Spec me home server for virtual machines

ringo747 · 4 Mar 2010 at 15:18

I am planning on building some kind of server for home usage to run ESXi with a number of VMs. I will have a number of these running simultaneously so will need around 8GB RAM.

Should I be looking at some of the cheap HP Proliant boxes or would a cheap custom made box be better?

Five_Star · 4 Mar 2010 at 16:26

I went with a second hand mini atx Optilplex system from Dell, Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz and filled it with 8GB RAM too. Its nice small form factor means its tucked away out of site.

Performance is OK for what I paid, just got the single 500GB SATA disk in there so its not amazing with five VMs running. You are limited with the cheaper office style systems on future expansion but if you want it cheap they are good enough.

ringo747 · 4 Mar 2010 at 16:32

Will check that out. I can get some older HP G5s for around 300 with the RAM thrown up to 8GB. Not sure which options are best.

mnc fear · 4 Mar 2010 at 16:47

I have a Optiplex 320 if you wish to purchase one- I know its not the forsale forum but I am just letting you know

Its hardly been used

ringo747 · 4 Mar 2010 at 16:49

mnc fear said:
I have a Optiplex 320 if you wish to purchase one- I know its not the forsale forum but I am just letting you know

Its hardly been used

It only supports up to 4GB - not enough for my needs unfort.

mnc fear · 4 Mar 2010 at 16:51

ahh cool np matey

bluebox · 4 Mar 2010 at 17:00

I bought a DL140G2 for the well known auction site for under £100. The advantage of going for a big name server is that it will be supported with ESXi. One thing to watch is that you need EM64T to support ESXi 4 and if you're looking at Hyper-V then you need a newer box with AMD-V or Intel VT support.
It was a great platform for playing around with ESXi but was a bit of a noisy beast.