Hyper-converged solution using storage spaces direct

[mmi]

I am looking into deploying a hyper-convened solution as made possible in Windows Server 2016 in a small school (250 students) to manage about 5 VMs. I currently have to HP DL 380 Gen 9 servers available which have identical specification/configuration, however i would like to have a 3 node setup to increase redundancy and act as the witness.

 

Does anyone know whether i can add a node with different spec/config, although relatively similar or do they have to be exactly the same. I was hoping i could reuse an existing HP ML350p gen 8.

 

Thanks in advance for you help.

[supawat1]

Dont you think, it's overkill for 5VM? what are those VMs for?

[mmi]

I agree it is a bit overkill but i am working with what i have been given. The VMs are for DC, Exchange,WSUS,Print,MIS, File server.

[localzuk]

I am looking into deploying a hyper-convened solution as made possible in Windows Server 2016 in a small school (250 students) to manage about 5 VMs. I currently have to HP DL 380 Gen 9 servers available which have identical specification/configuration, however i would like to have a 3 node setup to increase redundancy and act as the witness.

 

Does anyone know whether i can add a node with different spec/config, although relatively similar or do they have to be exactly the same. I was hoping i could reuse an existing HP ML350p gen 8.

 

Thanks in advance for you help.

 

To add another node, the version of the chip must be the same. The other option is to enable compatibility mode on each VM individually, and have different processors. The issue then is that you lose some performance on the better chips.

[pantscat]

Not necessarily overkill - if you've got a 3rd host available, then why not use it?

 

It would be extremely unlucky, but not impossible to have two hosts fail... and it also gives you a bit more capacity so you can do some R&D.

[supawat1]

I must say WOW.

 

Have you gone through all the infrastructure design yet?

 

I think ML350p gen8 Intel CPU should be compatible with the latest Intel CPU, if I could remember correctly, there is a tick box within System Center Virtual Manager for CPU compatibility.

 

Just to add, this might not be suitable for you, but have you considered Office 365 or Google for Education instead of running in-house exchange server?

Edited October 21, 2016 by supawat1

[mmi]

Just to clarify, only the version of the Chip should be the same, the model number can be different.

[mmi]

I am going through the design process at the moment but i just wanted to make sure i knew which hardware i had available.

[localzuk]

Just to clarify, only the version of the Chip should be the same, the model number can be different.

 

As far as I'm aware, yes. It is all down to the instruction set etc... Might be worth researching a little first though.