Hardware for a good W7 HOME Server


  1. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
       #1

    Hardware for a good W7 HOME Server


    Hi all
    It's very difficult to get really good advice on this but I'm now trying to build the "Ultimate" HOME server machine.

    Note the machine will be essentially used as a HOME (not a commercial / work) server so it doesn't need all the fancy gaming state of the art graphics cards etc.

    What it DOES need is enough RAM and horsepower to run 4 Virtual servers, whilst also file and print sharing to a number of "remote" (actually a LAN) workstations.

    A "Blade" type server would be OK in a commercial environment but my server needs to be a bit like a conventional workstation.

    I need around 16GB RAM (seems hard to get a basic motherboard with enough memory slots these days), and a QUAD CPU. The I/O subsystem nust allow for around 8 drives and two DVD/CD units to be connected and have video output capability to drive 2 monitors (although most of the tine the monitors will probably be disconnected.

    I need to have as well at least 2 but preferably 3 Network cards on it.

    Most of the stuff I've looked at seems to be more geared to high performance gaming or running NASA's next Mars mission.

    A SERVER doesn't need hideously expensive gear - but it does need the capability to have loads of memory and disk drives to be connected to it.

    Any IT admins out there who use this type of stuff at work -- recommendations.

    The ability to run 4 Virtual servers decently is essential so 16GB of RAM is the minimum -- Ideally I'd like 64GB but that's probably like asking for the moon.

    I've googled around -- there's load of info on decent high end gear -- which isn't what I need and also "server Farm" type stuff -- also what I don't need.

    I can't be the only person who want to run a decent home server network.

    I need the virtual servers as well as I often work from home on a lot of projects and use the virtual servers to connect to the remote customer and run their apps.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    jimbo45 said:
    The ability to run 4 Virtual servers decently is essential so 16GB of RAM is the minimum -- Ideally I'd like 64GB but that's probably like asking for the moon.
    Jeez...I run a handful of ESXi servers at work and I usually put 24GB of RAM in those to run 10-12 concurrent Linux and Windows servers and that usually doesn't max out the RAM. So, I would have to imagine that 16GB of RAM is going to be more than enough for home use and 4 VM's.

    jimbo45 said:
    I need around 16GB RAM (seems hard to get a basic motherboard with enough memory slots these days), and a QUAD CPU. The I/O subsystem nust allow for around 8 drives and two DVD/CD units to be connected and have video output capability to drive 2 monitors (although most of the tine the monitors will probably be disconnected.
    Quite a number of new mobo's support 16GB of RAM...it will just have to be a 4 x 4GB setup. Quad core CPU's are a dime a dozen. The I/O subsystem to allow that many drives will likely just involve adding on 1 additional controller card. And just about any modern video card can easily handle dual monitor support.

    jimbo45 said:
    I need to have as well at least 2 but preferably 3 Network cards on it.
    Quite a number of mobos have 2 NIC's...You will just need to add a stand-alone PCI NIC to the box. The Intel 10/100/1000 GT cards are excellent and only around $25.

    I honestly don't think that this would really cost that much money? Do you have any type of budget set aside that you want to work with? Of course, keep in mind that 16GB of DDR3 RAM for a Core i5/i7 build is going to be over $750 itself.
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  3. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi there
    thanks for the reply

    Even with that I'm sure I could do the whole thing for around 2500 EUR -- don't forget I've already got a lot of the other bits -- discs etc.

    Only the MOBO, Graphics card, memory, CPU and I/O controller card I think will be needed.

    I've loads of spare NIC cards but most mobos don't have enough slots to insert these.

    2 of the VM's will be running SAP type systems -- these are the memory hogs

    Running OLAP type programs which needs to keep a decent amount of data in a cache requires decent size RAM or the system will page horribly whilst fresh data is being retrieved from the DB.

    Note these OLAP queries are NOT transactional OLTP systems which can process 1000's of transactions /sec / min etc but usually run ad hoc by a few users in a "Data mining" or Data warehousing type application. Different requirements are needed


    8GB RAM would probably be OK but while I'm at it I thought I'd go for the 16.


    Here's a screenshot of a fairly basic type of OLAP system - linking EXCEL to a smallish SAP BW (Business Warehouse) type system.




    Cheers
    jimbo
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Hardware for a good W7 HOME Server-sap1.png   Hardware for a good W7 HOME Server-sap2.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    Here is a suggestion....it's around $1700 US meeting the things you mentioned. The mobo has enough SATA's to natively handle 8 connections....so you can easily add another stand alone controller card down the line to handle a few extra drives. It's got dual on-board NIC's and 1 added a third NIC using 1 of the available PCI slots.

    Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
    Core i5-750 Quad Core. LGA 1156
    $199.99

    Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s - Intel Motherboards
    Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Mobo with 8 SATA connectors, 16GB RAM support, Dual NIC's, 3 PCI Express x1, 2 PCI slots
    $179.99

    Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7Q-16GBRL - Desktop Memory
    16GB (4 x 4GB), G.Skill DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) ram
    $799.99


    Newegg.com - Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter 1 x RJ45 - Network Interface Cards
    Intel 10/100/1000 GT PCI NiC
    $26.99

    Newegg.com - LIAN LI PC-A71B Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
    Lian LI PC-A71B Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Case, 5 Extenal 5.25's and 10 Intel 3.5's
    $239.99


    Newegg.com - XFX HD-467X-ZDF2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
    XFX Radeon HD 4670 Video Card, 1GB RAM, Dual DVI outputs
    $69.99


    Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Power Supplies
    Corsair 1000HX Module Power Supply, 80Plus Certified
    $199.99 after $40 rebate


    $1716.93
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  5. Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi there
    Thanks a lot
    greatly appreciated the reply

    these are the sort of things I'm looking for - they'll do the job just fine.

    I'll feel like a small kid again opening a Meccano set (remember those).

    I don't have any trouble getting stuff from the USA - there's a HUGE NATO base at Keflavik so plenty of deliveries from USA (and no sales tax either ).

    cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


 

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