd be better off with one of the more popular hypervisors so that you'll get some marketable skills.

 

[soholingo]

mfenn,

I hear you. I already know esxi, all of the linux versions use kvm. Seems RHEV3 just got a web interface this year (so its worth looking at now). I have been using proxmox/debian/ubuntu for years and its my preferred linux, and to be honest proxmox has been way ahead of these other hypervisors in free functionality.

But to be honest the bottom line is I just like proxmox better.

I also agree with you cpu performance is the last thing to worry about if you have enough cores. I have maxed out my disk performance, and wanted a path to more memory.

I may have to try out the RHEV now that it has a web interface, thanks for the tip.

 

[soholingo]

I ended up with a tyan server board with 32 gb of memory and a 1230 e3 sandy bridge. With a 512 gb ssd i am all set. Cost is around $1200. And proxmox isnt even breaking a sweat.