Cheap server for labbing at home

[rickjames]

Afternoon everyone...

 

Now I've done my Network+ cert I'm pretty keen to get my MCSA in Server 2012 off the mark, and with that need to get some kind of lab setup going. It's a completely new thing for me, so what would be people suggest I do initially with it? My initial thoughts are a bunch of VMs doing the following

 

Domain Controller - handles DHCP,DNS, AD

Application Server (Core) - Deal with file storage, WDS, WSUS

Application Server (GUI) - Same as above but to help get an understanding of Powershell

Windows 7/8 test machine, to test out GPOs etc

RRAS/NAT server

 

As for hardware as anyone got experiences of the Lenovo TS-140? There's a cashback offer on eBuyer that brings it down to £240, with an additonal 16gb of RAM at £100 odd, a 120gb SSD (will that be enough for the OS with those VMs?) and the 1TB HDD for data it sounds like it'll hold up pretty well.

 

Thoughts/advice/suggestions much appreciated

[CyberNerd]

Thoughts/advice/suggestions much appreciated

 

Save your money and setup a virtual lab at school.

What you are doing is essentially for the schools benefit, and you will learn more when you have vpn's and virtual machines thrown into the mix.

[computer_expert]

The TS140s are very capable - I'd bump the SSD up to 240gb/256gb as a minimum. the SSD I have in mine currently has 2x40gb VMDKs for a DC/file server and another 40gb VMDK for a different server so you would get through 120GB in no time (even more so if you use the thick provisioned option when setting up the disks for the VM).

 

If you are going to be using ESXi, then you can install the hypervisor to a USB key (not sure about Hyper-V though).

[rickjames]

Save your money and setup a virtual lab at school.

What you are doing is essentially for the schools benefit, and you will learn more when you have vpn's and virtual machines thrown into the mix.

 

Problem with that is I fear breaking stuff. At home I can be comfortable and do stuff confidently. Also means it's mine to keep forever, I see this as a long term resource

 

 

The TS140s are very capable - I'd bump the SSD up to 240gb/256gb as a minimum. the SSD I have in mine currently has 2x40gb VMDKs for a DC/file server and another 40gb VMDK for a different server so you would get through 120GB in no time (even more so if you use the thick provisioned option when setting up the disks for the VM).

 

If you are going to be using ESXi, then you can install the hypervisor to a USB key (not sure about Hyper-V though).

 

Cheers. All VM stuff will be using Hyper-V I think...

[CyberNerd]

Problem with that is I fear breaking stuff. At home I can be comfortable and do stuff confidently. Also means it's mine to keep forever, I see this as a long term resource

 

you won't break anything. You'll need to learn how to create VLAN's, just make sure they are not attached to critical networks. Its a more real life scenario - managing your networks. Sure do it in the comfort of your home via a VPN. When you leave the school, download the image.