Best quality/price ratio for Proxmox ?

X

XZed

Member
Sep 20, 2009
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I opted to Dell T100 servers, in order to have a virtualization first basis....

As it works with a charm, i was thinking on a similar solution for home use.

And was trying to imagine what config to choose :

* homemade computer

or

* cheap dell servers

which one do you advice ?

By the way, perhaps someone could help me :

I consider the Intel VT list : http://ark.intel.com/VTList.aspx

But i heard about bad surprises : some people buy a VT-enabled intel cpu and see that his mobo's bios doesn't permit it !

Someone has an url link with adequate vt-enabled bios ?

Related to the Dell T100 choice, i advice to read this feedback :

http://nerdvittles.com/?p=643

Sincerely,
 
Hi XZed,

I guess it depends on what kind of load u are going to put on your home server.

I am using a self build computer with an intel quad core cpu and it runs perfectly for me:

Network: 2x Gigabit Swich (SOHO grade) 1x DSL Router

CPU: Intel Q6600 (will upgrade to a Intel Q9550 soon)
Board: GA-G33M-S2L
RAM: 8 GB
NIC: 1 Realtek Gbit (onboard) + 2 Intel 1000 Pro
RAID Controller: HighPoint 3510 - Raid 10 with 4x500 GB
1x 500 GB and 1x 1TB for dedicated storage for VM

and I am using a Windows Home Server for all my client and server backups. My PVE is connected to the WHS through SFU 3.5 NFS for backup (vzdump). In addition I use the WHS connector to backup all my Windows VM and Office Clients on a daily bases.

WHS Specs:
CPU: E5200
Board: GA-EG31M-S2
RAM: 2 GB
NIC: 1x Realtek Gbit onboard
1x 250 GB
3x 1TB

For me this setup gave me a very good balance between performance, storage and usability. And qualtity/price ratio is very good compare to other solutions I checked.

I run mostly KVM VM's on the PVE server. On peak times 4-5 Windows Server (W2K3+W2K8+SBS 2003+1-2 Linux VM's).

Just to show you a possible scenario...

kind regards
BitRausch
 
Last edited:
BitRausch said:
For me this setup gave me a very good balance between performance, storage and usability. And qualtity/price ratio is very good compare to other solutions I checked.

I run mostly KVM VM's on the PVE server. On peak times 4-5 Windows Server (W2K3+W2K8+SBS 2003+1-2 Linux VM's).

Just to show you a possible scenario...

kind regards
BitRausch
Click to expand...

Well, a big thank you !

I will check more accurately, each item you quote and check it :p

Thank you very much,

Sincerely,
 
Glad I could help. :-)

Below the output of pveperf of my PVE Server. I spend less then 1000 Euro on the pve server (I believe it was around 800- end of last year). If I had a bigger budget I would go for a board with a 1156-socket (P55 chipset) or a 1366-socket (X58 chipset). Mainly because I could use 12GB or 16GB of RAM. And I would spend more money on faster Harddrives. The CPU I use right now does the job very well. But RAM and specially Raid Controller/Harddrive are the parts which really impact the performance. So this are the parts where I would spend money on and I would chose high quality items. Even with this "old" CPU I never experienced a bottleneck.

Just some final thoughts ...

Kind regards
BitRausch

Code: 
BigOne:~# pveperf
CPU BOGOMIPS:      19203.17
REGEX/SECOND:      754488
HD SIZE:           29.53 GB (/dev/pve/root)
BUFFERED READS:    155.12 MB/sec
AVERAGE SEEK TIME: 9.78 ms
FSYNCS/SECOND:     3033.91
DNS EXT:           1148.84 ms
DNS INT:           1090.68 ms (workgroup.local)
 
Hi,
i prefer AMD-Processors: you have always hardware-virtualisation and beginning from 4 Core CPUs you can use nested kvm - new feature in kvm with amd-cpus (to use the xp-emulation i a virtual windows7 - thats impossible with intel).
All CPUs has the memorycontroller embedded, with the right motherboard, you can use ECC-Ram. Normaly only for servermainboards available. I think thats great for a homemade Proxmox-Server.
As Motherbord you can look at the Asus M4A78T-E.

Udo
 
Hi Udo,

i prefer AMD-Processors: you have always hardware-virtualisation and beginning from 4 Core CPUs you can use nested kvm - new feature in kvm with amd-cpus (to use the xp-emulation i a virtual windows7 - thats impossible with intel).
Click to expand...

Very interesting. I did not know that. I am sure AMD is equal alternative to Intel. I just never had a AMD system.

regards,
BitRausch
 
BitRausch said:
Glad I could help. :-)

Below the output of pveperf of my PVE Server. I spend less then 1000 Euro on the pve server (I believe it was around 800- end of last year). If I had a bigger budget I would go for a board with a 1156-socket (P55 chipset) or a 1366-socket (X58 chipset). Mainly because I could use 12GB or 16GB of RAM. And I would spend more money on faster Harddrives. The CPU I use right now does the job very well. But RAM and specially Raid Controller/Harddrive are the parts which really impact the performance. So this are the parts where I would spend money on and I would chose high quality items. Even with this "old" CPU I never experienced a bottleneck.

Just some final thoughts ...

Kind regards
BitRausch

Code: 
BigOne:~# pveperf
CPU BOGOMIPS:      19203.17
REGEX/SECOND:      754488
HD SIZE:           29.53 GB (/dev/pve/root)
BUFFERED READS:    155.12 MB/sec
AVERAGE SEEK TIME: 9.78 ms
FSYNCS/SECOND:     3033.91
DNS EXT:           1148.84 ms
DNS INT:           1090.68 ms (workgroup.local)
Click to expand...

Very nice final thoughts :p !

Indeed, i'm actually feeling a big bottleneck on the hdd side (SAS 6i/R controller).

About hdd : the RAID 10 choice has a particular reason or is your personal choice :p ? Other raid type adviced ?

Thank you
 
udo said:
Hi,
i prefer AMD-Processors: you have always hardware-virtualisation and beginning from 4 Core CPUs you can use nested kvm - new feature in kvm with amd-cpus (to use the xp-emulation i a virtual windows7 - thats impossible with intel).
All CPUs has the memorycontroller embedded, with the right motherboard, you can use ECC-Ram. Normaly only for servermainboards available. I think thats great for a homemade Proxmox-Server.
As Motherbord you can look at the Asus M4A78T-E.

Udo
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for these precious informations :p !

Sincerely,
 
XZed said:
Very nice final thoughts :p !

Indeed, i'm actually feeling a big bottleneck on the hdd side (SAS 6i/R controller).

About hdd : the RAID 10 choice has a particular reason or is your personal choice :p ? Other raid type adviced ?

Thank you
Click to expand...

People here at proxmox recommend Raid 10. But you can go with any other raid setup.
 
I'm looking for the best appropriate Dell server configuration to fit and make a test for :
[ ] virtualize 5 XP PRO workstations (max. 8 in the future) for common VDI-Virtual Desktop Infrastructure to obtain a use and a render of near native performance for users
​
[ ] knowing that today a new workstation would cost between 300-500 € , the budget allocated to this server should not exceed 3500 €
​
If anyone can help, I remain available ;)

Thx

++
 
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