Suggestions on linux file server VM?

[totalimpact]

I have a network with 5-6 workstations, and am hoping to run some sort of active directory/file server (not windows).

I am considering SME Server, but am worried about running it in KVM and having throughput issues, and I also prefer the flexibility of vz containers.

Has anyone come up with anything better? Or had success with SME? (please list hardware if using SME).

Right now I am running a HP DL140 with 2x 2TB SATA drives mirrored on a 3Ware raid card, 4gb ram, 2x quad core xeons.

 

[maxprox]

I am considering SME Server, ...

around three years for I am using the SME server as a file server and user management => DC
and it runs absolutely stable, a little quad Core Xeon, 2GB RAM, 4xHDD Raid5 3Ware 9650, approximately 20 users, he is bored most of the time - Highly recommended for production use IMHO
NOT currently virtualized.
Now I'm working on comparison test between zentyal and SME servers virtualized with Proxmox KVM.
The main reason is because I know better than Redhat Debian. ;-)
(For a Fileserver you don't need one quad core ... you have two! I would remove one to save power ;-)
EDIT: I see: you need the 8cores for the Proxmox server - not only for the file Server - okay ;-)


maxprox

 

[totalimpact]

fortunately they are ultra low watt xeons , obviously cpu is not of concern, my concern is file share throughput, so have you come up with any conclusion in your vm tests?

 

[maxprox]

fortunately they are ultra low watt xeons , obviously cpu is not of concern, my concern is file share throughput, so have you come up with any conclusion in your vm tests?

in two or three weeks it goes in produktion.
What I think is a good idea for a file server:
I have a Intel Server Board with two 1Gbit NICs (+ one remote NIC). With the two NICs I have build a bonding device.
Together with the switch, with also have to support this bondig mode, I use LACP (or IEEE 802.3ad or bonding mode=4 (Link Aggregation Control Protocol))
The more user you have the better ...

regards,
maxprox

 

[totalimpact]

That is a great start for the network, but I mostly worry about the file system being the bottle neck in KVM, what kind of storage are you using on your VM?

If SME ran on a VZ container, I would worry less, as that would mean direct access to the disks.

 

[maxprox]

That is a great start for the network, but I mostly worry about the file system being the bottle neck in KVM, what kind of storage are you using on your VM? If SME ran on a VZ container, I would worry less, as that would mean direct access to the disks.

I don't know exaktly what is the best way.
My plan is to use four SATA server hard disks (1TB) in Raid 10 Association ...
I will only work with KVM I think it is more flexible, with virtual disks drives, as described in the wiki.
have a look here: http://forum.proxmox.com/threads/6724-Need-some-recommendations-for-a-new-setup