Cheap Home Server

Rocker

Rocker

Rocker

Associate
Joined
28 Nov 2005
Posts
431
Location
Scotland
Hello folks...looking for some help :confused:

So I'm looking for a cheap home server, either to buy or build. Don't really want to spend anymore than £400.

It will be used for visualization, so looking for something with decent amount of CPU power and RAM.

Any suggestions?

Cheers,
G
 
As always, the HP Microserver, in this case with upgraded memory. Despite the relatively lowly CPU, it really punches above its weight when it comes to virtualisation. I've got ESXi installed on mine running Xpenology and a Windows VM, both of which are speedier than when installed on bare metal...
 
True, when I had my (Microserver NL36!) and 8GB of RAM (bearing in mind you can get 16GB to work.

I had 4 VM's running at the same time, 2 Windows servers, 1 x 2003, 1 x 2008, 1 x Ubuntu server, 1 x Freenas

if I had added more RAM probably more.

The Ubuntu box was being used as a newsnab server back when I dabbled in setting it up

Although decided to sell, have a break from servers, but recently upgrading to a 2500k build that I am using to game and watch stuff on when I dont need VM's, then plug a USB dongle in for ESXi and VMs, as I need a more powerful CPU for GNS3 labs
 
+3 for the MicroServer, there should be a cash back offer as well so should meet your budget.

Another cheap option, that's if you have a decent enough spec pc/laptop is to try VMworkstation, you can trial it which should give enough time to practise what you need to do. Or even use this to compliment the MicroServer.
 
As others have said the microserver is always a good start to your virtualization empire. I used mine for quite a while until I needed to run more VMs that it could really handle, so unless your looking to spin up a number of Windows VMs it should be fine.

Even after I moved on from using it as a ESXi host, it now acts are my primary datastore for ESX instead, so its a good investment overall.
 
Thanks guys - I had been looking at the HP ones - is it the HP ProLiant MicroServer you are talking about?
 
Got it in one. Specifically the N54L which has the £100 cashback available on it.

There's a newer version out there called the Gen 8 which is quite a bit more expensive. We're NOT talking about that one ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom