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Thinking of changing my server - what to get?

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  • 12-04-2014 9:55pm
    #1
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users Posts: 28,729 ✭✭✭✭


    Hey all,

    I'm currently running a DELL Precision 690 - 2x 3GHz Dual-Core Xeons, 24GB RAM, 4x 1.5TB SATA in RAID 5 via an Adaptec card - and have it setup with Server 2012 R2 and a few Hyper-V instances for a Domain Controller, Media Server and WSUS/apps box. All in all it's served me well :)

    But.. it also weighs a tonne, is relatively noisy beside the telly (I'm renting an apartment and sticking it in a press isn't an option), and is fairly heavy on the old electric bill as it runs 24x7

    So, I'm looking at replacing it and consolidating the Hyper-V setups - I'm thinking:

    - Quad-Core CPU
    - 8-16GB RAM
    - 3/4 3TB Disks in RAID 5
    - Server 2012 running 2 Hyper-V instances (DC/WSUS/DHCP etc) and a File/Media server (using Mezzmo)

    I've been looking at options online with a budget of up to around €250 for the server ex-disks. I'm looking at everything from other Precisions, to HP Microservers, to NAS options but no further with a decision.

    Key requirements would be that it should run the above, be quiet(er) and a bit more power efficent would be good too :)

    Any suggestions? Cheers!


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users Posts: 28,729 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Been looking at the options again today and I'm thinking of going for the DELL Poweredge T20

    - Supports 4 drives+ though I'll need a card for RAID 5
    - USB 3 ports
    - Supports Server 2012 natively
    - Small, quiet and efficient
    - Cheap - €250 ex-VAT on the site for the entry spec

    I also like DELL hardware anyway and have a good relationship with them so I think I'll talk to my a/c manager tomorrow and see what they can do :)


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    #3
    Mr. Fancypants
    Registered Users Posts: 1,892 ✭✭✭Mr. Fancypants


    Is it just for home use? Not sure why a DC and a WSUS server would be required? May be easier to just get a decent NAS for file shares/media and set permissions that way.


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    #4
    colm_c
    Registered Users Posts: 2,030 ✭✭✭colm_c


    I've always found DELL servers pretty loud/noisy, as they've got a lot of fans to keep things cool and are designed for comms rooms/racks.

    It's worth swapping out the stock fans for some ultra quiet ones that you can configure to spin up/down depending on load/temperature in the box.

    The dell you linked to doesn't look upgradable at all, no options for better processor or even more memory!


  • Options
    #5
    kingtiger
    Registered Users Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭kingtiger


    why not just rent an online one? way cheaper on the electricity

    I have this

    http://www.online.net/en/dedicated-server/dedibox-classic

    bandwidth

    304276.png


  • Options
    #6
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Synology NAS.

    You can get them with RAID configs and they'll do pretty much everything you need from a Windows server setup. I've done the whole DC + WSUS + Group Policy thing for small setups and while it's nice from a practice point of view, it ends up being a lot more maintenance work than a simpler setup. You won't get Active Directory or WSUS on a Linux NAS, but that's about it. And if you're using AD & WSUS on less than ten computers, then you're way overengineering your setup IMO.

    If you want to be able screw about with VMs, etc, then you'll have a lot more fun working with your own AWS instance.


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