Spec me a basic server

So ive got the cash money :cool:

Shall i definitely proceed with the G7 for scalability? I could get the N40L and have enough to get myself a dual monitor combo but i dont want to fall short to when it comes to understanding running VM's etc and for it to be running ever so slow.
 
Well a dual monitor setup is nice but hardly a nesessity. You can add another panel later. Upgrading an N40L wont be as easy as upgrading a G7. You pretty much answered your own question.

I know what I would buy.
 
Dashik said:
Well a dual monitor setup is nice but hardly a nesessity. You can add another panel later. Upgrading an N40L wont be as easy as upgrading a G7. You pretty much answered your own question.

I know what I would buy.
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G7 Purchased :cool:

Think i'll save the dual monitor idea for xmas. Will start off by maxing out the RAM to 16gb while adding 1x tb HDD. RAM seemed pretty dear on the site i chose to go with so im in the search for that right now. No major panic on the HDD but as time goes on i will be looking to fill out the racks.

Hopefully have it for the weekend.
 
Well I hope you like it :D For what its worth I think thats the right decision. Price and config for what you bought?
 
If you are looking at running ESXi then the server will not need anything past a basic monitor as most of the administration will be done remotely. Short of setting up the initial networking config, you should not really need a monitor at all and can run it headless. If the machine you have bought has IPMI with KVM/IP then you would not need a monitor at all as everything could be done remotely including accessing the BIOS.

If the G7 you are refering to is the ML110 with the G840 processor, based on the price range you were looking at, then just be aware that it does not support VT-d so there is no device passthrough support for things like disk controllers, USB chipsets or network ports. The quick specs here (PDF) seem to indicate the server is using 2x HP NC112i which use the Intel 82574L chipsets which are natively supported by ESXi. You should be able to upgrade the processor to something like an E3-1230 which would give you 4/8 (cores/threads) vt-d and ECC support (if the motherboard also supports it) for around the 200 GBP mark (based on US trade price + 20%V.A.T + reseller markup). Note: the specs state the server takes Unbuffered ECC ram only. The bad news is that the ram is a bit more expensive than non-ECC ram but the good news is it is not stupidly expensive. Check around but I would guess that the Kingston 2x8GB ECC kit (KVR1333D3E9SK2/8) or 1x4 singles (KVR1333D3E9S/4G) should do you. These are what I use on my clients Supermicro X9 based servers using the Intel C204 chipset. The ML100 G7 specs list the Intel C200 chipset but does not say which one. I would guess on the C204 as the C206 takes ECC and non-ECC ram. The C200 chipsets allow you to use Pentium (GXXX), i3 and E3 Xeon processors. If you choose to upgrade to an E3 at some time (price wise they start between the i5-2500K and an i7-2600) then go for one ending in a 0 (i.e. E3-12X0) as they do not have integrated graphics (you have graphics on the motherboard). IMO the E3-1230 is at the sweet spot as the E3-1220 does not have hyperthreading so only 4/4 rather than 4/8 (cores/threads).

May also be worth noting that I was trialling Win SBS 2011 (inc Exchange/Sharepoint etc) at home on an i3 (IIRC) with 8GB ram and it ran dog slow. Once I bumped it up to 12GB ram it ran at a more acceptable speed.

RB
 
Managed to pick the server up today from the depot rather than waiting for it to be delivered tomorrow. Just back in from college so im getting everything hooked up here. (Shes a brute) :p

Not too noisy so far which is good.
 
Essexraptor said:
Piccy's.. piccy's .....post the pics :) ....LOL
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Probably the first time i have taken something out of the box and not photographed it. I will throw up some pics after a while for sure.

Just finished transferring the W2K8R2 Iso's onto USB. The server is powered up but i havent even seen it running yet. Been using my main computer to download w2k8 so once im ready to rock i'll just transfer mouse, keyboard and monitor over to server.

Tell me this. Once i get the initial setup done, can i access everything from the server without doing what i just said. Basically from my pc. Would that be where remote desktop comes in or what?
 
Yes you can set it up for remote Desktop. Its what I do and it works fine :D

Saves faffing around with movign mouse and Keyboard like you said. Although keyboards and mice can be got for pennies these days so maybe the cheapest one's from a supermarket just for the convenience on the rare occasion you need then, Also if your monitor has dual inputs, eg a vga port that not beign used, you can leave it connected to that as well. but still RDC into the server from the .

I hope that makes sense Im running out the door right after I post this lol :D
 
Dashik said:
Yes you can set it up for remote Desktop. Its what I do and it works fine :D

Saves faffing around with movign mouse and Keyboard like you said. Although keyboards and mice can be got for pennies these days so maybe the cheapest one's from a supermarket just for the convenience on the rare occasion you need then, Also if your monitor has dual inputs, eg a vga port that not beign used, you can leave it connected to that as well. but still RDC into the server from the .

I hope that makes sense Im running out the door right after I post this lol :D
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Keyboard and mouse supplied. That was another reason i decided to go with this particular firm is that it supplied these aswell as the dvd drive. Needed a new mouse anyway.
Ran it to a spot of bother last night installing W2K8R2 from my USB so thankfully i found a blank dvd in teh draw and got it installed. Had a quick nosey around then hit the sack as it was getting close to 3 and i was to be up for 6. That seems to be happening a lot lately, max 4hrs kip every night and i can say its only going to get worse :D

Yea, was thinking it would be somthing like remote desktop id need to be using. I couldnt be bothered faffing around changing monitor leads etc.

Cheers for now. Expect more ;)
 
Dashik, What type of additional memory did you go for. I see from the spec that it takes 1333mhz DDR3 RAM but is it actual server RAM you need (PC3) or standard SDRAM. Also does it need to be ECC or non-ECC.

Thanks in advanced

Darren
 
Hi there I got Kingston Memory 4 GB DIMM 240-pin DDR3 part number KTH-PL313E/4G currently going for around £31 each.
 
Essexraptor said:
Piccy's.. piccy's .....post the pics :) ....LOL
Click to expand...

Nothing spectacular to look at mate but once i get my new unit and Dual Dell's she'll be looking a bit hotter. Im still chuffed about finally getting my first server, This time last year i would have probably of spent it on something stupid like a small netbook. Its really going to help with my studies.

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Unfortunately i couldn't push the unit back far enough due to its depth as it was better in the unit but not the end of the world.

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