My first server spec

[anything I don't mind]

I have been asked by my boss to spec a server upgrade for where I work. This is my first time specing server hardware. I just want to see what you think about it.

Basically at the moment there is six physical hp servers with different functions and we want to virtualise the servers.

So my hardware proposal is:

2x HP ProLiant DL385 G7 Base - Opteron 6238 2.6 GHz Part Number: 654856-421
1x HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array P2000 3.5-in Drive Bay Chassis - Part Number: AP838A
1x HP StorageWorks iSCSI Controller (4x1gbps) Part Number: BK829A
6x AP860A-PR1 HP P2000 600GB 6G SAS 15K rpm LFF (3.5-inch) Dual Port Enterprise HDDs (3TB raid 5)
2x ESW-540-24-K9 CIsco ESW 24-Port Gigabit Switch or 2x WS-C3750X-24T-L Cisco Catalyst 3750X-24T-L

What do you think about that and which switches do you think?

I priced fiber channel and it was not that much more expensive. But I went with gigabit switches instead.

 

[anything I don't mind]

This network is less important than the other network which is already virtualised. They used two storage controllers in the other p2000 san. 2x 1gigabit port each. I could look for a storage controller with the same set up so we have two storage controllers. The MSA I spec has dual psu. BK830A is too higher spec for the set up, i think. They have two networks, this network is the less important one and they are less inclined to spend more money on this one than the other one.

 

[anything I don't mind]

I can't seem to find two port SCSI controller. I can only find fiber channel and the four port one i spec. Might end up buying two 4 ports controller.

 

[anything I don't mind]

I initially speced the 380 but then my boss said the 385 was better because of more cores. I was not going to argue with him so just changed it. I would have picked the intel as well.